According to a recent report from Future Market Insights, linerless labels have started to penetrate the retail market. The report cites rising efforts across the world to reduce the incidence of counterfeiting as a driving force behind linerless label demand.

Consistent growth of the logistics sector across all geographies, coupled with high requirement of linerless labels for inventory management, asset tracking, and goods distribution, is steadily driving the linerless labels market.

Linerless labels are designed without a release liner, which reduces the amount of raw material required to manufacture labels, which provides an eco-friendly alternative. Absence of a liner layer saves on extra labor, storage and transportation costs for end users, and reduces industrial waste and carbon emission. These factors are expected to boost the demand for linerless labels substantially during the forecast period (2019-2029). Removable linerless labels are estimated to generate an incremental opportunity of $240 million from 2019-2024.

Prominent packaging manufacturers are continuously striving to offer sustainable and environment-friendly packaging solutions to various end use industries, the report notes.

North America and APEJ are expected to account for a major portion of the linerless labels market share. Rapid expansion of pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries is boosting the growth of the linerless labels market in these regions. Digital printing and flexo printing are projected to dominate the global linerless labels market, and hold nearly half of the market share by the end of 2029.

Packaging manufacturers continue to seek environment-friendly packaging solutions. This shift is driven by an increasing focus toward reducing waste, and consumer preference toward highly sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions. Manufacturers are striving to maximize their manufacturing capacities to meet the rising demand for eco-friendly packaging solutions. Additionally, linerless label manufacturers are expanding business boundaries to reinforce their market position.

In June 2019, RR Donnelley expanded its liners less labels manufacturing platform by adding a new linerless press. This enabled the company to expand its linerless label production to provide linerless labels and enhance operational effectiveness. In July 2019, Coveris completed its acquisition of Amberley Labels, a U.K.-based manufacturer of high quality self-adhesive labels. In February 2017, CCL industries completed the acquisition of Innovia Group, a producer of linerless labels and packaging solutions, for around $1.13 billion.