CELLULOSE CONTAINER WITH INTERNAL MOLD LABEL

Abstract

A container or lid may have a molded cellulose body, the molded cellulose body defining one or more walls. The wall has an outer surface and an inner surface. A depression is located on the outer surface of the wall or walls. One or more labels are embedded in the depression on the outer surface of the wall. A method for labeling a container or lid having a cellulose body may also be provided.

Description

CELLULOSE CONTAINER WITH INTERNAL MOLD LABEL CROSS REFERENCE WITH RELATED APPLICATION The application relates to the priority claims of U.S. patent application serial no. 63 / 245,979, filed on September 20, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The application pertains to cellulose packaging used in the packaging industry for products such as food, cosmetics, or various other objects and materials. Cellulose may also be referred to as molded pulp, fiber, or thermoformed fiber. BACKGROUND Packaging is traditionally used to package food in liquid or loose form, or other objects or materials. While plastics have been commonly used due to their properties, there is still a demand for molded cellulose packaging. Several reasons explain the popularity of cellulose packaging, including the use of natural fibers, the compostability of some cellulose packaging, the possibility of using recycled fibers, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability, to name a few advantages. However, such packaging may lack the aesthetic appeal of plastics and may therefore be at a disadvantage, as product sellers tend to prefer plastic packaging to cellulose packaging, especially from a marketing perspective. Therefore, it would be desirable to improve manufacturing techniques to enhance the aesthetic characteristics of cellulose packaging. COMPENDIUM In one aspect, a container or lid is provided comprising: a molded cellulose body, the molded cellulose body defining at least one wall, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface; a depression in the outer surface of at least one wall; and at least one label, the at least one label being integrated into the depression in the outer surface of the at least one wall. Additionally, according to the appearance, for example, a continuous surface without edges is formed at a junction between the at least one label and the outer surface. Furthermore, according to the appearance, for example, a part of the surface of the container or lid is uniform at the junction between at least one label and the external surface. Furthermore, in accordance with the appearance, for example, a volumetric geometry of the depression corresponds substantially to that of at least one label. Even more in keeping with the appearance, for example, any part of a peripheral edge of at least one label protrudes from the depression by a distance that is less than the thickness of the label. Furthermore, according to the appearance, for example, the molded cellulose body is a monoblock cellulose body. ινΐΛ / a / zuzz / uii oz i Furthermore, in terms of appearance, for example, at least one label has a paper substrate. Furthermore, according to the appearance, for example, at least one label has a liquid-activated dry adhesive on one side applied against the molded cellulose body. Furthermore, according to its appearance, for example, liquid-activated dry adhesive is dextrin. Furthermore, according to the appearance, for example, at least one label is less adhesive on a surface of this applied against the body of the molded cellulose. Furthermore, in accordance with the appearance, for example, a starch content of molded cellulose ensures at least one label to the body. Furthermore, according to the appearance, for example, at least one wall has a thickness of 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm inclusive. Furthermore, in accordance with the appearance, for example, the body defines an internal cavity. Furthermore, according to the appearance, for example, a surface of the internal cavity has a coating on it. Furthermore, according to the appearance, for example, the coating is a waterproofing coating. According to another aspect of the present description, a method is provided for labeling a container or lid having a cellulose body comprising: placing at least one label against the surface of a mold; inserting cellulose into the mold so that at least one label is sandwiched between the cellulose and the surface of the mold; pressing, heating, and extracting water from the cellulose in the mold, whereby the cellulose is thermoformed with the at least one label embedded in a surface of the thermoformed cellulose; and removing the thermoformed cellulose from the mold, the thermoformed cellulose being a container or lid. Additionally, according to the other aspect, for example, inserting cellulose into the mold includes inserting a cellulose mat. Furthermore, according to the other aspect, for example, pressing, heating and extracting water from the cellulose in the mold causes a reduction in wall thickness of between 3 and 4 times from the cellulose mat to the thermoformed cellulose, for at least one wall of this. Furthermore, according to the other aspect, for example, placing at least one label against a surface of a mold includes placing at least one label in such a way that a surface of at least one label that has a liquid-activated dry adhesive is oriented towards the cellulose. Furthermore, in accordance with the other aspect, for example, another step may include adding a coating to at least one surface of the thermoformed cellulose after removing it from the mold. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The following figures refer to the following: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cellulose container and lid with an inner molded label according to the present description; Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a wall of the cellulose container and the lid of Fig. 1, according to a variant of the present description; and ινΐΛ / a / zuzz / uii oz i Figures 3A to 3C show a molding sequence of the cellulose container or lid with the internal mold label of Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, a cellulose container according to the present description is generally shown as 10. The container 10 may be called a receptacle, cup, pot, packet, among other possible names. In addition, while a container is shown, other objects of labeled cellulose, such as cups, trays, bowls, and other examples, may be manufactured according to the present description. As shown in Fig. 1, the container 10 may be used with a lid 20 that can be removably secured to the top of the container 10 to close an open top end of the container 10. The lid 20 may or may not be made of cellulose, but in the illustrated version, it is. Likewise, the container 10 may not be made of cellulose, while the lid 20 is. In other words, the present description refers to a container 10 made of cellulose and / or a lid 20 made of cellulose.Container 10 can be used to package various items, whether in liquid, solid, gel, viscous form, or as loose material, granules, etc. Lid 20 can be used to close the open top of a container, such as container 10. Container 10 has cellulose as its main material. Cellulose is considered the main material because it constitutes the largest proportion by weight and / or volume of the empty container 10. It can also be said that cellulose forms the structure of container 10, in the sense that it provides and maintains the container's shape. Cellulose may also be referred to as molded pulp, fiber, or thermoformed fiber. These terms may be used interchangeably in this document. Cellulose may consist of any suitable natural fiber (biomass) such as wood fibers, plant fibers, straw, cereals, annual plants, etc. Molded cellulose may be made from recycled paper and water, cardboard, or virgin cellulose. Additives may be added to the pulp to provide desired characteristics. These characteristics may include color, moisture resistance, and / or increased impact strength. The container 10 shown in Fig.Container 1 has a generally rectangular prism shape with an open top end (e.g., a slight upward flare for mold ejection) when viewed from above, but any other appropriate shape with other possible geometries may be used. Shapes may include oblong (as shown), rectangular, square, polygonal, oval, circular, among other possible peripheral shapes, with the possibility of shape transitions (e.g., from a rectangular base to an oval rim). Geometries may include prisms, cylinders, hemispheres, truncated hemispheres, boxes, and combinations thereof, among other possible geometries. Container 10 may not be limited to any particular shape. Container 10 will be referred to below when placed on a horizontal surface and thus with its top end open. In this orientation, container 10 can be said to have a bottom wall 11 with side walls 12 that generally project upwards (e.g., perpendicular to the bottom wall 11, or at other angles to the bottom wall 11). There are four different side walls 12 shown depending on the example geometry, namely side walls 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D. The side walls are referred to as 12 in the description but are shown as 12A-12D in the figures. Although sharp edges are shown between the bottom wall 11 and the side walls 12, continuous geometry can be used to avoid the presence of sharp edges. For example, a bowl-shaped hemisphere might not have such sharp edges.Similarly, it can be said that side walls 12A to 12D are distinct from each other, since each forms one side of container 10. However, container 10 can be interpreted as having only one side wall 12 that forms a closed shape with itself, for example, when container 10 has a cylindrical shape, or when the corner regions are arched to optionally have an interior and / or exterior surface without apparent edges. For simplicity, container 10 is referred to as having side walls 12, but the present description also covers a single side wall 12 as described above. The bottom wall 11 and the side walls 12 form part of a molded cellulose body. The body can be described as monoblock because the bottom wall 11 and the side walls 12 are molded together integrally as a single piece (although the walls 11 may have labels as described herein). The bottom wall 11 and the side walls 12 simultaneously define an exposed outer surface 13 of the container 10. More specifically, when the container 10 has the lid 20, the visible portion of the container 10 is the exposed outer surface 13. The bottom wall 11 and the side walls 12 also simultaneously define an inner surface 14, which may also be referred to as the internal surfaces 14.As detailed below, the inner surface 14 may not necessarily be made of cellulose, as it is intended to provide certain surface coatings to give the container 10 specific characteristics, such as water impermeability or airtightness. These surface coatings can be added after molding, for example. The combination of the bottom wall 11 and the side walls 12 defines a concavity 15. This concavity 15 can be referred to as the internal cavity 15 of the container 10. It is this internal cavity 15 that acts as a receptacle for receiving material in the container 10. The volume of the internal cavity 15 may depend on the intended use. Although the internal cavity 15 is shown to be defined by the continuous, smooth surfaces of the bottom wall 11 and the side walls 12, it is considered to provide the container 10 with various surface features for defining compartments and supports. For example, if the container 10 is used as an egg carton, there may be half a dozen or a dozen internal support elements to hold the eggs individually. An edge 16 defines the open upper end of the container 10 and is at a junction between the exposed outer surface 13 and the inner surface 14. The edge 16 is shown as a single continuous linear edge that may lie in a flat plane. However, it is considered to have features such as tabs, latches, projections, wedges, holes, protrusions, and channels to form part of the connection features for removably securing the lid 20 to the container 10, for example, by means of complementary connection features on the lid 20. In one variant, the edge 16 may define a flange or similar surface for a sealing operculum (for example, a plastic film) that will be securely attached to the container 10. One or more inner mold labels 17 are provided on the exposed outer surface 13. The inner mold label(s) 17 are provided to identify the product in the container 10, for example, and may contain information such as a brand, drawings, logos, images, names, volume data, nutritional data, serving information, barcode, QR code, to name just a few of the types of data that may be on the label(s) 17. The label(s) 17 may have a paper substrate or face material, on which the data is printed, drawn, etc. Additional layers may be provided on the label(s) 17, although the surface of the label(s) 17 interconnected with the cellulose of the container 10 is fiber-based, such as paper. The label 17 may also be made of a polymeric substrate.However, the use of a fiber-based material for label 17 can facilitate the disposal of packaging 10 with label 17, for example through composting or recycling. As shown in Fig. 1, a single inner mold label 17 covers the side walls 12A and 12B. The single inner mold label 17 may also cover the side walls 12C and 12D and / or the bottom wall 11, with the single inner mold label 17 folded at the intersection of walls 11 and 12, if necessary. Furthermore, the inner mold label 17, as a single sheet of paper, may be die-cut into a specific shape to be folded and / or shaped to fit the container 10. As a result, a seam 18 may be present on the inner mold label 17. Other inner mold label configurations are considered, such as having individual labels 17 on separate faces of the container 10. The label(s) 17 are referred to as an inner mold label because they are in the mold during the molding process by which the container 10 is formed, thus becoming an integral part of it.Other terms that can be used to describe the in-mold packaging 10 include in-mold label, integrated label, monoblock label, and IML. The in-mold label molding process will be described below with reference to Figs. 3A to 3C. With reference to Fig. 1, the lid 20 is generally shown as flat. The lid 20 may have a cover wall 21 shaped to fit over the container 10 and close its open top end. Consequently, the cover wall 21 can be described as flat, but it can also have other geometries (e.g., three-dimensional shapes, such as a dome) as alternatives to being flat. Likewise, the outline of the cover wall 21 generally matches the shape of the open top end of the container 10, but it can have other shapes depending on the shape of the container 10. According to one embodiment, the lid 20 has a skirt 22 by which it is joined to the rim 16 of the container 10. The skirt 22 may also be called a peripheral wall, latch, or shelf, and may use any connection technology appropriate for the removable complementary connection to the container 10. The lid 20 has an exposed outer surface 23, which may also be called the main surface of the lid 20, and which is visible when the container 10 is closed with the lid 20. The exposed outer surface 23 is generally flat but may have surface features, for example, to allow stacking of containers filled with lids 20, such as supports, flanges, etc. The inner surface 24 is on a surface opposite the exposed outer surface 23. The inner surface 24 is normally oriented toward the inner cavity 15.The inner surface 24 may have a surface coating that is equivalent to the surface coating found on the inner surface 14 of the container 10. Similar to the container 10, an inner-mold label 27 may be provided on the exposed outer surface 23 of the lid 20, although this is optional. The term “inner-mold” is used for the label 27 for the same reason as the inner-mold label 17 of the container 10. However, in one embodiment, it is considered to have inner-mold technology for either the container 10 or the lid 20, i.e., not both. The lid 20 may also be made of a material other than molded cellulose. With reference to Fig. 2 below, a schematic cross-section of a wall 11, 12, and / or 21 of the container 10 and / or lid 20 is shown, illustrating the configuration of the inner mold label 17 / 27 in relation to the cellulose material of walls 11, 12, and / or 21. In other words, the configuration shown in Fig. 2 may be for any or more of walls 11, 12, and / or 21. Fig. 2 is schematic to illustrate a depression in the cellulose material into which label 17 / 27 is received, even though label 17 / 27 is as thin as paper (though not necessarily paper), so optical magnification devices may be required to observe such penetration into the depression. Conversely, the wall thickness 11, 12 and / or 21 may be shown proportionally thinner than it actually is with respect to the 17 / 27 label. Walls 11, 12, and / or 21 are made of a single layer of cellulosic material, but there may be more than one layer. For example, an outer layer and / or a middle layer, which defines the exposed outer surface 13 / 23, may be made of recycled fibers, while an inner layer, which may come into contact with food depending on the use, may be made of virgin fibers. As another example, an outer layer may include a first color, and the inner layer may include a second color. Furthermore, the layers may have different fiber orientations to strengthen the final packaging. The exposed outer surface 13 / 23 is shown, and it can be seen that the inner molded label 17 / 27 forms a continuous, seamless surface with the exposed outer surface 13 / 23. The term "semi-edged" can be defined to mean that there is no substantially protruding portion of the label or cellulose at the junction between surface 13 / 23 and label 17 / 27; edges may be present where labels 17 / 27 are folded over themselves, as at junction 18. In other words, the junction between the cellulose material of surfaces 13 / 23 is continuous with the upper surface of the label material 17 / 27. In one variant, the coefficient of surface friction may vary between the exposed outer surface 13 / 23 with molded cellulose and surface 17 / 27, despite the seamless joints.The 17 / 27 labels are housed or embedded in a depression formed in the cellulosic material of the 11 / 12 / 21 walls, by a thickness equivalent to T of the 17 / 27 labels. For example, the 17 / 27 labels have a thickness between 0.05 mm and 0.15 mm. The depression has a depth D that can be equal to the thickness T. The depression can be said to have a volumetric shape corresponding to that of the 17 / 27 label. A peripheral edge of the labels, shown as 17A / 27A, is therefore in face-to-face contact with the cellulose material of the 11 / 12 / 21 walls. In one embodiment, the peripheral edge 17A / 27A of the 17 / 27 label may not be completely surrounded by the cellulose material, but any portion of the peripheral edge 17A / 27A that is not completely in the depression is outside by a distance that is less than the thickness T.Therefore, seamless can be defined as the absence of a step between the 17 / 27 label and the cellulose material of the 13 / 23 surfaces immediately surrounding the 17 / 27 label. Any step, if present, can be less than the thickness T, as some form of embedding of the 17 / 27 label into the 13 / 23 surface is always present. In other words, there is always some penetration of the 17 / 27 label into the 13 / 23 surface, such that the 13 / 23 surface, as if stepping inward, joins a periphery of the 17 / 27 label. This penetration can extend around the entire periphery of the 17 / 27 label. A wall of the depression can be said to face an edge surface of the periphery of the 10 label. In one embodiment, no adhesive is added between the labels 17 / 27 (i.e., they have no adhesive) and the cellulose of the walls 11, 12, and 21, but the starch, which is an integral part of the pulp in the molding process, may contribute to the adhesion of the paper substrate of the label 17 / 27 to the cellulose of the walls 11, 12, and 21. In another embodiment, a thin layer or dots of a dry liquid-activated adhesive (wettable adhesive) are provided on the surface of the label 17 / 27 that adheres to the walls 11, 12, and 21. A dry liquid-activated adhesive can be said to have limited tack when dry, but the tack increases substantially once the adhesive is moistened. The liquid-activated adhesive may be, for example, a dextrin (e.g., vegetable starch). In another embodiment, the pulp suspension may incorporate an adhesive additive. With reference to Fig. 2, a coating A is shown covering the inner surface 14 / 24 of the container 10 / lid 20. Coating A can be applied after the molding of the container 10 or the lid 20. Coating A can be any type of coating suitable for providing certain characteristics to the container 10 or the lid 20, as described above. For example, coating A can be a wax, a polymer, or a metal (e.g., aluminum foil), and as a result, the container 10 / lid 20 can be given properties such as airtightness or water resistance. Additional coating layers can be provided, for example, on top of coating A or on the exposed outer surface 13 / 23. Similarly, the labels from the inner mold 17 / 27 can be on the inner surfaces 14 / 24. Although walls 11, 12, and 21 appear flat in Fig. 2, they can also be curved, as shown by the curved lines C. In other words, the curved lines C represent a contemplated shape of wall 11, 12, and / or 21 where labels 17 / 27 are embedded. The curvature can be cylindrical, spherical, etc. Despite the presence of curvature, labels 17 / 27 still form a continuous, generally edgeless surface with the surrounding exposed surface 13 / 23. Fig. 2 may not be to scale. Labels 17 / 27 and coating A are shown thicker than they actually are for clarity. With reference to Figs. 3A to 3C, a cellulose molding process is described whereby the container 10 and / or the lid 20 can be manufactured with the inner mold labels 17 / 27 integrated into the continuous, edgeless surfaces. For simplicity, the mold is shown with a first mold part 30 and a second mold part 31 that simultaneously form a single cavity for molding a single part (shown herein as the lid 20). Additional mold parts (also known as slides) and / or more than one cavity per mold can also be provided. The mold shown in Figs. 3A to 3C is for molding the lid 20 with the inner mold label 27. However, a similar molding approach can be used to manufacture the container 10. The first part of the mold 30 has cavity portions 30A that can essentially be an annular channel to form the skirt 22. Optionally, one or more injection ports 30B may be present, through which pulp can be injected into the mold cavity. The injection port(s) 30B may be optional, as other molding techniques can be used, such as using a cellulose mat M, also shown in Fig. 3A. Other mold components, such as vacuum holes, etc., may be present to drain liquid from the cellulose pulp in the closed mold. Providing unreliable bladders to exert a compressive action is also considered. For example, mold parts 30 and 31 exert pressure when closing, but in a closing direction.Bladders may be present to exert pressure in another direction, such as transverse to the mold closing direction. To mold the container 10, the wall(s) 12 may be oblique with respect to wall 11 so that mold parts 30 and 31 exert pressure on the walls 12 when they close in the manner shown in Figs. 3A to 3B. As shown in Fig. 3A, the first mold part 30 is separated from the second mold part 31. The second mold part 31 also has a cavity part 30B in which the cover wall 21 is molded. When the first mold part 30 is pressed against the second mold part 31 in the manner shown in Fig. 3B, it results in a cavity that has the geometry of the part to be molded, i.e., the geometry of the cover 20. Before the closure of mold parts 30 and 31 as shown in Fig. 3B, the label(s) 27 are inserted into the second mold part 31 (or mold part 30) and pressed against a mold surface. Insertion can be done manually, by a robot, etc. Moisture on the mold surface, vacuum ports, and / or mechanical stops can ensure that the label 27 remains in the desired position. In one embodiment, the cellulose mat M is used. The cellulose mat M can be a preformed version of the lid 20 (or container 10), which is generally shaped like the lid 20 (or container 10), although thicker. For example, the cellulose mat M can be a single piece handled by a robot, or it can be fed from a roll. The cellulose mat M can be moist.As an example, the weight ratio of water to cellulose for cellulose mat M can range from more than 1:1 (i.e., more water than fiber) to 1:2 (twice the weight of the fiber). Therefore, the process described herein may include a step of molding mat M before inserting it into mold 30 in Fig. 3A. Once label 27 is in the mold, the first part of mold 30 can be closed with the second part of mold 31, with label 27 and the cellulose mat M (if used) captured in the mold cavity. Label 27 is against the mold surface. Closing the mold compresses the cellulose mat M within the mold, allowing water to be squeezed out through ports on the surface of mold M. This compression can cause a reduction in wall thickness, up to three or four times, if not more. For example, walls 11, 12, and 21 may have a thickness of 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm (inclusive), while the cellulose mat M may have been between 2.0 and 3.0 mm thick (if not more). An increase in density also results from this process. Heating also occurs to contribute to the shaping of the fibers and the evacuation of water from the cellulose and the mold 30. This may be part of a thermoforming process for molded pulp and / or may be known as “in-mold curing.” The thermoforming / in-mold curing process is well-suited for use with a multi-layered pulp body, i.e., with the internal mold label 27. The pulp may also include starch, which contributes to the adhesion of the internal mold label 27 paper to the pulp. If the label 27 has a dry liquid-activated adhesive, the moisture in the pulp and the pressure in the mold 30 ensure that the label 27 adheres to the wall pulp 21. As the combination of the internal mold label 27 and the lid pulp 20 dries, the internal mold label 27 becomes an integral part of the lid 20, defining the depression resulting from the label 27 being in the mold. This results in a continuous, edgeless surface as shown in Fig.2, and / or a connection having the attributes described above with respect to Figs. 1 and 2 (depression, seamless, etc.). Once the container 10 / lid 20 is ejected from the mold, a surface coating A can be applied. For example, a surface coating can be applied to the internal surfaces 14 and / or 24 to provide properties such as water resistance or impermeability. This is optional. In a mat-less configuration, the pulp can be injected into the cavity formed by the first part of mold 30 and the second part of mold 31, so that the pulp fills the cavity through the injection ports 30B. Because label 27 is against the mold surface, there is little or no cellulose penetration between the mold surface and the exposed surface of the inner label of mold 27. The pulp surrounds and covers label 27 as it settles. The injected pulp has a high water content, but the water is removed by vacuum / drain holes, suction, and / or mold heating. Additives may be included in the pulp to provide specific properties. In one embodiment, the process shown in Figs. 3A to 3C for molded pulp uses in-mold curing technology, so that the container 10 or lid 20 with labels 17 and / or 27 are smooth-surfaced, well-defined molded pulp products. After forming, the container 10 / lid 20 is captured in the heated mold in which the labeled pulp is pressed and densified. The container 10 / lid 20 with labels 17 / 27 can therefore be ejected or removed from the mold in a finished state instead of being oven-dried. The container 10 and the lid 20 can be described, in general, with a molded cellulose body, the molded cellulose body defining at least one wall, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, a depression in the outer surface of at least one wall; and at least one label, the at least one label being integrated into the depression in the outer surface of the at least one wall. The container 10 or lid 20 can be optionally labeled according to a method that can be described with steps such as placing at least one label against the surface of a mold; inserting cellulose into the mold so that at least one label is sandwiched between the cellulose and the surface of the mold; pressing, heating and extracting water from the cellulose in the mold, so that the cellulose is thermoformed with the at least one label embedded in a surface of the thermoformed cellulose; and removing the thermoformed cellulose from the mold, the thermoformed cellulose being a container or a lid.Other steps or sub-steps may include: inserting a cellulose mat; causing a reduction in wall thickness of 3 to 4 times from the cellulose mat to the thermoformed cellulose, for at least one wall of the latter; positioning the at least one label in such a way that a surface of the at least one label that has a liquid-activated dry adhesive faces the cellulose; and / or adding a coating to at least one surface of the thermoformed cellulose after removing it from the mold. The foregoing description is intended as an example only, and a person skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention described. Still other modifications that fall within the scope of the present invention will be evident to those skilled in the art upon review of this description, and it is intended that such modifications will fall within the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container or lid comprising: a molded cellulose body, the molded cellulose body defining at least one wall, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, a depression in the outer surface of at least one wall; and at least one label, the at least one label being integrated into the depression in the outer surface of the at least one wall.

2. The container or lid according to claim 1, wherein a continuous, edgeless surface is formed at a junction between the at least one label and the outer surface.

3. The container or lid according to claim 1, wherein a surface portion of the container or lid is uniform at the junction between at least one label and the outer surface.

4. The container or lid according to claim 1, wherein a volumetric geometry of the depression corresponds substantially to that of at least one label.

5. The container or lid according to claim 1, wherein any part of a peripheral edge of at least one label protrudes from the depression by a distance that is less than the thickness of the label.

6. The container or lid according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the molded cellulose body is a one-piece cellulose body.

7. The container or lid according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one label has a paper substrate.

8. The container or lid according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one label has a liquid-activated dry adhesive on one side thereof applied against the molded cellulose body.

9. The container or lid according to claim 8, wherein the liquid-activated dry adhesive is dextrin.

10. The container or lid according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least one label is less adhesive on one side thereof applied against the molded cellulose body.

11. The container or lid according to claim 10, wherein a molded cellulose starch content secures at least one label to the body.

12. The container or lid according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the at least one wall has a thickness of 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm inclusive.

13. The container or lid according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the body defines an inner cavity.

14. The container or lid according to claim 13, wherein a surface of the inner cavity has a coating thereon.

15. The container or lid according to claim 14, wherein the coating is a waterproofing coating.

16. A method for labeling a container or lid having a cellulose body comprising: placing at least one label against the surface of a mold; inserting cellulose into the mold so that the at least one label is sandwiched between the cellulose and the surface of the mold; pressing, heating, and extracting water from the cellulose in the mold, whereby the cellulose is thermoformed with at least one label integrated into a surface of the thermoformed cellulose; and removing the thermoformed cellulose from the mold, the thermoformed cellulose being a container or lid.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein inserting cellulose into the mold includes inserting a cellulose mat.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein pressing, heating and extracting water from the cellulose in the mold causes a reduction in wall thickness between 3 and 4 times from the cellulose mat to the thermoformed cellulose 10, for at least one wall thereof.

19. The method according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein placing at least one label against a surface of a mold includes placing the at least one label such that a surface of the at least one label having a liquid-activated dry adhesive is oriented towards the cellulose.

20. The method according to any of claims 16 to 19, further comprising adding a coating to at least one surface of the thermoformed cellulose after removing it from the mold.

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