The global digital packaging and label printing market is worth $22.0 billion, accounting for 4.1% of all printed packaging in 2025, says a new study by UK-based researcher Smithers. That share is forecasted to climb to 5.8% in 2030 when it will reach $36.9 billion.

Digital printing is growing much more rapidly than the dominant analogue print methods. Digital is widely used in labels, but the scalability and versatility of inkjet is making it increasingly attractive for large-format presses designed to print folding cartons, corrugated, and flexible paper and film substrates. Converters are developing major improvements in upstream order processing, design, approval and prepress; and downstream finishing and logistics, as more brands and retailers take advantage of the benefits of digital print production, the report says.

The study provides a forecast on the use of digital printing to produce labels and packaging over the period 2020-2030. The report covers the manufacture of labels and packaging (corrugated, cartons, flexible packaging, rigid plastics and metal containers) that is printed using digital printing, either electrophotography or inkjet. It is a global market, with users across the world and the leading national and regional markets presented.

Photo courtesy of Gopak.