Labelexpo Americas 2022 / Materials | 123MATERIALSSustainable innovations in materials and a resurgence of RFID technology were key trends for substrate and adhesive suppliers, while inks and coatings manufacturers focused on more opaque whites, dual-cure technologies and low migration inks. Chelsea McDougall reportsaterial suppliers at Labelexpo Americas 2022 faced a “MATERIALS SUPPLIERS HAD TO REMAIN BOTH unique challenge. One that tasked them with showcasing INNOVATIVE AND PRUDENT, PRAGMATIC WHILE Mthe innovations that they’ve been working on in the GROUNDBREAKING AT THE SAME TIME”three-year absence without a global label and packaging exhibition, all while balancing diffcult conversations about lead times, supply backlogs and price increases. paper supply in North America. We have to make sure our suppliers In short, materials suppliers had to remain both innovative and know the label market is an attractive, long-term, healthy business.’prudent, pragmatic while groundbreaking at the same time. ‘We’re not out of the woods, but we’re seeing gradual If judging by anecdotal evidence and foot traffc at their booths, improvement and stabilization,’ he continues. ‘Over the next six it appears as if they succeeded. months I think the supply chain will become more predictable, and Material innovations on display at Labelexpo Americas 2022 the lead times will be less extensive.’were showcasing an industry-wide push toward a circular economy, However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and an energy crisis while RFID and intelligent labels are making inroads. And while in Europe may further complicate market recovery efforts and the many challenges remain, the market volatility that has plagued the efforts are stabilizing the market, experts warn. industry in recent years appears to be on the verge of stabilizing.SUSTAINABILITY Though it was made more diffcult by the market conditions, the ADDRESSING SUPPLY CHAIN WOESAside from a few exceptions, most end-use segments in the label innovation in sustainable materials hadn’t slowed down in the years industry had witnessed rapid growth during the Covid years. without a Labelexpo.However, as prosperous as the good times have been for label As the conversation around sustainability advances, material converters, they’ve also been met with a chaotic global supply suppliers are moving beyond simply offering sustainable products, chain, heavy infation, historically high lead times, persistent price to focusing on the impact of label materials in the waste stream.increases and aggravating backlogs. Adhesives that remove cleanly in the wash process, or that don’t While no one has a crystal ball, many material suppliers believe interfere with or contaminate the recycling process were a key the hardest times are nearly behind us. Industry experts predict trend among material suppliers. Removing the label material from that the label and packaging market may soon begin to see some glass or plastic containers enables their greater recycling, which in stabilization, at least in terms of cost, as raw materials become turn meets the growing demands of brand owners and consumers more readily available, driving down the price of goods. for products that are more sustainable. And yet, paper shortages remain a top concern both for Avery Dennison, pioneers of its CleanFlake wash-off adhesive, facestocks and liners, as industry-wide demand outpaces showcased at Labelexpo Americas 2022 the ‘next generation’ availability. CleanFlake portfolio. This technology enables the recycling of rigid ‘The fact is, there’s not enough paper capacity allocated to the plastic packaging by either removing cleanly from or staying with label market, and it’s not going to end anytime soon. Paper mills the package, which results in good quality fakes, conserves virgin are closing or they’re not building enough new mills,’ says UPM resources, and creates less landfll waste. Avery Dennison says this Rafatac Americas senior vice president Tim Kirchen. ‘There’s been product has the potential to divert over 200 billion rigid plastic unprecedented growth in the label industry, but there’s not enough bottles and containers from landflls.Oct - Dec 2022