The European Printing Industry and its members are committed to sustainability and have been working hard towards greener practices and carbon footprint reduction across the entire sector for many years. The European printing industry has a long tradition of using recycled and renewable materials and supporting recycling strategies as an important part of the sector’s activities.

• The Printing Industry has set up sector-specific climate calculators (ClimateCalc, KlimaInitiative) to help reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency.
• Recommendations on carbon calculation and MAES support the industry in assessing environmental schemes for printed products.
• The printing industry is continually innovating to reduce its environmental impact.
• European forests are growing and expanding every year (Milicevic, 2023; FAO UN, 2022).
• Forest certification schemes like FSC and PEFC help ensure sustainable forest management.
• The EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) helps prevent imports from illegal logging and supports sustainable sourcing.

The European Printing Industry has a long tradition of using recycled and renewable materials and supporting recycling strategies as an important part of the sector’s activities.

• The printing industry relies heavily on recycled and renewable materials, making it one of Europe’s most circular manufacturing sectors. Graphic paper has a recyclability rate of 75.1% for all consumed paper and board (EPRC, 2024), while paper and board packaging reach an even higher rate of 87% (Eurostat, 2023). Paper and board are the most recycled packaging materials in Europe, surpassing alternatives such as plastic, metals, and glass (EPRC, 2022). Europe also holds the highest paper recycling rate in the world, reflecting decades of investment in sustainable fibre cycles and collection systems.
• Paper fibres can be recycled up to 25 times (Eckhart, 2021). This exceptional renewability makes print and paper essential contributors to Europe’s circular economy, reducing waste, lowering environmental impact, and supporting sustainable material use across all sectors that rely on printed products.

Research consistently shows that reading physical media and writing on paper lead to stronger learning outcomes than digital tools. Print supports better learning efficiency, stronger comprehension, improved information retention, and higher focus with fewer distractions.

• Reading on screens encourages more superficial reading behaviours, such as skimming and scanning, which reduces deep comprehension (The “Shallowing Hypothesis”). Research shows that printed materials offer a clear advantage for reading comprehension, especially when tasks demand greater mental effort. The benefits are strongest during time-constrained reading and for informational texts rather than narrative ones (Delgado et al. 2018)
• Neuroscientific evidence: how print engages the brain. Zivan et al. (2023) studied children aged 6–8. Reading on printed paper triggered higher beta and gamma activity in the brain, which is associated with concentration and deep processing. Screen reading, by contrast, showed higher alpha and theta activity, which reflects daydreaming and reduced focus. The conclusion: print supports higher-order comprehension, faster processing, and lower fatigue. Froud et al. (2023) found significant differences in the brain’s semantic processing (N400 signals). Digital formats resulted in shallower engagement, particularly with expository texts.
• Student preferences worldwide: ARFIS study (n=21,265 students in 33 countries). The world’s largest study of student reading preferences reveals that 78% prefer print for academic reading, 82% say they focus best with print, and 72% say they remember better with print. Only Germany and the US show a more balanced pattern, suggesting that students adapt formats to context (Mizrachi et al., 2021).
• Students often overestimate their understanding of informational texts when reading digitally (E-READ, 2019). Several countries are reassessing digital-first approaches, with Sweden, for example, shifting back towards print in schools. Print materials are durable, reusable, and support offline time, which helps students disconnect and maintain focus.
• The Digital Overload Problem. Students in Denmark and Sweden spend over 45 hours per week online (OECD, 2021). In Denmark, 32% of students report experiencing digital distraction during learning.

The European print industry and its members contribute to more inclusion and ensure fair access to information. Citizens should be free to decide how they receive information, digital or printed, ensuring accessibility, trust, and transparency.

• A significant share of Europeans still lacks the digital skills needed to navigate online services. According to the European Commission (DESI, 2023), 42% of Europeans have low or no digital skills, including 30% of people in the workforce.
• Eurostat (2023) reports that 12 million European households have no internet access, and 8% of Europeans have never used the internet (DESI, 2022). Relying exclusively on digital tools for essential services, documentation, and information therefore undermines the principle of inclusion, particularly in critical areas such as healthcare, banking, public services, and access to important information.
• The use of financial technology also declines sharply with age. World Bank Findex data (Doerr et al., 2022) show that while over 40% of people under 40 use digital payments, fewer than 25% of those aged 60 and above do. Similarly, although the share of Europeans who have never used the internet has fallen from 26% in 2011 to 8% in 2021, the proportion rises to about 20% among older adults (55–74 years) and people with lower levels of education (EPRS, 2022).
• Europe’s regional digital divide: across the continent, access to the internet is widespread, but significant regional disparities remain. Most European populations have internet access rates between 75% and 98%, yet the North and North-West consistently outperform other regions. According to van Kessel et al. (2022), Northern and North-Western Europe reach 94–98% access, compared to 89–91% in Central and South-Western Europe, and just 75–87% in Southern and Eastern Europe.
• Digital inequalities are even more pronounced when comparing rural and urban areas. In Southern and Eastern Europe, rural access ranges from only 62% to 75%, while urban areas reach 82–87% (EPRS, 2022). These gaps shape how citizens participate in online services, education, employment, and communication.
• Digital skills follow the same geographic pattern. Northern and North-Western Europe have the highest share of highly digitally skilled individuals, with more than half the population possessing above-basic digital skills. In contrast, less than 20% of people in South-Eastern Europe achieve this level (EPRS, 2022). Demographic factors compound these differences: people who are younger, more educated, male, living in urban areas, and either students or employed consistently report higher access and stronger digital skills (van Kessel et al., 2022).
• In regions and populations with lower digital access and skills, limiting citizens to digital-only tools can create serious risks. Essential information, such as medication prescriptions, dosage instructions, or legally binding documentation, becomes less accessible, increasing vulnerability to errors, fraud, or hacking. Even where digital systems exist, practical barriers remain: accessing medical imaging reports electronically is still difficult for many citizens, as most EU27 countries face persistent “data gaps” (EU-DG CONNECT, 2022).
• Although the share of Europeans without digital skills or internet access is steadily shrinking, national differences remain substantial. Country-specific data must be considered when designing policies or communication strategies. Estonia, for example, has digitalised 91% of its public services, while Romania reaches only 42%. These contrasts highlight the importance of maintaining both digital and non-digital options to ensure no citizen is excluded.

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.

The European printing industry is composed of more than 100,000 companies, mostly SMEs, equally distributed across the continent, representing over 600,000 direct jobs (Eurostat, 2022).

• The European print sector is largely made up of long-established, family-owned companies. It is an industry rooted in local communities, with 95% of print businesses employing fewer than 20 people (Eurostat, 2022). This structure creates a resilient network of small enterprises that are flexible, service-oriented, and strongly connected to regional economies.
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• Despite its predominantly small-scale structure, the print sector performs strongly in international trade. Europe exports more printed products than it imports, maintaining a positive trade balance year after year (Eurostat, 2022). Print remains accessible to businesses of all sizes and continues to operate as a truly local yet globally competitive medium.
• In terms of employment and turnover, the printing industry mirrors the scale of the European textile sector. It is a vital part of the EU economy and closely linked to several other strategic industries. Its core value chain spans the forestry sector (excluding furniture), paper manufacturing, paper converting, and publishing (books, magazines, newspapers). Across these areas, 550,000 companies generate 4.65 million jobs and €775 billion in turnover (Eurostat, 2021).
• Print also drives activity beyond its traditional value chain. It supports the production of specialised printing machinery, contributes to the creative economy through graphic design, and underpins the manufacture of inks, coatings, and consumables. From industrial manufacturing to design and materials innovation, print’s economic footprint extends across multiple interconnected sectors, demonstrating its enduring importance in Europe’s economy.

Print is everywhere in our daily lives, and yet people usually don’t realise its importance and presence. Print’s contribution to modern life is broad, practical, and indispensable, supporting safety, clarity, transparency, and communication across countless everyday interactions.

• Print permeates almost every sector of industry and everyday life. Its presence is so fundamental that without packaging and printed information, products would be indistinguishable from one another, and modern commerce could not function. Print enables brands to communicate clearly, helps consumers make informed choices, and ensures transparency across the entire marketplace.
• Printed packaging materials play a crucial role in informing consumers about the products they purchase. They provide essential details such as ingredients, contents, usage instructions, regulatory information, and safety warnings. This is especially important in areas like food and pharmaceuticals, where printed information ensures access to dosage guidance, precautions, and side-effect warnings. Print safeguards consumer confidence by making critical information visible, reliable, and easy to understand.
• Printed outdoor and indoor signage is essential for navigation, safety, and communication in public spaces. From directional signs and safety notices to branding, menus, schedules, and ingredient lists, printed signage ensures that people receive accurate, accessible information wherever they are. It is a cornerstone of well-functioning public environments.
• Print is innovative and integrates new technologies to facilitate consumer experience: NFC labels for product verification at cash registers, or RFID for tracking products.
• Print also plays a vital role in the textile sector. It delivers branding and design elements on clothing and fabrics, and it provides essential care labels with washing instructions, material composition, and safety information. These printed elements help consumers maintain their clothing properly and understand the materials they are purchasing.

Print is effective in reaching target groups to communicate information.

• Print permeates almost every sector of industry and everyday life. Its presence is so fundamental that without packaging and printed information, products would be indistinguishable from one another, and modern commerce could not function. Print enables brands to communicate clearly, helps consumers make informed choices, and ensures transparency across the entire marketplace.
• Neuroscientific research shows that physical media consistently outperform digital formats in how people process, remember, and respond to information (Canada Post, 2015). Physical media require 21% less cognitive effort to process and generate far higher brand recall — 75% for print compared with 44% for digital — making printed content easier to engage with and remember.
  
  Motivational responses are also significantly stronger when people interact with physical media. A 2–5% difference is usually enough to predict future behavioural change; physical media score 20% higher than digital, indicating an exceptionally strong effect. This deeper engagement is reflected in visual processing as well: direct mail is processed more quickly than digital content. Digital material triggered longer attention times on key elements such as price, product, and logo (3.119 milliseconds on average), compared with 2.261 milliseconds for physical media.
  
  When assessing the relationship between motivation and cognitive load which is a strong predictor of whether someone will take action, physical mail again stands out. Direct mail exceeds the crucial motivation-to-cognitive load threshold of 1, reaching a ratio of 1.31. Digital media fall below this benchmark at 0.87, showing that printed communication is more likely to drive real-world behaviour.
• Printed leaflets remain a vital tool for helping small businesses reach local audiences and can even increase online purchasing. Research by Triverdi et al. (2019) shows that QR codes effectively steer consumer intention when used strategically: they enhance engagement with low-involvement products when paired with an emotional message, and they support high-involvement purchases when combined with informational content. This demonstrates how print can amplify digital interaction and support omnichannel communication.
• Although internet access across Europe ranges from 75% to 98%, regional disparities remain significant (EPRS, 2022). Northern and North-Western Europe report the highest access rates at 94–98%, compared with 89–91% in Central and South-West Europe and just 75–87% in the South and East. Broader digital participation also shows inequality: in 2021, 8% of the EU population had never used the internet — a sharp decline from 26% in 2011. Among older adults aged 55–74 and those with lower levels of education, the share rises to about 20% (EPRS, 2022).
• Because learning, comprehension, and information retention are consistently stronger when reading on paper (hyperlink to the page of the message 3 page), printed products remain essential communication tools. They ensure that vital information is accessible, memorable, and inclusive regardless of age, digital skill level, or regional connectivity.

Print is essential for a democratic society.

• Print plays a central role in promoting literacy and strengthening reading skills. Research shows that individuals often overestimate how well they understand digital texts, while printed materials support deeper and more accurate comprehension. Studies indicate that reading on paper provides a clear advantage in situations that require higher mental effort, particularly during time-constrained reading and when engaging with informational rather than narrative texts. The “Shallowing Hypothesis” further explains that on-screen reading encourages skim-reading and scanning, leading to more superficial processing (Delgado et al., 2018).
• Unlike algorithm-driven digital environments, literature and the printed press expose readers to a broader range of perspectives and ideas. Print supports independent opinion-forming by presenting comprehensive informational texts that help readers develop well-rounded understanding. These qualities make print an important medium for fostering critical thinking and informed citizenship.
• Printed materials support transparency and fairness in democratic participation. Physical ballots provide tangible proof of a vote, contributing to trust in electoral processes. Printed election posters offer quick, accessible overviews of candidates and parties, while local newspapers ensure voters receive balanced information about regional political landscapes. Research shows that communities with strong local newspaper readership are less likely to vote for right-wing parties, highlighting the stabilising role of local print journalism (Flößers, 2024).
• Printed communication remains one of the most inclusive forms of information delivery. Unlike digital channels, it does not exclude people based on age, digital skills, access to devices, or connectivity. Print ensures that all members of the population, regardless of background, can access essential information, participate in civic life, and engage fully with their communities.

Physical nature, advanced security features, and independence from digital vulnerabilities make printed products a trusted and essential part of Europe’s safety, privacy, and democratic infrastructure.

• Security printing plays a vital role in safeguarding individuals, institutions, and entire societies. By integrating advanced security features such as complex patterns, holograms, specialised inks, and biometric identifiers, printed documents like passports, ID cards, certificates, banknotes, and other official records are strongly protected against forgery and counterfeiting. These techniques help secure personal identities, protect sensitive information, and maintain the integrity of essential documents. Security printing not only ensures authenticity but also strengthens public trust in government authorities, border systems, and financial institutions. As digital risks grow, these physical safeguards remain an essential line of defence.
• Many sectors rely on printed documents to uphold safety, privacy, and security standards. Banking institutions use physical records for identity verification and fraud prevention. Health and medical services depend on printed prescriptions, labels, and patient documentation to ensure accuracy and reduce risk. Public administrations, tax authorities, police forces, and local authorities use printed certificates, forms, and notices to maintain trusted, traceable communication with citizens. Banknotes — one of the most widely used printed products — guarantee financial independence by allowing payments without relying on electricity, internet access, or digital devices.
• Cybersecurity is an increasing concern across Europe. More than half of EU citizens (56%) report being worried about cyber-attacks and cybercrime, including identity theft, data breaches, ransomware, and phishing attempts (EPRS, 2022). This concern is even higher among people with higher education levels (64%), compared with 54% of those who finished school between ages 16 and 19, and 39% of those who left school at 15.
• Because printed documents exist physically and cannot be hacked or remotely altered, they offer inherent security advantages. Consumers recognise this: 71% express concerns about having their personal information stored electronically, and 73% believe that keeping hard copies at home is a safer and more secure way to store sensitive information (Two Sides, 2018).
• Children represent one of the most vulnerable groups in the digital environment. Across the EU, 93% of citizens believe that children must be better protected online, as they face growing exposure to cyber risks from an increasingly early age (EPRS, 2022).
• Concerns extend to educational technologies as well. An analysis of 163 ed-tech products recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic found that 89% could monitor children both inside and outside school hours (UNESCO, 2023). Privacy issues have led some regions to restrict or ban certain digital tools altogether. For example, several German states have prohibited Microsoft products that fail to comply with GDPR requirements.
• Security-printed documents, by contrast, provide a stable, privacy-respecting alternative that does not track, record, or expose personal behaviour.
• Together, these factors underline why printed documents remain indispensable. Their physical nature, advanced security features, and independence from digital vulnerabilities make them a trusted and essential part of Europe’s safety, privacy, and democratic infrastructure.