The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2026

Table of Contents Key Facts and Figures

In 2021, the global digital print for packaging and labels will total $18.5 billion. This share will climb to 7.2% in 2026 but the print volume share is lower. In 2020 digital print for packaging volumes increased sharply, while the total printed packaging sector fell, by 1.5% in value.

This report covers the trends and drivers for the adoption of digital printing, with the barriers to adoption. It discusses the latest technology developments that are shaping future package manufacture, together with the changes in the retail environment that determine how supply chains work. Projected recovery from 2021 is forecast despite early lockdowns in many countries. Packaging and labels are the drivers for this growth as all graphics see falls, with publishing continuing to decline. Graphics overall sees a small growth between 2020 and 2025, this is primarily due to recovery in the graphical sector while publishing continues on its downward track.

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Digital labels and packaging technology continues to be a dynamic sector, rapidly developing print systems complemented with workflow and finishing technologies. New announcements and launches abound, from equipment manufacturers, ink and toner suppliers, drier manufacturers, substrate suppliers and workflow providers
The impact of COVID-19 in 2020 caused the total print and printed packaging market to drop in 2020, although some consumer supply sectors fared very well.

What will you discover?

Digital printing is firmly ensconced into the production armoury of an increasing number of label and packaging converters. It helps to improve production efficiencies and open new business opportunities
The market recovered well in the latter part of 2020, and there were disruptions to many packaging and label supply chains, with sharp price increases for many substrates which contributed to the recovery in value.

The Smithers methodology
This report is based on extensive primary and secondary research. Primary research consisted of targeted interviews with packaging material suppliers, converters and experts drawn from key markets. This was supported by secondary research in the form of extensive literature analysis of published data, official government statistics, domestic and international trade organisation data, company websites, industry reports, trade press articles, presentations, and attendance at trade events.

Who should buy this report?

Producers of raw materials
Producers of inks
Packaging users and consumables
Producers of equipment for digital print
Packaging converters
Packaging users

About the author
Sean Smyth has spent more than 25 years in senior technology and management positions for print businesses across the supply chain. Sean has extensive experience in digital printing. In his time with Smithers, Sean has authored several off-the-shelf market studies, including Smithers’s flagship title The Future of Global Printing, and has provided strategic consultancy services to a range of clients across the value chain.

Name The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2026

Date 01/09/2021

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Executive summary

Introduction & methodology

Introduction
Methodology
Scope & definitions
- Electrophotography
- Inkjet
- Packaging categories
  - Labels
  - Corrugated
  - Folding cartons
  - Flexible packaging
  - Rigid plastics
  - Metal packaging
  - Glass
Exchange rates

Key drivers and trends

Introduction
Packaging Megatrends in 2021
The impacts of COVID-19
Sustainability
- European Green Deal
- Gravure printing and Chromium Trioxide (Cr6+)
Digitisation, Industrie 4.0
Digital print and finishing – to digital manufacturing
Retail Changes driving supply chain
Economics – short and strategic runs
- Cost comparison
- Brand fragmentation and the rise of the artisan brand
- Influencer packaging (viral experiential marketing)
  - Good causes
Speed to market
Legislation
Security and brand protection
- Russia Chestny ZNAK Track and Trace
Design for digitally-printed
packaging
- Graphics and structural considerations
Supply chain changes
- Changing routes to market
Digital printing technology complementing analogue
- Simplification of processes
Barriers to digital print adoption
- Print as a small part of packaging conversion
- Analogue improvements
- Brand and retail needs
- Food safety considerations
  - Food safe inks and coating
Summary

Technology developments

Print quality
Enabling technologies
- Colour management
Electrophotography
Inkjet
- Narrow web inkjet
  - Inkjet flexo hybrid presses
- ȍ Corrugated inkjet presses
  - Single pass liner presses
- Sheetfed inkjet presses
- Direct to pack systems
- Bespoke inkjet systems
Summary
Digital finishing systems

Digitally-printed packaging & label market forecasts by application

Overview
Labels
- Electrophotography
- Inkjet
Corrugated packaging
Cartons
- Inkjet
Flexible packaging
- Electrophotography
- Inkjet
Rigid packaging
- Metal packaging
- Glass packaging

Digitally printed packaging & label market forecasts

Overview
- Electrophotographic printing for labels and packaging
- Inkjet printing for labels and packaging

Geographic markets

Overview
Western Europe
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- UK
- Other West European countries
North America
- Canada
- United States
Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Other Asian countries
Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Other Latin American countries
Eastern Europe
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Eastern European countries
Middle East
- Turkey
- Other Middle Eastern countries
Africa
Australasia

Tables

Transition table for digitally printed packaging and label technology to 2026
Transition table for the adoption of digital packaging 2021–2026
Exchange rates used in this study
Top line printed packaging and label markets, 2016–26 ($ billion, billion A4 prints or equivalent, ’000 tonnes)
Global printed packaging markets by application showing digital penetration, 2016–26 ($ million)
Global printed packaging markets by application showing digital penetration, 2016–26 (’000 tonnes)
Global printed packaging markets by application showing digital penetration, 2016–26 (million A4 prints or equivalent)
Key packaging Megatrends in 2021
Digital print impacts on Packaging Megatrends in 2021
Drivers and barriers for the adoption of digital packaging 2021–2026
SWOT Analysis for Electrophotography in label & packaging printing
Electrophotography presses in use for labels and packaging
Long term prospects for electrophotography printing in labels and packaging
SWOT Analysis for inkjet in label & packaging printing
Narrow web inkjet presses
Narrow web flexo-inkjet hybrid presses
Sheetfed inkjet single pass corrugated presses
Web single-pass inkjet liner presses
Sheetfed inkjet presses used in packaging
Inkjet direct to object printers
SWOT analysis for direct-to-shape printing systems
Technology prospects for inkjet printing in labels and packaging to 2026
Top line global digital packaging and label printing markets, 2016–26 ($ billion, billion A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Global digital packaging and label printing markets by application, 2016–26 ($ million, constant 2020 prices and exchange rates, million A4 prints or equivalent, ’000 tonnes)
Regional digital packaging and labels output by geographic markets, 2016–26 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes and million square metres)
Installed base of narrow web label presses in December 2020
Global labels output by print process, 2016–26 ($ billion, million A4 prints, ‘000 square metres)
Labels: all digital printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million, million square metres and million A4 prints)
Labels: electrophotographic printing output by geographic market, 2016– 26 ($ million, million square metres and million A4 prints)
Labels: inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million, million square metres and million A4 prints)
Corrugated output by print process, 2016–26 ($ million, million square metres, ‘000 tonnes)
Corrugated packaging: inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes and million square metres)
Carton output by print process, 2016–26 ($ million, million square metres, ‘000 tonnes)
Cartons: digital printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million, million square metres and $ million)
Cartons: electrophotographic printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 (million square metres)
Cartons: inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million and million A4 prints or equivalent)
Flexible packaging output by print process, 2016–26 ($ million, million square metres, ‘000 tonnes)
Flexible packaging: digital printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million and million square metres)
Flexible packaging: electrophotographic printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million and million square metres)
Flexible packaging: inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million and million square metres)
Rating of factors driving the adoption of direct-to-shape printing
Rating of factors holding back the adoption of direct-to-shape printing
SWOT analysis for direct-to-shape inkjet printing systems
Rigid packaging: inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million, $ million and million A4 prints)
Global digital vs analogue printing usage in printed packaging and labels, 2016–26 ($ billion, billion A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Global digital package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ billion, billion A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Digital printing penetration in printed labels and packaging by segment, 2016–26 (% share by value, constant 2020 prices & exchange rates, % printed volume)
Digital package and label printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints and ‘000 tonnes)
Electrophotographic label types, by printer category in 2020
Global electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ billion, billion A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Electrophotographic package and label printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million)
Electrophotographic package and label printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 (million A4 prints or equivalent)
Inkjet label types, by printer category in 2020
Global inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ billion, billion A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Inkjet package and label printing output by geographic market, 2016–26 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes and million A4 prints)
Global digital package and label printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ billion, billion A4 prints or equivalent, ’000 tonnes)
Regional digital package and label printing output region, 2016–26 ($ million, million square metres, ‘000 tonnes)
Global digital package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Global electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Global inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Global digital glass printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million units, ‘000 tonnes)
Western Europe: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints and ‘000 tonnes)
West Europe: digital package and label printing output by process and segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Western Europe: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Western Europe: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Western Europe digital glass printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million units, ‘000 tonnes) For each country:
Digital package and label printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes) List of countries:
France
Germany
Netherlands
Spain
UK
Other Western Europe
North America: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2016–26 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes and million A4 prints)
North American digital package and label printing output by process and segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
North America: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
North America: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
North American digital glass printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million units, ‘000 tonnes) For each country:
Digital package and label printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes) List of countries:
Canada
US
Asia: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints and ‘000 tonnes)
Asia: digital package and label printing output by process and segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Asia: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Asia: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Asian digital glass printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million units, ‘000 tonnes) For each country:
Digital package and label printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes) List of countries:
China
India
Japan
South Korea
Other Asian countries
Latin America: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2016–26 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes and million A4 prints)
Latin American digital package and label printing output by process and segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Latin America: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Latin America: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Latin American digital glass printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million units, ‘000 tonnes) For each country:
Digital package and label printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes) List of countries:
Brazil
Mexico
Other Latin American countries
Eastern Europe: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints and ‘000 tonnes)
East European digital package and label printing output by process and segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Eastern Europe: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Eastern Europe: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
East European digital glass printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million units, ‘000 tonnes) For each country:
Digital package and label printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes) List of countries:
Czech Republic
Poland
Russia
Other Eastern European countries
Middle East: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints and ‘000 tonnes)
Middle Eastern digital package and label printing output by process and segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Middle East: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Middle East: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Middle Eastern digital glass printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million units, ‘000 tonnes) For each country:
Digital package and label printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes) List of countries:
Turkey
Other Middle Eastern countries
Africa: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints and ‘000 tonnes)
African digital package and label printing output by process and segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Africa: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Africa: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
African digital glass printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million units, ‘000 tonnes)
Australasia: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints and ‘000 tonnes)
Australasian digital package and label printing output by process and segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Australasia: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Australasia: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2016–26 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
Australasian digital glass printing output by process, 2016–26 ($ million, million units, ‘000 tonnes)

Figures

Global digital label & packaging market by application 2016–26 ($ billion and billion square metres)
Global digital package and label printing output by electrophotography and inkjet, 2016–26 (million square metres)
Global digital package and label printing output growth, 2016–26 by print volume
Penetration of digital print in all printed packaging and label output, 2016–26 (by value)
Landscape of digital labels and packaging printing technologies
Digital finishing systems for labels and packaging
Penetration of digital print in all printed packaging and label output, 2016–26 (by value)
Penetration of digital print in all printed packaging and label output, 2016–26 (tonnage)
Penetration of digital print in all printed packaging and label output, 2016–26 (by print area)
Changing fast moving consumer goods life cycle
Generic workflow map for packaging
Process map for analogue label printing
Process map for digital/hybrid label printing
Process map for digital label printing, finishing and administration
Potential application of digital print at different places in the supply chain
Analogue corrugated post-print packaging process maps
Digital corrugated post-print packaging process maps
Landscape of digital labels and packaging printing technologies
Digital finishing systems for labels and packaging
Global digital package and label printing output by print method, 2016–26 ($ billion and million square metres)
Global digital package and label printing output by print method, 2016–26 (million tonnes)
Global digital package and label printing output by print process, 2016–26 ($ billion and million square metres)
Global digital package and label printing output by process, 2016–26 (million tonnes)
Landscape of digital label printing technologies in 2021
Landscape of digital corrugated printing technologies in 2021
Landscape of digital carton printing technologies in 2021
Landscape of digital flexible packaging printing technologies in 2021
Landscape of digital direct-to-pack (rigids, metal and glass) printing technologies in 2021
Global digital package and label printing output by electrophotography and inkjet, 2016–26 ($ billion and million square metres)
Global digital package and label printing output by electrophotography and inkjet, 2016–26 (million tonnes)
Growth rates in digital package and label printing output by type, 2016–21, 2019–20 and 2021–26 by value and volume
Growth rates in digital package and label printing output by type, 2016–21, 2019–20 and 2021–26 print volume
Digital package and label printing penetration by value and volume, 2016–26
Growth rates in electrophotography package and label printing output by application, 2016–21, 2019–20 and 2021–26 by print value and volume
Electrophotographic package and label printing penetration by value and volume, 2016–26
Growth rates in inkjet package and label printing output by application, 2016–21, 2019–20 and 2021–26 by print value
Growth rates in inkjet package and label printing output by application, 2016–21, 2019–20 and 2021–26 by print volume
Inkjet package and label printing penetration by value and volume, 2016–26
Regional digital package and label printing output, 2016–26 ($ billion and ‘000 tonnes)
Global digital package and label printing output, 2016–26 (billion A4 prints)

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