The label is ... Information and signs on the labels

In this article we will tell you what the label is, where it came from, and we will also indicate its types. The material also includes information that is indicated on the tags.

A label is what?

The word "label" is borrowed from the French language. Translated as "inscription" or "shortcut".

The very first prototypes of labels, which were discovered by archaeologists, were tags of pieces of skin on vessels with wine. Such a finding dates back to the end of the II millennium BC. E. Information on the label of this type reported on the location of the grapes, its variety, taste (sour or sweet), age and by whom it was produced. The need for this appeared, because all the vessels were the same shape. It was difficult to understand what the contents were without opening and not tasting. It was not advisable to break the tightness of the package. Then there was an idea to put information on a piece of skin and attach it to a bottle. With the advent of trade routes and the transportation of goods over long distances, the labels greatly facilitated the implementation. The first tags were a simple rectangular shape.

After 1820, the form began to change. Winemakers wanted to give their product an individuality. As a result, there were stickers in the form of a crown, a bunch of grapes or a leaf of a plant. The label became a sign of individuality. Over time, information about the location of the grapes was removed, left only a year of harvest, the type of wine and the producer. In 1880, the first colored tags appeared. And in 1883 labels and stickers began to be used for other types of products.

Further use of labels

The next, who became such a way to convey information, were the traders of fruits and vegetables. With the evolution of the label, the way information was applied to the product. The first birochki simply tied to a piece of rope and fixed with a sealing wax. Later, the label of the product became glued directly to the product. Various adhesives were used as an adhesive. Later, glues began to be purchased from masters, specializing in its production. Virtually disappeared products, which lacked a label. This became an indispensable attribute for trade.

In 1935, the American entrepreneur Stanton Avery invented the first self-adhesive sticker. Previously, the information on the label was applied manually. Mass printing of labels began in 1980. The order came for a batch of champagne, since since 1820 its production has increased to 2 million bottles a year.

Classification of labels on the importance of information on them

According to the importance of printed information, the tags were divided into four categories over time.

1. Information label - this is a tag that contained information about the name of the product, its composition, size, date of manufacture, shelf life, storage condition.
2. Descriptive sticker told how to properly operate the product, gave advice on care, informed about safety measures during operation.
3. Identifier bears information about the manufacturer.
4. Propaganda is an additional advertisement and tells about the advantages and uniqueness of the product.

For today, another label has been developed. This device is in the form of a circuit protected by a housing. The information is strictly confidential. It is used most often at security checkpoints of protected and important facilities.

As the development and necessity of applying information onto the product began to appear, legislative acts prescribing requirements for commodity tags.

Developed norms that strictly regulate the requirements for labels. The regulatory requirements indicated on which paper labels are allowed to be printed, what kind of paint should be used, which lacquer it is permissible to laminate this paper product. The regulation prescribed what should be the print quality and font size. There are mandatory conditions for the centering and alignment of the information. Indents from the edges of the paper product were not overlooked. Made tables, providing the size of labels for each type of product.

Types of tags by product type

The next amendments to the bills of different countries were the normative acts on the composition of mandatory information that must be applied to the label.

Product labels were divided into four categories, by product type:

• Food products;
• Clothes and shoes;
• Equipment and devices;
• Packaging.

Product Label Information

The information on the food product label must contain the following information:

• product name;
• Listing all components used in the manufacture;
• Food and energy value;
• Information about the country of the manufacturer and the manufacturer (name, address);
• Product weight;
• Date of manufacture, storage conditions and period;
• barcode;
• Designation of the standard, GOST or other act to which the product corresponds;
• Indicates the presence or absence of food additives, dyes, flavors, enhancers of taste and smell, genetically modified objects.

Tags on things

With goods from the category of clothing, everything turned out to be much more complicated. The tag for things, in addition to the trademark, information about the country of manufacture, size, composition of raw materials and guarantee obligations, should contain the following information:

• If this is clothing, then the percentage ratio of natural and chemical raw materials is indicated. And in each element of the product: top, bottom and lining;
• If it is a question of shoes, the manufacturer must display information about the type of material used for the top, bottom and inner liner.

On things made of leather, information on the area, mass and thickness is added. Information on the form of fur (natural or dyed) and the method of skin processing should be present on fur products.

But progress does not stand still. There are more and more new materials, a variety of types of finishes. The manufacturer tries to protect its product from deformation and rapid loss of species due to improper operation. But recommendations for care, cleaning methods and proper storage can look like multi-volume publishers, and there is only a standard tag size available. To cope with such a difficult task, a set of graphic symbols was developed that contained sufficient information on use and care.

Symbols began to be placed on a separate label, sewn to the product. After a number of changes, improvements and innovations, an international standard for product labeling appeared.

Signs on the labels have become standardized, familiar and recognizable.

Tags about washing

Symbols for washing have the form of a container with water. The numbers indicate the permissible water temperature. The standard ranges from 30 ° C to 95 ° C.

The hand, lowered into the water, warns that only hand washing is necessary, at a temperature not exceeding 40 ° C. The product with such a sign must be carefully pressed without twisting. The presence of a line under the container warns about the delicacy of washing. If the features are two, then the washing regime should be particularly delicate at a water temperature of no higher than 30 ° C. A cross on the container means that the product can not be wetted, only dry cleaning is permissible.

Drying and ironing

Information about the drying of the product has the form of a square. Inside it is a trait (vertical or horizontal), that is, it is necessary to dry the product in a vertical or horizontal position. The presence of the second line next to the first says that the product can not be squeezed.

Recommendations for ironing are shown in the form of an iron. A cross is a warning that it is prohibited. The ironing temperature is expressed by dots. One corresponds to 110 ° C, two 150 ° C, three 200 ° C.

Whitening

The marking for bleaching is a triangle. A crossed-out sign indicates the prohibition of the use of such means.

If there are two parallel features inside the figure, then only oxygen-containing bleachers are allowed. The absence of signs inside the triangle allows the use of chlorine-containing substances.

Conclusion

Labels on the labels are present on all types of products sold today.

Buying any type of products, it is enough to view the information on the label. Having carefully read the information on the label, you will take care of your health and health to people close to you.