How technology and sustainability are impacting the print industry.
New year, new trends! It’s a new year, which brings new opportunities and new trends within the print and folded carton industries. It’s important for any printer in the industry to be aware of the ever-changing needs of both clients and consumers and to stay on top of trends in order to best serve them. So, we’ve taken a look at what top trends we can expect to make the biggest impact on the industry in 2024, and there are two common threads we see consistently emerging: technology and sustainability. Both play very important roles in what we do and how we do it and have been influencing the industry for a while, so it may come as no surprise that these will continue to do so this year, but perhaps in new ways.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology
The advancements in AI have historically impacted commercial printers, but now more than ever, it is transforming how we do business with profound implications on efficiency, personalization, and sustainability. Using AI for predicting equipment maintenance, managing inventory, automation, data analysis, and more can help increase productivity, lower costs, and enhance creativity, therefore giving printers who embrace AI a competitive advantage.
- Smart Technology: One trend we are excited to see grow in the folded carton segment is smart packaging. Interactive solutions are going to take print packaging to the next level with the integration of technology that will provide consumers with real-time information about the products and encourage brand engagement. Sensors, QR codes, smart labels, and tag chips are just a few of the things we can expect to see popping up, turning product packaging into a digital tool and giving companies an opportunity to further engage with their audience.
- Variable Data Technology: The use of variable data is not new to the print industry. It has been around for a while and has been used to personalize print materials like direct mail, for example. This year, we can expect this concept to continue further as the demand for more unique or hyper-personalized products rises. In today’s digital landscape, data is a very valuable commodity that can be used to help increase revenue and improve customer service. Now more than ever, companies will be looking to capture data and leverage it in new ways to develop unique experiences that are even more custom-tailored to the end user.
- Automation: Efficiency is key when it comes to running any business, as it saves time and precious resources that cost money. With AI technology comes the ability to automate tasks for increased efficiency. This is something we will see go even further this year as printers use predictive automation for ordering supplies and scheduling maintenance, along with quality assurance for routine prepress tasks, such as color correction and font matching.
Nanotechnology
One of the most important aspects of creating both beautiful and functional printed materials is the quality achieved by resolution and precision. The difference is in the details, literally. Another trend we are seeing emerge this year is how nanotechnology impacts the printing process. With advances in nanoparticle inks and nanoscale techniques like nanolithography, we are seeing products with greater color saturation, durability, and unprecedented resolution, making for more aesthetically and functionally pleasing projects.
Sustainability
Caring for the environment is clearly not a new concept in general, but in recent years we have seen it become more of a focus for brands as the demand for products made from sustainable materials and companies who use environmentally friendly practices has increased. In fact, last year, 75% of consumers said that they feel sustainability is important, while 55% said that they are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products, so this is a trend we will continue to see dominate the industry.1
This year, more printers will be taking on sustainable initiatives with greener production methods and resources to lower carbon footprints, such as recycled or FSC-certified paper, vegetable or water-based ink solutions, and renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind. And we will likely see new and innovative materials emerge, such as sustainable foams made from plant-based materials. Clients may also look to you to optimize the print process and reduce waste from overproduction. For this reason, we can expect to see a higher demand for digital printing, which uses less energy and resources compared to other print methods.
Lastly, now more than ever, transparency is going to drive the sustainability movement as consumers look at brands more closely when making purchase decisions. We will see more brands printing sustainability initiatives and certification logos on packaging, for example, to showcase their efforts and put their money where their mouth is.
We’re excited to see where the new year takes us. At DCC, we pride ourselves on staying up to date on the latest trends and technologies so we can make any vision come to life. Learn more about our capabilities and reach out to our sales team to work with us in 2024!
