According to Mordor Intelligence, the print label market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% over the forecast period (2021–2026). Last year had a significant impact on consumer purchasing habits, so as a result it also had an impact on labels and packaging in general. These changes and, more importantly, trends—many of which were already beginning to evolve—started shifting at an increased rate, facilitated by new technologies.

The most consequential driver is the increase in on-demand label procurement. With the increase in market segmentation, and the need to keep up with regulatory label changes, label procurement has been moving from an annual or semi-annual production purchase and warehouse model to produce what is needed for current production or on-demand model.

Pressure-sensitive labels still represent the largest segment of growth in labeling, or about a 40% share, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 4% through 2026. Glue-applied labels are in second place at about 35%. Plastics used in labeling, like shrink sleeves and in packaging in general are increasingly the target of sustainably conscious consumers. Even if a label that, on its own, can be recycled, once applied to a plastic bottle, it can play havoc on the recycling stream. As a result, we are seeing more direct-to-object printing in place of conventional labels and even the testing of paper bottles from brands including Absolut, Carlsberg, and even Coca-Cola. While they are using an inner barrier for the bottle produced from a recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer film, it still limits unrecyclable waste.