What are Shrink Sleeves?

Shrink Sleeves, also known as Tamper Evident Seals, are heat-shrinkable plastic sleeves designed to fit around the caps, lids or necks of bottles, jars, containers and other packaged products. When you apply heat with a heat gun or shrink tunnel, the sleeve shrinks tightly around the container, creating a secure, tamper-evident seal.

Shrink sleeves provide a visible indication if a product has been opened or tampered with, as the seal must generally be broken or removed to access the contents. Many feature a perforated tear strip for easy removal.

Common Applications

Shrink sleeves and tamper seals are commonly used for:

  • Bottles: Securing caps on beverages, sauces, oils and liquid products.
  • Jars: Providing tamper evidence on food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical packaging.
  • Cosmetics: Sealing creams, lotions and personal care products.
  • Pharmaceuticals: Providing an additional tamper-evident feature on medicine and supplement containers.
  • Retail Products: Helping protect packaged goods against unauthorised opening.

Benefits of Shrink Sleeves and Tamper Seals

  • Tamper Evidence: Provides a visible indication when a seal has been broken or removed.
  • Product Protection: Helps prevent accidental opening of lids and caps during handling and transportation.
  • Professional Presentation: Creates a neat, secure finish around bottle caps and container lids.
  • Easy Application: Can be applied using a heat gun or shrink tunnel.
  • Versatile: Available in various sizes, colours and materials to suit different packaging requirements.

Shrink sleeves and tamper seals are an economical way to provide tamper evidence, improve product presentation and give customers greater confidence that their products have not been opened before purchase.

Unlike a full-body shrink sleeve label, a tamper-evident shrink band generally covers only the cap, lid or neck of the container rather than the entire product.