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Pharmaceutical label materials built for performance, compliance and long-term reliability

Converters and printers supplying pharmaceutical labels operate under uniquely high expectations for product safety, performance and consistency. If a label material fails to perform as expected, it can lead to production disruptions, qualification delays and increased validation costs. They need materials they can qualify with confidence and rely on for years to come.

UPM Raflatac™ pharmaceutical label materials combine three essential advantages: UPM PharmaSure™ adhesives, change management for pharma-dedicated products and specialized technical expertise. Together, they support compliance, product safety and long-term supply continuity for demanding pharmaceutical label applications.

Pharmaceutical and healthcare labeling solutions to help you move confidently through qualification to long-term supply

Reliable label performance with UPM PharmaSure™

UPM PharmaSure adhesives are central to our pharma label portfolio. They're built for challenges specific to the industry, like harsh environments and small, curved containers. The result: adhesion you can count on to support performance and compliance.

Label change control to reduce revalidation risk

Our change management protocol reduces the risk of unexpected material changes and the costly revalidation they trigger. Extended availability windows for unchanged materials, plus last call notifications for discontinued ones, give you time to plan ahead.

Expert support from specification to validation

Dedicated pharmaceutical labeling specialists provide guidance throughout the qualification process. They help with material selection, documentation requirements and application-specific challenges.

UPM PharmaSure™

Pharmaceutical label performance made easy by UPM PharmaSure adhesives

With UPM PharmaSure adhesives, you get:

Verification for technical and regulatory performance demands
Consistent performance in demanding environments
Change management for long-term supply security
Documentation and technical support

Learn more from the in-brief brochure of your region:

Americas APAC EMEIA

Pharmaceutical label solutions by application

Different pharmaceutical packaging formats create distinct labeling challenges. UPM produces label materials designed around specific requirements and regulatory considerations for those package types. Choose from labels built for healthcare packaging applications like:

Ampoules

Blood bags

Blow-fill-seal

Cardboard boxes

Cartridges

Collection tubes

Eye-drop bottles

Inhalers

IV bags and hanging bottles

Nasal spray

Over-the-counter (OTC) bottles

Pre-filled pens

Sterilization pouches

Sterilization wraps

Syringes

Vials

Pre-filled syringes, injection pens, cartridges, vials and ampoules

Small diameter injectable containers pose some of the toughest labeling challenges - securing a tight mandrel hold and enduring extreme conditions. Labels must remain attached and readable throughout filling, sterilization, storage and transport to maintain product safety and traceability.

A label material designed for the wrong container or rated for the wrong application conditions can peel or turn unreadable.

Avoid a recall or safety risk you can't undo by choosing materials built for injectable package types.

UPM small-diameter package labeling solutions

We define small-diameter containers as those with a diameter of 7-23mm (0.275-0.905 inches) and a volume of 1-50 ml. These sizes carry the highest risk for label edge-lifting.

Our solutions combine:

Thin, conformable facestocks
UPM PharmaSure adhesives with strong initial tack and a careful balance of peel and shear

This combination helps the label conform tightly to the container curvature while maintaining reliable dispensing performance.

Over-the-counter medicine bottles, cartons and consumer healthcare packaging

OTC packaging is the ultimate multi-tasker. OTC labels need to:

Communicate critical information - since these medicines are sold without a prescription, patients rely on the label - not a pharmacist - for dosage and safety information. Some products need a multilayer or booklet label just to fit everything.
Maintain shelf appeal - to appeal to consumers, brands lean on glossy paper or film facestocks to support vivid, multicolor printing.
Comply with regulatory requirements - self-medication raises the bar on safety at the point of sale. Tamper-evident seal labels are a common practice in OTC packaging because of this.

UPM OTC package labeling solutions

Our OTC label material solutions include:

Materials designed for multiple packaging formats
Options for premium shelf appeal
Documented change management
Sustainable solution options

Sustainability in OTC packaging

OTC formats often give brands more flexibility on material choice than other clinical packaging. This makes it a practical place to start considering sustainability as a factor in label and package decisions.

OTC labels can support sustainability with materials made from recycled content and by selecting a material compatible with the package to enhance recyclability. Learn more about our sustainable label materials.

Hands holding a plastic eyedrop container

Eye drops, opthalmic solutions, nasal sprays, inhalers, blow-fill-seal containers, plastic ampoules and plastic syringes

Certain packaging formats create the risk of label components, like inks and adhesives, migrating through the container surface and potentially interacting with the drug product.

Low migration labels are designed to help protect product safety and reduce this risk.

How package materials influence migration risk

The need for low migration labeling depends on both the drug product and the packaging substrate.

Glass is an effective functional barrier, but plastic containers are more sensitive. They are more permeable and often require additional assessment. Liquid formulations are especially susceptible to migration.

Container type	Solid drug	Liquid drug
Glass bottle	No need for low migration label	No need for low migration label
Plastic bottle (PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP)	May need low migration label	Often requires low migration label

UPM low migration labeling solutions

Our solutions are supported by extensive testing and documentation. You can request extended documentation support from us for activities like:

Extractables and leachables (E&L) studies
Shelf-life evaluations
Biocompatibility assessments
Internal qualification and validation processes

Proven performance for pharmaceutical applications

Materials in our pharma portfolio are selected based on evidence. They are developed and pre-tested using recognized industry methodologies and regulatory expertise. Testing evaluates the label construction against the exact packaging type and application conditions.

The performance features and conditions we test against include:

Line speed and performance

Printability and legibility

Ultra-clarity for drug inspection

Low leachability

Label presence verification

Fridge and freezer storage

Deep freeze and cryogenic storage

Sterilization conditions

Chemical and mechanical exposure

Why label converters choose UPM pharmaceutical label materials

Pre-tested pharmaceutical label solutions

Reduce qualification risk and accelerate material selection with label solutions that have already been evaluated for pharmaceutical packaging applications.

Tested in an accredited laboratory using recognized industry methods
Mandrel hold performance assessed according to FINAT FTM24 for small-diameter packaging
Validated against packaging types and intended application conditions
Performance data available to support material selection and qualification planning

Long-term supply reliability

Reduce supply chain risk with proactive change management and long-term material planning.

Follows best practices outlined by the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium on Regulation and Science (IPAC-RS)
Up to 12 months advance notice of qualifying changes
Component-level change management helps minimize material changes

Global technical expertise

Access specialized support for pharmaceutical packaging challenges.

Global network of adhesive specialists, product development teams and innovation laboratories
Technical support through material selection, qualification and production implementation
Deep understanding of converting processes and regulatory requirements

Regulatory and documentation support

Navigate pharmaceutical labeling requirements with documentation and regulatory resources that support material evaluation and qualification.

Regulatory declarations available for requirements from authorities like the EMA and FDA.
Access to product safety information and certifications for all UPM pharmaceutical label materials
Extended documentation support packages available for select adhesives upon request

Learn more about regulatory compliance in pharmaceutical label applications

Frequently asked questions

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