Respack: Role of printing and labelling in packaging's circular future

At Respack 2026, discussions around sustainable packaging extended well beyond the familiar debates of paper versus plastic and monomaterial versus multilayer structures. During the session on Sustainable Innovations in Printing and Labelling Technology, industry experts highlighted a less visible but equally critical part of the packaging ecosystem: inks, coatings, adhesives and labels.

Chaired by Dr MP Raghav Rao, managing director of Fujifilm Sericol India, the session explored how innovations in printing and labelling technologies are helping packaging move from compliance-driven sustainability to a model where environmental performance creates tangible business value.

The consensus among speakers was clear: packaging sustainability can no longer be achieved through substrate selection alone. Every component of a package, including the inks that decorate it and the labels that identify it, must contribute to recyclability, safety and circularity.

The hidden role of inks in recycling

For decades, packaging sustainability discussions have focused largely on materials. Yet, as Manjusha Singh, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at DIC India, pointed out, inks and coatings often determine whether a package can be effectively recycled.

While representing only a small proportion of the overall packaging structure, inks can significantly influence the quality of recycled material and the efficiency of recycling processes. Certain conventional ink chemistries and additives can complicate recycling, making it harder to recover high-quality material from post-consumer waste streams.

As sustainability expectations continue to rise, the printing ink industry is increasingly being asked to deliver solutions that support circular packaging systems without compromising performance, colour quality or productivity.

Several technologies are emerging as key enablers. Water-based inks are attracting growing interest because they reduce dependence on solvent-based systems and improve environmental performance. De-inkable technologies are helping recyclers remove print more efficiently, enabling cleaner recycled substrates and improving the quality of recycled resins. Low-migration inks are becoming increasingly important for food and pharmaceutical packaging applications, where safety requirements are particularly stringent.

The transition is already underway. Technologies such as PVC-free ink systems, shrink-sleeve wash-off solutions and LED-curing inks are moving from niche innovations to commercially viable options.

One notable observation from Singh's presentation challenged a common industry assumption. Despite the growth of digital media, newspapers continue to grow in several markets, ensuring that demand for printing inks remains strong. The implication is that sustainability innovation in printing will continue to have a broad impact across multiple sectors, not just packaging.

Sustainability becomes a business advantage

A recurring theme throughout the session was the evolution of sustainability from a compliance obligation to a competitive differentiator.

Regulatory requirements continue to shape packaging decisions, but brands and converters are increasingly recognising that sustainability can also create market opportunities. Consumer awareness, particularly among younger demographics, is influencing purchasing behaviour, while multinational companies are placing greater emphasis on environmental credentials throughout their supply chains.

This shift is creating pressure on every participant in the packaging value chain to demonstrate measurable progress. For suppliers of inks, coatings and labels, the challenge is no longer simply to comply with regulations but to actively contribute to customers' sustainability goals.

The result is a growing emphasis on collaboration across the packaging ecosystem. Material suppliers, converters, brand owners and recyclers are increasingly working together to ensure that sustainability solutions function effectively at scale.

Labels become strategic assets

If inks are the hidden enablers of recyclability, labels are rapidly becoming strategic assets within the packaging value chain.

Saurabh Agarwal, vice-president and general manager for South Asia at Avery Dennison, argued that packaging today must do far more than protect and promote a product. It must also facilitate recycling, support supply-chain efficiency, enable traceability and meet growing demands for transparency.

This transformation is reshaping the role of labels.

India's label market now exceeds four billion square metres annually, reflecting the increasing importance of product identification, branding and information management. At the same time, regulatory developments and consumer expectations are pushing packaging designers to adopt a more holistic approach.

The concept of Design for Recycling is gaining traction globally and is expected to become increasingly important in India. Rather than addressing recyclability after a package has been developed, Design for Recycling requires every component of the package—including labels and adhesives—to be considered during the design stage.

Pressure-sensitive labels (PSL), in particular, are emerging as versatile solutions that combine branding, functionality and sustainability. Their ability to incorporate specialised adhesive systems enables cleaner separation during recycling processes, particularly in PET and HDPE packaging streams.

Wash-off adhesive technologies are attracting significant attention because they allow labels to remain securely attached throughout a product's life while enabling easy removal during recycling. This improves the quality of recovered material and supports higher-value recycling outcomes.

At the same time, smart labels and RFID-enabled solutions are introducing new possibilities for traceability, inventory management and product authentication. As packaging becomes increasingly connected, labels are evolving from passive identification tools into active participants in the product lifecycle.

Small component, extraordinary impact

Dr Shilpa Achawale, head of technology for label and packaging at Fujifilm Sericol India, offered perhaps the session's most memorable analogy.

Comparing inks to oxygen, she noted that both are often overlooked despite being essential to the systems they support.

"Oxygen is invisible, yet life depends on it," she observed. "In many ways, inks occupy a similar position in packaging."

The comparison captured a broader message that resonated throughout the session. Inks typically account for only a small percentage of a package by weight, but their impact extends far beyond aesthetics. They influence product safety, recyclability, regulatory compliance and manufacturing efficiency.

Today's innovations are increasingly focused on balancing environmental performance with productivity. UV-LED curing technologies, water-based digital printing systems, low-migration formulations and functional printing applications are helping achieve that balance.

The emergence of printed electronics, RFID integration and intelligent packaging systems also demonstrates how printing technologies are expanding beyond decoration into functionality.

As the packaging industry accelerates its sustainability journey, the message from Respack 2026 was unmistakable: circular packaging requires attention to every component of the pack. Inks, coatings, adhesives and labels may be among the smallest elements in the structure, but they are proving to be some of the most influential in shaping packaging's sustainable future.