How to Eliminate Mould Growth on Beer and Drinks Labels

ould growth on bottle labels can quickly turn from a minor quality concern into a major production headache — leading to costly product rejections, damaged brand perception, and wasted stock. And while it’s tempting to blame the adhesive or the label itself, the truth is often more complex.

At Alphabond Technologies, we’ve worked with drinks producers across the globe, from Coca-Cola to Cognac bottlers, and have seen this issue appear in both high-speed and artisanal operations alike.

Our first encounter with mould contamination dates back several years, when a major sparkling water producer discovered mould spreading across multiple pallets of finished product. A deep investigation revealed that the problem doesn’t start in the bottle — it starts with the perfect storm of environmental conditions, storage practices, and materials. When the right humidity, temperature, and fungal spores meet in a bottling hall, mould can thrive — especially when absorbent materials like cardboard and paper are present.

More recently, we were asked to help a major beer brand facing a similar issue. After extensive testing with microbiologists — across multiple label stocks, bottle types, and adhesive formulations — we uncovered some surprising results that challenged a few long-held assumptions about what really causes mould growth.

We’ve summarised our findings, practical solutions, and prevention strategies in a detailed whitepaper:

• How to identify and control the environmental factors behind mould formation

• Why certain adhesives or label types may increase risk under specific conditions

• Simple process checks that dramatically reduce contamination

• Real-world case studies showing how global brands eliminated the problem

👉 Fill in the form below to get the full “Eliminating Mould Growth on Beer & Drinks Labels” whitepaper and discover how to protect your packaging — and your brand — from the effects of mould.