Static Cling Labels - What are static cling labels?

Definition of STATIC CLING LABEL:

Labels that use static cling, rather than an adhesive, to adhere to a substrate. These labels are made with a film face material that is laminated to an anti-static release liner; when the face material is removed from the release liner, enough static electricity is generated to ensure that the film will adhere to a substrate.

Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges; materials are made of atoms, which are electrically neutral because they have the same number of positive charges (protons) and negative charges (electrons). Electrons move freely between materials that are in contact, meaning that when the materials are pulled apart one of them is left positively charged and the other negatively charged. If one of the materials is brought near to an object with the opposite charge, the material will be attracted to the object and will cling to it.

In labelling, static cling is a property that is induced in a film face material to enable it to adhere to a substrate without the use of an adhesive. Synthetic materials are particularly prone to accumulating static electricity, so static cling labels tend to be made with a plastic face material, which may be white, coloured, or transparent. Static cling labels are fully removable, repositionable, and reusable, and won't do any damage to a substrate or leave any residue behind. This makes them extremely popular for use on delicate substrates, including paper and glass.

Here is the Harvard-style citation to use if you would like to reference this definition of the term static cling label:
Label Planet (2021) What are static cling labels? | Static Cling Labels Definition. Available at: https://www.labelplanet.co.uk/glossary/static-cling-label/ (Accessed: January 1, 2024).