Sustainable Hang Tags: Materials, Strings and Eco Design Ideas

A hang tag lives for a few minutes after purchase, so it is a natural place to start reducing the footprint of your packaging. Making a tag more sustainable is rarely about one special material. It comes from a series of small decisions: the board, the string, the inks, the finishes, the size and, not least, the words you print on it. This guide walks through each decision and shows how to make eco hang tags that still look and feel like your brand. For general board weights and sizes, see our separate guide to hang tag sizes and paper weights.

Start with the board

Recycled board

Recycled board is made partly or fully from recovered paper fibres. It is available in natural white, grey-toned, kraft brown and coloured versions, in most of the weights used for hang tags. The surface is slightly more open and textured than virgin coated board, which suits one-colour print, blind embossing and a natural, tactile look. If you state a recycled content on the tag, make sure you have the supporting documentation for the exact paper used.

Board from certified forest sources

Paper and board can come from responsibly managed forests certified under schemes such as FSC or PEFC. Note that printing a certification logo on a tag is regulated by the scheme itself: it requires a valid chain of custody covering the printed product and the scheme's approval of the label. Ask us which certified-source boards are currently available for your order and what documentation comes with them, and plan any logo use with your own certification adviser.

Uncoated stock

Uncoated board has no clay or plastic coating on the surface. It is easier to recycle with ordinary paper, feels natural in the hand and takes embossing beautifully. Colours print slightly softer and less glossy than on coated board, so choose bold, simple artwork and check the proof on the actual stock.

Seed paper as an idea

Seed paper is handmade paper with small seeds embedded in it; after use, the customer can plant the tag. It makes a memorable story for limited editions, gifts or campaigns. Keep its practical limits in mind: the surface is irregular, so fine print and small text are difficult; the paper is thicker and less rigid; it must be kept dry; and seeds sent across borders can be subject to plant health rules. It works best as a special small tag combined with a standard tag for the product information.

Strings and fasteners

The string is often the only non-paper part of the tag, so it makes a visible difference. Natural options include:

• Cotton string or cord: soft, natural and available in many colours; a strong all-round choice.
• Jute or hemp twine: rustic and textured, ideal with kraft board.
• Recycled polyester string: strong and colourfast; recycled options can be offered with GRS-certified material, as explained in our article on recycled labels and GRS.
• Paper twine: a fully paper-based option for a mono-material tag.

Plastic tag pins and seal locks are fast to apply on a production line, and for some products they are the practical choice. Where speed allows, a string tied through a buttonhole or attached with a safety pin removes the plastic part completely. Our article on how to attach hang tags compares the methods.

Inks and finishes

Print choices have a large effect on how easy a tag is to recycle.

• Water-based and soy-based inks are widely used for paper and board. Ask which ink systems are available for your stock and colour requirements.
• Fewer colours mean fewer printing plates, less ink and less make-ready waste. A one-colour design on coloured or kraft board can look strong and deliberate.
• Embossing and debossing add texture without adding any material at all.
• Skip plastic lamination where possible. Film lamination bonds plastic to paper and makes recycling harder; a varnish or uncoated finish usually serves the same purpose for a short-lived tag.
• Use foil sparingly. If foil is part of your identity, keep it to a small logo rather than a large area.

Size and print choices that reduce waste

• Right-size the tag. A smaller tag uses less board per piece. Design to the information you actually need.
• Fit the sheet. Standard rectangular sizes nest efficiently on a printing sheet; complex die-cuts create more offcuts.
• One tag, many styles. Keep variable information such as style number, size or barcode on a small sticker or on the care label, and use one tag design across the collection. You order larger runs of fewer designs and avoid leftovers when styles change.
• Combine tags. Instead of two or three tags per garment, use one folded tag with all the information.
• Plan quantities. Overstock that is never used is the biggest waste of all. Order to your realistic sales plan plus a sensible buffer.
• Move long texts online. A QR code can lead to your brand story, care tips or product information, keeping the printed tag short. See our QR and DPP-ready labels.

Honest wording: avoid greenwashing

What you print on a tag counts as a claim to consumers. EU consumer law has tightened in this area: Directive (EU) 2024/825 on empowering consumers for the green transition applies from 27 September 2026 and restricts generic environmental claims and sustainability labels that are not backed by recognised evidence or certification schemes. In practice, keep tag wording specific and provable:

• say what the tag is made of, for example "printed on recycled board", only when you hold the documentation for that board;
• avoid broad words such as "eco-friendly", "green" or "sustainable" on their own;
• do not create your own badges or seals that look like certifications;
• describe the garment and the tag separately: a recycled tag does not make the garment recycled;
• add recycling guidance, for example "please recycle with paper", where it is accurate for your market.

Our textile labels are made with OEKO-TEX certified materials, and recycled options with GRS-certified material are available on request. We do not use certification names that do not apply to your order.

Order sustainable hang tags

Tell us the look you want, the information the tag must carry and how it will be attached. Our designers prepare a digital proof typically within 24–48 h, and physical samples are available before production. The minimum order is usually 1,000 pcs per design, and production typically takes 10–20 working days after approval, with delivery across Europe. Explore our hang tags.

Frequently asked questions