US demand for labels to exceed $19 billion in 2017
Packaging trends growth in labeling for primary packaging
Label demand in the US is projected to climb 4.2% annually to $19.1 billion in 2017. While the dominant pressure sensitive segment will enjoy healthy advances, it will face growing competition from alternative labeling methods for primary packaging, such as heat-shrink and stretch sleeve, and in-mold labels. Heat-shrink labels will experience the fastest gains through 2017, with increases attributable to their ability to form-fit contoured containers and their strong visual appeal afforded by 360-degree graphics and maximum promotional area, enabling consumer products to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Glue-applied labels, despite their lower unit costs and speed of application, will face further loss of share due to competition from higher performing labels, especially in key markets such as beer and wine. These and other trends are presented in Labels, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc. (www.freedoniagroup.com), a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.
Flexography is the leading label printing technology due to its versatility, low cost, and suitability for use in the large pressure sensitive segment and the faster growing sleeve label segment. However, digital printing will experience double-digit annual advances through 2017 as it continues to displace traditional methods such as lithography and flexography.