Afinia Label’s Mike Atkins was recently interviewed by Printing News to provide insight into labeling challenges and solutions surrounding Cannabis labeling. Here’s an excerpt from that article:
From the article, “Labeling the High Life” from Printing News, article by Toni McQuilken
Rather than apply several labels to a single package in order to comply with regulations, our digital printing solution allows them to consolidate all this information on one label
– Mike Atkins – Afinia Label
The moving target
One problem with the cannabis market is that because of the constantly changing laws and regulations, the labeling requirements are also constantly shifting. Afinia Label decided to go after this market with its high-quality label printers, looking to help smaller growers create labels on the fly, rather than pre-print materials that may or may not be relevant in another month.
“Dispensaries and cultivators face stringent, ever-changing labeling requirements which make ordering preprinted labels costly, and logistically difficult,” noted Mike Atkins, national sales manager, Afinia Label. “They offer a wide variety of products that change frequently. From one month to the next, the strains they produce can change. This requires many small batches of unique labels. Also, they are continually required to provide accurate test data, which must be labeled on the product. Rather than apply several labels to a single package in order to comply with regulations, our digital printing solution allows them to consolidate all this information on one label that can be printed on demand.” Afinia Label has worked with a wide range of brands, including Willie Nelson’s “Willie’s Reserve,” and an edible producer in New Mexico called Budder Pros, among others.
“Three key requirements are driving cannabis manufacturers and processors to the use of on-demand color labels,” agreed Guy Mikel, president of Color Label Solutions, reseller/partner of the ColorWorks on-demand inkjet label printers. “First, companies in the cannabis business must comply to the state requirements, which keep changing. As most states require a variety of variable data such as serialized package tracking, lot or batch identification, and/or THC or other component testing results, companies need to include this information on their packaging. Printing this information on the label is the most efficient means to meet this requirement. Second, companies are developing new products. As new SKU’s are tested and developed, label content evolves. An on-demand color label makes changes easy to do. Third, branding is a key component of the marketing of cannabis products, especially as the market moves into the recreational segment. Manufacturers want and need to convey their product attributes and product positioning in a retail setting. Great looking color labels on-demand help marketers project a premium product image; which is what District Edibles has achieved with their products.”
