Gitnux/Report 2026

Labelling Industry Statistics

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Labelling Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Before any source is gathered, an editor locks the question, what qualifies, and how the piece will be judged.

02Source Research

Search agents collect the source set and pull each data point out with its provenance attached.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 39 days

01 Industry overview

The labelling industry at a glance

The global labelling market reached approximately 76 billion square metres in 2025, growing 2.8% year on year, with pressure-sensitive, glue-applied and sleeve formats dominating demand.

76bn sqm[20]
Global label volume, 2025
$48.3B[17]
Packaging labels value, 2025
2.8%[20]
Global volume growth, 2025
48%[35]
Asia-Pacific production share
Market size
The global label market reached approximately 76 billion square metres in 2025, according to AWA. Smithers valued global packaging-label demand at $48.3 billion in 2025, although definitions differ because the Smithers figure focuses on packaging labels and related sleeves.[20][17]
Forecast & CAGR
AWA projects global label volumes to grow at a 2.8% compound annual growth rate between 2025 and 2028. Smithers forecasts packaging-label sales to reach $57.5 billion in 2030 at a 3.6% CAGR from 2025, with volumes rising from 83.0 billion square metres to 99.1 billion.[20][17]
Market share & regions
Asia-Pacific is the largest production region, accounting for 48% of global label material output in FINAT's cited AWA data, followed by Europe at 22% and North America at 18%. A separate 2025 market estimate puts Asia-Pacific at 40.14% of market value, illustrating the effect of differing market definitions.[35][72]
Segmentation
By global volume, pressure-sensitive labels accounted for 39% in 2025, glue-applied labels for 35% and sleeve technologies for 20%. Smithers reports that pressure-sensitive labels represented 61.9% of packaging-label value in 2025, while food, beverages and alcoholic drinks together accounted for more than two-thirds of volume.[20][17]
Key players & concentration
The industry remains fragmented, with large global suppliers such as Multi-Color Corporation, Avery Dennison and CCL Industries competing alongside regional converters. MCC reports approximately $3 billion in annual revenue, but no reliable public source identified a consistent global market-share or concentration ratio for the full labelling industry.[73][72]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Growth is being driven by packaged-food and beverage demand, e-commerce logistics, short-run personalisation, digital product identities and sustainability requirements. Key challenges include cautious consumer spending, excess capacity and margin pressure, material and energy costs, labour shortages, and the need to design labels and adhesives for recycling.[17][74][35]
Consumer behavior & competition
Food and beverage remain the largest label users by volume, while healthcare is the fastest-growing printed-label end-use sector in Smithers' 2026 outlook, forecast to expand at a 4.9% volume CAGR. Digital printing represented 7.0% of label volume in 2024 and is forecast to reach 11.3% in 2030, intensifying competition around short runs, versioning and variable data.[17]
M&A
M&A activity has slowed from its 2022 peak: The Target Report identified 12 label-company transactions in the latest year, down from 16 the previous year and 41 in 2022. Consolidation remains important, but the January 2026 prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring of MCC showed that acquisition-driven scale can also create financial pressure.[20]
Regulation
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Regulation (EU) 2025/40, entered into force on 11 February 2025 and began applying on 12 August 2026. It introduces harmonised packaging-information requirements, including future material-composition labelling; the European Commission states that harmonised labels are expected from 12 August 2028 or 24 months after the relevant implementing acts, whichever is later.[75][70]
Latest news
AWA's 2026 market report found that global label demand reached approximately 76 billion square metres in 2025, up 2.8% year on year. In Europe, FINAT reported 7.37 billion square metres of self-adhesive labelstock consumption in 2025, a 2% increase, while paper's share declined and non-paper materials grew faster.[20]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Labelling Industry

The leading companies in the labelling industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

Avery Dennison leads Gitnux's 2026 labelling ranking with an Overall score of 9.3, with $5.33 billion 2025 labels, graphics and reflectives sales reported. CCL Industries is the runner-up at 9.2, driven by 5.8% revenue growth and 15% operating margin.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in pressure-sensitive labelling

    Avery Dennison

    US

    Ranked #1 · 9.3 · Pressure-sensitive labelling

    Why we picked it: Its pressure-sensitive and intelligent label materials are evidenced by $5.33 billion in 2025 label-related sales.

    See in ranking ↓Visit averydennison.com ↗

  2. Leader in printed label & packaging

    All4Labels Global Packaging Group

    DE

    Ranked #3 · 9.1 · Printed label & packaging

    Why we picked it: Its global printed labels execution is quantified by more than 90 billion labels across over 50 production facilities.

    See in ranking ↓Visit all4labels.com ↗

  3. Leader in industrial identification labels

    Brady Corporation

    US

    Ranked #4 · 9.1 · Industrial identification labels

    Why we picked it: Its industrial label portfolio is measured by more than 120 industrial label types and custom configurations.

    See in ranking ↓Visit bradyid.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the labelling industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Avery Dennison

Pressure-sensitive labelling · US

9.3
2

CCL Industries

Pressure-sensitive labelling · CA

9.2
3

All4Labels Global Packaging Group

Printed label & packaging · DE

9.1
4

Brady Corporation

Industrial identification labels · US

9.1
5

Fedrigoni

Premium self-adhesive labels · IT

8.8
6

Inland Packaging

Pressure-sensitive and shrink sleeve labels, US · US

8.5
7

Hammer Packaging

Pressure-sensitive and in-mold labels, US · US

8.3
8

Verst Group

Pressure-sensitive and cut-and-stack labels, US · US

8.2
9

Multi-Color Corporation

Prime, decorative and specialty labels · US

8.1
10

Coveris Holdings

Flexible packaging and labels, Europe and North America · GB

8.0

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Top 10 companies in the labelling industry. In Labelling Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/labelling-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Comparison

Global labels market value share by end-use sector

Others holds the largest share at 38%.

Others38%
Food24%
Beverage20%
Personal Care9%
Pharmaceutical9%
source-verifiedaguaplus.com

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

AI and automation adoption remains uneven: 40% of print service providers reported no AI use in 2025 globally, while nearly 50% reported no automation use.

AI in the labelling industry

  • 40% of print service providers reported no AI use in 2025, globally.[1]
  • 12% of label converters expected artificial intelligence to see the most advancement over the next five to ten years, in a 2024 industry survey.[2]
  • 15% of label-industry suppliers expected artificial intelligence to see the most advancement over the next five to ten years, in a 2024 survey.[2]
  • 51% of labels respondents expected AI to play a major role in design and development within two years, according to a U.S. survey.[3]

Automation in the labelling industry

  • 10% of label converters expected automation and robotics to see the most advancement over the next five to ten years, in a 2024 survey.[2]
  • Nearly 50% of print service providers reported no automation use in 2025, globally.[1]
  • 10% of label-industry suppliers expected automation and robotics to see the most advancement over the next five to ten years, in a 2024 survey.[2]
  • 65% of label and packaging printers identified increasing automation as a key industry challenge, according to a survey of 290 companies.[4]

Digital Transformation in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 55% of business-services CEOs identified keeping pace with technology and AI transformation as their greatest concern in PwC’s 2025 global CEO survey.[5]
  • 35.51% of EU professional, scientific and technical enterprises using AI applied it to business-administration or management processes in 2025.[6]
  • 51% of U.S. technology executives reported no increase in performance or profitability from digital-transformation investments during the previous two years.[7]
  • 40.4% of EU enterprises in professional, scientific and technical activities used at least one AI technology in 2025.[6]

Technology Adoption in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 30.87% of EU professional, scientific and technical enterprises using AI applied it to accounting, controlling or finance management in 2025.[6]
  • 27.33% of EU professional, scientific and technical enterprises using AI applied it to production processes in 2025.[6]
  • 18.55% of EU professional, scientific and technical enterprises using AI applied it to ICT security in 2025.[6]
  • 22.32% of EU professional, scientific and technical enterprises using AI applied it to research and development or innovation activities in 2025.[6]

Cloud Computing in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 91.2% of Finnish professional, scientific and technical enterprises used cloud computing services in 2023.[8]
  • 80.4% of Danish professional, scientific and technical enterprises used cloud computing services in 2023.[8]
  • 90.7% of Australian professional, scientific and technical enterprises used cloud computing services in 2022.[8]
  • 77.7% of Dutch professional, scientific and technical enterprises used cloud computing services in 2023.[8]

Big Data in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 46.8% of Swedish professional, scientific and technical enterprises conducted big-data analysis in 2023.[8]
  • 45.4% of Finnish professional, scientific and technical enterprises conducted big-data analysis in 2023.[8]
  • 57.5% of Dutch professional, scientific and technical enterprises conducted big-data analysis in 2023.[8]
  • 47.5% of German professional, scientific and technical enterprises conducted big-data analysis in 2023.[8]

Blockchain in the labelling industry

  • 15.2% of food-sector companies reported using blockchain to support food safety, in a global survey that included label technologies.[9]
  • 18.8% of European respondents reported using blockchain to support food safety, compared with 11.1% in North America.[9]
  • 22.9% of Asian respondents reported using blockchain to support food safety, in a survey covering smart tags and labels.[9]

IoT in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 36.3% of Irish professional, scientific and technical enterprises used Internet-of-Things technologies in 2021.[8]
  • 42.6% of Austrian professional, scientific and technical enterprises used Internet-of-Things technologies in 2021.[8]
  • 35.6% of Swedish professional, scientific and technical enterprises used Internet-of-Things technologies in 2021.[8]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Data confidence and governance vary. Only 17% of surveyed printing and packaging companies in Germany had complete confidence in production and company data in 2026.

Business intelligence in the labelling industry

  • 17% of surveyed printing and packaging companies in Germany had complete confidence in their production and company data in 2026.[10]
  • 87% of packaging, labels and supply-chain leaders surveyed planned investments in Internet-of-Things technology in 2026.[11]
  • Around 40% of surveyed global print service providers were not using artificial intelligence in 2025.[1]
  • 75% of global print businesses surveyed had fewer than 50 employees in 2025, constraining investment capacity for automation and digital systems.[1]
  • 75% of surveyed printing and packaging companies used artificial-intelligence technologies in 2026, mainly for research and efficiency improvement.[10]
  • 84% of packaging, labels and supply-chain leaders surveyed planned investments in real-time visibility in 2026.[11]

Data analytics in the labelling industry

  • 96% of packaging, labels and supply-chain organizations surveyed operated an e-commerce channel in 2026.[11]
  • 51% of U.S. labels decision-makers surveyed expected artificial intelligence to play a major role in design and development over the following two years.[12]
  • 79% of U.S. labels executives surveyed said environmental regulations and corporate sustainability goals were reshaping label sourcing approaches.[12]
  • 80% of packaging, labels and supply-chain leaders surveyed expected their e-commerce business to grow within one to three years in 2026.[11]
  • 62% of packaging, labels and supply-chain leaders surveyed ranked sustainability optimization as the highest-priority use of AI over 2026–2029.[11]
  • 73% of U.S. packaging and labels decision-makers surveyed said consumer demand for eco-friendly, minimalist packaging had changed sourcing during the previous year.[12]

Data Quality in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 50% of organizations identified data-quality issues as the biggest challenge affecting their data-integration projects in 2024.[13]
  • 49% of supply management organizations reported that their data quality was good or excellent in 2024, based on a survey of more than 121 respondents.[14]
  • 23% of supply management firms spent at least 21% of their time cleaning data in 2024.[14]
  • 87% of enterprise data leaders said traditional rules-based approaches to data quality did not scale to current needs in 2024.[15]
  • 67% of supply management organizations said their data quality was better or significantly better than two years earlier in 2024.[14]
  • 95% of enterprise companies with at least $1 billion in revenue had experienced a data-quality issue directly affecting business outcomes in 2024.[15]

Data Governance in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 71% of global organizations reported having a data-governance program in 2024, up from 60% in 2023.[13]
  • 81% of supply management organizations found their data-governance program useful in 2024.[14]
  • 61% of organizations had a dedicated data-governance function in 2024, according to a survey of more than 121 supply management professionals.[14]
  • 32% of organizations in the 2024 governance study had a formal governance organization in place, while 68% had none.[16]
  • 33% of North American organizations had a formal data-governance organization in place in 2024.[16]
  • 18.3% of organizations used a data-governance or catalog solution as part of their governance program in 2024.[16]

KPIs in the labelling industry

  • 70% of U.S. labels decision-makers surveyed identified materials and composition as an expected design change in 2024.[12]
  • 45% of U.S. labels decision-makers surveyed cited cost efficiency as a primary driver of label-operation changes in 2024.[12]
  • 51% of U.S. labels decision-makers surveyed considered recycled-material inclusion when making label decisions in 2024.[12]
  • 40% of surveyed printing and packaging companies lacked an integrated system landscape for unified business-process information in 2026.[10]
  • 55% of U.S. labels decision-makers surveyed considered material-waste reduction when making label decisions in 2024.[12]
  • 41% of U.S. labels decision-makers surveyed cited compliance with new regulations as a primary driver of label-operation changes in 2024.[12]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Growth forecasts track format and value. AWA projects label volumes at a 2.8% CAGR to 2028, while Smithers projects packaging-label sales to reach $57.5 billion in 2030.

Growth in the labelling industry

  • 99.1 billion square metres is the projected global label and packaging-sleeve volume in 2030.[17]
  • 2.1% was the global printed-label market’s five-year volume CAGR through 2026.[17]
  • 7.0% of global label volume came from digital printing in 2024.[17]
  • $57.5 billion is the projected global packaging-label market value in 2030.[17]
  • 11.3% is the projected share of global label volume for digital printing in 2030.[17]
  • 3.6% is the projected compound annual growth rate for packaging-label sales from 2025 to 2030.[17]

Differentiation in the labelling industry

  • 3.1% was stretch sleeves’ share of packaging-label volume in 2025.[17]
  • 4.1 billion sustainable labels were sold by Brook+Whittle in 2024.[18]
  • 28% of Avery Dennison’s 2022 sales came from its Solutions Group, including RFID and branding solutions.[19]
  • 72% of Avery Dennison’s 2022 sales came from its Materials Group, including label materials.[19]
  • 1st was Polyart r-Polyart’s claimed market position among synthetic papers made with post-consumer recycled material in 2024.[20]
  • 30% post-consumer recycled material was claimed for Polyart Group’s r-Polyart synthetic paper launched in 2024.[20]

Mergers and acquisitions in the labelling industry

  • 1 acquisition of Groupe Lelys by Fortis Solutions Group was listed for November 2024.[21]
  • 17 strategic-buyer printing-and-label deals were announced in 2024.[21]
  • 65+ labels and packaging deals were recorded in 2023 in the HW transaction review.[22]
  • 19 private-equity add-on printing-and-label transactions were completed in 2024.[21]
  • 20 printing transactions represented 54% of global printing-and-label deal volume in 2024.[21]
  • 12 fewer label deals were recorded in 2024 than in 2023.[21]

Strategic partnerships in the labelling industry

  • 1 partnership between PPG and GPA expanded distribution of synthetic-paper substrates for commercial-printing and label applications in 2025.[23]
  • $15.8 billion was PPG’s reported net sales in 2024 when it announced the GPA label-substrate partnership.[23]
  • 1 strategic partnership between TheRiot Agency and Labels & Labeling was announced in August 2024.[20]
  • 2 marketing and branding packages were introduced through the TRA–Labels & Labeling partnership in 2024.[20]
  • 70+ countries were covered by PPG’s global operations when it announced its 2025 partnership with GPA.[23]
  • 1 TRA Growth OS Marketing Foundation Builder package was included in the 2024 converter partnership offering.[20]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce scale and retention shape execution. Avery Dennison reported an employee turnover rate of 19% in 2024.

Hiring in the labelling industry

  • 35,929 employees worked for Avery Dennison globally in 2022, including its Materials Group labeling operations.[24]
  • More than 5,000 production colleagues completed Amcor’s first DE&I cornerstone training rollout in North America in 2024, supporting workforce engagement and attraction in packaging operations that include labels.[25]
  • 34,716 employees worked for Avery Dennison globally in 2023, including its Materials Group labeling operations.[24]
  • 34,576 employees worked for Avery Dennison globally in 2024, providing the workforce base for its labeling and materials operations.[24]

Employee retention in the labelling industry

  • 19% was Avery Dennison’s total employee turnover rate globally in 2024.[24]
  • 80% of Avery Dennison employees gave favorable responses in the company’s global engagement survey in 2023.[24]
  • 84.5% of Avery Dennison employees gave favorable responses in the company’s global engagement survey in 2022.[24]
  • 9% was Avery Dennison’s voluntary employee turnover rate globally in 2023.[24]
  • 8% was Avery Dennison’s voluntary employee turnover rate globally in 2024.[24]

Remote Work in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 37.21% was the average share of paid workdays performed from home by U.S. professional and business-services employees in January 2025.[26]
  • About 45% of U.S. professional and business-services workers worked remotely during October 2023–September 2024, including hybrid and fully remote work.[27]
  • 62.8% of U.S. professional and business-services employees who could work at home did so during 2024–2025, while 66.0% could work at home.[28]
  • 54% of U.S. professional-services firms reported having at least one paid work-from-home employee in November 2024–January 2025.[29]

Hybrid Work in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 54% of U.S. employees with remote-capable jobs worked in a hybrid arrangement in November 2025.[30]
  • Across U.S. professional and business services, 39% of full-time employees worked fully onsite during January–April 2025.[31]
  • Across U.S. professional and business services, 22% of full-time employees worked fully from home during January–April 2025.[31]
  • 61% of U.S. employees with remote-capable jobs preferred hybrid work in November 2025, compared with 33% preferring fully remote work.[30]
  • Across U.S. professional and business services, 38% of full-time employees worked hybrid schedules during January–April 2025.[31]

Upskilling in the labelling industry

  • 2,709 training hours were recorded for Siegwerk’s diversity, equity and inclusion learning programs in 2023 globally.[32]
  • 70% of Avery Dennison employee learning is expected to occur on the job under its 70/20/10 development model in 2024.[19]
  • 10% of Avery Dennison employee learning is expected to occur through formal training under its 70/20/10 development model in 2024.[19]
  • 4,989 training hours were recorded for Siegwerk’s diversity, equity and inclusion learning programs in 2025 globally.[32]
  • 20% of Avery Dennison employee learning is expected to come through interaction with others under its 70/20/10 development model in 2024.[19]

Employee Engagement in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 32% of U.S. employees were engaged at work in 2024, while 17% were actively disengaged.[30]
  • 34% of U.S. employees were engaged at work in 2022, while 16% were actively disengaged.[30]
  • 32% of U.S. employees were engaged at work in 2025, while 17% were actively disengaged.[30]
  • 33% of U.S. employees were engaged at work in 2023, while 16% were actively disengaged.[30]

DEI in the labelling industry

  • 41% of CCL Industries’ employees identified as white in 2024 across its global operations.[25]
  • 37% of CCL Industries’ global employees were female in 2024 across its specialty packaging and labeling businesses.[25]
  • 63% of CCL Industries’ global employees were male in 2024 across its specialty packaging and labeling businesses.[25]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Customer-driven change is central to label operations. For food-and-beverage, 88% of professionals report customer requirements affect labelling.

Customer experience in the labelling industry

  • 60% of label respondents expect functional design changes such as strength, size or opening changes within two years of the 2024 survey.[20]
  • 70% of label respondents plan to change material composition within two years of the 2024 survey.[20]
  • 79% of label respondents say inflation and rising raw-material costs changed how their organizations source labels during the year before the 2024 survey.[20]
  • 71% of companies in a Loftware automotive labeling survey credit automated labeling with reducing labeling and artwork errors.[33]
  • 85% of companies in a Loftware automotive labeling survey say extending labeling access to business partners streamlines operations and accelerates onboarding of new suppliers.[33]

Customer retention in the labelling industry

  • No customer represented more than 5% of Status Packaging’s turnover, according to the company’s chief executive in a 2020 interview.[20]
  • 88% of food-and-beverage professionals report that customer requirements affect labeling, according to a Loftware survey of approximately 182 professionals.[34]
  • 75% of food-and-beverage customers requiring labeling changes demand adherence to barcode standards, according to a Loftware survey.[34]
  • 52% of food-and-beverage customers requiring labeling changes demand specific data content, according to a Loftware survey.[34]
  • 51% of organizations surveyed by Loftware struggled to meet increasing customer-specific labeling requirements during the 12 months before the 2025 report.[33]

Customer acquisition in the labelling industry

  • Over 40% of North American label-converter survey respondents achieved sales increases above 10% in 2010.[20]
  • Nearly 60% of North American label-converter survey respondents used social media, with reported benefits including new-business leads and improved customer communication in 2011.[20]
  • 19% of surveyed U.S. label-converting companies reported sales declines during the first three quarters of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019.[20]
  • 23% of U.S. label converters whose business volumes increased reported sales growth of 15% during the first three quarters of 2020 year on year.[20]
  • 57% of North American label-converter survey respondents produced tickets or tags, creating an adjacent customer-acquisition market in 2011.[20]

Customer loyalty in the labelling industry

  • No customer represented more than 5% of Status Packaging’s turnover, according to its chief executive, suggesting a diversified customer base rather than dependence on a single loyal account.[20]
  • Nearly one in four brand owners in the 2019 FINAT survey said environmental certification was vital when selecting label vendors.[35]
  • 79% of label respondents agree that inflation and rising raw-material costs changed label-sourcing practices, making supplier value and reliability important loyalty factors, according to a 2024 survey.[20]
  • 50% of brand owners in the 2019 FINAT survey required environmental certification from label vendors at either a critical or increasingly important level.[35]

Lead generation in the labelling industry

  • 43% of respondents to the 2024 L&NW State of the Industry survey were converters, the principal supplier audience for label-industry business development.[2]
  • Nearly 60% of North American label-converter survey respondents used social media in 2011, with new-business leads reported as one benefit.[20]
  • 26% of surveyed TLMI converters were active in pouches in 2019, while 12% were interested in entering the market.[20]
  • 48% of respondents to the 2024 L&NW State of the Industry survey produced labels, tags and tape, representing the core addressable audience for industry lead-generation activity.[2]
  • Nearly 20% of North American label-converter survey respondents produced folding cartons in 2011, indicating another adjacent prospect segment.[20]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Brand and digital identity appear in demand signals. Smithers reports $44.5 billion was the global printed-label market in 2026.

Marketing in the labelling industry

  • $44.5 billion was the global printed-label market in 2026, according to Smithers.[17]
  • 31% of marketers influencing label and packaging purchases prioritized customized or versioned packaging options in 2019.[36]
  • 28% of marketers influencing label and packaging purchases prioritized personalized packaging in 2019.[36]
  • 54% of 528 marketers influencing label and packaging purchases ranked compelling or visually attractive artwork among their top objectives in 2019.[36]
  • $20.6 billion is the projected 2025 value of U.S. label demand, growing at 3.3% annually.[37]

Digital marketing in the labelling industry

  • 24% of marketers influencing label and packaging purchases prioritized smart packaging such as QR codes and NFC tags to improve engagement in 2019.[36]
  • 16% of marketers influencing label and packaging purchases prioritized accommodating e-commerce retailer requirements in 2019.[36]
  • 48.0% of global label-printing volume came from Asia in 2026.[17]
  • 27.6% is Smithers’ projected share of global label-printing volume for digital printing in 2031.[17]
  • 23% of marketers influencing label and packaging purchases prioritized packaging customized to retailer requirements in 2019.[36]

Branding in the labelling industry

  • 11% of consumers associated modern, stylish fonts and branding with packaging quality in 2026.[38]
  • 59% of packaging was branded among surveyed online retailers in 2022.[39]
  • 59% of U.S. shoppers said a peel-off label drew their attention on crowded shelves in 2017.[40]
  • 98% of respondents in L.E.K.’s 2025 study considered packaging highly important to brand success.[41]
  • 56% of U.S. shoppers said a recognizable logo drew their attention to a product in 2017.[40]

Influencer Marketing in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 86% of B2B influencer-marketing practitioners and creators prefer co-creating content with brands rather than amplifying finished brand content, based on Q1 2026 research.[42]
  • 44% of B2B influencer-marketing practitioners say finding the right talent is their single biggest collaboration obstacle, based on Q1 2026 research.[42]
  • 74% of B2B influencers use artificial-intelligence tools to enhance content creation, based on Q1 2026 research.[42]
  • 78% of B2B influencer-marketing practitioners identify brand awareness and lead generation as their joint top challenges, based on Q1 2026 research.[42]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Process optimization in the labelling industry

  • 26% longer rolls and more labels per roll were enabled by Avery Dennison’s Flex+ Clear material compared with PE85.[43]
  • 14% of labels ordered by Barclay Chemicals were scrapped on average each year before process improvements.[44]
  • €310,000 in label-scrappage waste accumulated at Barclay Chemicals over three years before workflow redesign.[44]
  • 98% shorter SAP label-print times were reported by GSK after standardizing its enterprise labeling solution.[33]
  • 75% less label-design time was reported by GSK after implementing a standardized labeling platform.[33]

Operational efficiency in the labelling industry

  • Almost 13,000 labels per 12-hour day were produced by each Cheese Warehouse A-Class print engine.[45]
  • 27,000 square feet of raw material were lost each week at Label Impressions before automated matrix-waste removal.[20]
  • 1% of labels were defective and required rework before barcode inspection was deployed on the manufacturer’s labeling lines.[46]
  • 5 hours per day were wasted on a manufacturer’s manual labeling process before barcode inspection automation.[46]
  • $128,000 annually in lost productivity was attributed to label-printing delays at Freudenberg before workflow integration.[33]

Quality management in the labelling industry

  • 69% of respondents blamed human error for clinical-labeling discrepancies.[47]
  • 57% of respondents used manual inspection of every printed label to capture clinical-labeling errors.[47]
  • 29% of respondents attributed clinical-labeling quality problems to printer failures.[47]
  • 47% of respondents used an electronic inspection system to capture clinical-labeling errors.[47]
  • 31% of respondents already had an electronic vision-inspection system for clinical labeling.[47]

Supply chain in the labelling industry

  • 73.3% of surveyed factories used courier services to expedite urgent label deliveries.[19]
  • 67.5% of surveyed factories missed a promised delivery date because labels were unavailable when needed.[19]
  • 64% of labels specifiers changed label materials based on availability.[12]
  • 50% of surveyed packaging and label decision-makers increased inventory to address e-commerce and supply-chain pressures.[12]
  • One in five TLMI converters reported delivery times 25% longer than in mid-2021.[48]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 47.5% of EU enterprises sourcing abroad sourced administrative and management functions internationally during 2021–2023.[6]
  • 28.8% of EU enterprises sourcing abroad sourced information and communication technology services internationally during 2021–2023.[6]
  • 29% of U.S. CPA firms responding to the 2025 National MAP Survey utilized offshoring, rising to 74% among firms with at least $10 million in net client fees.[49]
  • 60% of EU business-services enterprises sourcing abroad were in the business-services sector, compared with 40% in industry and construction, during 2021–2023.[6]
  • 39% of EU enterprises sourcing abroad outsourced business functions to external providers during 2021–2023, while 72% used affiliated-group insourcing.[6]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Pricing pressure is framed against raw-material inputs and downtime costs. An average €1.1 million per year was attributed to labelling problems as production downtime cost among surveyed manufacturers.

Pricing strategy in the labelling industry

  • 51% of labels respondents ranked supplier speed or turnaround time as a key selection factor in 2024.[12]
  • 51% of labels decision-makers expected artificial intelligence to play a major role in design and development over the following two years.[12]
  • 0.5% per year is the forecast decline in prices paid by brands to global label converters through 2029.[50]
  • 30%–50% of printed-label value is attributable to raw-material costs in the United States, according to a 2025 market study.[37]
  • 21.6% was the projected share of global printed-packaging-label value represented by one tracked label format in 2024.[50]

Cost reduction in the labelling industry

  • 67% of labels respondents reported supply-chain shortages as a major operational factor in 2024.[3]
  • 26% of surveyed manufacturing IT managers identified error elimination as the greatest benefit of modernising labelling-related processes.[51]
  • 45% of labels respondents cited cost efficiency as a primary driver of planned label-design changes in 2024.[3]
  • 77% of labels respondents planned to change their designs within two years, with 25% expecting major changes.[12]
  • €1.1 million per year was the average production-downtime cost attributed to labelling problems among surveyed manufacturers.[51]

Profitability in the labelling industry

  • $2.5307 billion was Avery Dennison’s 2024 gross profit across the company, compared with $2.2775 billion in 2023.[24]
  • $713.7 million was CCL Industries’ 2024 CCL-segment operating income, up 12.7% from 2023.[25]
  • $211.5 million was CCL Industries’ Avery-segment operating income in 2024, up 6.0% from 2023.[25]
  • 9.4% was CCL Industries’ Innovia segment return on sales in 2024, compared with 7.2% in 2023.[25]
  • $66.2 million was CCL Industries’ Innovia-segment operating income in 2024, up 45.2% from 2023.[25]

Financial planning in the labelling industry

  • $9.55–$9.95 was Avery Dennison’s reported EPS guidance for FY2025.[19]
  • $8.8 billion was Avery Dennison’s FY2024 net sales, up 4.7% year over year.[19]
  • 214 production facilities operated by CCL Industries across 42 countries were reported in its investor information.[52]
  • $48.2 million was CCL Industries’ Innovia capital spending in 2024, compared with $80.5 million in 2023.[25]
  • 35,000 employees were reported by Avery Dennison as part of its global workforce in 2024.[53]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Format mix and recyclability influence product decisions. Pressure-sensitive labels were 61.9% of packaging-label value in 2025.

Product development in the labelling industry

  • 77% of U.S. labels respondents planned to change label designs within two years, including 25% expecting major changes, in 2024.[3]
  • 39% of the global labels market by format was self-adhesive, while 35% was glue-applied and 20% was shrink-sleeve labelling, according to 2025 European industry data.[35]
  • 41% of U.S. labels respondents identified compliance with new regulations as a primary driver of label design changes, in 2024.[3]
  • 62% of U.S. labels respondents prioritized material recyclability in label decisions, in 2024.[3]
  • 61.9% of the global packaging-label market by value comprised pressure-sensitive labels in 2025.[17]

Product lifecycle in the labelling industry

  • 83.0 billion square metres was global packaging-label and sleeve volume in 2025, forecast to reach 99.1 billion square metres in 2030.[17]
  • 41% of U.S. labels respondents consolidated suppliers to address supply-chain issues, inflation and other pressures, in 2024.[3]
  • 60.9 million square metres was global label demand in 2024, forecast to rise 2.9% annually to 70.4 million square metres in 2029.[37]
  • 78% of U.S. labels decision-makers said environmental regulations and corporate sustainability goals reshaped label sourcing, in 2024.[3]
  • 72% of U.S. labels respondents reported material price increases affecting label operations, in 2024.[3]

After-sales in the labelling industry

  • 28% of surveyed UK label-printing users experienced a whole day of downtime from label-printing problems during the previous six months.[54]
  • 77.5% of surveyed in-plant printing users needed timely replacement of lost or spoiled labels, according to Avery Dennison.[19]
  • 49% of surveyed UK label-printing users experienced between 11 and 40 label-printing incidents during the previous six months.[54]
  • 23 minutes of staff productivity were lost per interruption in the label-printing downtime analysis cited by Brother.[54]
  • 51% of surveyed UK label-printing users had to organize equipment repairs after label-printing problems, according to the survey period reported by Brother.[54]

Value proposition in the labelling industry

  • 4.6% was the projected value CAGR of the global printed-label market from 2024 to 2029.[17]
  • 44% of U.S. labels respondents ranked industry-specific supplier experience as a supplier-selection priority, in 2024.[3]
  • 4.6% was the projected compound annual growth rate of the global labels market from 2024 to 2029, according to Harris Williams.[22]
  • 9% was Avery Dennison’s organic growth in enterprise-wide Intelligent Labels revenue in 2024.[55]
  • $900 million was Avery Dennison’s approximate enterprise-wide Intelligent Labels revenue in 2024, including currency translation.[55]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Recycling targets show up as measurable commitments. Avery Dennison reported a 95% landfill-free operations target for 2030.

Sustainability in the labelling industry

  • 70% of Avery Dennison Materials Group revenue came from sustainability-driven products in 2025, globally.[56]
  • 99% of Avery Dennison films purchased conformed to or enabled products meeting environmental and social guiding principles in 2025, globally.[56]
  • 99% of Avery Dennison chemicals purchased conformed to or enabled products meeting environmental and social guiding principles in 2025, globally.[56]

ESG in the labelling industry

  • 70% of Avery Dennison standard label products are targeted to contain recycled or renewable content by 2030, globally.[56]
  • 95% is Avery Dennison’s 2030 landfill-free operations target, globally.[56]
  • 67% of Avery Dennison Materials Group revenue came from sustainability-driven products in 2024, globally.[19]
  • 75% is Avery Dennison’s 2030 operational-waste recycling target, globally.[56]
  • 81% of Avery Dennison face paper was FSC-certified in 2025, globally.[56]

Ethics in the labelling industry

  • 100% of Avery Dennison employees and suppliers are covered by a zero-tolerance approach to breaches of its code and supplier standards, globally.[43]
  • 100% of Avery Dennison corruption concerns identified through its tools were subject to investigation, according to its disclosure, globally.[43]

Circular economy in the labelling industry

  • 100% recycled cardboard replaced virgin cardboard in Avery label packets in 2024, globally.[52]
  • 25% of paper liners were converted from waste to energy in the CELAB study, globally.[20]
  • 20% of label liners sold worldwide were recycled into other materials in 2019, according to the CELAB industry study.[20]
  • 10% of release liners were recycled in Europe in 2021, with 90% landfilled or incinerated.[20]
  • More than 7 million Avery label packets used recycled cardboard and reduced caliper in 2024, globally.[52]

Carbon footprint in the labelling industry

  • 33957 tonnes of CO2e were All4Labels’ Scope 2 emissions in 2024.[57]
  • 74% of All4Labels’ Scope 3 emissions came from purchased goods and services in 2024.[57]
  • 0.36 tonnes of CO2e per tonne was All4Labels’ Scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity in 2024.[57]
  • 705914 tonnes of CO2e were All4Labels’ total Scope 1–3 emissions in 2024.[57]
  • 94% of All4Labels’ total annual emissions came from Scope 3 in 2024.[57]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

Production and demand shift across regions. Asia-Pacific accounted for 48% of global label material output in FINAT's cited AWA data.

Globalization in the labelling industry

  • 98% of CCL Industries’ sales were generated outside Canada in 2024.[52]
  • The global labels market reached 60.9 billion square meters of demand in 2024.[37]
  • 21% of Avery Dennison’s workforce was located in North America at year-end 2024.[67]
  • 40% of Avery Dennison’s 2024 net sales came from emerging markets, including Latin America, Eastern Europe, MENA and most of Asia-Pacific.[67]
  • 42 countries and six continents were covered by CCL Industries’ operations in 2024.[52]

Cultural adaptation in the labelling industry

  • Up to 31 languages can appear on a single label for some large lubricant companies operating in the EU and EEA.[68]
  • 36% of citizens preferred labels exclusively in their national language or languages in the JRC survey.[69]
  • 40% of large firms produced multilingual labels, compared with 25% of medium firms, 25% of small firms and 9% of micro firms in the European survey.[70]
  • 47 stakeholders reported needing textual information in up to 24 languages for packaging labels in the European Commission consultation.[69]
  • 50 stakeholders reported needing textual information in at least 20 languages for packaging labels in the European Commission consultation.[69]

Supplier management in the labelling industry

  • CCL Industries operated more than 400 profit centers across its global business in 2024.[52]
  • CCL Industries’ 2023 purchases comprised 54.9% plastic, 29.9% forest products and 6% metals.[52]
  • 65% of Avery Dennison employees worked in manufacturing operations or positions directly supporting manufacturing at year-end 2024.[67]
  • Avery Dennison had approximately 35,000 employees at year-end 2024, supporting its worldwide materials and intelligent-label supply network.[67]
  • CCL Industries’ 2023 purchases included 3.5% inks and solvents and 1.8% adhesives.[52]

Stakeholder management in the labelling industry

  • 13,000+ customers were served globally by All4Labels in 2024.[57]
  • 78% of surveyed packaging participants reported e-commerce growth during the year covered by RRD’s labels report.[22]
  • CCL Industries’ 2023 workforce was 37% female.[52]
  • CCL Industries reported 25,700 employees in its 2023 sustainability report.[52]
  • 77% of labels respondents planned operational or design changes to meet e-commerce demand in the RRD survey.[22]

Distribution channels in the labelling industry

  • Avery’s direct-to-consumer and direct-to-business brands were supported by online design software and unique URLs in 2023.[25]
  • Short-run labels were reported as deliverable in approximately 72 hours through e-commerce-oriented operations.[22]
  • Avery’s WePrint direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform helped offset declines in traditional mailing-address labels in 2023.[25]
  • 20–30% of the United States vinyl-label market was estimated to be represented by wholesale distribution.[71]
  • Avery operated 23 manufacturing facilities and three distribution facilities in 2023.[25]

Key questions about the labelling industry

What is the size of the global label market in 2025?
The global labelling market reached approximately 76 billion square metres in 2025. AWA reports this as total label volume.
How fast is label volume projected to grow from 2025 to 2028?
AWA projects global label volumes to grow at a 2.8% compound annual growth rate between 2025 and 2028. The 2025 year-on-year growth is also 2.8%.
Which companies lead the labelling industry?
Avery Dennison leads Gitnux's 2026 labelling ranking with an Overall score of 9.3, with $5.33 billion 2025 labels, graphics and reflectives sales reported. CCL Industries is the runner-up at 9.2, driven by 5.8% revenue growth and 15% operating margin.
What technology shifts are changing how labels get produced and developed?
Digital printing reached 7.0% of global label volume in 2024 and is forecast to reach 11.3% in 2030. In parallel, 51% of label respondents expected AI to play a major role in design and development within two years in a U.S. survey.
How fragmented is the labelling industry and what does that mean for competition?
The industry is described as fragmented, with large global suppliers competing alongside regional converters. No reliable public source is identified for consistent global market-share or concentration for the full industry.
What regulation is tightening packaging labelling requirements in Europe?
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 entered into force on 11 February 2025 and began applying on 12 August 2026. The European Commission expects harmonised labels from 12 August 2028 or 24 months after implementing acts.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Labelling Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/labelling-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Labelling Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 10 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/labelling-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Labelling Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/labelling-industry-statistics.

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