FINAT Yearbook 2022

ADAPTING TO
CONTINUOUS DISRUPTION

FINAT YEARBOOK
2022



ADAPTING TO
CONTINUOUS DISRUPTION

FINAT YEARBOOK
2022

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Editorial

ABOUT PERMANENT
DISRUPTION

I am pleased to share with you the 2022 edition of the FINAT Yearbook.
Including last year’s double issue, this is the 12th time that we are
releasing our annual report in this format. And what a year it has been!
Again.. FINAT’s ‘labelstock index’ depicting the annualised growth of roll
label materials demand has continued to behave as a shock monitor at a
hospital intensive care unit. Our industry has been facing multiple
disruptions. Will we finally arrive at a new, lasting, equilibrium, or should
we prepare for the remainder of a ‘Domino Decade’ in which each crisis
leads into another and where the unexpected should be expected?

As one FINAT member put it to me recently: “We used to the rapid online transformation to Zoom and Teams during
count with economic cycles of six to eight years, but now we Covid has made people realise that everything that can
have become used to six to eight months.” At the European connect digitally WILL connect digitally, with lasting impact not
Label Forum in June, I selected a number of images to only on the way we organize our internal and external business
symbolize the roller coaster that we have been in since the processes, but also how we organize work itself.
turn of the decade. When we had finally settled for Brexit in
the early 2020s, the Covid Pandemic struck and revealed the THE MOVING ROADMAP FOR FINAT
vulnerability of the connected global societies to a local As one senior FINAT member once described it, ‘FINAT is a
health problem spreading across borders. A year later, we mirror of the label industry’. But if the mirror keeps moving, or if
started to feel the economic equivalent of this vulnerability, as the light keeps coming in through different angles, it is hard to
supply chains were severely distorted by imbalances between take time for reflection. In this rapidly changing environment,
global supply and demand, and shortages of raw materials, associations like FINAT need to adapt their way of working.
consumables, components and labour emerged almost Like in Google Maps, the roadmap is no longer a fixed line
everywhere. from A to B; we need to be continuously aware about
changing directions.
LASTING IMPACT
At first, economists and financial authorities described this as Firstly, by putting the future at the beginning of our longer
‘temporary adjustment problems’, as always when economies term agenda, we are able to anticipate possible scenarios and
come out of a recession and manufacturers have to readapt develop alternative strategies should they occur. Secondly, in
their manufacturing capacity to rising demand. But they did organizing our valuable resources, knowledge, expertise and
not count on unexpected ‘external’ factors like Russia’s manpower, we need to make sure that these are purpose
invasion of Ukraine, and the resulting geopolitical and energy driven towards the goals we want to achieve in the medium
crisis. Nor did they anticipate the impact of long lasting strikes term. And thirdly, we need to make sure that this is done with
like the one in Finland. Strikes that tend to take the momentum an agile, almost ‘startup’ mindset that divides the tasks of
of ‘turnaround’ situations to reach better conditions. FINAT’s multitalented volunteer workforce in an effective way
without wasting time on physical barriers, and with the
And they most definitely underestimated the structural readiness to change course should circumstances require this.
implications of Covid19.
These are certainly very interesting times for FINAT, but the I
Firstly, because Climate Change has sometimes been referred of Innovation and A of Adaptation are among its initials. I wish
to as a ‘Pandemic in Slow Motion’, and the EU and national you pleasant reading.
regulators came to the realisation that coming out of the Covid
crisis, more attention needs to be given to energy transition, Jules Lejeune
emissions reduction and to circularity. And secondly, because Managing Director

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 5

Small.
Yet significant.

How the right label
can support your
sustainability goals

At Avery Dennison, we understand It sounds alarmist, but it’s the reality information they require is right there
brands’ goals for sustainability we face. It’s why we as an industry within the label itself. For brands, it
because we’ve set ambitious have to do things differently. We have enables a more successful outcome,
sustainability goals ourselves. Among to be much bolder and far quicker bringing sustainability initiatives,
them are passionate commitments - after all, packaging accounts for efforts and goals within reach.
to deliver innovations that advance 40% of the world’s plastic waste1. By 2025, Unilever will ensure that
the circular economy, reduce It’s now time to really accelerate our “100% of our plastic packaging
environmental impact, and point progress; we have the technology to is designed to be fully reusable,
the way toward regenerating measure, to track, to transform and recyclable or compostable.” The
natural systems. to scale our sustainability initiatives, Coca Cola Company is “focused
What that means for converters, but still we face a barrier of a lack on increasing recycling rates and
brands, retailers and consumers of connectivity and collaboration driving a more circular economy by
is an ever-expanding source of between different sectors. incorporating it into our packaging,
label and packaging solutions While new legislation, such as the with the goal of collecting and
that break new ground in making EU Green Deal, sets clear targets recycling the equivalent of 100%
packaging recyclable, incorporating and standards, the solutions have of the packaging we produce.”
recycled and renewable materials, to come from within the industry. Meanwhile, “90% of our packaging
and sourcing responsibly—with As we launch our next generation is recyclable globally.”2
functionality that supports how the AD CleanFlakeTM labels that enables These are ambitious and honorable
world shops and does business right the recycling of PET and HDPE goals which will only hold up if we
now and the foreseeable future. packaging, we do so in response continue to remove barriers within
And right now we’re at a tipping to an increased demand from our the system, work collaboratively as
point. Based on the Paris Climate customers and their consumers an industry, remove contaminants
Agreement, we have to keep the to enable a more fluid recycling from the supply chain and ensure we
global temperature rise below 1.5 process - one free from make positive sustainable choices
degrees celsius. This is the level at potential contamination. with regards to the materials we
which life as we know it on our However, it’s where the physical select for our packaging and labeling.
planet is sustainable. And we have and digital technologies combine
less than a decade to achieve it. that we can really drive change in 1 OECD, February 2022
the supply chain to reduce waste. 2 Sustainable Packaging Coalition
Digital tracking and data storage is
enabling us to better understand how label.averydennison.com/significant
to connect production, usage and
recycling. For consumers, this means
they are empowered to make more
sustainable choices, because all the

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EDITORIAL 5

IN MEMORIAM 9
Martin Stierle

PEOPLE: MIKE FAIRLEY 10
Retirement of the label guru

THE FINAT LOG 12
Highlights from the FINAT calendar 2022

AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY 16
Annual report FINAT 2022

FINAT VISION 2027 20
Empowering the label industry

FINAT EUROPEAN LABEL FORUM 2022 26
The big reunion of the European label community

COLLABORATION 37
Printer & packaging support programmes

FINAT TECHNICAL SEMINAR 2022 38
Finding a path through the sustainability jungle

EDUCATION 42
FINAT webinar programme 2022

FINAT LABEL MARKET TRENDS: POST PANDEMIC DISTORTIONS 44
European label industry reports record growth in 2021 but faces volatile times in 2022

REGULATORY UPDATE 50
Self-adhesive label industry commits to sustainability

CELAB-EUROPE ANNUAL REPORT 52
The journey towards a circular economy for labels continues

FINAT SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS 2022 57
Converters take the lead

#LABELICI0US COMPETITION 2022 58
Connecting the future workforce

RESULTS OF THE FINAT LABEL COMPETITION 2022 60
Colour and digital to the fore

REGISTER 75
List of members
List of board & committee members

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PUBLISHED BY FINAT COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER
P.O Box 85612 All material published by Whilst every possible care has been
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS NL2508 CH The Hague FINAT is copyright protected taken to ensure that the contents
Jules Lejeune (Editor-in-Chief) The Netherlands and remains the property of of this publication are correct at
Jakovina van Haeringen (Production), www.finat.com the association. No material the time of printing, FINAT cannot
Mike Fairley & Andy Thomas-Emans T: +31 (70) 312 39 10 may be reproduced without be held responsible and/or liable
(Labels & Labeling) F: +31 (70) 363 63 48 the written permission of FINAT. for any mistakes or omissions in
Tony White (AWA Consulting) this publication.
Bert van Loon, Pablo Englebienne, LAYOUT
Elke Verbaarschot Studio Kaboem!

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 7

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In memoriam

MARTIN STIERLE (1962-2022)

On 11 March 2022, FINAT Technical Committee member Martin Stierle from Kocher + Beck,
Germany, passed away. Martin was a long serving and well respected member of our
community. He joined the Technical Committee in 2004, provided input and expertise in
the Seminar & Communications Sub-committee, and attended numerous FINAT events.

Martin was born in 1962 in Stuttgart, Germany. After
gaining his university degree in Business
Administration, Martin joined Kocher+Beck in 1984.
Together with a dedicated team of engineers, Martin
had been deeply involved in developing the magnetic
die-cutting system. It was pioneering work, with the
clear vision to find a better alternative to the well-
known engraved solid cylinder. Over the years, Martin
had dedicated most of his time to expanding the
company’s market position, setting up sales offices,
production facilities in countries such as the UK, USA
and Russia, as well as business operations with
partners around the globe.
The last position he held was that of International Sales
and Marketing Director.
FINAT has lost a kind and knowledgeable member.
He will be missed.

In October 2016, Martin invited the FINAT Technical Committee for a visit to the Kocher+Beck factory in Pliezhausen, where he showed
the die-cutting system and also the collection of historical cars, for which Kocher+Beck has been developing spare parts since 2001.

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 9

People: Mike Fairley

RETIREMENT OF THE LABEL GURU

After more than 50 years of writing and talking about labels one of the pioneers of
label industry information, education and training resources has finally decided to step
back from his adopted role as the global ‘Label Guru.’ It also brings to an end almost as
many years of working in close cooperation with FINAT, and with many other label
association worldwide. Now, at the grand old age of 85, Mike Fairley is hanging up his
label hat to spend more time on his other key interests as an historian and biographer.

But what a 50 years he can look back on with some pride - The very first issue of the
from launching Labels & Labeling magazine way back in 1979, magazine contained a
working with Clive Smith in the creation and development of copy of a telegram sent by
Labelexpo shows, building a global label consultancy business the Chairman of the FINAT
that has worked on research, training and strategy projects Board at that time,
with a great many of the industry’s leading suppliers and Leonardo Bucchi,
converters, and in the establishment of the Label Academy. welcoming the publication
of a dedicated label
Mike’s links with FINAT go back to the mid 1970s when he was industry magazine and
Deputy Head of Training and Seminar Manager at PIRA, wishing it growing success
writing training aids, helping to promote web-offset printing in providing a high level
and computerised typesetting, and organising some 35 specialised information
seminars, workshops and conferences a year on almost every service to the label
area of paper, printing and packaging - including the new profession. FINAT also
world of self-adhesive labels. kindly sent a copy of the magazine to each of its members.

Organising a three-day conference on Label Trends and With FINAT helping to promote the magazine from the
Developments in 1974, he invited Ron Spring as one of the beginning, followed in the second year by LATMA in Australia,
speakers. At that time, Ron was Managing Director of the the readership soon began to grow rapidly. Today, it is a global
recently formed Gerhardt Engraving in the UK − a magazine with readers in more than 120 countries and still
manufacturer of engraved rotary and flat label dies, step-and- works closely with FINAT in the development and promotion
repeat units, print cylinders and cutter care kits − as well as of the label industry.
being a member of the FINAT Board.
Even from its early years, Mike attended FINAT conferences,
The conference included many sessions around self-adhesive participated in study tours with Mans Lejeune to North
label production – still a relatively new technology in Europe in America and Japan, was a speaker at FINAT events over many
the 1970s. At the end of the conference there followed a years, often joined with Ron Spring in judging the FINAT Label
question and answer session in which discussion, initiated by Awards, regularly provided copy for FINAT News and worked
Ron Spring, took place on the need for a regular newsletter or with Clive Smith - who acquired Ron Spring’s shares in Labels
magazine that would keep the label industry abreast of the & Labeling in 1984 and by then was organising the early
many changes and developments taking place. Labelex events in London and Birmingham - in the long-term
development of FINAT’s sponsorship of the Labelexo Europe
It was just a few years later that Mike Fairley and Ron Spring shows.
met again at an IPEX print show in Birmingham and while
taking a coffee break decided between them to launch a label One of Mike’s major contributions to the label industry was to
magazine or newsletter. Nine months later Labels & Labeling research and write the very first Encyclopaedia of Labels and
was launched in January 1979 as a 24-page journal. Label Technology in 2004. This has become a universal

10 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

There can be little doubt that Labels & Labeling (its current
name), Labelexpo shows and Summits, the Encyclopaedia of
Label Technology and the Label Academy books, workshops,
webinars and masterclasses between them have had a major
impact over the years on the nature, development,
industrialization, growth and globalization of the label industry
and its trade and industry associations.

The label industry is very much a people industry. Everybody
knows everybody else, and few leave the industry for other
markets. A dedicated show, conferences, education and
training resources and a global magazine – working together
over the years with strong trade associations such as FINAT,
TLMI, LATMA (now called FPLMA), SALMA, JFLP and others
– have undoubtedly provided that extra catalyst for long-term
industry success.

Signing sponsor agreement Labelexpo-FINAT 1981.
In front (from left to right): Harry van Eijk and Clive Smith.
In the back (from left to right): Mans Lejeune and Mike Fairley

industry reference source and been translated into Spanish
for the South American market, into Chinese and into Turkish.

In 2008, Mike joined the FINAT editorial team in the writing and
production of the United in Labels - FINAT 1958 - 2008 book,
which was published on the association’s 50th anniversary, for
which he was conferred Honorary Life Membership of FINAT
on the occasion of the book’s launch during the FINAT
Congress in Paris.

From left to right: Ron Spring, Mans Lejeune, Mike Fairley, Jan Frederik
Vink and Tony White

This was followed by the History of Labels book - distributed Mike Fairley has been at the forefront of much of this industry
to all FINAT members at the Association’s Congress in 2014 - growth and success over the past 50 years and for that FINAT
and which has become a must read title for all those who have and the global label industry have much to thank him for. if
an interest in how the world of labels and label production had FINAT member are interested in finding out more, they can
grown from its early origins over 300 years ago, through the read about Mike’s life in his autobiography - A catalyst for
many print and label developments during the period of the growth, available from Amazon books. We wish him well in
Industrial Revolution and, more recently, the impact of the his retirement and his new career as a historical and
digital age on the world of labels. biographical writer.

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 11

The FINAT log

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FINAT
CALENDAR 2022

JANUARY To carefully plan this new strategy and roadmap for the
11 January: Webinar RecyClass Guidelines, presented by coming years, it is important to have a clear view of our
Fabrizio di Gregorio. This webinar was initially planned for the priorities and the critical roles that we need to play to remain
14th of December 2021. acting as the representative body of the label industry in
13 January: FINAT Press release: FINAT RADAR #16 released: Europe. In this respect FINAT members were requested to
Supply chain continuity and sustainability top of mind among assist the Board & Committee members in identifying and
label customers >> developing major (new) projects for the benefit of the industry.
18 January: Webinar Celab-Europe update, presented by 22 February: Online FINAT Marketing Committee meeting
Ophélie Gourdou.
19 January: FINAT Press release: Labelexpo Europe returns to MARCH
Brussels and so does FINAT >> 2 March: Announcement postponement Labelexpo Europe to
20 January: Registration opens for #LABELicious competition 11-14 September 2023
31 January: FINAT Press release: Supply chain pressures label 3 March: Announcement European Label Forum
industry aggravated by Nordic paper shortages >>

FEBRUARY 8 March: FINAT Press release: FINAT releases programme for
3 February: FINAT Comments on Supply Chain Pressures in the in-person European Label Forum 2022 >>
the Label Industry Aggravated by Nordic Labor Strike >> 8 March: Online FINAT Technical Committee meeting
3 February: Online FINAT Executive Board meeting 11 March: Martin Stierle, Kocher+Beck passes away (see also
7 February: Online emergency FINAT-National Associations’ page 9 of this yearbook)
Board meeting to discuss issuing a joint statement expressing 11 March: Deadline entries FINAT Label Competition –
our concern about the continued strike at the paper mill in extended to 25 March
Finland 15 March: FINAT Strategy Brainstorm session Amsterdam
8 February: Joint FINAT and national label associations 15 March: FINAT Press release: FINAT Labelstock Statistics
Statement on Dispute at UPM Paper Mills European label industry reports record growth in 2021 but is
FINAT and the national label associations expressed their now facing opposite extreme of raw materials shortage >>
concerns about the impact of the announced continuation of 30 March: FINAT Webinar: Technological developments in
the dispute between the UPM paper mills and Paperiliitto, the digital printing presented by Christian Menegon, HP
Finnish paper workers union. 30 March: Deadline entries #LABELicious competition – due to
That morning, FINAT was also invited to BBC 4’s flagship news the cancellation of Labelexpo Europe extended till 27 April
radio programme ‘Today’ this morning’. On behalf of FINAT, 31 March: FINAT appeals for a European approach to the
Will Parker, who has a thorough label industry track record in a current supply chain distortions
number of leading label companies, informed listeners about Following a news article in a Belgian newspaper on supply
the situation. chain problems in the agrofood sector that was brought to our
15 February: Webinar Labels & Glass Recycling presented by attention, FINAT sent a letter to the Belgian cabinet taskforce
Josquin Peycere of Cetie..
17 February: Activation Future FINAT Strategy - Call for
Member Input
The past few months, the FINAT Board together with a group
of (committee) members have been brainstorming about
possible directions our association should take, in order to
meet future challenges. This resulted in four scenarios and a
strategy based on 4 pillars. (See also pages 17-23 of our annual
yearbook 2021 pages, 20-25 of this yearbook and a recording of
the strategy round table at ELF2021)

12 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

on Agrofood Supply to appeal for a European approach to the 1 June: FINAT General Assembly, Baveno, Italy. On that
current supply chain distortions and in particular the paper occasion FINAT members also approved the nominated
shortage. The letter can be viewed on our website applications for the FINAT Board and welcomed Marika Knorr,
Head of Sustainability and Communication at CCL, Germany.
APRIL 1 June: FINAT Awards Ceremony Master of Ceremonies, Vlad
4 April: FINAT addresses imminent supply chain disruption at Sljapic, Group Chief Commercial Officer of Graphimecc Group
EU Commission level >> Srl, had the honour and pleasure to open the Awards
11 April: Invitation to FINAT converter members to provide Ceremony on June 1. On this occasion FINAT announced and
data for Radar#17 honoured the winners of the 2021/2022 #LABELicious
13 April: FINAT Webinar: Latest updates in monomer recycling, competition (see pages 58, 59) and the winners of the 2022
presented by Wim Hoenderdaal, Petcore FINAT Label Competition (see pages 60-74). Attention was also
19 April: Pre-announcement judging #LABELicious paid to the (belated) ceremonial handover of the FINAT
competition Presidency from Chris Ellison to Philippe Voet, the Print
21 April: FINAT Webinar Carbon Footprint calculation of labels, Against War in Ukraine project -an initiative of a group of
presented by Dr Dirk Burth, University of Applied Science (DE) influencers in the global printing and packaging industry (see
29 April: Pre-announcement ELF pre-event webinars page 37), amongst which Marzek Etiketten+Packaging GmbH,
Austria -, and past FINAT Board Member Bernhard Grob’s
MAY book ‘Destination - Travelling the World for the Printing
2 May: Judging of the #LABELicious competition starts Industry’, (see page 37) the proceeds of which would be split to
3 May: FINAT Press release: FINAT attracts label converters to support young people within the Graphic Arts Industry, with
this year’s live European Label Forum >> the Department of Typography and Graphic Communication
5 May: Third ELF2022 special newsletter of the University of Reading, UK and the Ukrainian fund raising.
5 May: Online judging of the FINAT Label Competition 7 June: FINAT Press release: A showcase of excellence in the
17 May: First introductory ELF webinar: Industry recruitment & world of labels >>
succession 9 June: FINAT Managing Director Jules Lejeune lectured at the
During ELF, a panel of industry peers would talk about how to AIFEC congress in Benidorm, Alicante, Spain
prepare your label business for the next generation. During
this introductory webinar, we started a dialogue with the 14 June: FINAT Press release: FINAT celebrates future label
panelists about the change of strategy and culture that comes talents >>
with a generation change, how to handle this transition, how to 15 June: Online FINAT-National Associations Board meeting
retain talent and settle the team down, and what their drivers 23 June: Announcement Labelexpo Asia postponed to 7-10
and best practices of successful generation change are. December 2022
18 May: Second introductory ELF webinar: The supply chain 23 June: Pre-announcement FINAT Technical Seminar 23-25
triangle November, Barcelona, Spain
ELF2022 speaker Bram Desmet hosted this webinar and
explained the supply chain triangle. How to balance it and
what the impact of COVID has been so far.
19 May: Fourth ELF2022 special newsletter

JUNE
1-3 June: European Label Forum 2022, Baveno, Italy.
After two years without in-person events, the European Label
Forum made its comeback with a top-notch live programme.
(See pages 26-35)

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 13



30 June: President’s blog RADAR #17: Labels indispensable 20-21 September: FINAT Board
enabler of the critical infrastructure >> member Jakob Landberg
represents FINAT at the
JULY RotoMetrics Open House Day in
1 July: FINAT Press Release: CELAB Europe wins Paper Aldrige, UK
Recycling award >> 22-23 September: FINAT
6 July: FINAT Webinar: Direct Thermal Linerless Labels for President Philippe Voet
Logistics Applications, presented by Christian Eger, Evonik represents FINAT at the Gipea
21 July: Registration opens for the FINAT Technical Seminar congress in Sirolo
21 July: Pre-announcement FINAT Sustainability Award 29 September: Blog FINAT Travel
docs: Love & life – the story of
AUGUST two label printers in Greece - Part 1 >>
4 August: Registration for the FINAT Sustainability Award
officially open OCTOBER
4 August: Pre-announcement extraordinary online FINAT 5-6 October: FINAT MD Jules Lejeune speaks at the Domino
General Assembly, 9 November 2022, 15.30 CET Open House in Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
16 August: FINAT Press Release: FINAT Labelstock Statistics
- European label industry reports decrease in labelstock
consumption during first half of 2022 >>
23 August: Events & Publication Manager Jakovina van
Haeringen visits 2 Greek label printers: Forlabels & Cabas

Cabas Forlabels 11 October: FINAT Webinar: The development of raw material
costs and label prices, presented by Corey Reardon, AWA (NL)
27 October: FINAT Press release: FINAT expresses concern
about negative list in draft Packaging & Packaging Waste
Regulation >>

SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER
1 September: FINAT Strategy Brainstorm Meeting Amsterdam 16 November: Online Executive Board meeting
(see also pages 20-25) 23-25 November: FINAT Technical Seminar, Barcelona, Spain
14 September: FINAT MD Jules Lejeune speaks at Labelexpo (see also pages 38-41)
Americas

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

DECEMBER
12 December: FINAT Board Meeting, Amsterdam
14 December: Online Extraordinary FINAT General
Assembly

31 MAY – 2 JUNE 2023:
FINAT ELF Vienna, Austria

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 15

At the annual General Assembly

ANNUAL REPORT FINAT 2022

Two years after the outbreak of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the global economy is struggling with the after-
math of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions and international uncertainty caused by the invasion of
Ukraine by Russia. The label industry peaked as essential industry during the Covid crisis in 2020 and
again in 2021 during the rapid economic recovery. Since the autumn of last year, however, it has been con-
fronted with a split between a continued boom in demand on the one hand, and constraints in the supply
chain on the other. At the annual General Assembly held on 1 June in Baveno, FINAT President Philippe
Voet presented the annual report, of which a summary can be found below.

The Pandemic has accelerated fundamental shifts for FINAT
and its members in terms of industry consolidation,
digitalisation, sustainability and workforce development. In the
absence of live programmes since the outbreak in March
2020, FINAT not only brought most of its activities online, the
FINAT Board also undertook a series of initiatives designed to
support the European label community going forward.

I. ACTIVITIES 2021-2022

As a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic, in 2021 again no live
events took place in FINAT.

The European Label Forum 2021 was held in an adapted, On the final day of the online ELF series, FINAT also presented
virtual format from Monday 31 May till Friday 4 June, each day the winners of the annual label competition online. For the
focusing on a different aspect of the label business. Member second year running, the judging panel had to be connected
companies were offered a low cost, ‘corporate ticket’ enabling online, and glamourous videos were developed for each
unlimited access to staff members. Whereas the number of category to provide exposure to the winners of this prestigious
member companies signing up did not change significantly, event.
the event enjoyed a total registration level of almost 750
people, of which 500 actually took logged in on one or more Normal attendance at a live FINAT ELF would have been
sessions, with ‘business strategy day’, ‘circular economy day’ restricted to around 250 owners and business executives.
and ‘future workforce day’ as the most popular sessions. Whereas online increased FINAT’s reach within the member

16 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

companies, the experience with the Technical Seminar in 2020 In view of the acceleration of the Circular Economy Action
and the online ELF in 2021 have demonstrated that online or Plan associated with the European Green Deal, including the
hybrid events are very useful for knowledge transfer and upcoming revision of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging
learning, but cannot replicate the live experience of Waste Directive (PPWD), FINAT increased its Public Affairs
networking and human interaction. Although each day ended resources, in order to be more proactive and with our own
with an informal ‘cocktail chat’ (including a cocktail in the priority agenda. A framework has been set up to increase our
colour of the day), and an interactive community quiz session member community network of topic experts and to reduce
had been prepared, the association was faced with the our response time to public stakeholder consultations and
limitations of online technologies. requests for alignment with joint stakeholder initiatives and
position papers. FINAT’s Regulatory Affairs Manager Pablo
As a founding member and legal host of CELAB-Europe, Englebienne is in charge of this process and the staff capacity
FINAT continued its active engagement in the industry at the secretariat has been increased.
consortium that aims to promote the development and
increased availability of circular business solutions for liner In the first half of 2022, FINAT’s role as voice of the label
and matrix materials in Europe by 2025. In 2021, also the converting industry was boosted by the prolonged strike at
CELAB-Global and CELAB-North America consortia took the paper mills in Finland. Whereas it is not our association’s
shape, with the European branch clearly in the lead towards role to intervene or comment on individual labour disputes
achieving the ambitious targets. (and certainly not when a member company is involved), the
growing concerns within the European label printing
community about the resulting shortage of release and face
papers and their implications for the availability of labels in
essential food and medical sectors forced FINAT, together
with national label associations, to issue a joint position
statement (followed up later by a letter to the European
Commission) requesting the parties to take into consideration
the wider impact of the strike, and calling for a public debate
on measures to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities.

FINAT also played a part as the UVFoodSafe consortium
facilitator, a project bringing together some 40 industry players
with common goal to build confidence in and to grow the safe
use of UV printing in labels and packaging production.
Unfortunately, due to Covid the project (that kicked off in 2018)
suffered significant delays as the necessary testing facilities
were unavailable during the lockdowns, but late 2021 the
project gained new momentum and a guidance document is
now planned for release later this year.

At the same time, Pablo and FINAT’s freelance Technical Advisor Noel Mitchell are managing our participation

in stakeholder organisations and projects like Citpa (paper and board converting), EPRC (paper recovery),

Petcore (PET containers), CETIE (glass bottle recycling), PRE (plastic recyclers), RecyClass (design for recycling

guidelines), EPBP (PET bottles recyclers), HolyGrail2.0 (digital watermarking) and Europen’s Packaging Chain | 17

Forum, FINAT is representing the industry’s interests by influencing industryFreIcNyclAingTanYdEreAcyRclaBbilOityOK 2022

standards.

At the same time, Pablo and FINAT’s freelance Technical At that webinar, FINAT also presented the winners of the
Advisor Noel Mitchell are managing our participation in relaunched and revised Sustainability Awards. From a total of
stakeholder organisations and projects like Citpa (paper and 10 qualified entries, the judging panel selected two winners,
board converting), EPRC (paper recovery), Petcore (PET one in the converter category (going to CCL Label), and one in
containers), CETIE (glass bottle recycling), PRE (plastic the supplier category (going to Avery Dennison). For 2022, the
recyclers), RecyClass (design for recycling guidelines), EPBP terms of reference for the competition will be amended to
(PET bottles recyclers), HolyGrail2.0 (digital watermarking) and encourage companies from all sizes to enter their sustainable
Europen’s Packaging Chain Forum, FINAT is representing the innovations and demonstrate excellence.
industry’s interests by influencing industry recycling and
recyclability standards.

In 2021, FINAT again released

two editions of the FINAT

RADAR reports, which together
Following FINAT’s launch of the #LABELicious competition in 2019 aimed at students and young professionals,
the ‘local’ the FINAT Labelstock
withcampaign planned for selected countries and partnerships in the intermediate year 2020 was

FolldaoeslpwaeyceiindaldgwueeFbtioInNaCro.AviTd-r’selaltaedusnchcoohl loocfkdtohwens.#AtLthAe BenEd oLfi2c0i2o1,uhsowceovemr, wpinenetristiwoenre ainnnounced dsutriangtistics have become

2019 aimed at students and young professionals, the ‘local’ authoritative sources of

campaign planned for selected countries and partnerships in (firsthand) market information for

the intermediate year 2020 was delayed due to Covid-related members.

school lockdowns. At the end of 2021, however, winners were

announced during a special webinar. In 2021 and the first half of 2022,

the FINAT secretariat hosted

numerous online Board,

committee and subcommittee meetings as well as more than

20 webinars to enable volunteers and experts to collaborate

and share knowledge and information online.

Labelexpo Europe, scheduled for September 2021, was

At that webinar, FINAT also presented the winners of the relaunched and revised Sustainability Awards. pFroomstponed till April 2022 and ultimately taken off the calendar

a total of 10 qualified entries, the judging panel selected two winners, one in the converter category (going to

CCL Label), and one in the supplier category (going to Avery Dennison). For 2022, the terms of reference fdoruthee to the extreme supply chain conditions in the first half of

competition will be amended to encourage companies from all sizes to enter their sustainable innovation2s 0an2d2. In the 2020-2021 cycle, FINAT therefore had to forego
demonstrate excellence.

most of its planned non-membership fee income, but also did

not spend most of its external out-of-pocket expenses for

(committee) meetings and events, as well as the associated

association management costs. As a result of this, whereas the

Labelexpo-year of the 2-year cycle normally results in a

surplus, the book-year 2021 ended in a near break-even result.

5

II. FINAT’S 4 PILLAR STRATEGY TOWARDS 2027
At the General Assembly, the President also gave an update
on FINAT’s vision and roadmap for 2027, our new strategy
based on the four pillars Community, Knowledge,
Collaboration and Advocacy, the plans and programmes for
the coming years, as well as the corresponding realignment of
our association’s ‘Fit for Purpose’ governance structure. Later

18 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

during the summer, another strategy retreat would take place Thank you to our volunteers! And thank you to you
to further conclude FINAT’s strategy orientation. (See for this companies that free up the necessary time!
the separate article on pages 20-25.)
On behalf of the FINAT Board:
III. CONCLUDING REMARKS AND OUTLOOK Philippe Voet (President); Francesc Egea (Vice President); Chris
At the time of writing this annual report, Covid restrictions have Ellison (Past President); Noël Kasmi (Treasurer);
been downscaled around Europe. Covid has not gone away Jakob Landberg (Marketing Committee); Alex Knott (Technical
and might return later this year at the change of seasons. Committee); Aydin Okay; Alfredo Pollici; Jamie Robinson;
Whether this will result in renewed lockdowns remains to be Ferdinand Rüesch; Thomas Vainio; Harald Wallner and Ilkka
seen. Ylipoti.

At this point, however, the Board is confident that we will be On behalf of the FINAT Team at the secretariat:
able to host our long awaited live Technical Seminar from Jules Lejeune (Managing Director); Jakovina van Haeringen
23-25 November at the InterContinental in Barcelona. (Publications and Events); Elke Verbaarschot (Community
Management) Pablo Englebienne (Regulatory Affairs &
Volunteers - the new gold for associations Sustainability Manager); Stephanie Feith (Management
All of the above cannot be achieved without our volunteers. Assistant), Cora van der Lek (Financial Controller); Floor
Under today’s difficult circumstances, the availability of Hoenderop (Assistant Controller).
dedicated AND competent volunteers is ‘the new gold’ for
associations. Going forward, the Board is committed to
maximize the ‘ROI’ of volunteer resources by changing our
way of working to be more project driven.

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FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 19

FINAT Vision 2027

EMPOWERING THE LABEL INDUSTRY

In last year’s FINAT Yearbook, we reported about the status of FINAT’s strategy orientation that took place
during the Covid years 2020 and 2021. Having achieved many of our goals embedded in the 6-Star
strategy that drove FINAT’s agenda in the late 2010s, the Board chose a less ‘galactic’ metaphor to enter
the new decade: the Four Pillar strategy, laying the solid foundations for the roaring twenties of this
millennium. One year later, as we are slowly finding our way out of the Pandemic, but entering a new
period of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, where do we stand with the (re)construction?

Especially in the middle of a crisis like we had during the Covid
years, it is difficult to predict the future. And certainly, it will be
hard to take into account the implications of unpredictable
events like the War in Ukraine that has shocked the world
since 24 February 2022. However, we can try to imagine
potential outcomes beyond our short term horizon, and then
do a ‘Fast Reverse’ to agree on steps that could be taken to
address these outcomes should they become reality. This
so-called ‘scenario planning’ methodology has helped oil
companies to anticipate the oil crisis in the 1970s and be more
agile than would otherwise have been the case.

20 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

TAKING THE FUTURE AS OUR STARTING POINT
At the beginning of 2021, the Board mapped out the relevant
future scenarios for 2027. For the reader’s convenience, the
four resulting scenarios are summarised below.

1. Back to the Base: we are in a post-Covid business
environment that is based on de-globalised and re-
fragmented supply chains in which there is a renewed
interest in small, agile, innovative start-ups filling up niches
left open by conglomerates. And these need an in person
knowledge and contact network facilitated by FINAT. Just
like in the early days of our association.

2. Scaling up: during Covid, and helped by low interest rates
and abundance of private equity capital, industry
consolidation has only accelerated. However, the industry
is still in transition, and for the foreseeable future, there will
be a hybrid mix of small, medium and large enterprises,
each with their specific needs and expectations. Given the
high level of turnover at enterprise level, live programmes
are still crucial for the coherence of the label community,
but online facilities are filling the gaps.

3. Human Interface: in this scenario, the industry has crossed
the ‘tipping point’ between live and online in the previous
scenario, with the balance now running in favour of the
latter. Rapid digitalisation and automation as well as the
drive towards more sustainable business practice have also
fed through into the ‘modus operandi’ of FINAT, in which
members primarily rely on FINAT as the ‘data driven’ online
community hub for information, connections and
cooperation. Live contact remains very important but the
24/7 network is what drives FINAT in between events.

4. Connected Corporate World: the label industry has
followed the example of its neighbouring packaging
sectors (flexibles and cartons) and has further accelerated
on its global consolidation path. Label and packaging
groups of more than 20 facilities around Europe are no
longer the exception but the rule. The way corporations
interact is governed by ever tighter compliance rules. The
main motivation to be active in the association is to lobby,
and to cooperate in projects on topics that even big
corporations cannot address alone. Even in this setting,
however, industry networking and knowledge exchange
remains important, although the direct engagement of key
decision makers in association activity is limited, and in
person activity is delegated to ‘second tier’ experts.

The four scenarios (see also this video: https://youtu.be/
H_7tQL_ryLo) represent the extremes that we can imagine

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 21

based on the uncertainties we face today. In reality it is more IDEATION: COLLECTING VIEWS AND OPINIONS
likely that elements of each scenario will co-exist. But this Building on these foundations, the Board invited the
abstraction has helped the Board and Committee members to committee members to take part in a small ‘self-assessment’
define the roadmap for the coming years. survey and two online ‘Ideation’ meetings at the beginning of
March, focusing on the following key questions:
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FINAT

FINAT’S

FOUR PILLARS

ON OUR WAY TO 2024

COMMUNITY

Keeping a safe zone for members to connect, develop,
maintain relationships, collaborate, co-create in the new,
hybrid business environment

KNOWLEDGE

Ful l our role as rst-hand knowledge and information hub
by integrating interactive live and online learning capabilities
and creating a library & database of documentation and recordings

COLLABORATION

Serve as independent and compliant consortium and
project facilitator on matters like recycling, sustainability,
product safety, education

ADVOCACY

Act as voice of the European label community on matters
like public a airs, marketing and promotion, recruitment
and retention of talent

Given the above uncertainties, which roles can or should • How do we rate our current programmes in relation to our
FINAT play to remain relevant no matter what the future will strategy?
bring? As depicted in the infographic above, the Board has
determined four critical roles: • Which of our current programmes should be continued,
strengthened, tuned down or even discontinued given our
1. COMMUNITY: FINAT as the unique networking platform for current strategy?
label industry peers and partners;
• Which programmes are we currently missing and should
2. KNOWLEDGE: FINAT as the premier knowledge and be developed given our ambitions in the different roles?
information hub;
From the self-assessment, a clear indication emerged about
3. COLLABORATION: FINAT as a neutral and independent the top 3 priority list of ‘triple I’ areas in which FINAT needs to
project and consortium facilitator; invest, intensify or improve:

4. ADVOCACY: FINAT as the common voice of the European 1. Public affairs and lobbying
label industry on relevant industry matters. 2. Sustainability promotion
3. Industry and market data
Essentially, these roles have not changed compared to the
past, but the settings have changed dramatically. How then do
we make sure in these volatile and uncertain times, we stay on
course, building on FINAT’s strong history, resources and
culture, but converting our structure to a new, contemporary
and future oriented format that aligns with our four pillar
strategy?

22 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

Behind this top three, but also as sub priorities to these goals, Community’. Almost 15 years later, this alliteration still holds
the active members listed the effectiveness of committee true, especially since ‘linking’ has a physical as well as a virtual
work, and improved member experiences as key areas of connotation. Underlying the four pillars, however, is now an
attention. ambition beyond merely connecting members. Under the
current circumstances, FINAT also has an important role to
During the ‘Ideation’ sessions, a wide variety of views, opinions play externally. After an iterative process, a new tagline was
and suggestions were collected, as input for two live meetings chosen: Empowering the Label Industry. This new slogan tells
in Amsterdam bringing together a cross section of Board, us a few things:
Technical and Marketing Committee members. The first one
took place on 15 March, the second one on 1 September, after • “It is not just about our own member community. Even if we
different taskforces of volunteers appointed in the previous cannot interact directly with you or you cannot join our
meeting had done their homework. community as a FINAT member, we are still serving you.”

NEW VISION AND SCOPE: • “Even if you cannot attend our meetings, we are there to
EMPOWERING THE LABEL INDUSTRY support you with our online presence.”
Starting point of a strategic orientation is the question: who do
we serve? If FINAT would not be here today, (how) would we • “While our core remains self-adhesive label technology,
shape it? On the shores of the Lago Maggiore prior to the ELF our reference is the wider label industry, now that a
2022, a group of FINAT members sat together to brainstorm on majority of our membership has embraced a broader
this subject. Since FINAT’s 50th anniversary in 2008, our scope.”
association logo has carried the tagline ‘Linking the Label
NEW PROGRAMMES AND DELIVERABLES
Several of FINAT’s success stories of the previous strategy,
such as the European Label Forum, will be continued in the
coming years. Based on the discussions that have taken place
throughout the year, a number of new programmes and
deliverables have been identified for 2023 and beyond:

1. Community: creating more member touchpoints. Under
this header, several new initiatives to increase member
engagement are underway, such as guided topical
Roundtables, online ‘Jours Fixes’ meet-ups on a fixed time
and day of the month, as well as a new, label community
award to be awarded to a particular company or person.
Since it is about future oriented networks, young
professionals will be encouraged to take a leading role.

2. Knowledge: enhancing our database. Empowering the
label industry starts with facts and data. For this reason,
FINAT’s library of industry data will be expanded. Our
FINAT RADAR will be enhanced from a six-monthly to a
quarterly label market watch. Next to the FINAT RADAR, a
new brand called FINAT SONAR will be launched. Under
this header, FINAT will produce in-depth content on
technical topics such as CO2 footprinting and best
practices. Plans are also underway to offer a sophisticated
subscription based online converter benchmarking forum,
as well as a new statistic on press equipment installations.
Next to these research oriented programmes, FINAT is
planning to improve the accessibility of its current member
only platform, to turn it into a searchable ‘Content &
Knowledge Hub’. Under this header also falls the
education.

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 23

3. Collaboration: more project platforms. Committees, stakeholder organisations like FINAT. Often, EU
subcommittees and taskforces have always been the Consultations or ‘leaked versions’ of draft legislation on
lifeblood of associations. In the past few years, industry specific topics, require a swift response within weeks or
collaboration has been taken to the next level with the sometimes days. The number of draft position papers
growing number of cross-industry partnerships and the being circulated for comments between stakeholder
formation of special project consortia. An example of the organisations is growing in parallel. To manage these
former are the growing number of partnerships or third developments and define and align our own position,
party memberships that FINAT has entered into in the past FINAT has already been moving away from an approach of
few years, such as CITPA (fibre converting federation), EPRC ‘monitoring’ and acting adhoc and ‘on demand’, to one of
(paper recycling), Petcore (PET bottles), PRE (plastic proactive positioning. To develop this further, the expertise
recycling), CETIE (glass recycling), AIM Europe (brand- inside FINAT’s Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs sub
owners, in charge of HolyGrail 2.0) and DIN/ISO (labeling committees will have to be consolidated into one
standards). A perfect example of the latter are of course UV combined Regulatory Affairs Steering Group authorised to
FoodSafe and CELAB-Europe, of which FINAT is the represent FINAT on matters of importance.
hosting legal entity. And then last but not least, there are
FINAT’s permanent relationships with Tarsus (Labelexpo), FIT FOR PURPOSE:
the global label associations (L9) and the European national ALIGNING STRATEGY AND STRUCTURE
associations (NAB). These platforms require not only more Having answered the WHY and WHAT question, we arrive at
resources from our organization, but also a more project the HOW and WHEN. While it is perhaps easy to reach
based approach that takes into account governance and agreement on the high level goals and objectives, when it
compliance best practices. FINAT is preparing itself to fulfil comes to execution the devil is in the detail. As business
this growing task. planners well know: ‘Structure Follows Strategy’. But there is
also a saying ‘Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast’. The final
4. Advocacy: increasing vigilance and agility. The Covid step in turning strategy into action and assigning
crisis, the Green Deal and the on-going revision of the responsibilities is often the most complex part of change
Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (see also pages processes, and the stage most vulnerable to
50-51) are demanding an increasing vigilance and agility of miscommunication, misunderstanding and misalignment.

24 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

7 DILEMMAS
In FINAT, the Board is dealing with the following seven
organizational dilemmas:

1. Strategy versus operation: how do we stick to the plan for
the short term without losing focus on the longer term?

2. Experience versus generation change: how do we cherish
the valuable know-how and experience present in our
current volunteer workforce, while at the same time
encouraging new talent to become engaged?

3. Decision making versus empowering: we like to have the
commitment from decision makers of our member
companies, but given their busy schedule, we also need
the active engagement of competent ‘second tier’ topic
leaders to drive programmes forward.

4. Generic versus task or project oriented: do we need a
large group with members from diverse backgrounds, or
are we in some cases better off with a smaller, task oriented
group?

5. Open versus closed: how do we match the need for these talents into fruition.
continuity with the opportunity for every member to
become engaged as an active FINAT member in one or In the reality of FINAT, there is usually not the luxury of making
multiple groups? longlists and selecting volunteers. More often, we are
extremely happy with the companies and their representatives
6. Upstream versus downstream: as a value chain that are willing to provide resources, expertise and manpower
association, how do we find the right balance between for the common good of the industry. Nowadays, 2.5 years
converters and suppliers on our committee leadership after the outbreak of the Pandemic, and with numerous
board, and how do we make sure that this reflects the unexpected developments since last year, the stakes are
industrial and geographic composition at large? getting higher and there is need for a different gameplan. Not
necessarily with different players, but perhaps with a different
7. Volunteer versus professional: how do we make sure that lineup that fits the goals of the team and makes sure that
our volunteer talent pool matches the growing number of every player can excel to his or her ability. In football terms:
challenges to be addressed, and what do volunteers need perhaps 1-4-3-3 no longer works, but 1-3-5-2 or 1-5-3-2 is more
in terms of professional support to remain effective without effective.
becoming overloaded?

FINDING THE RIGHT STRUCTURE: For ‘FINAT FC’ it is a matter of making sure that our lineup
THE FOOTBALL ANALOGY matches our gameplan, but also that we do not forget about
At the time this article is written, we are one month away from the newcomers that are eager to enter the pitch. At the time of
FIFA’s World Cup Football kickoff. It’s the first (and hopefully writing, discussions are on-going about the new structure of
last) time that this tournament is played in our winter season. FINAT, and it is expected that more will be known in the next
All national coaches have meanwhile announced their longlist six months.
of pre-selected players. Many of them have expressed the
desire to have each position on the field covered by at least In the meantime, should YOU or your company wish to
three potential players on the longlist, before cutting down become active and provide manpower and/or resources for
their list. That choice ultimately depends on the game plan but programmes mentioned above, do not hesitate to contact the
also on availability of talented and committed players, and on FINAT secretariat ([email protected]).
the clubs around Europe that have scouted and developed

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 25

FINAT European Label Forum 2022

THE BIG REUNION OF THE EUROPEAN
LABEL COMMUNITY

Finally, for the first time since 2019, the European label community got together again in person. After the
cancellation of ‘Rome 2020’ and the online edition of 2021, the ELF 2022 was held on location again. From
1-3 June, about 270 persons reconnected in the northern Italian lake resort Baveno at the Grand Hotel
Dino, along the shore of Lago Maggiore. After three years of forced ‘domestic activity’, there was a lot to
discuss.

Three years since ‘Copenhagen’, we are to rethink business models that were flow of goods and people, these have
in a different world. In a world once taken for granted. And while war accelerated the digital transformation.
characterised by uncertainty and and diseases have distorted the physical But at the same time, digitalization has
imbalances, there is the certainty of increased our vulnerability to the
‘togetherness’. At the industry level, with interference of bits and bytes.
the Green Deal the EU has pulled
industries together to facilitate the The programme of ELF2022 addressed
transition towards the circular economy. these and other strategic topics. The
The ubiquitous shortages of energy, raw programming committee (see photos)
materials, chemicals, chips, had decided to maximise the possibility
components and people are forcing us of engagement and interaction, by

Jules Elke Philippe Niklas Jakob Noel Will Bert

26 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

offering no less than 8 breakout FINAT EUROPEAN LABEL FORUM
sessions, 6 panel discussions, and 11
expert presentations featuring a record Many thanks to our GOLD SPONSORS:
number of 35 speakers and panelists. In
the months preceding the event, several
of them contributed to the event
website www.EuropeanLabelForum.
com with blogs and teaser statements
to raise members appetite for their talks.
To read these blogs it is worth revisiting
this website.

Many thanks to our SILVER SPONSORS:

Many thanks to our BRONZE SPONSORS: fist or elbow bumping, handshaking or
even a warm Latin hug depending on
1-3 JUNE 2022Grand Hotel Dino | Baveno, Italy the colour of their lanyard of choice.
Although Covid measures had been
WEDNESDAY JUNE 2022: relaxed in most countries around
Europe, the organisers had made sure
AWARDS NIGHT to respect all members’ precautional
desires. Worth noting though that
But, equally important, members were After the annual General Assembly in lanyards indicating ‘Hug Welcome’ had
once again able to enjoy the benefits of the afternoon (see pages 16-19), run out of stock first.
the networking events such as the members of the label community
supplier tabletop exhibition in the foyer, expressed delight about each other’s After the welcome cocktail and
awards night on the opening day of the company after three years by waving, reinstated FINAT Supplier Tabletop the
conference, the networking breaks plus highlight of the first evening was the
dinners and the surrounding FINAT Awards Ceremony 2022 that was
entertainment, including cover band skilfully moderated by FINAT’s ‘Night
MEGA TOTO. All this would not be Mayor’ Vlad Sljapic, who after a few
possible without the support of 30 (!) year’s absence had made his comeback
sponsors at the tabletop expo in the in the Label Community via Graphimecc
lobby of the conference center. (Vlad would also introduce Alfredo’s
band the subsequent night). He
introduced past and current President
Chris Ellison and Philippe Voet for a
delayed farewell speech of the former
and ceremonial handover of the
Presidency chain to the former, after
last year’s edition had to be held online.

Apart from the annual FINAT Label
Awards for 2022 (see also pages 60-74),
this evening also featured the winners
of the 2021-2022 #LABELicious
competition, of which the ceremony

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 27

had been delayed due to the THURSDAY
postponement of Labelexpo Europe MORNING 2 JUNE:
2022. A report of the ‘#L’ results is also
included in this edition of the Yearbook PENDING
on pages 58 & 59.. INDUSTRY
MATTERS

A special feature of this evening was the Guided by FINAT’s ‘moderator in thousand words who achieve nothing”),
emotional speech by Michael Wareka of residence’ Bert van Loon, the next Mr. Farinetti used the metaphor of the
Marzek Etiketten, who drew his morning kicked off with a musical ‘sphere of life’ to describe his guiding
audience’s attention to the tragic opening address by FINAT President values as an unconventional
situation at their subsidiary in east Philippe Voet, followed by a welcome entrepreneur. A paradigm shift is taking
Ukraine as a result of the Russian speech by former President Andrea place in which the traditional human
invasion last February. In recognition of Vimercati and Alfredo Pollici on behalf values eat, love, study, work and dream
and out of compassion with the of GIPEA, the Italian label association. In are being replaced by their
Ukrainian members of the international spite of Republic Day, a number of contemporary equivalents earth, repair,
label community, FINAT has embraced Italian label printers had sacrificed the change, together and future, all pointing
the PrintAgainstWar.org initiative as the Italian national holiday to reconnect with in the direction of sustainable
event’s charity. Also the revenues of the their European peers, and of course to entrepreneurship. He then shared the
onsite book sales of ‘Destination’ the support their local musician Alfredo qualities needed to face a future in an
travel log of former FINAT Board who would perform later that day. imperfect world, in which we take pride
member Bernhard Grob (who used to in our own local heritage but are ready
travel a lot into this region) would find a FINAT Managing Director Jules Lejeune for change with the mindset of a young
similar destination. (See page 37.) then gave a birds’-eye view of the entrepreneur, but not afraid to copy best
evolution of the industry climate since practices. After all, “Think local, act
we last met three years ago, to set the global” was one of the drivers of
scene for the various topics and industry success of his Eataly.
conversations to appear in the
programme during the remainder of the SHOPPING HABITS POST-COVID:
event. (See also report on pages 44-47.) HYGIENE AND SAFETY NEW
PRIORITIES

Next up on stage was Oscar Farinetti, Next up on the agenda were four sides
President and founder of Eataly (I), the of the spectrum surrounding the label
largest Italian food marketplace in the industry: The Consumer, The Legislator,
world with branches in Italy, Turkey, The Workforce and The Supplier.
United Arab Emirates, Germany, Brazil,
South Korea, Sweden, Canada, France, Kicking off this part was Benjamin
the US and the UK. Punchard, Global Packaging Insights
Mastering only 200 words of English
(“but I know people who speak 10

28 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

Director at market research company Commission’s DG Environment, who about asking questions, and about
Mintel, who talked about the changing joined the conference online with the leveraging the community”, Mr Alon
attitudes towards packaging by latest update on the status of EU argued. He emphasised culture,
consumer and society. The outbreak of packaging and packaging waste community and leadership as critical
COVID-19 has seen hygiene and safety legislation. A summary of the issues at factors of corporate success. “All
become new priorities for many stake by FINAT’s Regulatory Affairs & companies make mistakes. Some make
consumers. Mr. Punchard concluded Sustainability Manager Pablo more than others. What makes a good
with three takeaways from his Englebienne can be found on pages 50 company is the ability to learn fast from
company’s research. Firstly, shoppers & 51 in this Yearbook. mistakes. Failing should be leveraged
are looking for packaging structures and for learning.” The challenge is to remain
materials that help them feel safe, and ABOUT WICKED PROBLEMS AND insurgent while scaling a company and
brands must respond to a less-frequent OPPORTUNITIES for this, an owner mindset and
shopper with larger pack sizes that obsession with the ‘frontline’, the
address the potential for food/product customer, are critical.
waste. Expanding online shopping
creates the need for agility as THE SUPPLY CHAIN VIEW
consumers constantly seek out new
experiences.

Secondly, consumers are increasingly The floor was then taken by Alon Covid and the recent supply chain
looking to make environmentally Bar-Shany, ex-CEO of HP Indigo who disruptions have impacted both the
responsible choices. Brands should was now active as executive advisor to immediate and extended supply chains
provide packaging with simple and different start-ups. Alon shared a for materials for our industry. All eyes
explained responsible disposal routes. personal story to underline his were therefore set on the ‘Big Four’
In this way consumers can feel dedication to the cause of the materials suppliers of our industry,
rewarded for their actions and purchase PrintAgainstWar foundation currently in represented by Hassan Rmaile (Avery
decisions by seeing a measurable establishment, which he had recently Dennison), Thomas Vainio (UPM
positive outcome. joined as a member of the Advisory Raflatac), Fernando Girón (Fedrigoni
Board. Moving on to the subject of his Self-adhesives) and Guido Spachtholz
Thirdly, and finally, shoppers want to see talk, he quoted the founder of HP, Dave (Herma), who were interviewed by
measurable progress against brands’ Packard, “I think many people assume, Corey Reardon of AWA Alexander
environmental goals. Brands should wrongly, that a company exists simply to Watson Associates and ‘audience side
work in harmony with package make money…we inevitably come to the kick’ Bert van Loon.
manufacturers to provide clear on-pack conclusion that a group of people get
information that highlights together and exist as an institution that The panel reflected on challenging
environmentally responsible actions and we call a company so they are able to collective industry questions related to
shows leadership in environmental accomplish something collectively the recent supply chain disruptions,
initiatives. which they could not accomplish their impact on innovation, the adoption
separately. They are able to do and promotion of sustainable labelling
Second on the list was Maja Desgrées- something worthwhile-they make a materials among end-users, specifiers
du-Loû, Policy Officer for the Packaging contribution to society.” and label converters, the role of CELAB
& Packaging Waste Directive at the EU Europe, and the evolution of the
“This quote from 1960 is even more valid customer-supplier relationship, from the
in the current times of chaos and seller-buyer roles into a relationship of
change which create wicked problems
and opportunities. In these wicked
times, leadership is not about giving
directions or managing a process, but

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 29

partnership and joint innovation. To Not surprisingly, the consensus was that Prof. Dirk Burth (University of Applied
close the session, each of the panellists the future is strong for the independent. Sciences Munich, DE); Chris Parnham
was asked to provide their perspective The ability to operate in niches and (Director - International Talent
on the label industry 10 years from now. retain margin is stronger for smaller Acquisition - Packaging Industries, UK);
players. Customer relationship is a Chris Ellison (Owner and CEO of OPM
THURSDAY priority and based on trust and Group, UK); Dana Kilárska (Former chair
AFTERNOON 2 JUNE: customer intimacy…this is lost when of what is now called FINAT’s Young
groups consolidate and focus on Professionals Network and owner of
PARALLEL Operations metrics such as OEE and Purgina Labels, SK).
BREAKOUT waste etc. Procurement and IT savings
SESSIONS as a result of consolidation are often The second parallel stream of the
offset by lack of agility and action to afternoon deep-dived into drivers for
The afternoon and following morning grab opportunity quickly. For those online shoppers and brandowners in the
were dedicated to deep-dive into a independents who do choose procurement of labels.
number of business critical topics. This consolidation, it is often a personal
first part zoomed in on the evolving journey to try something new and be THE IMPACT OF CONSUMER
general industry structure, and on part of a bigger organisation….it’s BEHAVIOURS ON E-COMMERCE
drivers of label demand. personal development as well as
crystalising value. They feel safer as part
THE FUTURE OF THE of a stronger and better financed
INDEPENDENT LABEL COMPANY operation when the market is pressured
by disruption.

PREPARING YOUR BUSINESS FOR
THE NEXT GENERATION

In the so-called label business stream, The bridge between the ‘independent’ Covid19 has boosted online shopping in
two panels discussed the future of the panel and the following one on consumer packaged goods. But Digital
independent label company, and its succession planning was the large and Physical shopping are not the same.
efforts to prepare the handover to the belief in attractivity and value to new What can labels and packaging do to
next generation. With the ongoing employees versus global players. enhance the online shopping
consolidation at a global level in our People want to identify with their experience? Paul Jenkins (The PackHub,
industry, what does this mean for the employer on a closer level. The change UK) explored the innovative potential of
independent player? How do they adapt of strategy and culture that comes with labels and packaging in the digital
to the imbalance of size in the generation change has never been space, by showing examples of his
competitive field? What competitive more pointed. How do we handle this institute’s online packaging innovations
advantages can be leveraged by transition, retain talent and settle the database (see also www.thepackhub.
smaller convertors? These questions team down, and how do we see the com). Although the share of
were addressed by Lars Ole Nauta next 25 years as we transit ownership of e-commerce has grown rapidly,
(Flexoprint, DK, recently acquired by both corporate and private companies? resources spent on packaging
Optimum Group), Peter Overbeek These questions were addressed by a development for e-commerce are still
(Eshuis, NL) and Domenico Tessera multidisciplinary panel consisting of limited, although the proverbial
Chiesa (Sales, IT). ‘moment of truth’ for e-shoppers lies at
the point of unpacking the goods at
home rather than standing in front of the
shelf. In other words, experiences upon
delivery are more important than visual
triggers in overcrowded shelves. Labels
and packaging could capitalise more on
this Second Moment of Truth.

30 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

Luke Lloyd (International Post returned to the stage alongside Arno consumer, this needs to be done in
Corporation, B) then shared trends and Melchior (Reckitt, DE) and Keenan small steps, the most important task is
developments pre- and post-Covid Thompson (with a long track record as to teach them how to recycle the
from their cross-border e-commerce packaging specifier and innovation packaging correctly. Deposit return
shopper survey among 33 thousand director at companies like PMI, Colgate systems are very important for
respondents in 40 countries during the Palmolive, and Kimberly Clark). Purpose improved collection and could be
autumn of 2021. The report also zoomed of this panel was to discuss how expanded further to include other high
in on sustainability preferences of online brand-owners are responding to value packaging than just bottles. With
shoppers. There appears to be a strong changing consumer habits and regard to re-use, it was thought that in
desire among respondents for parcel perceptions in facilitating sustainable the near future the most common type
packaging to be recyclable (48% brand requirements. A lively debate would be to refill the existing package at
strongly agree) or reusable (42%). between the panellists and the home. It was said that refilling at the
Despite good intentions, and contrary to audience evolved about the question store would take a long time to realise.
the findings of Mintel presented in the how the label value chain can match
morning, few respondents have economy and ecology and how label After a plenary debriefing of the
changed behaviour due to sustainability users and manufacturers can work takeaways of the afternoon, delegates
concerns. 32% percent strongly agreed closer together to make this work. enjoyed a relaxing evening in the Grand
that they would be willing to receive a Building on this morning’s presentation Hotel Dino’s garden and terraces, before
parcel later to reduce its environmental by Benjamin Punchard, it was returning back to the conference room
impact, but only 12% said they had acknowledged that customers want to
actually changed their online shopping have recyclable packaging and want to
behaviour due to sustainability do the right thing when disposing of it.
concerns, and a significant proportion Brands need to make the packages
were not concerned about the recyclable and communicate better in
environmental impact of same day the future to make it easier for the
delivery. consumer to make the right choice.

One of the major concerns for the The label industry can assist the
e-commerce business is the brand-owners by advising on carbon
percentage of return shipments, and footprint, water footprint and any
including a return shipping label in the recycled content of the labels as this
pack is further lowering that barrier. The information must be included in GS1 for
public report is available for the packages. It was said that
downloading from https://www.ipc.be/ consumers don’t pay for sustainability,
sector-data/e-commerce/cross- however it was also concluded that this
border-e-commerce-shopper-survey) question does not arise directly.
Consumers have the choice between
SUSTAINABLE BRAND ‘value’ brands and ‘ethical’ brands and
REQUIREMENTS are trading up to the latter. During the
In the final breakout session of the day, corona-lockdowns, brands have learnt
Benjamin Punchard (Mintel, UK) to make changes more quickly, for
example when converting the
production of alcoholic beverages to
producing hand sanitizers. The big
brands need to better inform the supply
chain of their needs as good
collaboration is necessary for
innovation. A good example of this is the
Holy Grail 2.0 project.

EDUCATING THE CONSUMER
With regards to educating the

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 31

A WORD FROM A NILPETER PARTNER

EXPECTATIONS.
EXCEEDED.

It is rare for a piece of equipment to exceed
my expectations. I knew the FA-26 would be a
great press, but it has delivered beyond what I
expected in performance.
There’s a huge number of buyers out there that
want the super high quality and consistency that
they’re used to getting from gravure. This new press
allows us to deliver on that expectation with quicker
turnaround and lower cost..

- Scott Smith, President,
TQL Packaging Solutions

visit nilpeter.com

which had been temporarily turned into supply chain to end-user and consumer. supply chain management is to balance
a Concert Hall for the performance of It’s an enabler of products recycling, a triangle of Service, Cost and Cash.
Toto cover band MEGA TOTO, the ten brand enhancement and consumer Sales departments are often service-
person band featuring as its drummer communication through smart labelling. driven, they want to improve the service
FINAT Board member Alfredo Pollici. It allows us to convey sustainability to delight the customer and boost sales.
messages and other responsible details Operations departments are often
FRIDAY the brand wants to know or convey. It cost-driven. They are focused on
MORNING 3 JUNE: allows the company to act faster and in efficiency and want to get the maximum
a fact-based way to support ‘tribal out of the production and logistics
MANAGEMENT knowledge’ and ‘gut instinct’ in the assets. Finance is often cash-driven,
AND CIRCULARITY decision making process. they want to keep a steady and healthy
cash flow to be able to reward investors
STREAMS CULTURE IS KEY (dividends) and keep investing in growth.
For all this, the culture of the company
After a short night, the breakout has to embrace the transformation and PLANNING MAKES THE MISSION
sessions in the next morning featured key to this is understanding how mature POSSIBLE
conversations and presentations the organisation is in its engagement COVID has given a huge blow to the
addressing three critical management and usage of data. Data is everywhere; it above ‘supply chain triangle’. Mr. de
challenges: Big Data, Supply Chain is key to define the data required and Smet invited his audience to share their
Management and the transition to what the process is otherwise you can experiences and challenges through a
Circularity as a business model. become swamped and lost in too much Mentimeter survey to illustrate the
overloading. challenges that we have been facing
BIG DATA: A JOURNEY RATHER Presentation of data is graphical through (the results of which are included in the
THAN A SINGLE STEP tools such as PowerBi and the handout). 2022 has taught us that supply
integration for this in our industry is chain management is more relevant
With the digitisation of the world at large solid. Graphics and MIS systems have than ever. Supply Chain Management is
we are used to having data all around high integration and are trustworthy and not just about managing the end-to-end
us. How can data be made available for safe….they have been doing this a long flow of goods and information. Supply
operations improvement, sales analysis time now. We will see ongoing and Chain Management is also about
and technical quality control? What further data integration and AI to balancing the triangle of service, cost
does this mean for data integrity, support the skills and capabilities of the and cash. Mr. De Smet advocated a
transparency, security and protection? operating platforms as well as educate collaborative process between
Guido Iannone (All4Labels), Tom the operators and maintain them. marketing/R&D, sales, operations &
Schouten (Geostick), Marius van Lith finance to balance sales, inventory and
(MPS), Jan de Roeck (Esko) and Geert BALANCING THE SUPPLY CHAIN operations. For this, investment in Sales
van Damme (Cerm) discussed these and TRIANGLE OF SERVICE, COST, & Operation Planning software would
other questions. All agreed that this is a AND CASH help anticipate imbalances in the S&OP
very key topic for all … and one we must Bram de Smet, lecturer process. This way, the execution
return to. Digitisation is a journey rather at Vlerick Management becomes a mission possible rather than
than a single step. It integrates the full School and author of impossible.
two books on the
subject. The common PUTTING CIRCULARITY INTO
definition of supply PRACTICE
chain talks about The final parallel stream focused on the
connecting the transition towards circularity at various
customers’ customer to the suppliers’ stages. As a recently awarded
supplier. We need to sense where the ‘sustainability champion’ from our own
market demand is going and translate converting industry, Matthias Vollherbst
that all the way up to the critical (Vollherbstdruck, DE), talked about what
components and raw materials at direct we can do NOW to secure a sustainable
or indirect suppliers (the suppliers’ future for our industry. His company
supplier). The more common struggle in partnered with Fair’n Green, who guided

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 33

Chapeau programmes, FINAT had invited three of developments inside the FINAT-led
them to present an update. Fabrizio di consortium to increase liner and matrix
KOP Gregorio of Plastics Recyclers Europe recycling. Good progress has been
KOP (PRE) explained that in the future, all made, particularly with regard to the
plastic packaging will need to follow recycling of glassine release liners.
Intro ‘Design for Recycling’ guidelines, for Further investigations are currently
example those published by RecyClass. being carried out with respect to the
the company toward a sustainability It is important that labels, as well as all recycling of the matrix waste. All
certificate. Matthias touched on many other forms of decoration, enable the members were encouraged to be
things that can be achieved on short recycling of the containers rather than involved with CELAB Europe and to
notice, such as energy savings, water hinder it. Members should monitor the consult the interactive map that the
savings, the use of recycled substrates, recycling guidelines on a regular basis consortium has developed to gain
the use of Actega Ecoleaf instead of as these will be updated again shortly. access to solutions that have been
hotfoil or cold foil, the use of cotton validated, so that we can together solve
based substrates, flexible working hours DIGITAL WATERMARKING the issues of liner and matrix recycling.
(because sustainability is also about For more information see the annual
people) and many more. “It all starts In a pre-recorded presentation, Gian de report of CELAB Europe on pages
with ourselves, but we cannot wait any Belder (P&G, and consortium project 52-55.
longer. The future is not free for any of lead) presented an update on the
us. To wait for cost neutral solutions is HolyGrail 2.0 project and the evolution THE INDUSTRY LANDSCAPE
not the right way. Sustainability is sexy, of digital watermarking as tool for BEYOND COVID, PART 2: THE
because shaping, creating and change post-consumer materials sorting. Large CONVERTER PERSPECTIVE
are fun. It is not about having ideas, it is scale semi-industrial trials with digital
about making ideas happen”, he watermarking sorting technology have Before the closing keynote, the final
concluded. been successfully carried out. Full-scale session of the ELF 2022 kicked off with a
industrial tests will be carried out later in panel bringing together three leading
PROMOTING (DESIGN FOR) RECY- 2022 with commercialisation of the converters, Günther Birkner (CCL Label),
CLING AND RECYCLABILITY technology in 2023. This technology will Guido Iannone (All4Labels), and Philippe
enable the very accurate sorting of all Voet (Etivoet & FINAT President), who
In terms of environmental footprinting, container types including distinguishing were interviewed by Andy Thomas of
an important hotspot for the labels and between food and non-food containers Labels & Labeling about their
packaging industry is the need to and also enabling direct communication perspective on the disruptions that took
increase recycling and the use of with the end-consumers. place during the past five years, and
recycled content. As this is a matter that All printers need to be prepared for the
individual companies cannot tackle by introduction of this technology as it will
themselves, several industry consortia impact the printing of all forms of
are currently running joint programmes decoration.
to improve design for recycling,
recyclability and increase recycling LINER AND MATRIX RECYCLING
rates. As an active partner in such To complete this overview, Ophélie
Gourdou, project lead of CELAB Europe
presented an overview of the latest

34 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

especially the past two. Questions OVERCOMING ADVERSITY AS to focus on the inner power to
addressed particularly concerned the A WINNER overcome hardship and create a new
impact of Covid, supply chain life experience from the ashes of
disruptions and workforce development adversity.
on their business, and how they adapted
to cope with the challenges they With this session, the 2022 edition of the
presented. FINAT came to a close. Philippe Voet
closed the programme and invited
Before concluding Karina Hollekim, Norwegian free skier everyone to the upcoming FINAT
this business and base jumper, concluded the events, the Technical Seminar from
oriented part of the speaker programme by sharing her 23-25 November in Barcelona, and the
programme, story about tragedy following a near 2023 European Label Forum to be held
Philippe Voet asked fatal accident, and subsequent triumph, from 31 May – 2 June at the Hilton
the audience’s responding to her profound, life- Vienna Park, Austria..
attention to changing experience overcoming the
commemorate our unexpected challenge with planning
longstanding active and determination. Hollekim offered a
member of the glimpse into her own mountain-tops
Technical and challenges and inspired spectators
Committee Martin Stierle of Kocher +
Beck, who suddenly passed away this
spring. Martin is sadly missed and
members gave a one minute standing
ovation in his honour.

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 35

BE THE CHANGEMAKER

Have you realized that packaging labels are @upmraflatac
also change agents, capable of transforming UPM Raflatac
the sustainability of products and how millions Be the Changemaker
of people consume worldwide? and take action for
Merely switching a label might not feel like much, a more sustainable future
but when it’s multiplied by millions of packages beyond fossils.
worldwide, the impact becomes monumental.
The world needs more sustainable labeling solutions.
Every choice made by printers, producers and
brands alike has the power to change the future
of our planet.

The future is built by our choices today.
Scan the QR code and learn how your company
can make a lasting difference by Making
the Switch to sustainable solutions and
Closing the Loop for a circular economy.

Collaboration

PRINTER & PACKAGING SUPPORT
PROGRAMMES

On the occasion of the European Label Forum BERNHARD GROB’S LATEST BOOK ‘DESTINATION -
in Baveno, FINAT announced that it will support TRAVELLING THE WORLD FOR THE PRINTING INDUSTRY’,
the Print Against War Project, an initiative of the At the European Label Forum in
nascent Meaningful Print Foundation, which is Baveno, FINAT also had the pleasure
designed to enable print and packaging of welcoming past FINAT Board
industry players to provide concrete help to member Bernhard Grob for a book
their Ukrainian peers affected by the war. signing session. Bernhard was
Meaningful Print Foundation is a nonprofit previously employed with Edale Ltd.
organization designed to mobilize the global UK as Sales Manager, Managing
printing and packaging community to make a Director and Export Sales Director.
significant impact in overcoming the critical
situations the planet is facing. His book ‘Destination - Travelling the

World for the Printing Industry’, is

based on travel journals he has Bernard at the book signing
written over 30 years, visiting 60 session in Baveno.
countries on all continents. The

articles include technical aspects of his business during this time,

with the main focus on flexographic printing used by label,

packaging and commercial security printers. Further articles cover

historical, political, social and cultural aspects, besides personal

experiences and memories. Industry figures like Mike Fairley, Andy

Thomas, Paul Jarvis, Ferdinand Rüesch and also FINAT Managing

Director Jules Lejeune did also contribute.

The initiative is not a temporary one only A first cheque was presented, on behalf of all the donors who so generously
supporting printers in the Ukraine. The project contributed to his chosen cause of supporting young people in our industry.
will also remain active in the future to provide
best practices, education and other tools to The book is not for official sale but those who are interested can
printers where needed. The Print Against War receive a copy by making a donation. The donations will be used to
initiative is destined to transition from an support young people within the graphic arts industry, with the
independent movement to a non-profit department of typography and graphic communication, University
organization with the help and financial support of Reading as the main beneficiary. The proceeds will also be used
from national label associations, and large print for the Print Against War project. If you are interested in donating
and packaging companies. and acquiring a copy of the book, please contact: bernhardgrob.
[email protected]
For more information visit:
www.printagaingstwar.org FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 37

FINAT Technical Seminar 23-25 November 2022

FINDING A PATH THROUGH THE
SUSTAINABILITY JUNGLE

The FINAT Technical seminar is designed to give an update on the latest status with regards to legislation,
materials science, converting technology as well as application requirements and is targeted at all levels
of the technical community from R&D or production to Technical Directors and Executives. This year, after
the 2020 edition had to be cancelled and transformed into a virtual happening, the event was back live in
Barcelona and focused on where the value chain stands today in terms of sustainable opportunities.
What can we expect in the regulatory arena in the near future and what solutions have been developed
by the industry to be compliant with environmental legislation?

Marika Knorr, Head of Sustainability and
Communication at CCL (D)
Although it might seem like a small part of
the overall packaging, product decoration
like labels and sleeves can make a huge
difference in recycling. Marika explained the
principles behind the new functional high-tech materials that
have been engineered to support “Design for Recycling”,
especially recycling of PET bottles and other plastic
packaging. Recycling rates and high-quality PCR content
rates can be boosted – closing the loop! She illustrated her
presentation with brand examples from the market.

The seminar traditionally opened with the official welcome Aldo Franco, CEO of Eurolabel S.r.l. and
dinner and tabletop exhibition at the InterContinental hotel. Vlad Sljapic, CCO of Graphimecc Group S.r.l.
New this year was the awards ceremony on which occasion (IT) Talked about Sustainability and track/
the winners of the 2022 FINAT’s Sustainability Award were trace as a business opportunity for a label
announced. (See page 57.) converter. In order to continue trading,
companies must manage carbon footprint,
KEYNOTE SESSION CHAIRED BY ALEX KNOTT sustainability and recycling efficiency and
The working programme on Thursday kicked off with a brand focus on the traceability practices that are at
owner and converter session highlighting what sustainability the core of efforts to preserve our planet.
means for their companies. How they embraced the Global supply chains require a mix of
challenges and implemented various solutions to the benefit machine-readable barcodes and RFID
of their company and the industry. Speakers in this session solutions creating a flexible, connected matrix
were: for recording data and providing transparency. The speakers
gave an overview of new traceability-enabled solutions and
Keenan Thompson (US), Global Director opportunities that will allow label converters to manage the
Innovation (a.o at PMI, ABInBev, Colgate- Big Data and develop new business models.
Palmolive and Kimberly-Clark)
His presentation looked at various aspects of SUSTAINABILITY OVERVIEW SESSION CHAIRED BY
sustainability and the integration of MIKKO RISSANEN
technology; the effects of changing consumer habits, and how Next on the programme was the Sustainability overview
companies can build new concepts to improve waste session, which incorporated different views of what
management and enable better recycling. sustainability means for different parts our industry and what
has been done to meet environmental requirements. The
following speakers shared their expertise:

38 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

Ophélie Gourdou, Project Manager CELAB- transition towards the circularity of plastic packaging since
Europe (D) gave an update on the latest labels incorrectly designed can hamper sorting and recycling.
developments and deliverables of CELAB-
Europe, the European industry consortium Pablo Englebienne, Regulatory Affairs &
that aims to promote the development of Sustainability Manager at FINAT (NL) gave an
circular economy solutions for spent liner overview of the most significant recent
and matrix in Europe. developments in European policies and
provided an outlook into what to watch out
Karsten Kejlhof, Chief Commercial Officer for in the near future.
Lundberg Tech A/S (DK), argued that
automation of liner and matrix handling can Jonathan Sexton, Marketing Manager
help save lots of virgin label material per Energy Curing Products at Sun Chemical (FR)
year and prepare a company for future presented a best practice guidance for
recycling requirements. producing migration compliant print in a
controlled and repeatable way.
Flora D’Souza, Sustanability Manager
Label-Life UPM Raflatac (D) explained the Beatriz Ganza Marin, Director of
properties of different films and papers and Certifications and Quality Assurance of the
how tools such as LCA and the Material Lappí Group (ES),
Circularity Indicator are helpful to make the explained the Greemko (a carbon footprint
right design choices and material switches measuring) tool that has been used in the
when it comes to becoming more circular. framework of creating standardized CO2
compliance levels for the label sector which
Pierre Dogliani, Innovation Manager EMA & are monitored by the Spanish label association AIFEC.
APAC at Flint Group Narrow Web (SE). His
presentation focused on different aspects of SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS IN MATERIALS &
sustainability and offered an overview of PROCESSESS SESSION CHAIRED BY NANETTE
various recyclability-enabling solutions and THOMAS
streams for labels and shrink sleeves. Next on the agenda the first part of the sustainability solutions
session that shows which activities are already ongoing or
REGULATORY OVERVIEW SESSION CHAIRED BY starting that are looking to resolve some of the sustainability
JÉRÔME SALVERT challenges to the label market.
The regulatory arena is a highly intense and ever-changing Kicking off this session were:
landscape of directives. In this respect the Regulatory
Overview session concentrated on the current and future Morice Hoogteijling, Associate
regulations, industry initiatives and best practices related to Development Engineer Label and Graphic
sustainability and how they affect the label industry. Materials Europe, Avery Dennison (NL),
The following speakers provided their input: explained the ins and outs of designing and
producing labels that will fit each step in the
Maria Georgiadou, Recycling Manager CEPI value chain, from application, product in use,
(B). Her presentation covered the latest until recycling of the packaging.
revisions of the EU Packaging and Packaging
Waste Directive, CEPI’s position on behalf of Nicole Senn, Head of Research &
the paper industry on the expected Development at artimelt (CH) presented the
legislative proposals. different kinds of hot melt
adhesives and in particular biodegradable
Fabrizio di Gregorio, Technical Director of hot melt adhesives. Raising awareness of the
Plastics Recyclers Europe (IT) shared potential applications that bio-based,
guidelines and best practices to properly compostable or recyclable hot melts can be
recycle plastic packaging. The label industry used for, is one step further to meeting the company’s and
can play a key role to accelerate the industry’s sustainability objectives.

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 39

After a long and laborious day delegates had the opportunity Karl Borsky, Category Manager Analogue
to relax and enjoy dinner at an authentic Catalan farmhouse Packaging EMEA at Fujifilm Europe (D)
close to nature: the Can Travi Nou. showed a newly developed highly
sustainable water wash flexo plate
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS IN MATERIALS & technology that eliminates the need of
PROCESSESS SESSION - CONTINUED CHAIRED BY solvents, chemicals, additional films etc. The
NANETTE THOMAS & PHILIPPE VOET filtration unit that was developed for the
The second day continued with the topic that had been water wash platemaking process significantly reduces the
touched upon the previous day. Speakers in this session were: amount of waste-water, hence extending the normal
processor bath life by five times.
Christophe Dujardin, Global Business
Development Manager Sustainability / Cold Patrick Graber, Strategic Product Marketing
Transfer at Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG Manager for Labels at BOBST (ES) talked
(D) presented the outcome of studies about the label industry’s gradual
performed by the company to ascertain the transformation towards sustainability of the
impact of metallized embellishments on the final label by carefully looking at materials
sorting, recycling, deinking and composting of packaging and and chemistry used across the entire
labels. production process.

Lode Deprez, VP Technology digital inks, The session and event was concluded with a wrap-up panel
imaging process & intellectual property of discussion in which the five session chairmen: Alex Knott,
Xeikon (B) educated the audience on the four Mikko Rissanen, Jérôme Salvert, Nanette Thomas and Philippe
main digital printing processes (dry and liquid Voet provided their views on the presentations and answered
toner, UV and aqueous inkjet) and showed remaining questions from the audience.
where they stand in the sustainability
landscape in terms of their characteristics (technology, OPTIONAL TOUR TO THE HP GRAPHICS EXPERIENCE
chemistry, energy requirements, carbon footprint emissions, CENTER BARCELONA
etc.). In the afternoon an optional tour to the HP
Graphics Experience Center in Barcelona
Robert Rae, Managing Director Sales at GEW was planned. Participants that signed up
(EC) Limited (UK) explained the sustainability could see presses in action, attend live
benefits enabled by LED curing, such as demonstrations and hear about the trends
reduced waste, machine productivity that are driving the future of labels from
improvements and residual mercury levels. HP’s print industry experts.
He also showed the drivers for adoption and
transition such as ROI, brand pressures and regulations. Also encompassed in the visit was a
presentation by Fernando Gordillo, EMEA
Guy Yogev, Senior Director Product Marketing Flexible Packaging Business Dev & L&P
for AVT product line at Esko (IL) presented Sustainability Lead at HP, who talked about
examples of how label converters can reduce the importance of meeting industry
waste on the label print production line, standards, brand owner goals and becoming
hence lessen the impact on the environment more sustainable by adapting various digital
by using better print inspection technology. printing processes.

SPONSORS
The event could not have been made possible without the
continued support of our sponsors. A huge thank you.

PRESENTATIONS
The presentations will be available for non-attendees on the
members’ only section of the FINAT website as of 2023.
Participants received a direct link to the proceedings.

40 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

RHODIUM SPONSORS:
DIAMOND SPONSOR:

SPONSORS:

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 41

Education

FINAT WEBINAR PROGRAMME 2022

One of FINAT’s main objectives is to keep its members up to speed on new developments in the industry
and to provide them with useful information and best practices to implement in their company. The free
monthly webinars are one of these tools. They are specifically designed to briefly present a topic, either
on management, technology, sustainability, market data, or strategy, that is of the utmost relevance and
importance to the label industry.

Recordings of all webinars are accessible for FINAT members only via the following page: RECORDINGS OF
www.finat.com/pages/finat-technical-webinar-series-recordings ALL WEBINARS

AN OVERVIEW OF ALL FINAT WEBINARS IN 2022

JANUARY 11 JANUARY 18 FEBRUARY 15
RecyClass Guidelines Celab-Europe update Labels & Glass Recycling
presented by Fabrizio di Gregorio presented by Ophélie Gourdou presented by Josquin Peycere of Cetie

This webinar was initially planned for the The latest status report of the An introduction into Cetie’s field of
14th of December 2021. consortium’s activities in the framework activities, working groups, guidelines
Design for Recycling Guidelines of creating greater circularity for the and standardization process.
supports users on how they can label industry’s products by enhancing Information about the recycling of
improve the overall recyclability of their and promoting matrix and release liner pressure sensitive labels on glass
product. recycling. containers was shared.

42 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

MARCH 30 APRIL 21 linerless labels. He will get in more
Technological developments in digital Carbon Footprint calculation of labels detail on the sustainability aspects as
printing presented by Dr Dirk Burth, University well. Patrick will get into more detail on
presented by Christian Menegon, HP of Applied Science the technology in comparison to other
technologies, as well as the technical
developments and the benefits.

OCTOBER 11
The development of raw material
costs and label prices
presented by Corey Reardon,
AWA

Covering the HP Indigo V12 and how its Labels are often a part of packaging. Corey Reardon of AWA presented the
built-in differences will affect the Therefore carbon footprint calculations latest labelling & product decoration
day-to-day activities of label printers. Its are increasingly required. The webinar market overview featuring statistics,
characteristics will bring some answers will show what all needs to be taken into disruptions and further trends. A
to the 2022 label market where many account when determining the carbon comparison in development was given
standards have evolved, forced by the footprint, from the release material to between European pressure-sensitive
pandemic, the shortage of supplies and the adhesive to the label facestock with labels and other labelling technologies
creating what begins to become the printing, all of which are not simple as well as several cost indexes.
new normality. materials

APRIL 13 JULY 6
Latest updates in monomer recycling Direct Thermal Linerless Labels for
presented by Wim Hoenderdaal, Logistics Applications
Petcore presented by Christian Eger, Evonik
and Patrick Petersen-Lund, Logopak

The Chemical recycling of PET During this webinar, Christian will tell
Packaging waste. Wim presents an more about the cooperation between
update on the ways to recycle Evonik and Logopak, and the
monomers and where we stand today, advantages and performance of
also in comparison to other types of
recycling.

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 43

FINAT label market trends: post Pandemic distortions

EUROPEAN LABEL INDUSTRY REPORTS
RECORD GROWTH IN 2021 BUT FACES
VOLATILE TIMES IN 2022FINAT label market trends: post Pandemic distortions 
European label industry reports record growth in 2021 but faces volatile times in 2022 
 

In the first half of 2022, European self‐adhesive labelstock consumption decreased by 2% compared to the 

In the first half of 2022, Europeandssaememleaf n-pdae rtdiooh da e irnes c2iov0r2ed1 .8l T.a5hb ebe idllleioscnrte osaqcsueka cracem omene atsefutresm)r,  aapnn tdini oacrnne iandscere eocaf sr7ee% oa ff os4re. 3tdh%e ib nyey 2a02r2 2%00, 2wc1ho (ebmnri tnphgeain Crgeo tvdhide‐t a1o9n npuaanld  emic 

pdthaeenmdsaaenmmdeictopseatrrriuoecdckoiEnrdu2r80o2.p51eb. .TiTlhlhieoenddesoqcwtqsburhtuaeraneI EFacuna IukrtrtcN tiltresukmoehoA egErrepTem uns e wf l cbriaawrhoeewbnaseepite tnlm rnealhaeeg . bmac  s.rTbeelo aFfsheln d oro)eiiaksnn,rf rue  dfdga2titmtohvu 0 anetwes2perdt de2rtfrndnini,yotr ra Eduasernbutsners n :nrfptsy oephe oiwplinordlrtne etsa,bhcs aetctsy   nerhrP q rde8e easeurc.nc eia3oaivandlo%rrfsede‐dtsan leemu cegld rsobarishtocomy orep aw dyfstpsf ishit rsav7ahee4teero  %b ew ic.lnr3odoaoth uib 2l%foftoln0eoaonlpld2ep ssrit1e nts hato edthbecp h 2eu osks tteef 0aEcr  fpumoor2ayarnnce0ropsgee opueps,layme relvw, alrr oprionloleht2al aivdllote0a ei lbnllabrea2n sbede s1tieletnitl m ilcgyh(n rmmbe eedteasahaur arseitsiCn.enett  dI drre2nogyio 0ab  rvQwri2lyinesia23 n,2cd  g,wole% a-ssra fdt1pc,trhoee9edmdcr esi  abapplaaa ilmrysrnaee oild nn,dp   ateatuothsp  ateltee h glrsae res octwo fnothdr   
especially in the second quarter owf sh1a.e7m%ne  cpcoeomrionpdas irune d2m 0t2op1 tt.h iTeoh sena dmfeecer lpelaebsreioy cda8 lma.3set %a yfetcearro .a mTnh ienp ckareeryae sqedu oefts o7ti%otn fh orere mthsaea iynmesa hero 2wp02 te1h re(ib ogriednngeilnraagsl  tethceyo anenoanmuri.aclI  n
dQo3w, anfwtearrbdasspeirpaal,paetrlebaasctkfloorgtshweeu trinmeqsdcteueremrbautrcaaetkbein niErdent uw itigeronhos ep agawne rd.. iec lTFlocd haonoerfrsfd erude m8ocstt.whsp5 lt naeebiotbidulnfelrii ,lonfrsetn tswloh lts cabqektsyu  h dda8inrerr.i3emevd %emeaun cne obsqtdemyt urg rtpsohya)a,ie nrra recgtnedoe df lbtol raaorsop nwts huiaaene rnsc odsrfade.a  pmaeasweepd  epohrefs  ror4tioo.rll3dleo % llana tbisnhget  l2eyl m0ye2aE,a0rrtu.,ee  Iwrrnivoah Qeleps3n,r ,e es tahsaifpnetnee Cgcroi labvatlailhdybse‐ ei1e np9 lat phpaeen rsd eecomnidc  

industry recorded a modest growthbaockflo1g.s7 w%erec boemingp aadrderedssetdo, tthhe eindsuastmry erebpoeunrdioedd stlraonsgtlyy, ereaverr.sTinhg ethek deoywnqwuaerds stpioiranl, at least for 
remains how the general economictohf eu1 .tn7im%ce ec boremtianpgain.r eFtdoi ret otsh tehw fei risslatlm taherf epfeee rqcioutda lrltaaesbrts ey aelsa sart.  woThhceok lkee dtyh eqeu mEeusratoionpned arengm laoabiinenls  gihnodfwuos ttrhrwye  rgaeecrnoderdr.aeld e ac omnoodmeisct  growth 

uncertainties will affect labelstock demand going forward. 

THERE ARE SEVERAL CRITICAL  

FACTORS UNDERLYING THIS

VERSATILITY.

1. Over 10 billion labels each week

make the markets go round

Firstly, the numbers for 2022 follow the

two disruptive and volatile years 2020

and 2021, when peaking label demand

was heavily influenced by excess

demand for essential goods and    
services after the outbreak of the

pandemic in 2020, and by rapid There are several critical factors underlying this versatility.  
economic recovery in 2021.  

1. Over 10 billion labels each week make the markets go round 

Firstly, the numbers for 2022 follow the two disruptive and volatile years 2020 and 2021, when peaking  label 
Assuming an average sized label, 8.5 de mand was heavily influenced by excess demand for essential goods and services after the outbreak of the 

billion square meters consumed in paTnhdeerme iacr ien s 2e0ve2r0a,l  acnridti cbayl rfacptiodr es cuonndoemrlyicin rge tchoivs evreyr sinat 2il0it2y.1  .  

Europe per annum corresponds with an     1. Over 10 9b0i0ll0ion labels each week make the markets go round 
astronomic amount of more than over Firstly, the numbers for 2022 follow the two disruptive and volatile years 2020 and 2021, when peaking label 
10 billion labels consumed each week. demand was heav8i0l0y0 influePTonlutcase l7 dE%u b rvoysp .e e2x 08c2.e50s  bosln nd .ae mgmg2ra einnga d2t0 ef2 o(1+r 4 (e7.3s.9%s5e) nbltnia. lI ng 2o0o2d0s) and services after the outbreak of the 
That’s a European average of 20 labels  pandemic in 20207,0 a00nd byPP rllauusps  5i7d..38 e%%c  NoPanopnoe‐mpr ariopcl elrsre  (rc+oo2ll.vs8 e(%9r).y1 %in) 2021.  
per capita, with peaks of up to 50 labels
60900000

per capita in the mature western x mln m2 50800000 Total Europe 8.5 bln. m2 in 2021 (7.95 bln. In 2020)
European markets (per week!). 40700000 Plus 7% vs. 2020 on aggregate (+4.3%)
Plus 7.8% Paper rolls (+2.8%)
Plus 5.3% Non‐paper rolls (9.1%)

Of course one may argue this x mln m2 3060000
simulation, but the fact is that it is hard 2050000

to imagine any room in Europe without 1040000

labels on or inside goods. Labels are 30000
used for everyday products and
services like packed meat and poultry, 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

2000 paper rolls non-paper rolls paper sheets non-paper sheets  
1000

0

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

44 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 paper rolls non-paper rolls paper sheets non-paper sheets  

At first, these tendencies were classified as temporary adjustment problems by authorities like the Euro

Central Bank. But at the beginning of 2022, these disruptions were compounded by China’s persistent ze

Covid policy, paralysing the country’s manufacturing sector and mainports. And all hopes of a swift 

improvement of the situation were completely wiped out when Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February.

 

Paper shortages hitting commercial printing and labels in 2022 

beverages, readymade me als, personal 100% 7,3% 7,1% 4,8% 3,7% 3,7% 3,6%

care items at the drugstore, prescribed 90% 2,4% 2,3% 2,5% 2,4% 2,6% 2,4%
medication, supermarket price-weigh 19.5% 8,4% 11,9% 14,9% 18,3%
tagging, warehousing, home deliveries, 18,3% 27.6% 19,5% 28.9%
passenger tagging etc. etc. Labels are 80% 8,7% 8,3% 7,9% 7,3%
also an essential enabler for the 5,1% 5,6% 4,0% 3,7% 6,7% 7,0%
production chain in cars, manufacturing 70% 4,8% 7,1%
18,4% 20,5% 22,4%
60% 17,1%

50% 23,0% 21,6%

equipment, smartphones, computers, 40%73.2% 30,0% 68.7% 67.5%
household appliances etc. 30%
30,7% 30,7% 26,7%
28,6%
27,5%

As part of the total product value, the 20%

cost of a single label may be low, but 10% 21,0% 15,7% 14,8%

13,6% 13,4% 12,1%

the damage of its lack of availability to 0%

goods manufacturers, logistics 2005 2010 2015 2020 2021 2022‐I

companies, consumers and ultimately W hite uncoated rolls W hite coated rolls Direct therm al rolls Other paper rolls

European economies and s  ocieties is P E r olls P P  ro lls O ther non‐paper rolls Sheets  

considerable. And in the roIlnle rthceo afsirtsetr half of 2022, the European label industry was particularly hit by the long lasting strike at UPM
years of 2020 and 2021, thelreeawdiansgn poaper maPnapuefarcsthuorretra gine sFihnitlatinndg.c Noomtm oenrlcyi adlid this loimf piat rtthiceip aavtianiglacboinlivtye rotefr fsa, cseursvteoycekds for paper labe
doubt about the role of labmelos raes importantlpyr,i nmtionrgea tnhdanla obneles qinu2a0rt2e2r of the Europeathni scasppraincgit,yh faodrb teheen psruoffdeuricntgiorenv oefn ugelassine releas
indispensable enabler of thweaesc counto mofyf. from the market for 112 days, between 1 Janluoasrsye saansda Frreidsualyt o2f2s uAppprliyl. c  hain issues.
fTb2a.hrcaSistkuoebpr.rpoSinlniyngrcsceehucatsohivtneoedsrthuyisemrusmpetecioroonnaIs fdsnun2p cr0dtuprh2 ittrle1iutac,i nsfwagiegllr ossmtb tht aahqeltauetar rhiatalIpldelnoasdiarbdn  t ppbohgetereefhlilr ciaietnfsmeihsnrdltsseia iumtn.b n syhgHuiutteariofstylalathtfwrr cweoui,kte fuapteav2hsrv eea0ieapnrtr2i a l,eUi2ta nri,hfbtnPftFieciheM litiu necthf,yllitaaEean oornu allsfeydfrle o a.tqhcpNhdiuoteiionsanbatg rydncota etnqhprluye aoacfri tt2ye0 ETAnrs2 oahlhot1stehou tboierltnaetupr,t aguaefiigthlnstlei etstwt qidhwecaeuixbapsapses artsef trtodeeciikrrvaoteeleeymndtfr ishopnettihialsefsy tanhfai tsuheuetbridtidtctua h sjmwcbuekoysinrltbt o. shibtgina gelsicennfrwoaeiefrdideilacl staiemnst e iinsn  vlgeeoanidnt ogt ir

manufacturing chains have been facestocks for paper labels, but more just before the release of this Yearbook

suffering from supply chain disruptions importantly, more than one quarter of in Q4 2022 indicate, that there was a

caused by Covid-related adjustments. the European capacity for the strong rebound in labelstock demand,

This led to a growing gap between production of glassine release liners as backlogs in base paper deliveries

booming post-Covid demand and the was cut off from the market for 112 days, (both for facestock and release liner

shrinking availability of energy, raw between 1 January and Friday 22 April. materials) were gradually returning to

materials, chips, components, normal. Compared to the same quarter

chemicals, production, labour and In the first quarter of the year, the effect of 2021, consumption of paper roll label

transport capacity. Already in late 2021, of this capacity shortage was materials was almost 12% higher, while

early 2022, reports from equipment dampened by significant inventory filmic roll label materials increased by

manufacturers emerged that order book surpluses that had been built up in the almost 8,4. For the year as a whole,

fulfilment was delayed by the lack of final quarter of 2021 in anticipation of labelstock demand in the first three

computer chips and components. further increases in lead times and raw quarters recorded a modest plus of 1.7%.

materials prices. However, in the second

At first, these tendencies were classified quarter output was severely hit with Advocating the label industry’s interest

as temporary adjustment problems by lead times going up to 5-6 months and While not attempting to interfere in an

authorities like the European Central label converters being served on individual company labour dispute,

Bank. But at the beginning of 2022, allocation. Part of the decline in paper during this label industry crisis both

these disruptions were compounded by label consumption may have been Intergraf (for the commercial printing

China’s persistent zero-Covid policy, absorbed by increases in filmic label sector) and FINAT repeatedly called for

paralysing the country’s manufacturing demand. public attention to this issue. Purpose of

sector and mainports. And all hopes of a this outreach was to raise awareness

swift improvement of the situation were In the spring 2022 edition of the FINAT about the wider social and economic

completely wiped out when Russia RADAR, our association’s 6-monthly effects of the paper shortages for label

invaded Ukraine on 24 February. market survey, it was reported that 60% companies, downstream label users

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 45

and ultimately for consumers. After all,
after almost 3.5 months there was a
serious risk of facing empty shelves
because consumer goods companies
would be unable to get the labels to
brand and mark their goods for delivery
and sale to the stores. In a letter to the
EU Commission, FINAT appealed for a
cross-industry dialogue to discuss not
only the current emergency situation in
the labels sector, but also broader
measures that can be taken to reduce
the vulnerability of essential supply
chains to apparently small distortions
like a local labour dispute.

46 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022

3. A recession around the corner? As FINAT President Philippe Voet put it

Moving on to the third factor, by the time in a statement just before the start of

supply chain constraints may have been the new year: “Time will tell, but the

solved, supply chain factors may soon current cocktail of rising energy and raw

be overtaken by demand factors, with materials costs, decreasing disposable

exponential increases in energy prices, income, disruptions in the labour market,

raw materials costs and, ultimately a global food crisis and concessions

double digit consumer price inflation being made to climate goals in order to

eating into disposable incomes and have sufficient energy reserves for the PANDEMIC
consumer spending, and the dark
clouds of the horrific war in Ukraine not winter, is blurring our vision. But on the WAR CONSUMPTION
expected to clear anytime soon. PANDEMIC
?SUCCESSION LABOUR
As reported previously, statistically, positive side, crises like this can also be WaAR CONSUMPTION GREEN
demand for self-adhesive roll label ?SUCCESSION TALENT
materials is a significant indicator of driver of innovation on matters like LABOUR DISPOSABLE 
European GDP. Although the correlation sustainability, recycling, automation, TALENT GREEN INCOME
digitalization and supply chain
DISPOSABLE  INTEREST  RECYCLING
INCOME
RATES
INTEREST  RECYCLING SUPPLY 

RATES SUPPLY 

management. Many of these topics were INFLATIONCHAIN INFLATION CHAIN

discussed during the ELF, and it is FINAT’sCHEMICALS RAW  CHEMICALS RAW 
CHIPS MATERIALS CHIPS MATERIALS

firm intention to continue facilitating the ENERGY ENERGY

between the two has been distorted flow of information and data, to provide

somewhat by the volatile consumption education and enable industry and

patterns during the ‘Covid years’, part of cross-industry collaboration on matters

the downturn points at an economic that exceed individual companies’    

shift in Europe in the months to HSIIcDGoEHmBLAeIG.RH ATRS ST fIIcrDCoaLEmpEBaS btA:h ilRieti  eAFsIRN.” TAITC RLEASD:A  R reports 
  HIGHLIGHTS from the FINAT RADAR reports 
In 2022, the  6 monthly FINAT RADAR entered its 9th year. In the preceding 8 years, the reports have beco
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FINAT RADARregular featIunr e2 o0f2 F2I,N tAhTe’s 6 m memonbtehr lvya FluINe.A ATlt hRoAuDgAh Rd aetnat oenr ethde i tfsir s9tt htw yoe ayre.a Irns athree d pisrteocreteddin bgy 8th yee  ars
methodologrye, gsuealarcrh f edattau rveia o Gf oFoINglAe TA’nsa mlyetimcs binedri cvaatleu teh.a At letshpoeucigahll yd dautrain ogn t hteh ep afisrts 3t  htwecoti cy yeeaarrss ,a  r
REPORTSsurroundingm theet hCoodviodl oPagnyd, esmeaicr,c thh ed RaAtaD AviRa r Gepooorgtsl eh aAvnea bleyetnic es aingedrilcya dtoew thnlaota edespd ebcyi amlleym dbuerri ncogm tphae
ta  hned  ltahteeisrt  srteastaphfunofer drar t lsosta  uhasti neenreisdcrstei o ns rtutgeharp ectf eofhp  raerote fssCv  m aiosoi avunrriescdk seYe oP tet uaaihnrrnefcbod eopre omromkefa.v  imtciioo,a untrh skine Ye  uRte naAincrDefbroAotraRomi nkra .em tpiaoornrkt eistn  hc uiarncvuceem brstetaaeinnnc  eemsa.a gSreokrmelyte   cdhioirgcwhulnmiglohstatsad 
In 2022, the 6 monthly FthINe ApTreRcAeDdAin Rg
entered its 9th year. In 8

years, the reports have become a regular

feature of FINAT’s member value. Although

data on the first two years are distorted by

the methodology, search data via Google

Analytics indicate that especially during the

past 3 hectic years, surrounding the Covid

Pandemic, the RADAR reports have been

eagerly downloaded by member

companies and their staff as a resource of

market information in uncertain market

circumstances. Some highlights from the  

latest reports since the  previous Yearbook.

FINAT RADAR #16, December 2021 (brand‐owner perspectives) 

About Brand Guardians, Digital Evangelists and Sustainability Savants 

[cover #16] 

The LPC team   to which the Radar surveys have currently been outsourced, spoke with craft brewers as wel
personnel atF oINneA oTf  RthAeD wAoRrl d#’1s 6la, rDgeescte gmlobbaelr b 2e0e2r 1br (abnrdasn, wd‐itohw rengeior npael rfsopoed cptriovdeusc)t s companies as well 
sustainabilitAy bteoaumt aBtr aonned o Gf uthaer dwioarnlds’,s  Dlairggietastl  fEovoadn agnedl ibsetvse arangde S cuosntgaloinmaebrailtietys.  STahveay nsptso ke with chem

companies, a[cgorivceurlt u#r1a6l ]b usinesses, medical device suppliers and multi‐billion euro private label houses. Am
‘tShues ptaeionpalbei ltiTphtyahe tSre sat LhovPeanyCnn t het’,ael  adaal ltmt  hsoee tnl ofpe‐l c ewohaofhs suitechrnhee   j otowhfb eos tp riRetldlaae’kdssi a nblargy  r stwghuieert shvitn ew tygeeslror vhebi eaaawv l‘ eBeb erceasue.n rr dr  beGrnuatanlryFdd IbisNa,eAn wTe’,nY iaEt ohA ‘RDu rBtiegOsgioOtiaKuol2r nE0cav2ea2ld nf|,og s4oep7ldios tpk’e rao nwddiu

 

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FINAT RADAR #16, DECEMBER 2021 respondents that they wish to work more closely with
their label vendors to co-create innovative ways of
(BRAND-OWNER PERSPECTIVES) making the printed packaging industry a more resilient,
and more sustainable one.
About Brand Guardians, Digital

Evangelists and Sustainability

Savants REPORT & FINAT RADAR #17, JULY 2022
The LPC team to which the Radar ANALYSIS:
surveys have currently been (CONVERTER PERSPECTIVES)
outsourced, spoke with craft brewers as THE EUROPEAN NARROW WEB MARKET

FINAT RADAR 16
2ND SEMESTER 2021

well as personnel at one of the world’s Revenues severely hit by internal and

largest global beer brands, with external supply chain shortages
The confluence of current events
regional food products companies as well as the continues to dampen economic growth REPORT &
projections and weigh on consumer ANALYSIS:
sustainability team at one of the world’s largest food and confidence across the European region.
beverage conglomerates. They spoke with chemical THE EUROPEAN NARROW WEB MARKET
companies, agricultural businesses, medical device
suppliers and multi-billion euro private label houses. FINAT RADAR 17
Among the people that they had the pleasure of 1ST SEMESTER 2022
speaking with were a ‘Brand Guardian’, a ‘Digital
Evangelist’ and a ‘Sustainability Savant’, all self-chosen The increasingly complex and dynamic
job titles by the interviewees.
environment created by the ongoing war

in the Ukraine, rising inflation, energy disruptions,
continued lockdowns in Chinese manufacturing centers,
and supply shortages in some labelstock and
consumables categories has us all asking - What’s next?

Supply Chain and Sustainability front and center In this year’s RADAR Converter Survey, companies
During every conversation, two topics were front and were asked how the supply chain crisis is impacting
center: Supply chain and Sustainability. There is their current revenue growth. Supply chain shortages
tremendous concern at the top of the value chain directly within our own industry aren’t the only ones
regarding the stability, and availability, of raw materials potentially driving down growth and profits for
and the ability for companies’ label vendors to meet converters. Supply chain shortages in the greater
delivery demands and lead time requirements. The ‘indirect’ industry are having an impact as well;
current upheaval in raw material supplies has made all shortages for items like bottles, caps, closures and
of us keenly aware of just how intricate and other packaging components can have an indirect
interconnected the global supply chain truly is. effect on a label converter if contracts need to be
Additionally, from the survey and during the in-depth cancelled or delayed due to shortages elsewhere.
interviews it has become clear that there is a
heightened and fervent desire to find more effective Impact internal supply chain shortages dominant
sustainable solutions for the printed packaging We asked FINAT converters to indicate how much
components that these companies buy whether it’s a supply shortages outside of our direct industry were
label, a pouch, linerboard or corrugated. Brands and impacting their bottom lines, in addition to how much
printed packaging buyers want their label vendors to supply shortages within our industry were doing the
meet delivery requirements while providing viable same (for items like labelstocks, inks, plates, etc.).
sustainable solutions at minimal cost increases. Close to 60% of participating converters indicated that
supply chain issues, both in the greater packaging
Quotes from label users industry in addition to our own direct industry, has
Naturally, for label converters to consistently meet all resulted in revenue losses at their companies,
of these demands during a time of such extreme Unsurprisingly, direct supplies have had a higher
supply chain challenges isn’t possible. This edition of impact with revenue losses average 6.6%, however
the FINAT RADAR provides its readers with an external supply issues in the extended packaging
overview of how brands and label buyers view the supply chain are still having an impact on the majority
current state of the industry, in addition to how of respondents.
optimistic they are about growth in the label volumes
they will purchase in the coming year. The report The fallout from factors like supply chain shortages,
contains direct quotes from interviews giving them the situation in the Ukraine and inflation is creating
access to the way these companies across end-use uncertainty and makes it difficult to predict how printed
segments are presenting their own opinions and packaging converters will be affected, however one
insights, and the way they see their business thing remains certain. While the future remains
navigating the current business landscape. There uncertain, the need for innovative printed solutions will
seems to be general consensus among the endure. And so will our industry.

FINAT YEARBOOK 2022 | 49

Regulatory Update

SELF-ADHESIVE LABEL INDUSTRY
COMMITS TO SUSTAINABILITY

This year saw a continuation of significant policy developments, including the
revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste directive. FINAT has been
actively providing feedback to the European Commission on relevant policy
files, and representing the interests of the industry in stakeholder groups to
reflect the commitment to sustainability of the self-adhesive label community.

FINAT’s Regulatory Affairs & Sustainability Manager Pablo Englebienne reports.

REVISION OF PACKAGING AND PACKAGING bisphenol A (BPA), B, F, S and AF, as well as any other bisphenol
WASTE DIRECTIVE identified as endocrine disruptor for the environment. The
The revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive restriction would prevent the placing in the market of mixtures
(PPWD) continued to proceed through 2022. The original and articles where the concentration of these substances is
scheduled presentation of the updated PPWD in the summer equal or greater than 10 ppm (i.e., 0.001% by weight), with a few
was ultimately postponed; in mid-October, a draft undergoing exceptions such as bisphenols covalently bound to a matrix, or
internal review was leaked to the media and caused massive used as intermediates in the manufacture of polymers. At the
response from all sectors of the industry, including FINAT. moment of writing, the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of
the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is scheduled to
The draft revealed a highly ambitious legislation that would discuss the proposal during a meeting in late November. Once
see the PPWD turned in to a Regulation for further accepted, a 6-month public consultation would take place.
harmonization across the EU. The text includes, among many
other provisions, targets for reduction and reuse of packaging In parallel to the REACH restriction, the European Food Safety
waste; a definition of “recyclable packaging” dependent on Authority (EFSA) presented in January 2022 a draft hazard
“recycling at scale”; the establishment of categories of assessment for BPA in food contact material applications,
recyclability based on Design for Recycling (DfR) guidelines which would result in a reduction of the Tolerable Daily Intake
that would ban the lowest performers by 2030; the definition of (TDI) by a factor of 100000. The final assessment is expected to
minimum thresholds for refill and reuse of packaging in be published by the end of this year.
HORECA; the requirement for compostable packaging for
some applications (such as labels on fresh fruits and On a related note, in 2022 FINAT, EuPIA and Petcore
vegetables), and a ban on any other uses; minimum recycled investigated potential sources of BPA in PET packaging for
content requirements for plastic packaging; the harmonization recycling. This resulted in a joint guidance to avoid inks that
of labelling for sorting and recycling, reuse and recycled include BPA components in their formulation for printing of
content, and a timeline for the inclusion of digital labels destined for PET containers.
watermarking technologies. At the moment of writing, the
proposal from the Commission is expected to be presented on
30 November.

BISPHENOL REACH RESTRICTION
Germany submitted in October 2022 a proposal for restriction
under REACH for a wide class of bisphenols, including

50 | FINAT YEARBOOK 2022