In mold Labels Market Analysis

Global In-mold Labels Market Overview

The global In-mold Labels Market Size was valued at USD 2.60 Billion in 2023. The In-mold Labels industry is projected to grow from USD 2.72 Billion in 2024 to USD 3.7 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.94% during the forecast period (2024 - 2032). In-mold labels provide environmentally favorable solutions because they do not require additional labeling supplies or procedures, resulting in less waste and greater environmental sustainability are the key market drivers enhancing market growth.                             

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database, and Analyst Review

In-mold Labels Market Trends

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  Growing demand for attractive and visually appealing packaging solutions powering the market growth

  
  

Market CAGR will increase due to its capacity to produce visually beautiful packaging. In-mold labels (IML) have experienced substantial growth in this area. In-mold labels are integrated into the packaging during the manufacturing process, as opposed to conventional techniques that involve separately applying labels on the packaging. This integration makes applying labels precisely and seamlessly possible, creating a polished appearance. In-mold labels' capacity to accept complicated and detailed designs is one of its main benefits. High-resolution designs, vivid colors, and even unique effects like metallic or embossed finishes can all be printed on the labels. Brands can differentiate their items on the store shelves, draw customers' attention, and effectively communicate their brand messages thanks to this level of personalization and design freedom.

In-mold label also have a seamless appearance because they are a permanent packaging component. Due to the lack of additional adhesive or labeling materials, the packaging design is simple and uncluttered. The lack of discernible borders or overlapping labels improves the product's overall aesthetic appeal and gives it a premium appearance. In-mold labels offer additional practical advantages in addition to their aesthetic appeal. They have a long lifespan and are resistant to chemicals, moisture, and abrasion. Because of their toughness, the labels are guaranteed to hold up for the product's use—even in adverse conditions like refrigeration or liquid exposure. This improves the overall customer experience by keeping the product's logo and crucial details, such as ingredients or usage instructions, plainly accessible and intact. In sectors including food and beverage, personal care, and cosmetics, there is a high demand for appealing packaging solutions. These sectors rely largely on aesthetic appeal to attract clients and promote good product impressions. In-mold labels offer colorful and attractive packaging alternatives that improve brand identification and customer appeal, making them the perfect answer for these sectors. Additionally, the development of e-commerce has increased the demand for packaging that is aesthetically pleasing. With more goods delivered right to customers' doorsteps, the packaging is frequently the initial physical point of contact between the company and the consumer. Businesses can use in-mold labels to provide a memorable unpacking experience to increase brand loyalty.

Overall, the market for in-mold labels is significantly fueled by the rising need for innovative and aesthetically pleasing packaging solutions. In-mold labels provide a combination of aesthetic appeal, robustness, and practical advantages that satisfy the changing requirements of both brands and customers. In-mold labels are predicted to continue to gain popularity in the upcoming years as more companies realize the value of packaging as a tactical marketing tool. Thus, driving the In-mold Labels market revenue.

In December 2020, Huhtamaki, a global provider of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers, announced its investment in Russia for further growth. For this reason, the business is set to construct at its Alabuga site (Tatarstan Republic) a new fiber packaging manufacturing plant in response to the fast development of retail business and egg packaging industry in Eastern & Central parts of Russia.

In-mold Labels Market Segment Insights

In-mold Labels Technology Insights

The global In-mold Labels market segmentation is based on technology, including extrusion blow-molding, injection molding, and thermoforming. The injection molding category is the item on the list most frequently associated with the market for in-mold labels. Molten plastic is injected into a mold cavity during injection molding, which hardens to take the required shape. Seamlessly integrating in-mold labels into the injection molding procedure enables quick and accurate product labeling. Due to its adaptability, high production quantities, and capacity for producing complex forms, this technique is widely used across various sectors. It is the favored option for in-mold labeling applications.

In-mold Labels Materials Insights

The global In-mold Labels market segmentation is based on materials, including polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, and ABS resins. A thermoplastic polymer called polypropylene is renowned for having a superb blend of qualities, including toughness, adaptability, and chemical resistance. Due to its compatibility with different printing processes and its capacity to form strong bonds with inks and adhesives, it is frequently utilized in in-mold labeling applications. The adaptability of polypropylene makes it a popular option for packaging in sectors including food and beverage, household goods, and personal care since it enables vivid and durable images on in-mold labels.

Figure 1: Global In-mold Labels Market, by Materials, 2022 & 2032 (USD Billion)                   

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

In-mold Labels Application Insights

The global In-mold Labels market segmentation is based on applications, including food & beverage, chemicals, personal care, and consumer goods. The food & beverage industry uses in-mold labels because they may produce aesthetically pleasing packaging, offer crucial product information, and guarantee legal compliance. In-mold labels are suitable for various food and beverage goods since they are long-lasting, resistant to moisture, and can endure various temperatures. In this fiercely competitive market, labels increase brand recognition, distinguish products on shop shelves, and improve consumer satisfaction.

In-mold Labels Regional Insights

By region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The packaging sector in Europe is well-established and renowned for having high design, sustainability, and product quality standards. The region is characterized by a high adoption rate of in-mold labeling technologies and a significant presence of important players in the in-mold labels market. In-mold labels fit nicely with the movement toward eco-friendly packaging prevalent in European nations. The region's strong manufacturing base, emphasis on innovation, and accommodative regulatory framework facilitate the extensive use and development of in-mold labels in Europe.

Further, the major countries studied in the market report are The US, Canada, German, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.

Figure 2: GLOBAL IN-MOLD LABELS MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (USD Billion)                       

Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review

North American In-mold Labels market accounts for the second-largest market share. Due to factors like the dominance of industries like food and beverage, personal care, and automotive, the focus on creative packaging solutions, and the need for visually appealing and long-lasting labels to improve product branding and consumer experience, North America is the second most significant region for the in-mold labels market.  Further, the UK In-mold Labels market held the largest market share, and the Canada In-mold Labels market was the fastest-growing market in the region.

The Asia-Pacific In-mold Labels Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. Asia-Pacific has a strong manufacturing sector, with China, Japan, and South Korea leading the way in production. A considerable market for in-mold labels exists due to fast urbanization, rising disposable incomes, and a strong emphasis on product branding. Moreover, China’s In-mold Labels market held the largest market share, and the Indian In-mold Labels market was the fastest growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.

In-mold Labels Key Market Players & Competitive Insights

The leading market players are expected to witness heavy growth during the forecast period by widening their footprint in terms of sales and revenue. Market participants are also undertaking various strategic activities to expand their global footprint, with important market developments including new Technology launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations. The market players in the In-mold Labels industry will further increase their production capacities by increasing investments in local and regional capacities.

The prominent manufacturers of the global In-mold Labels industry are increasing their footprint by investing heavily in increasing their volumetric capacities. During the forecast period, the global In-mold Labels industry will make incredible changes in their outcomes. Major In-mold Labels market players include CCL Industries Inc. (Canada), Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH (Austria), Huhtamaki Group (Finland), and Coveris Holdings S.A. (Luxembourg), attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations.

CCL Sectors Inc. is a leader in specialty label and packaging solutions, offering cutting-edge goods and services to numerous global sectors. CCL Industries is a Canadian company with its corporate office in Toronto. Through its numerous subsidiaries and divisions, it serves clients in more than 40 different countries. CCL Industries, founded in 1951, has grown into an international organization with a significant position in the label and packaging sector. Pressure-sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, in-mold labels, flexible packaging, promotional and healthcare items, and specialized films are all part of the company's wide range of products. Consumer packaged goods, healthcare, automotive, electronics, personal care, food and beverage, and other industries are among the many that CCL Industries supports. Due to the company's significant expertise, it can provide specialized solutions that adhere to the highest quality standards while meeting the specific packaging requirements of each industry.

Leading global packaging and coatings firm Coveris Holdings S.A. specializes in offering cutting-edge solutions for various industries. More than 40 locations in Europe, the Americas, and Asia are serviced by Coveris, which has its global headquarters in Luxembourg. Since its founding in 2013, Coveris has risen quickly to become a significant player in the packaging sector. A wide range of packaging materials, including hard containers, labels, technical films, and flexible packaging, are available from the company. Coveris services various industries, including the food and beverage, medical, agricultural, personal care, and industrial markets. To create custom packaging solutions that address each client's particular requirements, Coveris heavily emphasizes developing customer-centric solutions. The business offers top-notch, useful, and environmentally friendly packaging solutions that protect product integrity, improve shelf appeal, and promote brand success.

SABIC joined forces with three experts in September 2023: a Dubai movie provider, Taghleef Industries Group; a Greek printing specialist, Stephanos Karydakis IML S.A.; and an injection molder Kotronis Packaging. The partnership will demonstrate the use of renewable certified polypropylene (PP) resins for high-quality mono-PP thin-wall container packaging. In this case, single-step IML technology is used to achieve seamless part decoration right in the injection mold, where the label becomes part of the body of a package.

Key Companies in the In-mold Labels market include

• CCL Industries Inc. (Canada)


• Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH (Austria)


• Huhtamaki Group (Finland)


• Coveris Holdings S.A. (Luxembourg)


• Cenveo Inc. (U.S.)


• Fuji Seal International Inc. (Japan)


• Multicolor Corporation (U.S.)


• EVCO Plastics (U.S.)


• Innovia Films Ltd. (U.K)


• Mepco Label Systems (U.S.)


• Avery Dennison Corporation (U.S.)


• Century Label Inc. (U.S.)


• Allen Plastic (Taiwan)

In-mold Labels Industry Developments

CCL Industries completed an acquisition deal in July 2023 by buying Creaprint S.L., which is Alicante-based and specializes in the manufacture of mold labels (“IML").

Sonoco developed new products and invested into production lines to offer high quality and unique IML products that were demonstrated at Interpack 2023 during March 2023.

Cosmo Films introduced in September 2019 various synthetic papers made from high tear-resistant polypropylene films for repositionable and removable labels applications, matte coated pressure-sensitive label stock films, transparent in-mould label film; high speed WAL film; as well as pearlized/ metalized WAL film. This indicates that the market for in-mold labels is likely to expand over the forecast period.

The Innovia Films extrusion site owned by CCL Industries Inc. announced plans for new capacity investment at Plock, Poland, in November 2020. To produce EcoFloat shrink sleeve material a new six-meter multi-layer co-extrusion line would be installed.

Muller Technology Colorado, based in Fort Collins, CO, revealed that it was launching its M-Line robot in March 2020. The overall robotic system provides far greater freedom and scope when doing injection molded packing by integrating robots with automation.

In 2024: CCL Industries launched new in-mold labels with improved durability and customization options for packaging applications.

In 2023: Sappi Lanaken introduced innovative in-mold labels with enhanced performance and eco-friendly materials.

In-mold Labels Market Segmentation

In-mold Labels Technology Outlook

• Extrusion blow-molding process


• Injection molding process


• Thermoforming

In-mold Labels Materials Outlook

• Polypropylene


• Polyvinylchloride


• ABS resins

In-mold Labels Application Outlook

• Food & Beverage


• Chemicals


• Personal Care


• Consumer goods

In-mold Labels Regional Outlook

• North America
  
  
  
  • US
  
  
  • Canada
  
  
  
  


• Europe
  
  
  
  • Germany
  
  
  • France
  
  
  • UK
  
  
  • Italy
  
  
  • Spain
  
  
  • Rest of Europe
  
  
  
  


• Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  • China
  
  
  • Japan
  
  
  • India
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • South Korea
  
  
  • Australia
  
  
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  


• Rest of the World
  
  
  
  • Middle East
  
  
  • Africa
  
  
  • Latin America