The printing industry has undergone three years of profound changes and, according to the BVDM industry report, is currently in a sustained phase of consolidation. The intensity of the decline in production is easing, but a sustained upturn is not yet in sight.
At the start of work on the EU Commission’s omnibus environmental package, the German Printing and Media Association (BVDM) has called for a noticeable reduction in excessive bureaucratic requirements for the printing and media industry. From the BVDM’s point of view, there is an urgent need for reform of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a practical, proportionate and legally secure design of the existing environmental requirements is essential in order not to jeopardise the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry.
The BVDM welcomes the EU Commission’s initiative to revise existing environmental regulations as part of the long-announced ‘Environmental Omnibus Package’. Together with its European umbrella organisation INTERGRAF, the BVDM supports the overarching goal of strengthening the competitiveness of printing and media companies by reducing unnecessary administrative burdens.
The seasonally adjusted business climate in the German print and media industry deteriorated in August 2025. The seasonally adjusted business climate index calculated by the BVDM showed a decline of 4.5 per cent compared to the previous month.
The German packaging industry is facing profound structural changes. After strong growth until 2022, the industry has been experiencing a downward trend since then. In 2024, the production value in Germany was around 30 billion euros. Apenberg & Partner is forecasting a further decline to 27.4 billion euros by 2025 and to 26 billion euros by 2026.
VG Schoepe Berlin GmbH in Dahme/Berlin has been successfully recertified for digital printing on corrugated board for the sixth time. Back in 2013, VG Schoepe was the first company in the world to be certified according to the ProcessStandard Digital Printing (PSD) for corrugated board.
The FESPA Foundation announces Durst Group as its first official partner, to join the “Adopt a School” initiative and sponsor Malekapane Primary School in South Africa. The partnership aims to utilise the power of print to promote education and improve the lives of children in underserved communities.
The business climate in the German print and media industry deteriorated slightly in July 2025. The business climate index determined by the BVDM showed a decline of 2.5 percent compared to the previous month. At 90.7 points, the index was around 0.7 percent below the level of the same month last year. The current situation assessment was significantly more optimistic than in the previous month, but the business outlook for the next six months was gloomier.
Print Equipment, founded in 1997 and active under this name since 2000, invites you to its Open House on 26 and 27 September 2025. As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations, the company will be presenting innovative printing technologies and offering a comprehensive insight into the future of printing and finishing.
The forthcoming implementation of the European EmpCo Directive (“Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition”) brings with it new regulatory requirements for environmental advertising in the EU. From September 2026, environmental claims made to consumers are to be regulated uniformly across the EU. The German implementation will take place via amendments to the Unfair Competition Act. The BVDM is monitoring the legislative process and is advocating for legally secure, practical and SME-friendly regulations in the interests of the print and media industry.
