Understanding Labelstock: From Face Stock to Adhesive

25th August 2026 by Hannah Marsden

With over 150 years of paper manufacturing expertise, Tullis Russell is dedicated to creating exceptional quality papers. For over 10 years, we have also applied these expertise to the labelstock industry, developing solutions designed to deliver quality and performance.

We understand that a label is more than just a commodity or a last-minute addition to a product. It is an important part of the overall packaging, helping to identify your product, communicate your brand and provide essential information to the end user.

Understanding the components of labelstock

To get the most from your label, it is important to understand its intended purpose and the environment it will be exposed to. Labelstock is made up of four key components:

• Face stock
• Adhesive
• Silicone
• Release liner

Each component has a specific role to play, and selecting the right combination can help ensure that your finished label performs as intended.

Face stock

The face stock forms the printable surface of the label and plays an important role in its overall appearance and finish.

We offer a range of papers and films suitable for a variety of printing methods and applications. This gives customers the flexibility to choose a face stock that meets their visual requirements while also working effectively with their chosen printing process.

Adhesives

While the face stock provides the surface of the label, the adhesive ensures it stays securely where it is intended to be.

Different products and environments require different adhesive properties Our adhesive range includes:

• Permanent adhesives – for applications where the label needs to remain securely attached.
• Removable adhesives – for applications where labels need to be removed cleanly.
• Freezer-grade adhesives – designed for low-temperature and frozen environments.
• Wash-off adhesives – designed to allow labels to be removed during washing processes.

Selecting the right adhesive is essential. The intended surface, temperature, moisture and lifespan of the label should all be considered to ensure the adhesive performs effectively in its intended environment.

Find out more about our labelstock services and how we can help you find a fit for purpose solution that delivers the performance you need here.

Tullis Russell’s Sustainability Journey So Far

20th July 2026 by Hannah Marsden

Our vision is to become the world’s leading creative and environmentally responsible coating company. Achieving this means continually improving the products we produce, our manufacturing processes and the way we work across the business. We know this is an ongoing journey, and we’re committed to making meaningful progress over time.

We’ve been part of the industry for decades, and our history is something we’re proud of. We want Tullis Russell to continue thriving for many years to come. To do that, we recognise that we must adapt to changing environmental expectations, evolving customer needs and the wider challenges facing our industry. By making thoughtful, practical changes today, we’re helping build a stronger business for the future.

Over the last few years, we’ve made good progress towards our sustainability goals. One of the most significant changes we’ve made has been switching to FSC-certified paper suppliers. By sourcing FSC-certified materials, we’re helping ensure that the papers we coat come through responsibly managed and certified supply chains.

This change also allows us to offer our customers products that support their own environmental objectives, making it easier for them to choose certified materials where appropriate.

Sustainability isn’t just about the products we make. It also influences how we operate as a business. Across the site, we’ve introduced a range of practical initiatives to reduce our environmental impact while encouraging colleagues to play their part.

We’ve introduced electric vehicles for our sales team where appropriate, offer a Cycle to Work scheme, and encourage simple energy-saving habits such as switching off monitors and lights when they’re no longer needed.

We’ve also invested in improvements across our site. Motion sensors help reduce unnecessary lighting in communal areas, and we’ve upgraded all site lighting to LED technology to improve energy efficiency. In addition, we’ve installed rainwater harvesting tanks that capture and store rainwater for uses such as washdowns, helping to reduce our reliance on mains water.

Our sustainability team meets every month to review the progress of ongoing projects, evaluate the outcomes of completed initiatives and explore new opportunities to improve the way we operate. These meetings help us keep improving and make sure sustainability stays part of the decisions we make as a business.

We know there’s still more we can do, and that’s why sustainability continues to be a focus across the business. By reviewing the way we work, investing in improvements and encouraging new ideas, we’ll continue making positive changes wherever we can.

Our sustainability journey doesn’t stop here. We’ll keep looking for practical ways to improve, so we can continue building a business that’s fit for the future.

Tullis Russell Makes Its Debut at Making Vinyl US

11th June 2026 by Hannah Marsden

At the end of May, we attended Making Vinyl US, which this year was hosted in Washington, DC.

The event brings together professionals from across the global vinyl record industry, providing a platform to discuss market trends, emerging opportunities, and the latest developments in vinyl production. From record labels and pressing plants to suppliers and manufacturers, attendees come together to share insights, build connections, and explore the future of the industry.

Sales and Marketing Director, Mitch Lambert, and TRAdvance Business Unit Manager, Simon Rumble, attended the show to promote our premium record label papers and connect with customers and industry professionals from across the global vinyl industry.

At the event, we showcased our premium record label papers, which have been specifically developed for the unique demands of vinyl record production. Designed to perform throughout the pressing process, our papers offer excellent heat resistance, lay-flat properties, and strong tensile strength to ensure consistent results. Combined with a specially developed coating that delivers outstanding offset lithographic print quality, as well as excellent curl resistance and die-cutting performance, our papers help manufacturers create high-quality record labels that look as good as they perform.

Attending this event was important for us as we continue to explore opportunities within the American market. Events like Making Vinyl provide an excellent platform to showcase our specialist papers and manufacturing capabilities while also allowing us to meet customers face to face.

The event also enables us to gain valuable insights into the industry, strengthen relationships with existing customers, and connect with potential new customers from across the vinyl supply chain.

Our team thoroughly enjoyed attending Making Vinyl US and are looking forward to returning to the event in Haarlem again later this year.