Sustainability is rapidly reshaping the global Print and Packaging sector.
What was once viewed primarily as a compliance issue is now becoming a major commercial, operational, and customer-driven priority.
Across global markets, businesses are facing increasing pressure from:
- Customers demanding more sustainable packaging solutions.
- ESG reporting expectations.
- Investor scrutiny.
- Regulatory change.
- Consumer preference shifts around recyclability and environmental impact.
According to McKinsey:
- More than 55% of consumers globally are willing to pay more for environmentally sustainable packaging.
- Sustainable packaging demand is expected to grow significantly faster than traditional packaging segments over the next decade. (mckinsey.com)
Smithers also forecasts the global sustainable packaging market to exceed $500bn by 2030, driven by:
- Circular economy initiatives.
- Reduced plastic usage.
- Increased recyclability targets.
- Sustainable materials innovation. (smithers.com)
At the same time, regulatory pressure continues increasing globally:
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation.
- Plastic reduction initiatives.
- Net-zero commitments.
- Supply chain sustainability reporting.
As a result, businesses across Print and Packaging are increasingly competing for talent capable of supporting sustainability strategy, operational transformation, innovation, and ESG-driven growth.
What Industry Leaders Are Prioritising
1. Sustainable Packaging Expertise
Customer expectations around sustainability continue increasing globally.
- Greater demand for recyclable and reusable packaging solutions.
- Increased focus on material reduction and waste minimisation.
- Rising customer scrutiny around packaging lifecycle impact.
What this means:
Technical and commercial professionals with sustainability expertise are becoming increasingly valuable.
2. ESG Capability Within Leadership Teams
Sustainability is becoming a leadership responsibility, not simply an operational initiative.
- Increased ESG reporting requirements.
- Greater investor and customer scrutiny.
- More focus on sustainability strategy and accountability.
What this means:
Leadership teams increasingly require commercial and operational leaders with ESG understanding and transformation capability.
3. Innovation and Material Development
Packaging innovation continues accelerating globally.
- Increased demand for fibre-based and recyclable materials.
- Ongoing development of sustainable substrates and barrier technologies.
- Greater investment in circular economy solutions.
What this means:
Innovation-focused technical talent is becoming a major competitive differentiator.
4. Operational Sustainability and Efficiency
Sustainability and operational performance are becoming increasingly connected.
- Pressure to reduce waste, energy usage, and emissions.
- Increased focus on manufacturing efficiency and resource optimisation.
- Greater visibility around supply chain sustainability performance.
What this means:
Operational leaders are increasingly expected to balance sustainability goals with profitability and productivity.
5. Employer Brand and Talent Attraction
Sustainability increasingly influences workforce expectations.
- Younger professionals placing greater emphasis on ESG values and employer purpose.
- Increased interest in environmentally responsible manufacturing businesses.
- Growing expectation around sustainability leadership within industrial sectors.
What this means:
Businesses with credible sustainability strategies are often more attractive to emerging talent populations.
What We’re Seeing in the Market
- Increased global demand for:
- Sustainability Directors.
- ESG leadership capability.
- Sustainable packaging specialists.
- Innovation and materials experts.
- Technical professionals with circular economy expertise.
- Significant investment activity across:
- Fibre-based packaging.
- Sustainable flexible packaging.
- Recyclable labels and substrates.
- Recycling and recovery technologies.
- Increased crossover hiring from:
- FMCG sustainability functions.
- Chemicals and materials sectors.
- Environmental and circular economy consulting.
- Advanced manufacturing innovation functions.
- International businesses increasingly competing for specialist sustainability and innovation talent.
- ESG capability becoming a growing differentiator within senior leadership hiring processes.
Practical Takeaways for Hiring Managers
- Assess whether sustainability capability exists within current leadership structures.
- Review how ESG priorities are reflected within hiring and workforce planning.
- Prioritise candidates with both commercial and sustainability understanding.
- Ensure innovation and technical teams are aligned to future sustainability goals.
- Consider how sustainability positioning impacts employer brand and talent attraction.
CHI Insight
Sustainability within Print and Packaging is no longer simply a regulatory or environmental discussion. It is becoming a core commercial and workforce challenge that is reshaping leadership capability, innovation priorities, customer expectations, and global talent markets.
How This Applies to Your Team
If your business is reviewing sustainability capability, it may be worth considering:
- Whether your current leadership team reflects the future direction of customer and regulatory expectations.
- Where ESG and sustainability capability gaps may exist within operational, technical, or commercial functions.
- How sustainability strategy is influencing talent attraction, retention, and workforce engagement.
If useful, CHI can provide:
- Global insight into ESG and sustainable packaging hiring trends.
- Market mapping across sustainability and innovation talent pools.
- Benchmarking around ESG-related leadership capability and workforce structures.
- Guidance on attracting commercially credible sustainability talent within Print and Packaging globally.
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