Labels can be supplied:

• separately
• on a roll
• on a sheet

Many labels are pre-printed by the manufacturer. Other have printing applied manually or automatically at the time of application.

Some labels have protective overcoats, laminates, or tape to cover them after the final print is applied. This is sometimes before application and sometimes after.
Specialized high speed application equipment is available for certain uses.

Environmental Considerations

Labels can aid in recycling and reuse by commnunicating the material content of the item, instructions for disassembly, recycling directions, etc. Based on the solid waste hierarchy, the quantity and size of labels should be minimized without reducing necessary functionality. Material content of a label should comply with applicable regulations. Life cycle assessments of the item being labeled and of the label itself are useful to identify and improve possible environmental effects. For example, reuse or recycling are sometimes aided by a label being removable from a surface. If a label remains on an item during recycling, a label should be chosen which does not hinder the recyclability of the item.