The appropriate use of tamper-evident security labels (“stickers” to some!), when used with other security protocols, can greatly assist in maintaining an end-to-end chain of custody over goods, valuables and sensitive items in your supply chain, including valuable assets such as electronics, medical devices, and high-value equipment.
This includes pharmaceutical and medicinal packages, goods for resale, food & drink items and many other types of goods which require protection from interference, helping to prevent product tampering and unauthorised access, loss or degradation, and ensuring the safety and integrity of products throughout the supply chain.
Labelling with tamper-evident security features is a critical process for product security and brand protection. Tamper-evident security labels are suitable for both large enterprises and small businesses, including artisan brands.
In this article, we look at the main types of tamper-evident labels, the many label customisation options and features available, and also explore how security labels can assist, particularly in the pharmaceutical, food & drink and logistics sectors.
What Is a Security Label?
First of all, what exactly is a security label? Security labels are designed with tamper-evident features that cause them to permanently change appearance if someone tries to remove them from a sealed surface.
One common type, void labels, leaves a clear 'VOID' message behind upon removal, providing unmistakable proof of tampering or unauthorised access. This visible evidence alerts legitimate users that a package or enclosure has been opened or interfered with during transit or storage, helping to maintain product integrity.
Security labels come in a variety of materials and adhesive types. A key consideration is how the label voids and whether it leaves any residue on the sealed surface. Options include permanent residue labels, no-residue labels, and specialised variants tailored for specific applications. Some labels also incorporate perforations or slits to further indicate tampering, enhancing security and detection.
| BASE MATERIAL | DESCRIPTION | eXAMPLE |
|---|---|---|
| Residue Unilabels | Residue UniLabels, otherwise known as ‘permanent void’ or ‘total transfer’ labels, leave a permanent void message on the sealed item itself, as well as voiding the surface of the label. When peeled off, the VOID message appears, serving as proof of tampering. This makes them useful on single-use packages such as test tubes, cartons and so on. |  |
| Non-Residue UniLabels | Non-residue UniLabels, otherwise known as ‘no transfer’ labels, only void themselves and do not leave any security residue on the sealed surface itself. This makes them particularly suited to short-term use on reusable packages such as tote boxes or crates. |  |
| Speciality Hybrid and Part-Residue Labels | Hybrid ‘rub off’ UniLabels offer a combination of residue and non-residue… a residue message which is left on the sealed item, but which can be rubbed off once no longer needed with no permanent damage. This is useful where the residue message is being used purely as a visual indicator, rather than as a security feature. Some hybrid labels may also include perforations to further indicate tampering. |  |
| Vinyl Destructible UniLabels | Vinyl destructible UniLabels, AKA ‘fragmentable labels’, are destructible labels that have very strong adhesive, which prevents the label from being removed in one piece – the label will break into fragments when removal is attempted. The effect of this design is that the label breaks apart or distorts upon tampering, making removal impossible without visible damage and serving as proof of tampering. They are suited for long-term applications e.g., the permanent marking of IT equipment & machinery. |  |
Not all surfaces are the same, and the type of surface a label is applied to will affect how it performs. Many factors can influence how well a tape or label will stick to a surface: roughness, smoothness, porosity, coated or uncoated, cleanliness, flexibility, temperature conditions, moisture, and finally, surface energy.
Labels will generally adhere very well to surfaces with a ‘high surface energy’ (hydrophilic surfaces). For trickier surfaces, we can provide specialist material/adhesive combinations which can suit niche applications, so please contact [email protected] to discuss your needs, and we can provide advice and samples for you to assess.
Types of Security Labels
Security labels play a vital role in safeguarding product packaging, helping businesses protect their goods from tampering, counterfeiting, and unauthorised access. With a variety of options available, choosing the right type of security label is essential for ensuring the integrity of your products and building consumer confidence. Here, we discuss the main types of security labels, each designed to provide a specific level of tamper evidence and protection.
Customisation Features
Our UniLabel security labels offer a variety of features tailored to meet the specific needs of your application.
Our website includes convenient filter and search tools to help you quickly find the right security label products. Many of our security labels are kept in stock and ready for immediate dispatch, with order confirmation and delivery notifications provided for your convenience.
Alternatively, you can select from advanced security options such as holograms, microtext, and QR codes to enhance authentication and traceability. Below, we highlight some of the key design features available and explain how they contribute to securing your supply chains:
| ILLUSTRATION | FEATURE | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|---|
 | Custom Surface Markings | Security labels can be custom-printed with your logo, security warning, unique number/barcode & more. Such ‘overt’ security labels can act as a deterrent to anyone with bad intent, and also act to brand your packages. Alternatively, you may prefer to use ‘covert’ security labels – plain labels which aren’t obviously a security measure… until the label is removed (too late for the fraudster)! |
 | Custom Void Messages | It is also possible to customise at the sub-surface level, i.e. the void design itself, which appears through the label once removed, making your labels unique. This is particularly useful for covert labels, as once removed, it may be useful to provide a custom message / security number to inform a legitimate user of a security breach in transit. |
 | Choice of Colours | There is a wide range of colours available, and we can Pantone match where required. We can create labels which are as aesthetically pleasing as they are secure, and you can be sure they will provide the perfect conveyor of your brand message. Security features should not detract from the overall aesthetics of your packaging, ensuring both protection and visual appeal. |
 | Security Cuts – Easy-Break Labels | By creating security scores in the mid-section of the label during the conversion process, we create a weak point in the label, which allows its physical destruction when pulled apart. Security cuts can be useful where a label is being applied across a door, cupboard or other access point where quick access is required without having to remove the label first. The effect is to prevent unauthorised removal and provide a clear line of defence against tampering. |
 | NEL or WEL configuration | We can produce your security labels in Narrow Edge Leading (NEL) or Wide Edge Leading (WEL) labels. The choice is sometimes personal preference, but can also be important when it comes to specifying labels which will work well in machine or hand-operated applicators. |
 | Die Cuts | From dumbbell die-cut designs for use on vials and bottles… to large format square and circular labels for use on shipping pallets, we have hundreds of cutting tools in many shapes and sizes to suit the needs of the item being sealed. Every customer and every application is slightly different, so we can also commission a bespoke cutting tool if we haven’t got it already. |
 | Specialist UV Inks | In some use-cases, particularly for sensitive packages, it can be very useful for a tamper-evident label to void without telling the fraudster that they have been identified! We can do this with the use of specialist inks in the sub-surface void layer, which show only in the presence of UV light, and so reveal a fraudster’s suspicious activity! |
 | Counterpart / “Dual Number” | Counterpart security numbers can be a simple and efficient way to maintain a record of security numbers as they are used – simply peel off the counterpart and attach to paperwork / manifests to cross-reference to the corresponding security label used to seal a package. |
 | Finger Lift | ‘Finger lift’ labels do not have adhesive on the edges of the label, meaning they are easier to peel away from the liner when applying by hand. |
 | Finish | Security labels are supplied matt as standard, but can also be produced with a gloss finish, providing an alternative aesthetic finish where this is preferred. Certain finishes offer a premium touch, enhancing the tactile experience and perceived quality of your product. |
 | Paper Material | Last but not least, and in an exciting addition to the range, we are now able to produce security labels in an entirely paper-based material and adhesive blend. Paper-based labels can help to reduce the use of single-use plastic in your supply chain without sacrificing security and chain of custody. |
Advanced security features such as holograms, microtext, and QR codes can be incorporated for enhanced authentication and traceability. Holograms and colour-shifting inks change appearance depending on the angle of view, making them difficult to replicate. Tamper-evident features serve as a first line of defence against tampering.
Three Core Applications for Security Labels
Security labels are used for a wide variety of purposes, and every year, we are amazed by the new and inventive ways our customers use security labels to keep their businesses and products safe and secure. Security labels can be applied to any type of pack, from small boxes to large crates, providing both tamper-evident protection and decorative options to enhance product safety and appeal. Below, we give a brief overview of their use in three sectors: pharmaceutical, food and drink, and logistics.
Security Labels for Pharmaceutical Uses
The overt use of tamper-evident labels to seal pharmaceutical packaging adds to both distributors’ and consumers’ confidence in your brand by providing them with reassurance that your product remains free of tampering or counterfeiting. Tamper-proof labels, commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry, are designed to indicate if pharma products have been opened or tampered with by visually deforming upon removal. Our UniLabel security labels can suit all layers of pharmaceutical protective and transit packaging, including pill boxes and secondary master cartons for distribution, all the way up to tertiary packaging such as pallets and large crates.
Our security labels are ‘anti-tamper devices’ pursuant to the Falsified Medicines Directive, designed to protect consumers from the danger of counterfeit drugs and medicines. Security labels can be applied by hand or with automated machine applicators.
Security Labels for Food, Drink and Pet Industries
Similarly, security labels can also serve as a guarantee of authenticity and quality for food and drink sealed packages. QR codes can be incorporated into security labels to enable product authentication and enhance traceability in the food and drink supply chain. They instantly provide a new layer of security, adding to protection for all types of logistics: direct-to-consumer sales, takeaway deliveries and end-to-end food supply chains.
Security Labels for Logistics and Transport Sectors
Security labels provide an instant level of security in all manner of logistics and warehousing operations, protecting you from pilfering and counterfeiting. Our UniLabels deliver ‘positive control checks’ throughout your distribution network and clearly flag instances of security breaches when they occur.
The use of track and trace features, such as unique number/barcoding sequencing, allows each sealed package to be traced throughout its journey, maintaining the chain of custody of valuable or sensitive cargo for you and your customers. Our UniLabel also work well in cold chain logistics, as labels function even in extreme temperatures as low as -80 degrees Celsius.
All UK mainland orders for stock items are dispatched on a next-day delivery service to ensure fast and reliable shipping.
Contact us at [email protected] to discuss your needs today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are tamper-evident labels?
Tamper-evident labels are security labels designed to show visible signs of interference or removal, such as a 'VOID' message or breaking into pieces, to indicate that a package or product has been tampered with.
Can tamper-evident labels be customised?
Yes, tamper-evident labels can be customised with features like logos, unique serial numbers, QR codes, holograms, and specific void messages to enhance security and brand protection.
Do tamper-evident labels leave residue when removed?
There are different types of tamper-evident labels; some leave a permanent residue or void message on the surface, while no-residue labels void themselves without leaving sticky residue, suitable for reusable packaging.
Where are tamper-evident labels commonly used?
They are widely used in pharmaceutical packaging, food and drink products, logistics, electronics, and any valuable assets requiring protection against tampering and counterfeiting.