Labels: The State of the Industry

Flexo and UV flexo remain the largest installed machinery base for pressure-sensitive label print.

Sustainability

The sustainability agenda for the packaging industry is growing exponentially, and label industry waste recycling/re-use is currently a major focus. There is a proliferation of environmental initiatives in the broad print/packaging context, at many levels, such as the environmental management systems ISO 14001 and Lean Six Sigma. Certification to environmental sourcing standards—like FSC and PEFC for papers—are other options. Brand owners' and retailers' own environmental standards for their suppliers, like the Wal-Mart Supplier Sustainability Assessment, add further complexity.