The theme of the issue is the making of the modern label.

The label market in India has grown in recent years because of the increasing demand for labels across various products. The label printing industry in India is valued at USD 2.3-billion and is expected to increase to USD 3.6-billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.3%. The per capita consumption of labels in India has grown from 0.25-square metres (sqm) in 2008 to one-sqm in 2023.

The sectors driving growth in labels are food and beverages (55%), cosmetics and personal care (17%), home care (15%), eCommerce (10%), and chemicals (3%).

A key trend at this year’s event is eco-friendly solutions. Avery Dennison and Addon FilmTech are working to reduce waste and enhance recyclability. PET-based shrink films, which offer full coverage and design options, are becoming more popular due to their compatibility with recycling processes. Other featured products include post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, non-toxic adhesives, and paper-based labels, designed to meet the demand for environmentally friendly packaging without compromising performance. These materials allow brands to maintain product quality while lowering their ecological impact, responding to a market increasingly concerned with sustainability.

In the big interview section, Jade Grace, managing director of Labelexpo Global Series, in this conversation with Noel D’Cunha, discusses how this year’s showcase promises new technologies and collaborative integration of digital and flexographic printing innovations, setting the stage for an exciting future in packaging solutions.

The issue also features a preview of the top 55 must-see products at the show. 

In other features, PrintWeek, in partnership with the Paper Traders Association, conducted an all-India survey. Charmiane Alexander conducted the survey online, and more than 150 paper traders responded. Three discernible trends in the survey. Low margins are frowned upon by the sector. Margins have been impacted by higher wood costs due to a supply shortage plus dumping by China. The lack of industry status is “a matter of concern” because the industry has no clout on the bargaining table with the government of India. One positive trend is the replacement of single-use plastic with paper-based solutions. As one paper trader told PrintWeek, “The paper industry has to engage with key sectors to develop innovative fibre-based packaging, with the potential to replace plastic.”

Industry pundits say that the Indian paper industry will report revenue growth between 6% and 9%. However, debt levels are expected to be elevated due to the debt-funded capex mostly towards capacity expansion in the packaging segment. Dibyajyoti Sarma and Rahul Kumar investigate

Ahmedabad-based S Kumar Multiproducts, which represents Zonten in India, had a terrific year in 2024, with the highest number of flexo and intermittent offset press installations in a single year. A PrintWeek report.

Kedar Bhide, founder of Nature Works, has built a fine art printing studio in Thane (Maharashtra) that is much more than just a business. Born from his passion for photography and conservation, Nature Works offers archival prints for artists and photographers, combining technical expertise with a deep appreciation for art. Vimal Parmar takes us through Bhide’s unique journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, and his vision for the future of fine art printing in India.

These and more in the November issue of PrintWeek. Click here to subscribe.