Self-adhesive labelling is a dynamic and creative sector of packaging, in which FINAT’s Industry Trends sub-committee, headed by Ferdi Ruesch of Gallus, sees several key trends, writes Jules Lejeune, managing director of FINAT.
Self-adhesive labels add value to product packaging in several ways: as a source of information on pack contents; as a location for barcodes and other track-and-trace and authentication devices; and as a promotion and decoration. In all these spheres, the convenience and versatility of the self-adhesive laminate have been key contributors to product packaging.
They serve manufacturers across the whole spectrum of products, providing a valuable and easily accessed tool for product development and marketing, particularly for direct-label goods. Even in the 21st century, self-adhesive labels are adding value to products and brands in new and developing ways, in partnership with an ever-changing base of packaging materials.
Global label demand
According to Labels & Labeling International, global label demand (across all technologies) is expected to exceed 50bn sqm by 2015. Global demand for labels is expected to increase in 2012–13 by about 6–7%.
The prime volume markets are foods, beverages, personal care products and pharmaceuticals, with growth driven by emerging economies – particularly the BRIC countries.
Self-adhesive labels, along with glue-applied labels, still represent together nearly four fifths of the total label market, but face competition today from sleeving and in-mould labels – both are expanding, particularly in the food and beverage markets.
In Europe, recent dynamic development in eastern countries has slowed but remains key to the region’s market growth. North American self-adhesive label demand growth has been driven primarily by VIP applications. Asia-Pacific takes the largest global share of the overall label market today, and here self-adhesive labels demonstrate healthy growth, with new label laminating companies, as well as converters, proliferating.
The newest label market, Africa and the Middle East, combines both mature and unstable economies, but is showing healthy overall growth for self-adhesive labels.