The Future of Printed Labels to 2029

Table of Contents Key Facts and Figures

$44.8 billion is the value of the printed label market in 2024, with a volume of 1.34 billion A4 equivalents
4.6% CAGR is the value growth rate to 2029; in volume terms the market will grow at 4.4% CAGR.

In 2023, the market experienced a contraction, with demand for label stock falling sharply, though volumes of printed labels were less affected. The underlying reasons for this are complex but primarily relate to the relaxation of inventory built up in the supply chain in 2021 and 2022. By 2024, volumes are beginning to return to normal levels, and it is projected that steady growth will resume over the five years leading to 2029.

Printed labels and sleeves are produced from a range of paper and polymeric materials, and used to identify the contents of packaging, bottles, and cans. They can also provide brand identification and differentiation for the product manufacturers. This report examines the global markets for printed labels, with market data being presented in converter value and printed volume terms as the equivalent of A4 prints.

Key Questions

Which areas of growth can the industry expect to see over the next five years?
Where are the areas of the market under threat?
When will the industry fully recover from the impact of global economic events?
What impact are environmental regulations, such as the PPWR, having on the printed labels industry?
How is the global drive for sustainability driving demand for pressure-sensitive labels and sleeves?

This report benefits

Printer manufacturers
Ink and label substrate suppliers
Packaging converters and print service providers

About the author
Jon Harper Smith has over 15 years’ experience in the printing industry through his time working with Fujifilm and has extensive experience of industrial and package printing businesses with particular focus on industrial inkjet and flexo processes. He has a proven ability to develop complex cross border businesses involving the provision of highly technical products that meet strict end user specifications.

Name The Future of Printed Labels to 2029

Date 31/07/2024

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Business Development Manager, Smithers Information Division

United States

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Ciaran

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Global VP, Business Development & Director of Operations (Asia-Pacific)

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Executive summary
Introduction and methodology

Introduction
Objective and scope
Methodology
Definitions
Label format
Print process
Data

Market trends and drivers for label printing

Introduction
World economic outlook
- Total population as of 1 July (million)
- Employment
- Spending habits
- Healthcare
Globalisation of brand identities
Changes to packaging materials and formats
- Glass bottle, metal can, or plastic bottle?
- Rigid plastic to flexible packaging
Digital printing and displacement of analogue processes
- Leaner print service provider business models
- Convenience
Legislative influences and their impact on labels
Anti-counterfeiting and traceability
Smart and Intelligent Labels

Cutting-edge technology developments

Introduction
Sustainability, recycling and reduced environmental impact
Lightweighting of label formats
- Paper
- Plastic film
Recyclability – desire for removability (floating label material in material recovery phase), purity of PET recyclate
Arrival of bio-plastic label materials
- Paper
- PLA (polylactic acid)
- Polyolefin
- PET
Greater automation in label printing
Digital printing
- Electrophotography
- Inkjet
  - Inkjet head developments
- Inks and Toners
Premiumisation of brands via packaging
- New substrates
  - Paper
  - Clear film
  - Metallised labels
- New finishing systems/embellishment
Anti-counterfeiting solutions
- Overt security features
- Covert security features
- Tamper evident labelling
Availability of print systems for sleeve formats

Label format markets

Overview
Wet glue labels
- Wet glue label print processes
- Wet glue label geographic markets
Pressure-sensitive labels
- Pressure sensitive label geographic markets
Multi-part tracking labels
- Multi-part tracking label print processes
- Multi-part tracking label geographic markets
In-mould labels
- In-mould label print processes
- In-mould label geographic markets
Sleeves
- Sleeves print processes
- Sleeves geographic markets

Label printing process markets

Overview
Analogue
- Offset lithography
  - Sheetfed litho
  - Heatset web offset litho
  - Coldset (web) litho
- Gravure
  - Label type
  - Geographic markets
- Flexography
  - Label type
  - Geographic markets
- Screen
  - Label type
  - Geographic markets
- Letterpress
  - Label type
  - Geographic markets
Digital
- Electrophotography
  - Label type
  - Geographic markets
- Inkjet
  - Label type
  - Geographic markets

Label printing end-use markets

Overview
Food
Beverage
Healthcare
Cosmetics
Other consumer goods
Industrial
- Multi-part tracking labels
Other labels

Label printing geographic markets

Overview
- Western Europe
  - France
  - Germany
  - Italy
  - Netherlands
  - Spain
  - UK
- Other Western Europe
North America
- Canada
- US
Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Other Asia
Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Other Latin America
Eastern Europe
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern Europe
Middle East
- Turkey
- Other Middle East
Africa
Australasia

Figures

Printed label output by region, 2022 (% share by value)
Printed label output by region, 2022 (% prints)
Changes in regional shares, 2019–29
Changes in shares of label formats, 2019–29
Evolution of digital print shares, 2019–29 (%)
Global printed label output by process type, 2022 (% share by value)
Global printed label output by process type, 2022 (% prints)
Global label printing output by end-use market, 2022 (% share by value)
Global label printing output by end-use market, 2022 (% prints)
In-mould labelling process
Offset lithography print process
Gravure printing process
Flexographic printing process
Electrophotographic printing process
Piezo continuous inkjet process
US Nutritional Facts label
Geographic share by volume (2021)
Geographic share by volume (2026)
Geographic share by value (2021)
Geographic share by value (2026)

Tables

GDP growth trends, 2019–29
Timeline for the development of label technology, 2021–2026
Global label printing output by label format, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

For each label format:

Global printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

List of label formats:

Wet glue labels
Pressure-sensitive labels
Multi-part tracking labels
In-mould labels
Sleeves
Evolution of share of analogue vs digital from 2016 to 2026
Global label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

For each print process:

Printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

List of print processes:

Sheetfed litho
Heatset (web) litho
Coldset (web) litho
Gravure
Flexography
Screen
Letterpress
Electrophotography
Inkjet
Global label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Food: printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Beverage: printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Healthcare: printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Cosmetics: printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Other consumer goods: printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Industrial: printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Logistics: printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Other labels: printing output by geographic market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by region, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Western Europe: economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Western Europe: label printing output by national market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Western Europe: label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Western Europe: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Western Europe: label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

For each country:

Economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

List of countries:

France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Spain
UK
Other Western Europe
North America: economic and demographic data, 2019–29
North America: label printing output by national market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
North America: label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
North America: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
North America: label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

For each country:

Economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

List of countries:

Canada
US
Asia: economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Asia: label printing output by national market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Asia: label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Asia: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Asia: label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

For each country:

Economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

List of countries:

China
India
Japan
South Korea
Other Asia
Latin America: economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Latin America: label printing output by national market, 2019–29 ($ million ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Latin America: label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Latin America: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Latin America: label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

For each country:

Economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

List of countries:

Poland Russia
Other Eastern Europe
Middle East: economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Middle East: label printing output by national market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Middle East: label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Middle East: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Middle East: label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

For each country:

Economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

List of countries:

Turkey
Other Middle East
Africa: economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Africa: label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Africa: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Africa: label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Australasia: economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Australasia: label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Australasia: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Australasia: label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

List of countries:

Brazil
Mexico
Other Latin America
Eastern Europe: economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Eastern Europe: label printing output by national market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Eastern Europe: label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Eastern Europe: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Eastern Europe: label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

For each country:

Economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent) label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Middle East: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Middle East: label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

For each country:

Economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

List of countries:

Turkey
Other Middle East
Africa: economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Africa: label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Africa: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Africa: label printing output by enduse market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Australasia: economic and demographic data, 2019–29
Australasia: label printing output by label type, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Australasia: label printing output by print process, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Australasia: label printing output by end-use market, 2019–29 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)

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