Labelexpo Europe 2025: Tackling market challenges with innovation and sustainable labeling

At Labelexpo Europe 2025, taking place in Barcelona, Spain, September 16–19, labeling and printing experts will showcase their latest solutions aiming to tackle current market challenges and evolving regulations.

Packaging Insights speaks to attendees Flint Group, Fujifilm, Herma, Hubergroup Print Solutions, and UPM Adhesive Materials about their ongoing innovations in “deinkability,” UV Hg inks development, material choice, and AI use. The experts also highlight solutions that reduce wear and waste, and inks and coatings helping brands meet safety and environmental standards.

“Market conditions are increasingly competitive, which means we must continue to be agile and strategic from a business perspective,” tells us Ashley Drew, manager of sustainability for EMEIA at UPM Adhesive Materials.

“This need also impacts what we focus on, and for UPM Adhesive Materials, the most important thing is that we don’t compromise on sustainability. This remains a key priority, not only for our own operations, but for the sustainable products and services that we offer our customers.”

A Fujifilm representative adds: “Like the entire industry, we’re navigating fast-changing market demands, from shorter run lengths and faster turnaround times to increasing pressure around sustainability and cost efficiency.”

“To tackle them, we continue to learn from our customers and the market. This helps us to innovate and ensure that we are providing our customers with the right solutions for their needs.”

Balancing sustainability and compliance

According to Milos Kojic, head of B2B Marketing at Herma, a key challenge for the company is aligning innovation speed with evolving regulations and recycling standards.

Herma’s multilayer adhesives combine strong adhesion with clean wash-off (Image credit: Herma).“We address this by working closely with independent certification bodies such as Cyclos-HTP and RecyClass. This ensures our materials are not only technically sound but also future-proof.”

Meanwhile, for Hubergroup’s R&D and analytical teams, “today’s greatest challenges are sustainability, regulatory compliance, print quality, and under production pressure,” a company spokesperson says.

“Our team is evaluating raw materials such as photo initiators to ensure safe and sustainable products that stand out from the crowd due to smooth handling and high quality.”

A spokesperson for Fling Group explains that for narrow web converters and their suppliers, including ink and coating manufacturers, “staying compliant requires continuous innovation and agility as new packaging and label standards and safety requirements are introduced in various regions.”

“Flint Group’s dedicated global regulatory team collaborates closely with its R&D experts. This approach is international, with regulatory changes tracked not only in Europe and North America but across all major global markets, enabling Flint Group to support its partners proactively and deliver wherever they operate.”

Standing out on the show floor 

Environmental considerations and regulatory targets are a key focus in the development of Hubergroup’s ink series and services, according to the spokesperson. 

“For example, many of our iray ink systems can be removed cleanly from paper and film substrates. The iray inks are certified as having deinkability on both coated and uncoated papers. The next-generation iray MGA LED inks will be deinkable.” 

According to the Flint Group’s spokesperson, what sets it apart is the uniqueness of its products. “Flexocure Leap represents an entirely new technology in UV Hg inks, with no direct competitors on the market today.”

“Its breakthrough chemistry delivers exceptional migration compliance and regulatory peace of mind for food packaging converters, offering a level of assurance and performance that cannot be matched by existing products.” 

UPM Adhesive Materials supports customers in understanding label material choices (Image credit: UPM Adhesive Materials).In addition, Evolution coatings and primers are described as unique in their ability to significantly improve PET bottle and shrink sleeve recyclability. The spokesperson says that this is a distinction that has earned it industry awards and recognition for its contribution to sustainability.

“EkoCure is the first-ever UV LED ink range on the market. EkoCure’s dual-curing capability stands out by offering converters flexibility to transition from traditional Hg UV to energy-efficient UV LED curing without sacrificing print quality or regulatory compliance.”

Emerging trends in tech

Drew says UPM Adhesive Materials continues to build and maintain strong internal data systems to serve its customers by offering “high value” services such as LCA’s, PPP’s, and scope 3 data services.

“These are instrumental in allowing our customers to better understand the impact of the label material choices they make. Additionally, we are also starting to responsibly leverage the use of AI to optimize our internal systems further.”

Kojic says that technological innovation is “central” for Herma. “The Hermes QL system activates the adhesive of InNo-Liner labels only at the point of application, reducing wear and waste. Likewise, our multilayer adhesives make it possible to combine strong adhesion with clean wash-off in recycling processes.”

Technology enables Fujifilm “to push the boundaries of productivity and print quality, but also to create solutions that are more versatile, easier to use, and more environmentally responsible.”

“Through discussions with our customers and market analysis, we’ve been able to innovate our solutions. Our ‘Analogue. Digital. Sustainable.’ message represents our strategic commitment to helping customers evolve at their own pace.” 

Technological development also plays “a critical and foundational” role at Flint Group, according to its speaker. “The company’s engine is driven by the expertise of its people, advanced testing equipment, and specialized Centers of Excellence.” 

The collaboration between Flint Group’s innovation teams, global regulatory experts, raw material testing facilities, procurement, and operations teams is said to enable its design, development, and manufacture of inks and coatings to meet safety and environmental standards. The teams also aim to maintain consistency and reliability in supply.

“This integrated and proactive approach to technology innovation enables Flint Group to effectively address the complex challenges present in today’s print landscape.”