The Printing and Packaging Industry Enters a New Stage of High-Quality

Development in 2026: Dual-Driven by Digital Intelligence and Green Transformation with Accelerated Global Layout. Release Date: March 24, 2026. Source: Packaging Industry Information Center. As the industry enters the first quarter of 2026, China's printing and packaging sector, driven by policy guidance, technological innovation, and market demand, is exhibiting a development trend characterized by the deep integration of high-endization, intelligence, and green practices. Leading enterprises are accelerating their global layout, while small and medium-sized manufacturers are focusing on specialized, refined, and innovative transformations, marking the industry's entry into a critical period of high-quality development.

Firstly, Continuous Policy Benefits Are Released, with Digitalization and Green Compliance Becoming Mandatory Thresholds. On March 1 of this year, the revised "Environmental Air Quality Standards" officially took effect. As a key industry for VOC emissions, the printing and packaging sector has seen an overall upgrade in environmental governance requirements. The popularization rate of water-based inks, UV inks, and degradable packaging materials has exceeded 80%. Non-compliant small and medium-sized enterprises are being rapidly phased out. It is expected that the output value share of green printing, eco-friendly gift boxes, and degradable flexible packaging will break through 35% this year. Meanwhile, the National Press and Publication Administration's "Three-Year Action Plan for the Digitalization of the Printing Industry (2025-2027)" has entered a systematic implementation phase. The government is supporting enterprises' digital transformation from multiple aspects including equipment subsidies, software empowerment, and talent cultivation, building a "evaluation-driven - innovation breakthrough - service support" tripartite empowerment system. This is driving traditional printing workshops to upgrade to intelligent packaging factories and digital printing workshops, enabling products such as custom gift boxes, color box packaging, and high-end wine boxes to achieve small-batch, fast-response production.

Secondly, Technological Iteration Is Accelerating, and Hybrid Printing and Digital Printing Are Reaching Maturity. According to the latest report from consulting firm Keypoint Intelligence, 2026 is a critical year for the maturation of packaging digital printing, with hybrid printing transitioning from an "optional" choice to a survival necessity for the industry. Domestic leading enterprise Shengda Printing has signed an order to purchase 6 Heidelberg Speedmaster CX 92 flagship offset printing presses. Italian Artes has procured the world's first Gallus Five hybrid printing press. Leading enterprises in China and Europe are simultaneously heavily investing in new production models focused on small-batch, multi-SKU, and fast-response delivery, which aligns with e-commerce and brand demands for customized packaging, personalized gift boxes, and small-batch color boxes. Technologies such as AI visual inspection, intelligent post-printing linkage lines, and plateless die-cutting are being scaled up, increasing production efficiency by more than 30% and reducing defect rates to below 0.5%. Data-driven approaches have become core competitiveness for enterprises, providing quality assurance for high-end products such as luxury packaging, hotel souvenir gift boxes, and premium wine boxes.

Thirdly, Industry Exhibitions Are Intensive, and Global Industrial Chain Connection Heat Is Rising. In late March, the 2026 Brazil São Paulo International Packaging and Printing Exhibition (ExpoPrint & ConverFlexo) opened grandly. As the most influential print and packaging exhibition in the Americas, it attracted over 800 exhibitors from around the world, focusing on flexographic innovation, sustainable materials, and digital printing technologies, with highlights including degradable packaging, smart labels, and custom gift boxes. Domestically, the Tianjin Printing and Packaging Industry Expo concluded on March 22, with an exhibition area exceeding 50,000 square meters. Over a thousand exhibitors showcased achievements such as intelligent packaging production lines, degradable materials, RFID traceability labels, and high-end color boxes. The 10th China International Print Exhibition (All in Print China 2026) is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from October 12 to 16, with an exhibition area of 110,000 square meters. Themed "Smart Printing for the Future, Infinite Innovation in Printing," it will serve as the annual global technical trendsetter for the printing industry, focusing on core areas such as custom packaging, green gift boxes, and digital printing packaging.