Digital printing packaging market is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR of 15.5% during the forecast period (2024-2031). The growth of the digital printing packaging market is attributed to the incorporation of digital printing into different packaging media, such as corrugated boxes, cartons, bags, metal, cans, tags, and labels. Digital printing on packaging mediums provides a variety of benefits, such as photo-realistic illustrations, aesthetic appeal, and better communicability, and also plays a role in the marketing, promotional, and distributional activities of end-products. According to the World Packaging Organization (WPO), digital printing packaging market size is projected to grow from $29.4 billion in 2022 to $45.1 billion by 2027.

Market Dynamics

Enhanced Print Quality and Finishing Options

Increasing advancement in digital printing packaging technology's remarkable ability to reproduce vibrant and accurate colors is a game-changer for branding and marketing. The consistent replication of brand colors is crucial for maintaining the integrity of a company's identity. From the striking red of a logo to the subtle hues in a product image, color precision matters. Digital printing ensures that every shade is faithfully rendered, creating a powerful visual impact that resonates with viewers and leaves a lasting impression. Digital printing enhancements represent the cutting edge of print technology, unlocking a new realm of possibilities for printed materials. From vibrant colors and high-resolution detail to personalized content and captivating finishes, these enhancements have revolutionized the way we engage with print.

Integration with Smart Packaging

The integration of digital printing packaging with smart packaging technologies is an exciting avenue for future development. This includes incorporating QR codes, augmented reality markers, or NFC tags directly into printed designs, enhancing consumer interaction, and providing valuable product information. Smart packaging with QR codes transforms the way customers interact with companies. It greatly enhances brand perception and strengthens trust. Companies can use QR Codes on product packaging to build enduring brand loyalty and appeal to their mobile-first audience. Smart packaging is the way of the future for the packaging business, given the rise in smartphone usage and the incorporation of QR Code readers in all recent models. By making extra product information, promotions, or interactive content easily accessible, QR Codes on product packaging can increase sales and customer engagement.

Market Segmentation

Our in-depth analysis of the global digital printing packaging market includes the following segments by printing ink, packaging type, and end-use industry.

• Based on printing ink, the market is sub-segmented into solvent-based ink, UV-based ink, aqueous ink, and other printing inks (latex and dye-sublimation inks).

• Based on packaging type, the market is sub-segmented into industrial goods, corrugated, folding cartons, flexible packaging, labels, and others (rigid packaging and metal packaging).

• Based on the end-use industry, the market is sub-segmented into food & beverage, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, household & cosmetic products, and other end-use industries (automotive and electronic industries).

Labels are Projected to Emerge as the Largest Segment

Based on the packaging type, the global digital printing packaging market is sub-segmented into industrial goods, corrugated, folding cartons, flexible packaging, labels, and others (rigid packaging and metal packaging).Among these labels, the sub-segment is expected to hold the largest share of the market. The primary factors supporting the segment's growth include the increased demand for linerless labels in numerous end-use industries, particularly for food, beverage, and home & personal care applications across the globe. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and increased consumer spending boost the market further. The rising use of sustainable labeling solutions is forecasted to provide enormous opportunities for linerless label manufacturers. For instance, in June 2023, Primera Technology, Inc. introduced a new AP-CODE Lot & Date Coder digital label printer. The print fields are free-format and can include letters, numbers, and many symbols while formats can be stored for later use, speeding up production.

Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Sub-segment to Hold a Considerable Market Share

Based on the end-use industry, the global digital printing packaging market is sub-segmented into food & beverage, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, household & cosmetic products, and other end-use industries (automotive and electronic industries).Among these, the pharmaceuticals and healthcare sub-segment is expected to hold a considerable share of the market. The segmental growth is attributed to the growing pharmaceutical & healthcare industry and the rise in counterfeit products in the market are the major drivers of the digital printing packaging market. The use of digital printing packaging in the field of pharmaceutical manufacturing involves the application of digital printing technology to create various pharmaceutical products, such as tablets, capsules, patches, and even personalized medicine. For instance, in January 2024, Takeda offset printing from special color inks to CMYK inks for printing secondary packaging (outer packaging) for its products as part of the company’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact.

Regional Outlook

The global digital printing packaging market is further segmented based on geography including North America (the US, and Canada), Europe (UK, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and the Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Rest of Asia-Pacific), and the Rest of the World (the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America). 

Increasing Digital Printing Packaging in North America

• The growing use of flexible packaging in the US is influenced by the expansion of the food and beverage industry. According to the Flexible Packaging Association, in 2021, flexible packaging was the second largest packaging segment in the US, garnering about 19.0% of the $177.0 billion US packaging market. The US flexible packaging industry directly employs close to 79,000 people.

• According to the Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia, in November 2023, there are 8,000 to 10,000 in-plant print facilities (educational and corporate) in the US. NAICS 56191 (Packaging and Labeling Services) lists 1,681 sites providing these services.

Global Digital Printing Packaging Market Growth by Region 2024-2031

Asia-Pacific Holds Major Market Share

Among all the regions, Asia-Pacific holds a significant share owing to numerous prominent companies and digital printing packaging providers. The growth is attributed to increasing demand for more sustainable, environmentally friendly packaging options. Digital printing packaging eliminates the need for superfluous inventory and storage space, it can help minimize waste and enhance supply chain efficiency. The increasing application of digital printing packaging in food & beverage, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and household& cosmetic products in the region drives the growth of the market. For instance, in March 2024, FUJIFILM Corp. introduced Jet Press FP790 a new water-based digital inkjet press targeting for flexible packaging printing market. The Jet Press FP790, a new addition to the inkjet digital presses of the Jet Press series, offers customers in the flexible packaging industry high productivity and versatility. With the Jet Press FP790, customers can efficiently produce a wide variety of packaging, including food and household products, even in small volume orders.

Market Players Outlook

*Note: Major Players Sorted in No Particular Order.

The major companies serving the global digital printing packaging market include Canon Inc., FUJIFILM Corp., HP Inc., Seiko Epson Corp., and Xerox Corp., among others. The market players are increasingly focusing on business expansion and product development by applying strategies such as collaborations, mergers, and acquisitions to stay competitive in the market. For instance, in August 2023, Sappi and Xeikon collaborated on digital printing applications and innovative ink technology ideally complemented each other in this collaborative venture. Together, the partners took an important step towards direct printing on paper-based materials and perfecting the recyclability of the resulting flexible packaging.

Recent Development

• In March 2024, HP Inc., digital printing presses and intelligent solutions designed to address production challenges in the commercial printing and labels and packaging industries. To sustainably grow their business, offset players need to access new growth opportunities by embracing digital printing and an intelligent production floor.

• In March 2024, Canon Inc., introduced a new LabelStream LS2000 digital label press at Drupa, the first public preview outside Japan. Based on innovative Canon technologies and designed for industrial-scale label printing, the LabelStream LS2000 is Canon’s first water-based inkjet label press.

• In February 2024, Mark Andy Inc. introduced New Digital Pro PLUS. It uses the well-proven Mark Andy Pro Series flexo platform as a base for short tomedium runs high-quality digital printing that combines dry toner with optional flexo and inline finishing techniques.

The Report Covers

• Market value data analysis of 2023 and forecast to 2031.
• Annualized market revenues ($ million) for each market segment.
• Country-wise analysis of major geographical regions.
• Key companies operating in the global digital printing packaging market. Based on the availability of data, information related to new product launches, and relevant news is also available in the report.
• Analysis of business strategies by identifying the key market segments positioned for strong growth in the future.
• Analysis of market-entry and market expansion strategies.
• Competitive strategies by identifying ‘who-stands-where’ in the market.