15-18 June 2027
Crocus Expo, Moscow
Brands, retailers, and regulators are raising expectations, and production teams need practical ways to keep up. Sustainable printing means cutting emissions, waste and energy use across ink chemistry, substrate choice and press efficiency while protecting colour, throughput and cost. The direction of travel is unmistakable: package printing alone is forecast to reach $695bn by 2029, so decisions made today quickly scale across thousands of jobs.
In print and packaging, sustainability is measured, not declared. It covers volatile organic compounds (VOCs), recyclability, energy per job and end-of-life outcomes. Intergraf’s widely recognised recommendations identify 13 parameters that account for 95% of a print product’s carbon footprint and feed directly into ISO 16759 calculations. The framework enables like-for-like comparisons and helps teams present credible results to buyers.
Ink sets the tone for compliance and air quality. Water-based systems reduce VOCs for corrugated and paper packs, while low-migration formulations support food and cosmetics work. Light-curing methods like LED ultraviolet (LED-UV) are gaining ground. They cure at lower heat, reduce makeready, and eliminate mercury from the process. Independent and vendor studies report energy savings of 70–85% versus conventional lamps, with the added benefit of instant on/off to avoid idle consumption. Calibrate expectations: curing windows, film builds, and slip values differ by substrate, so proofs and on-press tests remain essential.
Material selection drives recyclability and waste. Recycled-content papers, de-inkable grades and responsibly sourced fibres are now standard asks, supported by certifications such as FSC and PEFC. On the plastics side, mono-material films simplify recovery, while lightweight boards reduce tonnage in transit. Each choice carries trade-offs: lower grammage increases crack risk at folds, certain coatings affect adhesion and varnish laydown; some films demand tighter web tension and dryer balance. Document winning settings so repeat runs hit spec with fewer trials.
Energy is a significant line item and a direct lever on emissions. Studies of pressrooms show drying can account for up to 50% of total energy use, which is why upgrades to LED-UV or electron-beam curing have strong payback potential. Plants that track kWh per 1,000 sheets or per 1,000 metres before and after upgrades build a defensible business case and a cleaner carbon profile. Automation also helps. Faster changeovers and servo-driven control loops reduce waste, stabilise ink–water balance in offset and improve web handling in flexo.
Waste drops when information flows without friction. Job Definition Format (JDF) and Job Messaging Format (JMF) link prepress intent with press and finishing status so teams avoid re-keying and mismatches. Colour control should align with the International Color Consortium (ICC) aims, with inline measurement targeting a tighter path to ΔE in tolerance. Maintenance matters too. Preventive routines based on hours, cycles and sensor data push unplanned stops down and extend component life. Track simple, high-impact metrics: first-pass yield, colour setup time, make-ready sheets, energy per job.
Various digital printing innovations have resulted in shorter runs, and SKU proliferation has raised the value of agile workflows. Developments in inkjet drop placement, variable data, and closed-loop colour reduce waste during versioning and promotions. When digital and analogue lines share substrate profiles, planners route jobs based on energy, spoilage risk, and turnaround time. The gains are small in isolation yet cumulative across the year.
Last year, RosUpack reported more than 1,100 exhibitors from 21 countries and over 29,000 professionals. That scale matters for suppliers planning launches and pilots alongside Printech. It also reflects why search interest for terms like printing and packaging expo registration spikes as plants align capex to sustainability roadmaps.
If your technology lowers energy, supports recyclable materials or cuts waste, the most effective next step is to show it live. Align demonstrations around the metrics buyers track, schedule side-by-side tests on their substrates, and prepare a one-page summary linking environmental and financial impact. To secure targeted meetings with procurement-ready teams at scale, submit a Printech exhibit enquiry. Focus the stand narrative on measured results, not features, and leave with high-intent conversations shaped by ROI and compliance priorities.
