Europe’s circular economy is no longer a sustainability ambition — it’s a structural reset of how packaging is designed, priced, regulated, and proven. For the print and packaging industries, this shift turns every material choice, ink, adhesive, and label into a commercial decision with regulatory consequences. As the EU tightens rules on packaging waste, recyclability, and data transparency, businesses that treat circularity as compliance will struggle.

In 2026, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism moves into full force, turning carbon emissions into a direct trade cost. For exporters of steel, cement, aluminium, and other carbon-intensive goods, CBAM will reshape pricing, competitiveness, and access to the EU market.