The European printing industry and its products support all businesses and industries. No sector goes without print.

• The European printing industry is a major economic sector, made up of more than 100,000 companies across the continent. Most of these businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), forming a highly decentralised and locally rooted industry. Together, they provide employment for more than 600,000 people (Eurostat, 2022).
• Print extends far beyond books, magazines, and newspapers. Publishing accounts for just 12% of the sector. Advertising materials represent 14%, commercial and security printing 15%, while packaging and labels dominate the industry with 58% of total output (Smithers, 2023). This diversity reflects the sector’s evolution and its critical role in supporting a wide range of industries.
• There is virtually no sector without print. Its relevance goes well beyond traditional documents, encompassing many of the printed elements people rely on every day. Print is essential for packaging, enabling brand recognition, ingredient information, and regulatory compliance. It drives marketing, advertising, and communication across all consumer-facing sectors. Printing on textiles shapes clothing, interior décor, and promotional products. Even fundamental documents such as passports, certificates, and security papers are printed products.
• Print is therefore not only present everywhere; it is indispensable. It underpins modern society by enabling information flow, commercial activity, product safety, and visual communication across Europe and beyond.