A label is small, but it’s attached to something, and that’s precisely the problem: it has to stay in place and remain legible in a spot where nobody takes any care of it.
A plant label It’s planted in the ground or in a pot, gets splashed with water and is exposed to the sun. That’s why we print them on plastic rather than paper, using ink that won’t run when the label gets wet. We cut the tab at the bottom to the length required by your pot or container.
A luggage tag has another problem: it gets torn. That’s why it’s made from a thicker plastic with a reinforced loop, as that’s where a label is most likely to tear first. Handy for a travel agency, a group trip or a trade fair where everyone is carrying the same type of bag.
We both cut them to shape, so a rectangle isn’t the only option. For a label attached to a product in a shop, you’d be better off looking at the hangtags.