The thermal coating reacts to heat, so direct sun, a car interior, grease and solvents will erase the image. An ECO grade thermal label stays readable for about six months in room conditions; a TOP grade one with a protective layer lasts up to two years. If the label has to stay on the product until its expiry date and that is more than a year away, we use paper or BOPP with flexographic printing instead. If the label is a logistics label that does its job within a week, thermal is the cheapest and fastest answer.
12 August 2026 · Print Palace
Why thermal labels fade, and when not to use one
A thermal label has no ink; the image is in the material itself. That is exactly why it is ideal in some conditions and unacceptable in others.
