AKRON, OH–Global demand for packaging labels will grow across the next five years according to Smithers, the worldwide authority on the packaging industry. Projected 2025 market value is pegged at $48.3 billion. Sales will increase at a 3.6 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach $57.5 billion in 2030, as brand owners invest in new print technologies, smart packaging, and more sustainable label and film stocks.

Exclusive data from the latest Smithers market report,”The Future of Labels and Release Liners to 2030,” tracks how label and packaging sleeve volumes will rise from 83.0 billion sq meters in 2025/893.4 billion sq ft, to 99.1 billion sq meters/1066.7 billion sq ft in 2030. 

• Flexo remains the most common print process, accounting for better than 40 percent of output. Its use will grow over the study period
• Print volumes for offset litho print–widely used for printing cut and stack, wet glue labels– will lose market share as more converters move to pressure-sensitive formats
• Digital printing (inkjet and toner) accounted for 7.0 percent of label volume in 2024. It is forecast to increase its market share to 11.3 percent in 2030, with new narrow web machines and hybrid configurations generating more revenue for print service providers
• Production processes are being designed to reduce energy use. Changes in substrates are enhancing the recyclability of labels and base containers at end-of-life; alongside more use of paper labels, and post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials in both film stocks and release liners 
• Soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and food continue to dominate label use, accounting for over two thirds of the market by volume. All will see steady growth, with significant increases coming from deeper penetration into developing consumer markets.

Pressure-sensitive labels remain the most popular solution, accounting for 61.9 percent of market value. Wet glue labels are the second most valuable sector and have a relatively larger share of the market by volume. Pressure-sensitive stocks will continue to displace other labels across the next five years. Linerless labels will remain a fringe option, and volume consumption of release liners is forecast to rise from 35.2 billion sq meters/378.9 billion sq ft in 2025 to 42.3 billion sq meters/455.3 billion sq ft in 2030. 

Sleeves present the main market alternative to labels, and Smithers analysis shows these are growing in use, especially among soft drinks customers. Shrink sleeves are the main technology employed with a 12.4 percent market share by volume in 2025. Both these and stretch sleeves (3.1 percent) will grow significantly above the market mean across the next five years, increasing the surface area printed per pack.