🖨️ Print Industry Roundup: Six recent developments shaping print and packaging that caught my eye (May 23)

🖨️ Print Industry Roundup: Six recent developments shaping print and packaging that caught my eye this month.

1. Ink World World Magazine released their hidden ROI study on digital label printing that reveals 71% of printing service providers cite wage pressures as their top business concern in Q1 2025. One-quarter of respondents plan digital investments specifically to address labor challenges. The skills gap in traditional printing methods is driving converters toward digital equipment, which typically requires less specialized training. My offset press people Standard Printing Company of Canton are extremely skilled and we are lucky to have them!

2. Packaging Dive's update on fiber-based packaging pricing is finally looking a little less grim. Back in April, they warned of another price hike wave—Graphic Packaging International had announced a $40/ton bump on coated paperboard effective May 15. it felt like a perfect storm: pricing volatility plus tariff tension crushing converter margins.

But, here’s the May reality: things might actually be stabilizing. Prices for containerboard stayed flat, and uncoated recycled board even saw a modest $30/ton uptick. Sure, demand is still soft, but mill closures (like Georgia-Pacific’s Cedar Springs plant) and tariff relief with China are giving analysts reason to believe a second-half rebound could be on the horizon. Could we be seeing the early signs of a pricing plateau—or even a turnaround? Stay tuned.

3. Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) released their 2025 Sustainable Packaging Trends Report, highlighting how this year "marks a watershed moment for U.S. packaging policy" as the first EPR laws take effect. It will be interesting to see downstream effects on pricing and changing customer preferences on material type.

4. National Association of Manufacturers - NAM released a sobering report on tariff impacts showing 91% of manufacturers use imported inputs, with 77% specifically sourcing from USMCA partners. The real pain point stands out the 73% of those using USMCA inputs lack comparably priced domestic alternatives. These impacts have pushed trade uncertainties to manufacturers' top challenge, up from just 36.2% last quarter.

5. Packworld's Digital Transformation Innovations Report showcases how automation is connecting traditionally siloed processes in packaging operations. This editor-curated compilation features standout technologies from PACK EXPO that are transforming production workflows. Worth a read — The bottlenecks are less in printing speed and more in the disconnect between prepress and converting.

6. Flexographic Technical Association announced their 2025 Technical Innovation Award winners at FORUM INFOFLEX. BOBST, Rossini SPA and Techkon took home honors for their contributions to faster makeready and reduced waste. These technologies are said to address the practical pain points flexo printers face when competing against digital for mid-range jobs.