Vinyl is a term commonly used to refer to polyvinyl chloride; a synthetic plastic that is used in the manufacturing of a wide variety of items. Polyvinyl chloride is flexible, durable, strong, and (perhaps most importantly) highly reactive, which means PVC is very easy to convert and can be produced with the precise properties required for a particular application. Unmodified PVC is converted by adding a selection of additives that will determine the final properties of the finished PVC that is used to make products; additives include heat and UV stabilisers, lubricants, plasticisers, flame retardants, fillers, and pigments, amongst many others.
In labelling, vinyl is commonly used to make films, which form either the face material of a label or act as a protective and decorative coating for a face material.