AWA Talks About P-S Labels
- Published: August 22, 2017
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS | AWA Alexander Watson Associates (AWA) reports that pressure-sensitive labels, while facing competition today from other labeling and packaging options, achieved growth in 2016 of 3.9% over prior year—greater growth than that of the label market as a whole—and still commands a massive market 40% share. 
Asia is now the leading region for p-s label demand, says AWA, eclipsing the developed markets of Europe and North America. The format’s largest end-use market segment, globally, taking 27% of 2016 volumes, is food labeling—mostly for primary product labels. AWA president and CEO Corey M. Reardon says, “Variable information print (VIP) labels are a strong growth area for the versatile pressure-sensitive label, in line with the increasing requirements of today’s transportation and logistics activities, in terms not only of track-and-trace and stock and inventory management, but also for product authentication—for example, RFID-enabled labels. What is more, online consumer purchasing activities are continuing to drive VIP label developments and usage. Pressure-sensitive labels are also extremely adaptable in terms of their available application technologies, which can vary from hand-held label printers for individual packs to mass serialization on the label press.”
AWA has released the fourth edition of the Global Pressure-sensitive Label Market Study 2017, which examines the end-use markets for p-s labels, setting them in the context of the overall product decoration technology platform. “While glue applied labels still enjoy substantial usage globally,” says Reardon, “the new sleeving technologies now enjoy a significant market share and continue to grow, while in-mold labeling remains a niche but growing market. Direct-to-container digital print is an area to watch, and flexible packaging has the capability to revolutionize the whole product packaging market.”
