What's in store for 2024?

Packaging and Label Predictions for 2024

As we start the new year, the trends in packaging and labels from 2023 will continue into 2024, just at a much faster pace. Trends such as sustainability, personalisation, lower but more frequent order quantities, and connectivity.

Sustainability is a huge topic for our clients, encompassing directly related subjects such as materials and finishes but also less directly related things such as machinery, processes, waste, design, and logistics. At a very basic level, printing on FSC-certified materials is a growing requirement (Delga are FSC certified (FSC® C043092) to offer this) but we have also seen a trend towards exploring alternative materials. In 2023 we sourced a recycled label material made from 50% post-consumer recycled plastic and a material made from recycled coffee cups for our clients. We continue to test and explore the viability of alternative materials on our machines and from mid-2023 we were able to offer a complete digital end-to-end print and finishing solution utilising our Carbon Neutral HP Indigo presses, Scodix digital embellishment machine and Highcon digital laser cutting machine, which boast significant sustainable credentials and benefits to our clients. Read more here.

Moving away from single-use plastic that takes hundreds of years to decompose to paper-based materials is one solution we have been on the receiving end of as the plastic packaging tax has seen companies seek new and alternative ways to package their products. Our structural packaging designers have taken great delight in creating unique and functional ways to replace the security and longevity of plastic with some very clever paper-based engineering.

We are seeing a trend for personalisation and lower MOQs, and so it seems customers are looking to reduce volumes but add more value through personalisation and becoming far more targeted in their approach. Creating multiple SKUs to appeal to a wider more diverse audience poses issues for print companies that only offer traditional litho printing, but Delga is well placed to offer personalisation and variable data print from start to finish with the complete digital end-to-end solution.

Finally, the demand for ‘connected packaging’ is young, but is certainly gaining traction as it connects the physical printed piece to the online world making it easier to build customer relationships and to gain important consumer feedback and trends, should the customer choose to interact. Once again, the printed piece is increasingly becoming more valuable in building a relationship with the end user, further improving levels of personalisation and relevant interaction.

At Delga we have a wealth of knowledge and expertise when it comes to printed packaging and labels, building on over 60 years of experience in the industry, and we are ready to help propel your business into 2024 and beyond. We don’t just print, we inspire, innovate, and challenge. The future of print is here.

You can read more about the commercial trends for 2024 from our sister company CSP here.