As the European label industry moves into 2026, the market is no longer defined by volatility, but by stability, complexity, and cautious growth. At the FINAT European Label Forum 2026, the session “European label business landscape in 2025–2026” offers a concise, data-driven update on where the industry stands today.

In just one hour, three expert perspectives will provide clarity on demand, sentiment, and competitive pressures across the value chain.

First, Jules Lejeune (FINAT) will present the annual overview of European self-adhesive label materials consumption, based on Panteia statistics. This analysis tracks volumes, material developments, and the market’s transition toward a more GDP-like growth profile.

Next, Catalina Steenbakkers (AWA) will share the latest FINAT RADAR insights from converter and brand owner research. The findings highlight a market that has stabilised, but where success increasingly depends on managing complexity, ensuring flexibility, and maintaining margins in a cautious environment.

Catalina comments, "2025 saw the European label market on a more stable footing following the volatility of the previous two years. Demand was constrained but remained resilient, with an overall growth rate of 1.6%, supported by steady consumption of packaged food, beverages, and health and personal care products. Brand owners and retailers continue to manage inventories carefully. Across technologies, sleeve labels were the fastest-growing technology (2.8%), driven by the beverage segment and growth investments in the functional beverage market. Pressure-sensitive labels grew at a more moderate 1.4%, as growth in the VIP segment decelerated. Looking ahead to 2026, the market is expected to remain broadly stable, with modest growth supported by gradual improvements in consumer spending, continued innovation in materials, and growing attention to recyclability and to regulatory developments such as the EU’s packaging and sustainability frameworks. However, external geopolitical forces pose a significant concern for the label market, with potential impacts on material costs and supply chains."

Finally, Giedre Guskove (Euromonitor) will explore the rising import of label materials from China and its implications for European competitiveness and supply chains.

Join the ELF to gain the insights you need to navigate a market defined by steady growth, rising complexity, and strategic change. Register now.