Sustainable, Compliant Labels Drive Success for New Social District | Restaurant

8/29/2024

RRD deploys custom dissolvable label, helps organization reduce carbon footprint

CHALLENGE

A local merchant organization, tasked with implementing a new social district in a fast-growing metropolitan area, faced multiple challenges. As the area's first social district — a defined outdoor area where patrons can consume alcoholic beverages — the organization needed a viable cup label solution. This solution was essential to ensure compliance with local regulations regarding alcohol consumption. The labels also needed to align with the district's sustainability goals. Lacking experience with labeling materials and solutions, the organization initially used blank labels, but the inefficiency of handwriting information highlighted the need for a long-term solution.

SOLUTION

The organization turned to RRD to develop a comprehensive label solution that addressed their challenges:

• Sustainability and compliance: RRD provided a custom dissolvable label made from FSC-certified water-dissolvable paper with a water-dissolvable adhesive. This material dissolves in seconds under running water, leaving no residue on the container. It adheres to — and washes off of — various substrates, including most plastics, stainless steel, and glass. The labels enabled the use of reusable aluminum cups, reducing single-use waste while ensuring regulatory compliance. Importantly, the labels prevent patrons from reusing cups with outside beverages. The label also dissolves after washing, ensuring that only drinks purchased within the district are consumed.
• Cost-effective customization: RRD provided a custom solution at a price just slightly higher than blank stock labels. RRD’s digital label press capabilities allowed for multiple versions to be produced in a cost-effective manner.
• Expertise and local presence: Leveraging extensive knowledge in the label space, the RRD team served as industry experts and solution architects. RRD’s proximity enabled in-person meetings, allowing direct collaboration with the client's leadership to build a solution from ideation to implementation.

RESULTS

By partnering with RRD, the organization successfully implemented a label solution that supported the social district's operational goals:

• Compliance: The dissolvable labels ensured that the social district operated effectively within regulatory parameters.
• Efficiency: The new label process reduced the steps required for label application and distribution.
• Sustainability: The solution supported the district's sustainability goals by enabling the use of aluminum reusable cups, reducing single-use waste.
• Prosperity: RRD's labels helped the district thrive and effectively support various local businesses participating in the program.