According to Fortune Business Insights, the global packaging market was valued at approximately USD 1.05 trillion in 2023 and is projected to grow to USD 1.45 trillion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 3.8%. In parallel, the global label market was valued at around USD 44.36 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 56.35 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.9%. The packaging and labeling services market alone was estimated at USD 50 billion in 2024, with projected growth to USD 67.5 billion by 2029 at an estimated CAGR of 6%. These trends highlight the critical importance of efficient inventory control systems that can manage a wide range of raw materials, packaging formats, and consumables across an increasingly complex global supply chain.
In the dynamic world of label and packaging production, maintaining a robust and streamlined inventory control system is vital to ensure consistent product quality, minimize downtime, and meet customer expectations. Most label converters and package printers maintain diverse inventories, ranging from paper and film reels to shrink sleeves, rigid containers, tubes, pouches, laminates, folding cartons, inks, varnishes, adhesives, cutting and foiling dies, cylinders, foils, tapes, staples, pallets, and more. Additionally, consumables such as cleaning solvents, plates, rags, and maintenance tools are also essential. With growing demand for various packaging materials—flexible plastics, biodegradable films, glass bottles, metal tins, and composite containers—modern inventory systems must adapt accordingly.
Effective inventory control begins with integration into an MIS (Management Information System), which automates the tracking, ordering, allocation, and reporting of inventory items. A sophisticated MIS enables full traceability of raw materials through to finished goods, which is particularly critical for regulated industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Inventory tracking technologies such as barcodes, QR codes, and RFID tags ensure real-time visibility into stock levels. For packaging operations dealing with multiple materials—like multi-layer films for pouches or PET for bottles—accurate material tracking prevents mixing of batches and enables precise cost accounting. These systems also integrate supplier data to automatically process purchase orders, track shipment status, and log item specifications such as grade, thickness, recyclability, and certification (e.g., FSC, ISO, or food-grade compliance).
Modern warehouse management systems (WMS) further enhance productivity by allocating materials based on location codes (aisle, bay, shelf) and applying first-in, first-out (FIFO) logic. Shop floor data collection terminals or mobile handheld devices allow real-time scanning and allocation of materials to jobs, ensuring minimal waste and accurate batch recall if necessary. For converters managing complex packaging types—laminated rollstock, preformed trays, biodegradable wraps—the ability to associate job specs with material stock is crucial.
Finished goods control is equally critical. Printed products awaiting dispatch may include serialized labels, multi-format folding cartons, or assembled kits that combine various packaging forms. These items should be traceable back to their raw materials and linked to automated shipping instructions via integrated courier platforms like DHL, UPS, and FedEx.
In summary, inventory control in the packaging industry now goes beyond traditional paper and film stocks. It must accommodate the growing diversity in packaging materials, ensure compliance with sustainability and safety standards, and integrate seamlessly with production, quality, and logistics systems. By embracing advanced MIS and warehouse technologies, packaging converters can reduce costs, increase transparency, and remain competitive in an evolving market.
