Market trends

Esko identifies 2026 packaging trends

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 22:52:58 +0000

Esko has identified sustainability, smart packaging, Digital Product Passports and agentic AI as significant packaging trends in its latest annual Packaging Trends study.

The company has examined the expected packaging trends, challenges and opportunities that will shape the industry in the coming year in the new report, which will provide a platform for the latest Packaging Trends Talk early in the new year.

'The pace of change we are experiencing today is unlike anything before,' said Jan De Roeck, marketing director of Esko. 'The invention and adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence, coupled with tightening sustainability regulations and new forms of digital packaging intelligence, are reshaping our sector in fundamental ways.'

De Roeck noted that sustainability will continue to remain one of the strongest drivers of change in the industry. The role of smart packaging in 2026 and well into the future will enable product passports, providing traceability and consumer engagement opportunities. While it will take time before companies fully understand where AI delivers value and where it does not, its potential is undeniable.

The free eBook brings together insights from industry experts and technology leaders. From examining self-optimizing packaging workflows and smart packaging through to the emergence and importance of end-to-end sustainability intelligence, the Esko Packaging Trends eBook takes a detailed look at practical approaches that assist brands and suppliers as they adapt to changing market conditions, trends and challenges.

'With Packaging Trends 2026, our goal is not simply to forecast what's coming, but to help converters, tradeshops and their brand customers prepare, adapt and thrive in the changing landscape,' De Roeck added.

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Esko identifies 2026 packaging trends

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Sustainability regulations, AI and smart packaging are key industry concerns for 2026.

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Sustainability regulations, AI and smart packaging are key industry concerns for 2026.

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Rotocon appoints representative for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean

Will Drysdale — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:56:07 +0000

Manroland Latina will supply the full range of Rotocon's Ecoline and Chrome series of flexographic printing presses, finishing machines and ancillary equipment to customers across the region.
Manroland Latina brings decades of experience in the regional print and packaging industry, a well-established service infrastructure, and a deep understanding of local market conditions across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Cesar Domínguez, managing director of Manroland Latina, said: 'This partnership marks a significant step for us.
'We chose to partner with Rotocon because their machines and solutions align perfectly with our customers' growing demands for higher productivity, flexibility and finishing quality.'
Hans Ramon Hofmann, head of Manroland Latina's Webfed Labels and Packaging Business Unit, said: 'During my more than 30 years in the industry, I have come across a great deal of sophisticated and expensive equipment, but I am impressed by the level of quality and features Rotocon's equipment offers despite the comparatively low investment required.
'This clearly reflects the extensive experience of the people behind the company.'
Manroland Latina will handle sales, installation, training and after-sales support for the Rotocon range, including local spare parts inventory and technical service. This arrangement enables printers and converters across the region to access European-engineered printing and finishing equipment backed by local expertise.
The Rotocon Board of Directors added: 'Manroland Latina brings decades of experience in the print and packaging industry, together with a strong service infrastructure, which will provide customers across Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean with high-quality label printing and finishing equipment, backed by reliable local support.'

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5 days 17 hours ago

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Rotocon appoints representative for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean

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Manroland Latina has been appointed as the official distribution partner of Rotocon for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

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Manroland Latina has been appointed as the official distribution partner of Rotocon for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

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Labels & Labeling honors industry in awards ceremony

Akanksha Meena — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 04:13:46 +0000

Associations, events & awards 21 November 2025

Labels & Labeling honors industry in awards ceremony

Labels & Labeling hosted its fi rst Global Awards at Labelexpo Europe 2025, presenting awards for innovation, sustainability and Converter of the Year.

At Time Out Market Barcelona, a venue overlooking a marina on the Mediterranean Sea, three companies became the first recipients of the Labels & Labeling Global Awards. This year’s award ceremony, hosted by L&L for the first time, was one of many firsts for this year’s Labelexpo Europe show, which also saw a new venue and host city, an official expansion into the folding carton segment and the announcement of a new name.

The L&L Global Awards took place during the Festa Barcelona welcome party on the opening evening of Labelexpo Europe 2025. Approximately 600 industry professionals attended the event, where they networked, danced to live music and savored tapas from some of the city’s best restaurants.

Three awards — recognizing innovation, sustainability and Converter of the Year — were presented to LemuGroup, Bio4Life and OPM Group, respectively.

Each of the winners’ achievements not only sets new benchmarks in the industry but should also inspire others to push the boundaries of what’s possible

Andy Thomas-Emans, strategic director of the labels group at Informa Markets, served as chair of the L&L Global Awards judging panel. Other judges included Mark Glendenning, owner and CEO of Inland and chair of TLMI; Philippe Voet, CEO of Etivoet and chair of Finat; and Chelsea McDougall, group managing editor of L&L.

The judges selected winners from a list of nominees picked by L&L’s global editorial team, who selected companies that had made significant contributions to the labeling industry, based on news coverage from throughout the year. The editors who compiled the nominee list were McDougall, Akanksha Meena, Adyasha Sinha, Yolanda Wang, Piotr Wnuk and Selah Zighelboim.

‘The selection process for this year’s label award was particularly challenging, as the shortlisted companies all demonstrated remarkable innovation and excellence,’ McDougall says. ‘However, each of the winners’ achievements not only sets new benchmarks in the industry but should also inspire others to push the boundaries of what’s possible. The winners represent the best of the best in their field, and the recognitions are well deserved.’

INNOVATION AWARD

The Innovation Award, sponsored by Gallus/Heidelberg, recognizes an innovation that is novel, functional and impactful. This award was given to LemuGroup for its UltaCompact system, the company’s end-of-line automation technology.

Headquartered in Spain, LemuGroup offers automatic and semi-automatic slitter rewinders, finishing machinery and RFID insertion equipment, in addition to its end-of-line technology. The UltraCompact system uses robotics to pack rolls into boxes and palletize them. It also incorporates inspection technology into its UltraCompact system for quality control, ensuring that defective rolls are not automatically packed into boxes.

LemuGroup, winner of the innovation award

The company has been expanding globally, establishing its first US plant with a recent integration with Converting Equipment International.

The judges noted that LemuGroup’s UltraCompact system provides significant benefits to label converters by enhancing automation, improving quality and helping with labor shortages. It enables label converters to shift employees away from the mundane task of packing rolls into boxes and palletizing them, into more value-added work.

This award means a great deal. It’s been a long journey, a lot of learning, and it’s nice to be recognized by the industry for the service and the commitment that we put into the industry

‘We took it very seriously trying to automate our machinery, trying to automate all of our customers’ processes, and trying to improve their lives,’ says Iñaki Larrea, CEO of LemuGroup. ‘It has been a great honor to be awarded here.’

The two companies shortlisted for this award were Mark Andy for its Digital Series HD High-Speed 1200 press and Esko for the Print Clone AI color matching tool.

SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

Bio4Life, a Dutch supplier of compostable self-adhesive materials, received the Sustainability Award, sponsored by Durst Group.

This award recognizes a sustainable product or process that reduces environmental impact and advances recyclability, promoting a circular economy.

Bio4Life received the Sustainability Award in recognition of its home compostable pressure-sensitive adhesive. This product is suitable for direct food contact applications and certified to break down in home-composting environments.

Bio4life, winner of the sustainability award, with Thomas Macina of Durst (far right)

The judges selected Bio4Life as its adhesive reduces packaging waste, meets EU PPWR requirements and offers a sustainable alternative to PS adhesives.

This is the second time that Bio4Life has taken home a sustainability award from Labelexpo Europe, having received this honor at the 2014 show.

‘Our adhesive, and products that will be made based on this adhesive, break down in the environment,’ Bio4Life co-owner Arjan Klapwijk says. ‘It’s not intentional that you throw them out in the environment, but if it happens — and it happens a lot — it will break down safely in CO2, water and compost, so that’s a real big advantage of our product.’

‘It’s making the world a better place, and that’s something that we’re really proud of,’ adds Bio4Life co-owner Marcel de Oude.

The other shortlisted companies for the Sustainability Award were Elkem for its recycled release liner silicones, and Polish converter Masterpress for the shrink sleeve magnetizable inks it developed in partnership with Magnomer.

CONVERTER OF THE YEAR

The final award of the evening, the Converter of the Year award, was given to OPM Group, a family-owned company based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. Flint Group sponsored this award.

To receive this recognition, converters must meet specific criteria, including fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, developing and implementing training programs for individuals within the company, making contributions to community/charitable initiatives, sustainability initiatives within the company, and introducing innovative products or programs that contribute to end-user satisfaction.

Chris Ellison, Labelexpo Europe’s flexible packaging ambassador, and Sue Ellison lead the OPM Group, with the next generation of the family actively involved.

‘This award means a great deal,’ Chris Ellison says. ‘It’s been a long journey, a lot of learning, and it’s nice to be recognized by the industry for the service and the commitment that we put into the industry.’

‘We’ve enjoyed bringing our family into the industry, too. It’s an amazing journey, but it’s never felt like a journey because we’ve done it together, and so it’s been easy in some ways,’ Sue Ellison says with a laugh.

The other shortlisted nominees were Masterpress and German converter Schreiner Group.

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Labelexpo Europe 2025: Materials

Adyasha Sinha — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:04:31 +0000

Substrates & adhesives 21 November 2025

Labelexpo Europe 2025: Materials

At Labelexpo Europe 2025, the focus of the materials scientists was on innovation while complying with upcoming sustainability regulations.

The overarching theme of material suppliers at Labelexpo Europe 2025 was clear: every component of a pressure‑sensitive label, from the release liner to the final adhesive bond, is being redesigned to meet the demands of a circular economy.

The industry demonstrated its response to global mandates like the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Sylwia Jurys, vice president, markets EMEIA at UPM Adhesive Materials, highlights the regulatory pressure driving these developments: ‘Selecting the right label is essential to elevate sustainability, especially now as the EU’s PPWR
requirements place even more pressure on packaging.’

On the same note, Günther Birkner, president of Innovia Films, shares: ‘Our strategy is clear: renovate, localize and decarbonize label film solutions for a market where sustainability and performance can no longer be mutually exclusive.’

Recyclable and PCR materials

The biggest trend at the exhibition was the rapid commercialization and scaling of label materials utilizing post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. This represents a critical shift from simply producing recyclable labels to producing labels that support the recycling of the entire package.

Avery Dennison emphasized its commitment to circularity with a portfolio centered on solving key recycling challenges. The company introduced PET labels with chemically recycled content for the automotive and durable goods sectors, a move aimed at meeting specific OEM requirements where performance cannot be compromised. The automotive industry, for instance, requires high durability, which recycled content previously struggled to match.

Beyond films, Avery Dennison also promoted AD CleanFiber, an INGEDE12‑certified paper label range utilizing a new adhesive technology that cleanly separates during the recycling process, ensuring higher-quality pulp for paper and cardboard production.

UPM Adhesive Materials dedicated significant resources to innovations that enhance logistics and consumer durables through sustainable materials. The company launched new products featuring solvent-free adhesives and PET PCR materials, simplifying decision-making for brands that require labeling modern appliances with multiple tags for energy ratings and QR codes.

‘Our decisive efforts have enabled strong and measurable progress on our 2030 climate commitments. Moving forward, we will increasingly concentrate on delivery to our customers, investing in our LCA and Scope 3 services and in reducing the carbon footprint of our products. By collaborating with our partners and keeping our ambition to meet our climate goals, we can reduce impact at scale,’ states Robert Taylor, director, global sustainability at UPM Adhesive Materials.

UPM emphasized that its Carbon Action plastic label materials assist brands in demonstrating quantifiable reductions of their carbon footprint.

The shift was equally visible in the synthetic film producers. Innovia Films showcased its Encore range of sustainable films, which integrates up to 35 percent mechanically recycled content. These films maintain the high optical clarity, barrier performance and durability expected for both food and non-food applications, providing converters with a practical path toward decarbonization.

Simon Huber, managing director of Innovia Films Europe, notes that the material changes are a response to regulatory pressure, confirming that the company is delivering ‘materials aligned with circular economy goals like the PPWR’.

The company also debuted the next-generation BOPP label films that are thinner and lighter, reducing raw material usage while maintaining print quality.

Similarly, Taghleef Industries presented its Dynamic Cycle Solutions, an offering designed to support brands transitioning from multi-layer plastic structures to more sustainable materials, with a focus on bio-based, biodegradable and recycled polypropylene options.

Ambra Stocco, European marketing and communication manager and label lead at Taghleef Industries, acknowledges the foundational industry change: ‘Even in 2025, the packaging industry continues to be in the midst of transformation, urged on by increasing demands for new, more sustainable solutions that comply with new regulations.’

The company’s reDesign service assists partners in creating customized technologies that comply with PPWR guidance, demonstrating that sustainability must be engineered at the design stage.

“The evolving EU regulatory environment is not a limitation. It’s an invitation to innovate more boldly”

Polyart Group, specializing in papers and films, showcased its r-range of products, including r-Polyart, an HDPE film containing 30 percent PCR HDPE, specifically designed to meet the EU 2030 packaging target for recycled content. For paper-based applications, its r-JetPrint Aquaskin uses 100 percent recycled paper with unique barrier coatings, targeting markets like wine labels that require both sustainability and elegance.

Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives mirrored this commitment with its Re-Play Tintoretto product, a premium wine labeling material made from recycled fibers, reinforcing the integration of post-consumer materials into high-end aesthetics. For demanding industrial applications like tire and pharmaceutical labeling, Fedrigoni featured materials with chemically recycled content, ensuring durability and optimal end-of-life outcomes.

Even components outside the label laminate itself are seeing high recycled content integration. Ahlstrom debuted its Acti-V RF liners, which utilize 15 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) fibers in its manufacturing, and the Acti-V RF Natural liners, a blend of at least 50 percent unbleached and 15 percent PCR fibers.

Elkem launched Silcolease Re Poly 11362 and Silcolease Re Poly 368, two additions to its silicone range that are 100 percent recycled silicone-based and solvent-free. Developed using a patented depolymerization technology, these products have a 70 percent lower carbon footprint than their non-recycled counterparts while delivering identical technical performance.

Linerless labels

The linerless label segment was one of the most dynamic areas of material innovation, driven by the clear objective of eliminating the single largest source of label waste: the release liner. Moving beyond simple logistics applications, the new products focused on reliable adhesive performance, high-speed dispensing and application diversity.

Herma was a key player in this space, promoting its Herma InNo-Liner system. This technology focuses on eliminating liner waste and reducing associated logistics costs. The technology features the unique 82S adhesive, which is only activated at the moment of dispensing and then immediately and permanently sticks to the substrate.

According to the company, the complete elimination of this residue also means the complete elimination of the previously necessary and expensive disposal or recycling processes. Users, print shops and the environment can also rejoice for other reasons: because there is no liner, more labels fit on a roll, which in turn are easier to transport and take up less space in the warehouse.

Lintec expanded its linerless offering with a novel approach for packaging and logistics. The company showcased a linerless sealing tape that uses water-activated adhesive applied directly to the base material. This product merges shipping information with the sealing function, cutting label consumption and eliminating liner waste. Lintec highlighted that a key benefit is the secure detachment of address details to safeguard personal data upon removal.

HB Fuller supported the linerless trend with specialized adhesive technology, featuring its Gel-Tac Linerless technology. This is part of its microsphere adhesive range, engineered for self-wound products where residue-free removal and consistent adhesion are crucial throughout the product lifecycle. It expands the application of linerless technology beyond logistics to consumer products that require repositionability.

“Selecting the right label is essential to elevate sustainability, especially now as EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation requirements place even more pressure on packaging”

Henkel Adhesive Technologies showcased high-performance PSA adhesive products specifically developed for linerless label applications, noting that they ‘reduce the amount of material used and increase process efficiency in label printing.’ Philippe Daval, head of market strategy packaging Europe at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, underscores the significance of holistic problem-
solving: ‘Companies aiming to remain competitive must address sustainability, performance and regulation as a whole and work with partners from the industry to overcome the challenges.’

Compostable materials

While recyclability remains the dominant pursuit, compostable materials were featured to address specific niches, particularly food waste packaging and short-cycle, high-organic-waste applications.

These materials are designed to break down effectively in industrial composting facilities, preventing label residue from contaminating organic waste streams.

Fedrigoni Self-Adhesives featured compostable paper and film alternatives prominently in its portfolio. These products target applications where the label and the package contents (like food) are disposed of together, or where recycling infrastructure is weak but composting is available.

Polyart Group introduced Fiberskin Tag, an innovative 100 percent paper that is not only recyclable and biodegradable but also compostable. This material offers excellent tear resistance, making it suitable for demanding applications like plant tags, while adhering to environmental end-of-life standards, the company says.

Mondi showcased its broader commitment to sustainable packaging with its FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate. While primarily a high-barrier paper for flexible packaging, its underlying material science principles, focused on paper-based structures with high functionality, inform the future of paper label substrates. This development supports the push for monomaterial paper packaging, where labels must be easily repulpable or fully compostable.

Global Label Award winner for sustainability, Bio4Life exhibited its certified range of film and paper face stocks paired with its BioTAK home-compostable adhesive. It emphasized the necessity of using a fully certified laminate structure (face, adhesive and liner) to ensure the entire label breaks down efficiently. Bio4Life directly addressed the challenge of fruit and vegetable labeling by offering products that safely enter the organic waste stream without contaminating it.

Wash-off labels

Wash-off label technology was a significant focal point, as it directly supports two crucial industry goals: enhancing the quality of recycled resin (especially PET) and enabling container reuse (particularly for glass bottles). The separation of the label from the container during the washing phase of recycling is non-negotiable for achieving high-grade recycled materials.

Avery Dennison presented an expanded AD CleanGlass portfolio, including a new white film option, developed for reusable glass packaging. The clear and white versions are engineered to wash off completely in a conventional bottle washer at 80 deg C. This development is key to supporting brand-owner mandates for refillable and reusable glass bottles.

Herma highlighted its advanced wash-off adhesive, which is engineered to ensure a 100 percent film label wash-off rate for PET bottle recycling. This level of clean separation is essential to prevent contamination of the PET flake stream, which is then reprocessed into new bottles.

Henkel demonstrated its leadership in adhesive science with its recyclable pressure-sensitive adhesives showcased under the theme ‘Enabling circularity in labels with adhesives and coatings.’ The company’s wash-off PSAs are designed for PET bottles and can be removed without residue, even at lower temperatures, which helps save energy in the recycling process. This line includes Aquence PS 3017 RE, which was a recognized award winner, underscoring the performance aspect of sustainable adhesives.

HB Fuller offered multiple adhesives for the wash-off requirement. Its Fulltak SE 8308 is a water-based adhesive offering best-in-class cold water wash-off performance, enabling the clean removal of paper labels from various substrates. For glass, particularly beer and wine bottles. Fulltak SE 8306 is designed for alkali wash-off while maintaining ice water resistance for chilled products. The company stresses that its wash-off adhesives ‘support sustainable solutions for both plastic and glass packaging, enabling paper and filmic labels to be cleanly removed across a wide range of surfaces.’

Security and durability

While sustainability dominated the show, brand protection and product integrity remained critical drivers for material innovation, especially in pharmaceuticals and durable goods. This area involved using advanced substrates and unique material compositions to ensure traceability, resistance and anti-counterfeiting measures.

Avery Dennison addressed brand protection and durability for sensitive products with a UV Barrier film label range for pharmaceuticals. This clear film protects UV-sensitive medicines while maintaining high transparency, allowing healthcare professionals to inspect the contents visually.

Additionally, in the durable goods and electric vehicle battery sectors, the company’s chemically recycled PET labels can incorporate features such as flame retardancy and be combined with RFID technology to support complete product traceability and authentication.

“The material changes are a response to regulatory pressure, confirming that the company is delivering materials aligned with circular economy goals like the PPWR”

The focus on high-performance films was evident across other suppliers. Lintec showcased materials specifically for medical and pharmaceutical applications, including specialized skin-contact tapes from its Mactac group. The launch of Re Chill, a removable label material for chilled applications like food and logistics, also contributes to product integrity by adhering reliably in cold, damp, or oily environments, yet remaining easily removable to facilitate recycling.

Nobelus focused on premium aesthetic and brand differentiation through its specialty finish films for prime labels. Its portfolio, which includes soft-touch, prismatic holographic patterns, and other unique effects, is vital for brands aiming for high-end shelf stand-out and perceived quality, both of which are forms of brand protection. These unsupported films provide a high-quality finish required for demanding brand specifications.

PSA innovation

The adhesive segment is the linchpin of label performance and sustainability. Beyond wash-off capabilities, material suppliers aggressively launched new pressure-sensitive adhesives, prioritizing water-based, solvent-free and high-performance options for all major label categories.

HB Fuller emphasized its water-based expertise, launching Swifttak PS 8405, a water-based PSA with non-water whitening properties. This is essential for achieving the popular ‘no-label look’ on PET containers, offering superior clarity and resistance to water whitening, a crucial performance feature for beverage and personal care brands.

Henkel Adhesive Technologies focused on reducing the environmental impact of its production process alongside product performance. Henkel also promoted its UV-curable PSAs, which offer high energy efficiency during the curing
process and strong resistance for demanding applications like the medical sector.

Herma’s material innovations, such as the linerless adhesive, are rooted in advanced PSA engineering. The company’s comprehensive expertise covers the entire self-adhesive chain, which means its new wash-off PSAs are designed to function optimally with its own film and paper substrates, achieving the highest performance standards for PET recycling.

VPF emphasized its role as a flexible partner and specialist in non-standard materials and adhesives. Its VPF Modular System allows for a combination of over 400 facestocks with over 30 specialty adhesives, including permanent, removable, hotmelt and special products like UV-Acrylics and pasteurizable grades.

It confirmed its commitment to sustainability with a focus on ‘innovative, flexible and versatile’ products, including those with wash-off properties and durable performance for extreme conditions.

Sappi contributed significantly to the infrastructure supporting PSAs with its specialty papers for release liners. Its new Sol BCK liner is a CCK paper designed to replace traditional PCK papers, promising a greatly improved carbon footprint by eliminating plastic coating and improving recyclability.

The company emphasized that this technology offers ‘significant cost savings’ alongside sustainability benefits, providing the crucial base material for the PSA industry to advance its own circularity goals.

Weight reduction

Beyond recycled content, the drive to use less material without compromising integrity was evident through the broad adoption of down-gauged films and monomaterial constructions. Suppliers exhibited a focus on BOPP, PE and PET films that are thinner and lighter, directly translating to lower raw material consumption and lower transport emissions.

Innovia Films explicitly linked its investment in new European extrusion technology to the ability to produce thinner, lighter, and higher-clarity films like CPE and WPE, which significantly reduce the carbon footprint.

Simon Huber, managing director of Innovia Films Europe, notes that the material changes are a response to regulatory pressure, confirming that the company is delivering ‘materials aligned with circular economy goals like the PPWR.’ The development of RayoFloat, a low-density material that floats in recycling wash tanks, ensuring clean removal and preventing contamination of the PET stream, highlights the engineering focus on end-of-life performance for filmic substrates.

Taghleef Industries focused on lightweight materials to save significant resources, ensuring that the minimalist and functional design of its flexible films does not compromise protection or aesthetics. The films are designed to meet a
wide range of demanding applications, from food to cosmetics, demonstrating the industry’s ability to combine performance with resource efficiency.

The company unveiled three new films at the show. Rather than presenting them in a conventional format, the company displayed each as a work of art. Shape360 TDSW is a white film for TD shrink sleeve labels, specifically developed for light-sensitive products. It also launched a new decorative film substrate. And finally, an innovative detachable in-mold label film technology that is widely used for decorating rigid PP containers. The key breakthrough is the film’s detachability, which is fully aligned with the PPWR and RecyClass guidelines.

Stocco shares: ‘The evolving EU regulatory environment is not a limitation, it’s an invitation to innovate more boldly. These films represent not just product advancements, but a new mindset around what labeling and packaging solutions can achieve.’

Mondi’s paper-based products, such as the high-barrier paper, represent a shift toward maximum functionality in a mono-material paper structure, capable of replacing multi-layer plastic or aluminum. This development underscores the overall trend towards simplification of materials to improve the effectiveness of recycling processes, a goal shared by the label and flexible packaging sectors.

Armor Iimak, focusing on thermal transfer media, launched the AWR XL wax ribbon, which features the thinnest 3.35 micron PET film in the industry. While a separate component, this innovation directly contributes to the industry’s goal of material reduction, resulting in up to 26 percent less plastic waste per roll. This highlights the industry-wide commitment to down-gauging across all components of the labeling process.

Aluminum Feron focused on materials engineered for durability and specialized operational requirements across various industrial and tracking applications. The company featured its range of durable substrates for labels and tags, including specialized substrates like Tritex, which are engineered for extreme durability, metal detectability in certain food production environments, or for integration with RFID protection in logistics and asset tracking.

“Companies aiming to remain competitive must address sustainability, performance and regulation as a whole and work with partners from the industry to overcome the challenges”

Comercial Arque highlighted its range of specialty aesthetic papers and films targeted at the premium branding segment. Its focus was on materials that provide unique tactile sensations or visual effects (such as deep embossing or holographic finishes) while ensuring compatibility with high-speed digital printing technologies, allowing luxury brands to achieve differentiation in short print runs.

Fangda Packaging presented its diverse portfolio of flexible packaging and label materials, with a specific emphasis on high-barrier mono-material solutions. Its focus was on enabling the conversion of multilayer, non-recyclable flexible packaging structures into simpler, label-friendly formats that maintain the necessary oxygen and moisture barriers for fresh food applications.

Frimpeks showcased its comprehensive position as a supplier of inks, coatings, and labelstock, demonstrating how the three components can be optimized for challenging applications. It featured a range of UV-curable PSAs and coatings designed to provide superior chemical and abrasion resistance for durable industrial and automotive labels, ensuring compliance and longevity in extreme conditions.

Hueck Folien, known for its expertise in high-security and holographic materials, introduced new anti-counterfeiting filmic substrates for labels. These materials integrate micro-text, visible, and invisible security features directly into the film structure, making them essential for high-value goods, pharmaceuticals, and duty stamps, protecting brand integrity while remaining compatible with standard label converting processes.

Jinya Label highlighted its specialty in thin-gauge, high-yield label face stocks. Its exhibit focused die-cutting and dispensing, particularly in the thermal paper and direct thermal film segments, by optimizing material thickness and coating chemistry for maximum efficiency.

MLJ Industries focused on industrial and automotive applications, showcasing durable film and foil materials designed to withstand engine oils, brake fluids and sustained high temperatures. It presented a new high-adhesion, chemical-resistant acrylic adhesive that maintains its bond strength on low-surface energy plastics and metal surfaces, even under prolonged exposure to harsh conditions.

Synthogra introduced its pioneering approach to flexible packaging and label films through its High-Barrier One-Substrate Film. This technology addresses material reduction and recyclability in one product. By offering a true mono-material composition in a high-barrier format, Synthogra minimizes complexity in the recycling stream.

Talking more about the products, Nanette Thomas comments: ‘At Synthogra, performance, productivity and responsibility go hand in hand. One example is our Syn-Durable, a product we continue to refine. It delivers speed and efficiency on the press while also reducing plastic use by adding more than 40 percent minerals. The result: less plastic, without compromising quality or productivity. This is how we combine high performance with responsibility.’

Yupo introduced its latest highly sustainable synthetic paper grades. These new materials are designed to be fully recyclable where a mono-material polypropylene stream is established. Yupo focused on its enhanced surface treatments that ensure superior print fidelity and fast-drying times for both UV inkjet and HP Indigo digital presses, maintaining the durability and water resistance that synthetic paper is known for.

Engineered material science

Labelexpo Europe 2025 confirmed that the label industry is undergoing a profound transformation, moving from incremental improvements to engineered material technologies that address the mandate for circularity. The showcased materials, from chemically recycled PET films and PCR-content papers to wash-off adhesives and the complete elimination of waste through linerless systems, all reflect a cohesive strategy.

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Adyasha Sinha

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Actega appoints Rajiv Singh in Asia

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 03:00:08 +0000

Actega has appointed Rajiv Singh as managing director of its paper and board business in Asia, bringing nearly three decades of experience in specialty chemicals and packaging across Southeast Asia.

Singh will lead Actega's strategy to strengthen its dealership network and expand its regional footprint across diverse Asian markets, recognizing that India and China require different approaches given their maturity levels and regulatory environments.

'Actega's strategy is built upon the development of innovative empowerment of regional leadership and the strategic expansion of our robust dealership network, all designed to advance market reach and cultivate deeper customer engagement,' noted Singh.

The Asian paper and board market is projected to reach USD 230.98 billion by 2030, driven by heightened sustainability requirements and shifting consumer expectations.

Actega's approach focuses on understanding regional market dynamics, with India distinguished by its agility and value-driven focus for both food-safe and premium packaging, while China presents opportunities for collaborative partnerships and high-volume applications requiring rapid market adaptation.

The company plans to harmonize products where possible while expanding its regional footprint and dealership network to ensure it stays close to evolving market needs.

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Actega appoints Rajiv Singh in Asia

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Specialty chemicals supplier targets regional growth through localized market approach.

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Specialty chemicals supplier targets regional growth through localized market approach.

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Digital packaging print to reach 36.9 billion USD

Piotr Wnuk — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 21:08:43 +0000

The global market for digital print in packaging and labels reached 22.0 billion USD in 2025 and will grow at a 10.9 percent compound annual growth rate to 36.9 billion USD in 2030, according to Smithers research.

The market intelligence firm's latest report, The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2030, shows that digital currently holds a modest share of overall printed packaging output at 1.3 percent by volume and 4.1 percent by value. This share will increase as a new generation of higher-throughput digital presses designed specifically for packaging work are installed.

Corrugated presents the most significant opportunity across 2025-2030, with value more than doubling to reach 8.2 billion USD in 2030.

Inkjet postprint is growing rapidly, with high-performance systems being installed into box plants and some into high-volume display applications. This is supported by increased use of printed e-commerce delivery boxes and a merging of boundaries between display and secondary packaging with higher quality shelf-ready trays and boxes.

Labels will see the slowest expansion for digital, with an 8.0 percent CAGR forecast for 2025-2030, as label printers are much further along the adoption curve. Globally, around 8,100 narrow-web inkjet and toner presses are used for label and sleeve printing, giving these a much higher share of value at 23.3 percent compared to other segments.

Smithers forecasts digital print on flexibles will grow at an 11.6 percent CAGR to 2030. This presents an opportunity for toner OEMs, although inkjet machines are now coming to market that have overcome significant chem-stack issues.

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1 week 6 days ago

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Digital packaging print to reach 36.9 billion USD

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Flexible packaging and corrugated driving growth through 2030, Smithers finds.

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Flexible packaging and corrugated driving growth through 2030, Smithers finds.

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Tequila packaging study published

Piotr Wnuk — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 23:16:27 +0000

UPM Adhesive Materials, Kurz and Eurostampa have published a neuromarketing study examining how tequila label design influences consumer perception and purchase behavior.

Conducted by SenseCatch in Texas, the research used 27 unique packaging designs for a fictional tequila brand to track visual attention, emotional engagement and implicit perceptions under real-world buying conditions. Texas was selected as one of the largest tequila consumption regions globally.

The study explores how label materials, finishes and embellishments shape consumer behavior, from shelf impact to perceived product quality, reframing the label as a strategic brand asset rather than purely a technical component.

'This study confirms that the material on which a label is printed is much more than a technical choice, it is a sensory and strategic decision,' noted Florencia Daroni, packaging solutions manager at UPM Adhesive Materials. 'From texture to finish, the label's appearance plays a vital role in how consumers perceive tequila and assign value to the brand.'

Priscilla Montilla, marketing manager at Eurostampa, added that the research reinforces that 'a label isn't just a finishing touch; it's a brand's first handshake with the consumer. Material, texture and embellishment aren't merely design choices; they're powerful triggers of perception, emotion and value that directly influence the consumer's final purchase decision.'

According to Allan Quimby, head of marketing at KURZ, the study demonstrates that materials and finishes function as emotional triggers and storytellers. 'The weight and texture of the substrate, the shimmer of metallics, the depth of print effects and the tactile pull of haptic finishes together shape how consumers perceive quality and authenticity,' Quimby explained.

The research aims to provide spirits producers and packaging professionals with insights to guide label material selection and create stronger shelf presence and brand loyalty.

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2 weeks 2 days ago

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Tequila packaging study published

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Neuromarketing research reveals the emotional impact of tequila packaging on consumer behavior.

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Neuromarketing research reveals the emotional impact of tequila packaging on consumer behavior.

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Finishing & embellishment

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UPM Raflatac

Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Co.KG

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Heidelberg reports improved profitability

Piotr Wnuk — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 20:57:42 +0000

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen has reported sales of 985 million EUR for the first half of the financial year 2025/2026, an 8 percent increase from 915 million EUR in the previous year, with Europe and Asia showing particularly positive developments.

The company's adjusted operating result doubled to 63 million EUR from 31 million EUR in the equivalent period of the previous year, corresponding to an EBITDA margin of 6.4 percent, up from 3.4 percent. Production costs and total working costs improved compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Incoming orders after six months remained stable at 1,111 million EUR, following the previous financial year's strong first half-year driven by drupa. The company achieved notable success at Labelexpo in September, with orders running into double-digit millions of euros, underlining the strategic importance and growth potential of its label printing business.

'Heidelberg is holding up better than the competition in a very challenging market environment and is once again demonstrating that our strategy is working and bearing fruit,' noted Jürgen Otto, CEO at Heidelberg. 'The significant improvement in our profitability is particularly encouraging: a clear sign that our measures are proving effective.'

In the print and packaging equipment segment, half-year sales rose to 463 million EUR from 395 million EUR in the previous year. The digital and lifecycle segment achieved sales of 493 million EUR, with an order from a customer in China for ten Jetfire 50 digital printing systems and several digital Gallus label machines. The Technology Solutions segment totaled 29 million EUR in sales.

Free cash flow after six months was negative 63 million EUR, improved from negative 102 million EUR in the first half of the previous financial year. The net result after taxes reached break-even, compared to a negative 35 million EUR in the previous year.

The company confirmed its forecast for the financial year 2025/2026, expecting sales of around 2,350 million EUR and an adjusted EBITDA margin of up to 8 percent.

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2 weeks 3 days ago

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Heidelberg reports improved profitability

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The press manufacturer posts 8 percent sales growth in the first half of the financial year.

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The press manufacturer posts 8 percent sales growth in the first half of the financial year.

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Conventional printing

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HEIDELBERG

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Screen, inkjet markets grow

Piotr Wnuk — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 20:29:13 +0000

Screen and digital printing have reached a combined value of 81.7 billion USD in industrial print applications in 2025, representing 58.8 percent of the global market by value and 75.1 percent by volume, according to new research from Smithers.

The market report, The Future of Screen vs Digital Printing to 2030, tracks the outlook for both processes and finds that while demand for screen printing is diminishing in graphics, packaging and label print, new value is being unlocked in functional and industrial print applications, including textiles, promotional items, automotive and electronics, despite increased competition from inkjet.

Across 2025-2030, overall demand for digital print in both conventional and industrial applications will increase, with combined value rising from 194.3 billion USD in 2025 to 244.6 billion USD in 2030, a 4.7 percent compound annual growth rate. Screen print value in these markets will increase from 63.8 billion USD in 2025 to 79.3 billion USD in 2030, a 4.4 percent CAGR.

The ability to deposit precisely controlled volumes of complex fluids accurately makes screen the preferred technology for many industrial and functional print products, especially for textiles, printed electronics and direct-to-object printing of promotional items. This will support further market growth with a 5.5 percent CAGR to 2030.

Screen will maintain a presence in packaging, used for opaque coatings and embellishments on packaging and labelstocks. Across 2025-2030, innovation will include the evolution of digital screen exposure to improve productivity, lower costs and reduce the need for skilled labor, though much R&D will continue on different high-viscosity fluids to operate with rotary screen print lines.

Digital print, especially inkjet, is a focus for OEMs across the print industry, including those that have formerly specialized in analog production. Investment is being made to lower the cost of ownership, enhance automation and connectivity, improve productivity and raise production throughput.

For functional and industrial printing, inkjet is already widely used to print ceramics, and new systems are offering an alternative to screen in other segments, including direct-to-garment printing. This sector is being stimulated by the arrival of more specialized printheads that can jet a diverse range of fluids, opening up segments such as batteries for electric vehicles and biomedical and automotive applications, poised for the fastest expansion to 2030.

Other major applications for digital printing are in packaging, labels and graphics work, worth 166.9 billion USD in 2025. Smithers forecasts a 4.2 percent CAGR through 2030, increasing market value to 204.8 billion USD, with the fastest growth in packaging, followed by labels, as demand for graphics print slows.

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2 weeks 5 days ago

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Screen, inkjet markets grow

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Industrial printing technologies reach a combined value of 81.7 billion USD in 2025.

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Industrial printing technologies reach a combined value of 81.7 billion USD in 2025.

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AWA releases RFID report

Piotr Wnuk — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 01:19:33 +0000

AWA Alexander Watson Associates has published its RFID and Smart Labeling Market Report 2025, revealing that Asia holds 65 percent of the global RFID label market, significantly ahead of Europe at 17 percent and North America at 15 percent.

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the pressure-sensitive RFID labels market within the smart packaging sector. It includes global market segmentation by region, technology and end-use market, along with regional market breakdowns, market trends and dynamics, and a company directory.

'As smart packaging moves from innovation to necessity, pressure-sensitive RFID labels are becoming a critical technology for enhancing supply chain efficiency, consumer engagement and brand protection,' noted AWA in its announcement.

The report delivers insights on market growth, adoption drivers, technology advances and competitive dynamics within the evolving RFID label sector.

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2 weeks 6 days ago

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AWA releases RFID report

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Asia dominates the global RFID label market with a 65 percent share.

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Asia dominates the global RFID label market with a 65 percent share.

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Digital packaging print to reach 36.9 billion USD

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