Packaging Labels vs Clip Labels for Food and Produce Packaging: How to Choose

November 2, 2026

Packaging labels cover the entire surface of a food pack and carry the full set of product information, which suits filling plants and food producers. Clip labels are hangtags that go with netted fruit and vegetables. At TenovisLabels in Maribor, we make both, and the pack format decides which one you need.

What is the difference between packaging labels and clip labels?

Packaging labels are applied over the whole packaging surface and give food producers a large printed area for product information. Clip labels are paper hangtags for produce packed in nets. A packaging label is the pack's main information panel. A clip label is a tag fitted to the net.

The two products serve different customers, which is the quickest way to tell them apart.

When do packaging labels suit food packaging better?

Packaging labels suit food packaging when the pack needs a large panel for ingredients, instructions, legal text and branding. Because the label covers the full surface, it works on primary, secondary and transport packaging alike. Filling plants running bottles, tubs and cartons are our main customers for this product.

Our packaging labels come out of the same label production that makes our self-adhesive labels, printed by digital or flexographic methods, including on our BOBST M5 capabilities. A beverage filler, for example, can use one label to carry brand artwork, a declaration and a multilingual text block. Nothing else has to be attached to the pack.

When the information outgrows even a full-surface label, we have three other formats to extend it:

• Multi-layer easy peel-off labels add layers of instructions, ingredients and multilingual text without enlarging the pack.
• Booklet labels combine a sticker with an integrated booklet for extensive documentation.
• IML in-mould labels fuse with the plastic during injection molding, for food products in plastic packaging.

When do clip labels make more sense for produce?

Clip labels make sense when fruit and vegetables are packed in nets, because a net has no flat surface to print on or stick to. The hangtag carries the brand and product details instead. We also supply the net itself, so the produce packer gets one matched solution.

The commercially available biodegradable nets we supply are fitted with a suitable clip label. The end customer can dispose of the net and label in bio-waste. Our hangtags are made from paper instead of polypropylene plastic. A grower or packer who sells into retail with an environmental message gets a tag and net that tell the same story.

Sustainability is a stated priority for us. Environmentally friendly labels and nets are an excellent alternative to plastic hangtags on netted produce, and that is the reason we developed the paper tag.

How much information space does each label give you?

Information space is the main decision factor. A packaging label gives you the full surface. A clip label gives you a tag. If your product needs ingredients, instructions, legal information and multilingual content, the packaging label or one of its extended formats is the route.

Text size matters here as well. The European Commission reports that, under Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, mandatory food particulars generally require a minimum font x-height of 1.2 mm. The minimum drops to 0.9 mm when the packaging's largest surface is smaller than 80 cm². Those figures set how much text a given label area can hold. A full-surface packaging label has the room. A hangtag has far less, so a produce packer with a long information list needs to check the layout early.

A practical test before you order:

1. List every piece of information the pack must show.
2. Set the text at the x-height your product category requires.
3. Check whether it fits on the tag. If it doesn't, you need a larger label format.

Our design and technical development team can run this check with you before artwork is final.

Can you use both on the same product line?

Yes. A produce packer might use clip labels on netted fruit and packaging labels on tubs or cartons of prepared vegetables. We print both at our Maribor plant, so artwork, colours and brand elements stay consistent across formats.

Our printed flexible packaging, including packaging in rolls, is a further option for food products that go into pouches or film instead of nets or rigid packs.

What certifications do we hold for food-sector work?

TenovisLabels holds the BRC Global Standard for Packaging Materials Issue 6 and ISO 9001:2015. We announced the renewal of our BRCGS certification on 29 November 2024. BRCGS standards were originally developed around food safety and extend to packaging, where preventing contamination matters to food customers.

We have been printing for more than 60 years, and the TenovisLabels homepage reports 69 years of experience. It also reports customers in 100 countries and more than 415 million labels manufactured in 2025. Food producers across Europe, mainly in the DACH market, are among our customers.

Frequently asked questions

Can the clip label and net go into bio-waste together?

Yes. We supply commercially available biodegradable nets fitted with a suitable clip label, and the end customer can dispose of them in bio-waste. Our hangtags are made from paper. Check the local bio-waste rules that apply to your market before you print disposal wording on the pack.

Do packaging labels work on transport packaging as well as retail packs?

They do. Our packaging labels are used on primary, secondary and transport packaging. Because the label spans the entire surface, one design can carry product information at each level. Filling plants and food producers are the main customers.

Which printing methods do you use for these labels?

We offer digital and flexographic label printing, and our flexographic work includes BOBST M5 capabilities. We also handle label processing and finishing. Which method fits depends on run length, artwork and the label material you choose, and we agree it with you during technical development.

What if my product needs more space than a packaging label offers?

Multi-layer easy peel-off labels and booklet labels extend the available information area without a larger pack. Both carry usage instructions, ingredients, legal text and multilingual content. Our guide to booklet labels on product packaging covers when each format applies.

Send us your pack format, the information you need to show and your intended market using the form below this article. We will tell you whether a packaging label or a clip label with a biodegradable net fits your food or produce line.