(Watch David Zwang’s video interview with RRD’s Lisa Pruett and Brian Techter here.)

As we get ready to say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025, it’s time to look at some packaging trends in anticipation. During the month of November, we had an opportunity to see the latest NAPCO Digital Packaging research report, and to meet with many packaging converters at the Digital Packaging Summit, to hear first-hand their challenges and opportunities. At the same time, RR Donnelley released their latest Packaging and Labels Insight Report. These were not connected in any way other than their focus on the present and future of labels and packaging. While many or most of you are familiar with NAPCO research (a division of PRINTING United Alliance), before I jump into some of the more interesting results from these reports, I thought I should answer what appears to be some confusion about RR Donnelley (RRD) and packaging.

RRD has been a fixture in print since 1864 when its founder, Richard Robert Donnelley purchased 50% of an existing commercial printing company in Chicago. In their early years, much of their growth was organic and driven by innovation. In 1870, he established Lakeside Press, built a new building which subsequently burned down during the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. He rebuilt and they began printing directories, magazines, catalogs, and books in addition to general commercial print, and touching on many historic moments. Subsequently, while still achieving organic growth, RRD went into acquisition mode in the 1990s and 2000s with zeal. In 2016, they split into three publicly held companies: RRD, LSC Communications, and Donnelley Financial Services. In 2022, RRD was acquired by Chatham Asset Management and became a private company.