Labels: The State of the Industry

Pressure-sensitive and glue-applied labels together still take the lion's share of the global label market, each with 39 percent. Sleeving has grown to a 15 percent share of the global market, while in-mold labels—suitable only for long runs—now represent 2 percent.

While pressure-sensitive labels are estimated to have grown 1.5 percent in North America and 1.3 percent in Europe in 2011, glue-applied labels now show significant signs of maturity in all formats (wet glue and wraparound) in all markets except South America, where—driven by demand in the soft drinks and beer sectors—they recorded growth of approximately 13 percent in 2011.