Costs warning for flexible packaging in 2023
Creation Reprographics, a prepress and repro partner to flexible packaging printers, has set out a number of key trends businesses should be aware of in 2023, including the impact of increasing costs.
Print Monthly Consultant Editor
Thursday, 01 Dec 2022 13:21 GMT
Cost and sustainability will shape much of trhe market in 2023
According to Creation, 2023 will likely be a year of significant change as challenges mount and printers respond, with this set to create a series of trends.
Matt Francklow, managing director at Creation, explains that companies working in this market should plan carefully for 2023 in order to address incoming trends and ensure their businesses are properly prepared.
“In 2023, it’s clear that increased pressure on cost will be one of the key talking points,” he says, adding: “Record inflation is affecting businesses of every size and pushing up material and production costs, which cannot easily be absorbed and will force price increases downstream.
“Some of the most valuable innovations over the coming year will be those that enable printers to control their overheads, while delivering more fundamental value, protecting what will be more fragile profitability levels.
“In light of greater need for cost control, we are expecting to see a big drive towards fixed colour palette printing, which swaps out costly and resource-intensive spot colour inks for an extended gamut printing system.
“With a seven-colour CMYK/OGV palette, extended gamut printing can replicate around 90% of Pantone colours. As well as eliminating the need to purchase spot colour inks, handling and storage requirements are also alleviated for the workforce.”
Other trends Francklow says to look out for in 2023 and beyond include sustainability, which continues to dominate the agenda, and the flexible packaging design is evolving to be lighter in weight, stronger and more easily recycled in response.
“A great example of this is the expanding role of monopolymer laminates, which can now offer the same performance level as mixed plastic substrates, but with the benefit of being easily recycled,” Francklow says.
“Over the next 12 months, we are expecting brands and retailers to be examining their packaging supply chains more closely seeking to drive sustainability and circular economy principles into their supply chains, not just their products and packaging.”
He adds: “Over the coming year, no printer can afford to remain static in their processes and systems. At Creation, we are fully expecting more technology innovations to make a real difference, and we can’t wait to see how the sector evolves to meet the shifting challenges. It’s the ideal time to explore the many benefits of a dedicated repro partner like Creation.”
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