The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2030

• In 2025 the global digital packaging and label market is worth $22.0 billion, which accounts for 4.1% of all printed packaging
• Market share will 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 cartons, corrugated, and flexibles. 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.

This report 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) that are 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.

Key Questions

• What are the key factors driving companies across the supply chain to invest in digital printing technology to 2030?
• How are converters tackling the implications of handling multiple short runs?
• Machine learning has been used for many years to support machine maintenance, how will generative AI be incorporated into digital print for packaging?
• What technology advancements are improving print quality for packaging applications over the next five years?

This report is essential to:

• Raw materials suppliers, including inks and consumables
• Equipment and machinery suppliers
• Print providers and packaging converters

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 many off-the-shelf market studies and has provided strategic consultancy services to a range of clients across the value chain.

Executive summary
 Introduction and methodology 

• Methodology 
• Scope 
• Definitions 
  • Abbreviations used in the report 
• Geographic coverage 
• Exchange rates 

The top-line 

• Introduction 
• Digital transformation, the conundrum of digital penetration into packaging 

Key drivers and trends 

• Summary 
• Packaging Megatrends in 2025 
• Economics – short and strategic runs 
  • Cost comparison 
  • Brand fragmentation and the rise of the Artisan Brand 
  • Supply chain benefits 
• Sustainability 
• Influencer Packaging (viral experiential marketing) 
  • Good Causes 
• Legislation 
• Digitisation, Industrie 4.0 
• Retail Changes driving supply chain 
• Speed to Market 
• Security and brand protection 
  • EU Digital Product Passport 
• Design for digitally printed packaging 
  • Graphics and structural considerations 
• Supply chain changes 
  • Changing routes to market 
• Digital printing technology complementing analogue 
  • Simplification of processes 
  • Digital print and finishing – moving to digital manufacturing 
• Barriers to digital print adoption 
  • Print as a small part of packaging conversion 
  • Analogue improvements 
  • Brand and retail needs 
  • Food safety considerations 

Technology developments in digital print for packaging 

• Summary 
• The print equipment is not enough 
• The role of AI in digital packaging 
• Enabling technologies 
  • Workflow 
    • Colour management 
    • Adobe Print Engine 
• Print quality 
  • Vision and inspection systems 
• Ink and toner considerations 
• Electrophotography 
• Inkjet 
  • Narrow web inkjet 
    • Inkjet flexo hybrid presses 
  • Wider web inkjet presses 
  • Sheetfed inkjet presses 
  • Direct to Pack systems 
    • Hinterkopf 
    • Dekron 
    • Koenig & Bauer 
    • Suzhou SLAC International 
    • Velox 
  • Moulded Pulp printing 
  • Bespoke inkjet systems 
• The rise of the East 
• Digital finishing systems 

Digitally printed packaging & label market forecasts by application 

• Overview 
• Labels 
  • Electrophotography 
  • Inkjet 
• All Packaging 
  • Corrugated packaging 
    • Moulded fibre (moulded pulp) 
  • Cartons 
    • Electrophotography 
    • Inkjet 
  • Flexible packaging 
    • Electrophotography 
    • Inkjet 
  • Rigid packaging 
    • Rigid plastic packaging 
    • Metal packaging 
  • Glass packaging 

Digitally printed packaging & label market forecasts by print process 

• 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 

Longer-term digital packaging & label forecasts 

• Overview 
  • Electrophotographic printing for labels and packaging 
  • Inkjet printing for labels and packaging 
• Changing the potential outlook for digital print 
• Changing business models of packaging companies 

FIGURES

• Global digital label & packaging market by application 2020–30 ($ billion,  billion A4 prints)
• Global digital package &label printing output by electrophotography and inkjet, 2020–30 (million A4 prints)
• Global digital package & label printing output growth, 2020–30 by print value and volume ($, A4 prints)
• Penetration of digital print in all printed packaging and label output, 2020–30 (by value)
• Landscape of digital labels and packaging printing technologies in 2025
• Digital embellishment and finishing systems for labels and packaging in 2025
• Growth rates of all digital printed labels and packaging, 2020–30
• Penetration of digital print in all printed packaging and label output, 2020–30 (by value, by print area)
• Penetration of digital print in label categories, 2020–30 (by value, by print volume)
• Evidence of digital packaging delivering supply chain benefits
• Technology map of equipment for printing labels and packaging available in 2019 and 2025
• Digital finishing systems for labels and packaging in 2025
• Global digital package and label printing output by print process, 2020–30 ($ billion, million m2, million tonnes)
• Global digital package and label printing output by application, 2020–30 ($ billion, million m2, million tonnes)
• Landscape of digital label printing technologies in 2025
• Landscape of digital corrugated printing technologies in 2025
• Landscape of digital carton printing technologies in 2025
• Landscape of digital flexible packaging printing technologies in 2025
• Landscape of digital direct-to-pack (rigids, metal and glass) printing technologies in 2025
• Printed packaging and label printing output by print process in 2025 and 2030 ($ billion, billion m2)
• Global digital package and label printing output by electrophotography and inkjet, 2020–30 ($ billion, billion A4 prints)
• Growth rates in digital package and label printing output by type, 2020–25 and 2025–30 by value and print volume
• Digital package and label printing penetration by value, by print volume, 2020–30
• Growth rates in electrophotography package and label printing output by application, 2020–25 and 2025–30 by print value and volume
• Electrophotography package and label printing penetration by value, 2020–30
• Electrophotography package and label printing penetration by print volume, 2020–30
• Electrophotographic package and label printing growth by value and print volume 2020–30
• Growth rates in inkjet package and label printing output by application, 2020–25 and 2025–30 by value and print volume
• Inkjet package and label printing penetration by value, 2020–30
• Inkjet package and label printing penetration by volume, 2020–30
• Regional digital package and label printing output, 2020–30 ($ billion, ‘000 tonnes, billion A4 prints)
• Global digital package and label printing output by electrophotography and inkjet, 2020–35 ($ billion, million A4 prints)
• Growth rates in digital package and label printing output by type, 2020–35, 2025–30 and 2030–35, by value and volume
• Growth rates in electrophotography package and label printing output by application, 2020–35, 2025–30 and 2030–35, by value and volume
• Growth rates in inkjet package and label printing output by application, 2020–35, 2025–30 and 2030–35, by value and volume
• Generic analogue packaging converter business model canvas in 2025 and post-2030

TABLES

• Transition table for digitally printed packaging and label technology to 2030
• Transition table for the adoption of digital packaging from 2025 to 2030
• Top line printed packaging and label markets, 2020–30 ($ billion, ‘000 tonnes, billion m2)
• Global printed packaging markets by application, 2020–30 ($ billion, million tonnes, billion m2)
• Penetration of digital print in global printed packaging markets by application, 2020–30 (by value, tonnage and print volume)
• Penetration of digital print in global printed label markets by application, 2020–30 (by value and print volume)
• Drivers and barriers for the adoption of digital packaging 2025–30
• Key packaging megatrends in 2025
• Digital print impacts on packaging megatrends in 2025
• Technology prospects for digital printing in labels and packaging to 2030
• 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 available in 2025
• High-speed single-pass digital web presses for flexible packaging, cartons and corrugated liner printing
• High-speed single-pass digital sheetfed presses for cartons, metal decorating and corrugated post-print printing
• Inkjet direct to object printers
• SWOT analysis for direct-to-shape inkjet printing systems
• Top-line global digital packaging and label printing markets, 2020–30 ($ billion, ‘000 tonnes, billion A4 prints)
• Global digital packaging and label printing markets by application, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4, ’000 tonnes)
• Regional digital packaging and labels output by geographic markets, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million m2)
• Regional digital packaging and labels output by geographic markets, 2020–30 (million A4 prints)
• Installed base of digital narrow web label presses
• Global labels output by print process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000m²)
• For each print process:
• All labels by category, 2020–30 ($ million and million m2)
• Penetration of labels by category, 2020–30 ($ million and million m2)
• Labels: printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, million m2, million A4 prints)
• List of print processes:
• Digital
• Electrophotography
• Inkjet
• All packaging by print process, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 print)
• Regional digital packaging output by geographic markets, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million m2, million A4 prints)
• Regional electrophotography packaging output by geographic markets, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million m2, million A4 prints)
• All packaging inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million m2, million A4 prints)
• Corrugated output by print process, 2020–30 ($ million, million m2, ‘000 tonnes)
• Corrugated packaging inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million m2)
• Carton output by print process, 2020–30 ($ million, million m2, ‘000 tonnes)
• Carton digital printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million m2)
• Cartons, electrophotographic printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million m2)
• Cartons, inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million m2)
• Flexible packaging output by print process, 2020–30 ($ million, million m2, ‘000 tonnes)
• All packaging: digital printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, million m2)
• Flexible packaging: electrophotographic printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, million m2)
• Flexible packaging: inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, million m2)
• Rigid packaging output, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• SWOT analysis for direct-to-shape inkjet printing systems
• All rigid packaging inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints)
• Rigid plastic packaging output by print process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• All packaging: inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints)
• Metal packaging output by print process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Global printed glass packaging by process 2020–30 ($ million, units, million A4 prints)
• Glass packaging: inkjet printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 (million A4 prints)
• Global digital vs analogue printing usage in printed packaging and labels, 2020–30 ($ billion, million m2, ‘000 tonnes, billion A4 prints)
• Global digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ billion, billion A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Digital printing penetration in printed labels and packaging by segment, 2020–30 (% share by value, % printed volume A4 prints)
• Digital package and label printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• Electrophotographic label types 2020–30 ($ million, million m2)
• Global electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ billion, billion A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Electrophotography penetration in printed labels and packaging by segment, 2020–30 (% share by value, % printed volume A4 prints)
• Electrophotographic package and label printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• Global inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ billion, billion A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Inkjet penetration in printed labels and packaging by segment, 2020–30 (% share by value, % printed volume A4 prints)
• Inkjet package and label printing output by geographic market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• Global digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ billion, billion A4 prints, ’000 tonnes)
• Regional digital package and label printing output region, 2020–30 ($ billion, ‘000 tonnes, billion A4 prints)
• Global digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Global electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Global inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• 
  
• Global digital glass printing output, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• Western Europe: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• West European digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Western Europe: digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Western Europe: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Western Europe: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Western Europe digital glass printing output, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• For each country:
• Digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• List of countries:
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• The Netherlands
• Spain
• UK
• Other Western Europe
• North America: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• North American digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• 
  
• North America: digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• North America: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• North America: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• North American digital glass printing output, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• For each country:
• Digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• List of countries:
• Canada
• US
• Asia: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• Asia: digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Asia: digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Asia: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Asia: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Asian digital glass printing output, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• 
  
• For each country:
• Digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ 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, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• Latin American digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Latin America: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Latin America: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Latin America: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Latin American digital glass printing output, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• For each country:
• Digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ 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, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• East European digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Eastern Europe: digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Eastern Europe: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Eastern Europe: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Easernt European digital glass printing output, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints)
• For each country:
• Digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• List of countries:
• Czech Republic
• Poland
• Russia
• Other Eastern Europen countries
• Middle East: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• Middle Eastern digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Middle East: digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Middle East: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Middle East: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Middle Eastern digital glass printing output, 2020–30 ($ million, 000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• For each country:
• Digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ 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, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• African digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Africa: digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Africa: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Africa: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• African digital glass printing output, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• Australasia: digital package and label printing output by process and by national market, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Australasian digital package and label printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Australasia: digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Australasia: electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Australasia: inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–30 ($ million, million A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Australasian digital glass printing output by process, 2020–30 ($ million, ‘000 tonnes, million A4 prints)
• Global digital vs analogue printing usage in printed packaging and labels, 2020–35 ($ billion, billion A4 prints, ‘000 tonnes)
• Global digital package and label printing output by segment, 2020–35 ($ billion, billion A4 prints)
• Digital package and label printing output by regional market, 2020–35 ($ million, million A4 prints)
• Global electrophotographic package and label printing output by segment, 2020–35 ($ million, million A4 prints)
• Penetration of electrophotography by application 2020–35, in value and volume terms globally
• Electrophotographic package and label printing output by geographic market, 2020–35 ($ million, million A4 prints)
• Global inkjet package and label printing output by segment, 2020–35 ($ million, million A4 prints)
• Inkjet package and label printing output by geographic market, 2020–35 ($ million, million A4 prints)
• Penetration of all digital print by application 2020–35, in value and volume terms globally
• Penetration of inkjet by application 2020–35, in value and volume terms globally
• Factors influencing take up of digital print in packaging