2025 is coming to an end - a turbulent calendar year not only, but especially for the packaging industry. In exclusive statements, we let three well-known industry personalities look back on the past twelve months - and what lies ahead.
Rainer Wilke Kasanický, President DFTA Flexo Printing Trade Association:
The year 2025 was characterised by a wide range of challenges for our members. Price pressure, a shortage of skilled workers, digitalisation and automation are keeping the flexo and packaging industry busy. Even if it seems that sustainability issues have been pushed into the background in the political and social environment, I cannot confirm this for our industry. Sustainability is and remains an important topic, not least because it is closely linked to the challenges mentioned above. Added to this is the often unclear and sometimes threatening political and social global development that concerns us all.
As the leading flexographic printing trade association in Europe, we support our members in these challenges in the best possible way by offering a network of experts and professionals on the one hand and by providing practical support through our technology centres on the other - even in 2026! I am looking forward to that.
Anna Kupferschmitt, Head of European Policy and Communication AVU (Alliance Packaging and Environment):
In 2025, the packaging and circular economy was in a phase of adjustment: the EU Packaging Ordinance (PPWR) has established a central framework, but many detailed specifications are still outstanding. This continues to cause uncertainty for companies - particularly when it comes to the use of recyclates. There is a complex problem here: while demanding recyclate quotas must be met from 2030, the current low demand for recyclates means that the broad supply required in the future will not materialise. The „recyclate gap“ is widening noticeably - regulatory impetus may be necessary to stabilise the market.
The great opportunities of the PPWR lie in its positive effect on the European internal market for packaging. However, the existing regulatory „patchwork“ has not yet been completely harmonised: for example, the littering levy for single-use plastic packaging, which stems from the Single-Use Plastics Directive, is designed very differently in the member states. The packaging taxes introduced by some German municipalities also increase the complexity of the system.
The industry therefore remains on the move and will continue to face numerous challenges in 2026.
Thomas Pfeiffer, Managing Director of Wirtschaftsverband Papierverarbeitung (WPV):
The annual result for 2025 is unpleasant for the paper, cardboard and cartonboard (PPC) processing industry. The general weakness of growth in the German economy naturally also has negative consequences for the manufacturers of PPK packaging: Industry turnover, employment and investments are declining accordingly. The Ifo Business Climate Index for the industry has been in negative territory for three years.
Unfortunately, the economic policy expectations of the new federal government have not yet been fulfilled. Urgently needed measures to ease the burden on the economy, such as a reduction in taxes and duties, a reform of the social security system and a sustainable reduction in bureaucracy, have been promised but have not yet materialised.
The PPK processing industry is confronted with an enormous amount of regulation, triggered by both European and German politics. These regulations tie up enormous resources in companies and are ultimately characterised by mistrust of the economy.
Nevertheless, PPK processors continue to succeed in developing innovative and sustainable packaging solutions for their customers in industry and retail. This gives cause for optimism for the further development of the industry!
