Key facts:
- In 2025, the labels and release liners market is projected to be worth $47,170 million and is forecast to reach $56,351 million by 2030
- The labels and release liners market can expect a CAGR of 3.6% between 2025 and 2030
The market for labels and the release liners that are widely used in their construction is influenced by a broad range of demand and supply factors. These influence overall demand for labels and help determine the type of labels that are manufactured and used. Packaging volume and sustainability are key drivers in the labels and release liners sector.
The focus of this study is physical labels, including paper, film, and ink labels, that are designed to be attached to a product or package. There are many types of label with selection of a particular variant dependent on a broad range of factors including the characteristics of the package, the material from which it is constructed, the intended use and its suitability for recycling. The report also covers emerging electronics and systems that are provided to enhance and extend label functionality.
Key questions:
- How are current regulations impacting the development of the labels and release liner market?
- Are growth rates shifting and what implications does this have on the label printing processes?
- How will digital and analogue processes fair develop over the next 5 years in label printing?
- Where is the drive for sustainability affecting label printing and how will this interact with other growth factors?
This report is essential to:
- Packaging converters and print service providers
- Printer manufacturers
- Ink and label substrate suppliers
Table of Contents
Executive summary
- Overview
- Key drivers and trends
- Technological developments
- Label types
- Release liners
- Label printing process
- End-use markets
- Geographic markets
Introduction & methodology
- Introduction
- Objectives
- Scope and definitions
- Label types
- Print processes
- Release liner types
- End-use sectors
- Geographic markets
- Data
- Methodology
- Important terms and definitions
- List of abbreviations
- Exchange rates
Key drivers and trends
- Introduction
- Market drivers
- Geopolitical relations
- The Russo-Ukrainian war
- Brexit
- Demographic and social influences
- Population growth
- Age structure
- Marketplace influences
- Consumer demands
- Regulatory requirements
- Urbanisation
- Disposable income
- E-commerce
- Globalisation
- Technology influences
- New packaging and label innovations
- Digital printing technology
- Flexible vs rigid packaging
- Direct print instead of labels
- Smart labels
Cutting-edge technology developments
- Introduction
- Smart labels
- New label product developments
- Product for enhanced sustainability
- Products with enhanced safety elements
- Products for enhanced label functionality
- Direct to pack printing and imaging
- Printing machinery developments
Label and release liner markets
- Introduction
- Labels
- Pressure-sensitive labels
- Pre-gummed labels
- Shrink sleeve labels
- Stretch sleeve labels
- Wet glue labels
- In-mould labels (IML)
- Release liners
- Glassine, calendered kraft
- Clay-coated kraft paper
- Polyolefin-coated paper
- Polymer film-based
- Other paper-based
Label printing processes
- Overview
- Label markets
- Current label manufacturing methods
- Gravure
- Letterpress
- Flexography
- Offset lithography
- Screen
- Digital
End-use markets for labels
- Introduction
- Overview
- Food
- Market trends
- Labels consumption for food products
- Release liner consumption for food products
- Soft drinks
- Market trends
- Labels consumption for soft drinks
- Release liner consumption for soft drinks
- Alcoholic drinks
- Market trends
- Labels consumption for alcoholic drinks
- Release liner consumption for alcoholic drinks
- Healthcare
- Market trends
- Labels consumption for healthcare
- Release liner consumption for healthcare
- Cosmetics
- Market trends
- Labels consumption for cosmetics
- Release liner consumption for cosmetics
- Other consumer goods
- Market trends
- Labels consumption for other consumer goods
- Release liner consumption for other consumer goods
- Industrial/other applications
- Industrial and other applications
- Logistics applications
- Labels consumption for industrial, logistics, and other applications
- Market trends
- Release liner consumption for industrial/other applications
Geographic markets
- Overview
- Western Europe
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Scandinavia
- Spain
- UK
- Other Western Europe
- Central & Eastern Europe
- Poland
- Russia
- Other Central & Eastern Europe
- North America
- South & Central America
- Brazil
- Other South & Central America
- Asia
- China
- India
- Japan
- Other Asia
- Other regions
List of figures
- FIGURE 0.1. Global labels consumption by type, 2024 (% area)
- FIGURE 0.2. Global label release liner consumption by material type, 2024 (% area)
- FIGURE 0.3. Global label output by print process, 2024 (% area)
- FIGURE 0.4. Global labels consumption by end-use sector, 2024 (% area)
- FIGURE 0.5. Global labels consumption by region, 2024 (% area)
List of tables
- TABLE 1.1. Exchange rates to the US dollar, 2023 (=$1)
- TABLE 2.1. Labels and release liners - summary of key market drivers
- TABLE 2.2. GDP by region/country, 2020-30 ($ billion, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 2.3. GDP growth trends by region/country, 2020-30 (%, real)
- TABLE 2.4. Population trends by region/country, 2020-30 (millions)
- TABLE 4.1. Global labels consumption by type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.2. Global labels consumption by type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 4.3. Pressure-sensitive labels: consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.4. Pressure-sensitive labels: consumption by region, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 4.5. Pre-gummed labels: consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.6. Pre-gummed labels: consumption by region, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 4.7. Shrink sleeve labels: consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.8. Shrink sleeve labels: consumption by region, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 4.9. Stretch sleeve labels: consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.10. Stretch sleeve labels: consumption by region, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 4.11. Wet glue labels: consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.12. Wet glue labels: consumption by region, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 4.13. In-mould labels (IML): consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.14. In-mould labels (IML): consumption by region, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 4.15. Release liner consumption for labels by liner type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.16. Release liner consumption for labels by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.17. Release liner consumption for labels by region, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 4.18. Glassine, calendered kraft release liners: consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.19. Clay-coated kraft paper release liners: consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.20. Polyolefin-coated paper release liners: consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.21. Polymer film-based release liners: consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 4.22. Other paper-based release liners: consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.1. Global label output, by print process, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.2. Global label output, by region and label type, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.3. Global label output, by region and label type, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.4. Gravure: label printing output by type and by region, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.5. Gravure: label printing output by type and by region, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.6. Letterpress: label printing output by type and by region, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.7. Letterpress: label printing output by type and by region, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.8. Flexography: label printing output by type and by region, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.9. Flexography: label printing output by type and by region, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.10. Offset lithography: label printing output by type and by region, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.11. Offset lithography: label printing output by type and by region, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.12. Screen: label printing output by type and by region, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.13. Screen: label printing output by type and by region, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.14. Digital: label printing output by type and by region, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 5.15. Digital: label printing output by type and by region, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.1. Global labels consumption by end-use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.2. Global labels consumption by end-use sector and by label type, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.3. Global labels consumption by end-use sector and by label type, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.4. Food: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.5. Food: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.6. Soft drinks: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.7. Soft drinks: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.8. Alcoholic drinks: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.9. Alcoholic drinks: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.10. Healthcare: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.11. Healthcare: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.12. Cosmetics: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.13. Cosmetics: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.14. Other consumer goods: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.15. Other consumer goods: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.16. Industrial/other applications: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2024 (million m2)
- TABLE 6.17. Industrial/other applications: labels consumption by region and by label type, 2030 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.1. Labels consumption by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.2. Labels consumption by region, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.3. Release liner consumption for labels by region, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.4. Release liner consumption for labels by region, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.5. Western Europe: labels consumption by national market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.6. Western Europe: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.7. Western Europe: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.8. Western Europe: labels consumption by end-use market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.9. Western Europe: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.10. France: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.11. France: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.12. France: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.13. France: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.14. France: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.15. Germany: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.16. Germany: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.17. Germany: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.18. Germany: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.19. Germany: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.20. Italy: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.21. Italy: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.22. Italy: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.23. Italy: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.24. Italy: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.25. Scandinavia: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.26. Scandinavia: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.27. Scandinavia: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.28. Scandinavia: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.29. Scandinavia: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.30. Spain: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.31. Spain: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.32. Spain: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.33. Spain: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.34. Spain: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.35. UK: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.36. UK: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.37. UK: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.38. UK: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.39. UK: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.40. Other Western Europe: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.41. Other Western Europe: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.42. Other Western Europe: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.43. Other Western Europe: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.44. Other Western Europe: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.45. Central & Eastern Europe: labels consumption by national market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.46. Central & Eastern Europe: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.47. Central & Eastern Europe: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.48. Central & Eastern Europe: labels consumption by end-use market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.49. Central & Eastern Europe: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.50. Poland: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.51. Poland: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.52. Poland: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.53. Poland: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.54. Poland: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.55. Russia: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.56. Russia: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.57. Russia: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.58. Russia: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.59. Russia: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.60. Other Central & Eastern Europe: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.61. Other Central & Eastern Europe: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.62. Other Central & Eastern Europe: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.63. Other Central & Eastern Europe: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.64. Other Central & Eastern Europe: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.65. North America: labels consumption by national market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.66. North America: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.67. North America: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.68. North America: labels consumption by end-use market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.69. North America: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.70. Canada: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.71. Canada: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.72. Canada: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.73. Canada: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.74. Canada: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.75. Mexico: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.76. Mexico: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.77. Mexico: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.78. Mexico: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.79. Mexico: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.80. US: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.81. US: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.82. US: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.83. US: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.84. US: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.85. South & Central America: labels consumption by national market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.86. South & Central America: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.87. South & Central America: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.88. South & Central America: labels consumption by end-use market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.89. South & Central America: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.90. Brazil: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.91. Brazil: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.92. Brazil: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.93. Brazil: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.94. Brazil: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.95. Other South & Central America: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.96. Other South & Central America: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.97. Other South & Central America: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.98. Other South & Central America: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.99. Other South & Central America: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.100. Asia: labels consumption by national market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.101. Asia: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.102. Asia: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.103. Asia: labels consumption by end-use market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.104. Asia: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.105. China: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.106. China: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.107. China: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.108. China: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.109. China: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.110. India: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.111. India: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.112. India: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.113. India: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.114. India: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.115. Japan: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.116. Japan: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.117. Japan: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.118. Japan: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.119. Japan: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.120. Other Asia: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.121. Other Asia: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.122. Other Asia: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.123. Other Asia: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.124. Other Asia: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.125. Other regions: labels consumption by national market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.126. Other regions: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.127. Other regions: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.128. Other regions: labels consumption by end-use market, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.129. Other regions: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.130. Turkey: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.131. Turkey: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.132. Turkey: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.133. Turkey: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.134. Turkey: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.135. Other countries: economic & demographic trends, 2020-30
- TABLE 7.136. Other countries: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.137. Other countries: labels consumption by label type, 2020-30 ($ million, constant 2023 prices & exchange rates)
- TABLE 7.138. Other countries: labels consumption by end use sector, 2020-30 (million m2)
- TABLE 7.139. Other countries: release liner consumption by base substrate, 2020-30 (million m2)