Wondering whether your labeling and artwork processes are ready for 2026? Most companies aren’t. Research suggests that sustainability, smart packaging, and artificial intelligence are key drivers of change in the near future, with technologies like agentic AI poised to transform operational workflows across sectors.
At the same time, regulatory frameworks are tightening. For example, new food ingredient warning label laws in some U.S. states will require expanded disclosures by 2027, and ongoing updates to chemical and sustainability labeling regulations continue to raise the stakes for compliance teams.
In this preview of what’s coming in 2026 for labeling and artwork, we explore key compliance changes, emerging trends, and the technology that will shape how brands manage artwork, labeling workflows, and cross-industry collaboration.
1. Regulatory Landscape: What Businesses Should Watch in 2026
European Union Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
A major overhaul of packaging rules across the EU is being phased in with key provisions becoming enforceable from August 12, 2026 under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2025/40). This will replace the old directive and introduce new requirements for:
- Packaging to meet stricter criteria for recyclability, design, and materials.
- New mandatory labels must clearly communicate material composition, recyclability, and disposal instructions to consumers.
- Companies must take on more accountability for the lifecycle and end-of-life of packaging and ensure proper documentation and declarations of compliance.
- Businesses must keep technical files demonstrating compliance.
- Restrictions on substances of concern like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals in packaging.
Updated EU CLP (Classification, Labelling and Packaging) Regulation
A revision to the EU’s CLP rules introduces new label formatting requirements, including minimum font sizes and line spacing, plus other label specification changes to improve readability and safety communication. These changes become mandatory starting July 1, 2026 and continue to phase in through 2028. These updates will affect how hazard info is presented on chemical labels and packaging.
UK Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging
In the United Kingdom, EPR rules for packaging ramp up in January 2026 as part of the UK’s strategy to shift more responsibility to producers for the environmental impact of their packaging. This will include:
- Reporting detailed data on packaging materials, recyclability, and volumes placed on the market.
- Updated fees based on how easy packaging is to recycle — meaning less sustainable formats could cost more.
- Documentation and traceability requirements that affect labeling accuracy and packaging records.
Cosmetics Packaging and Labeling Rule Changes
In Europe, cosmetics regulatory updates taking force through 2026 will also impact packaging and labeling in that sector. Revisions cover:
- Ingredient transparency and traceability requirements
- Labeling expectations for allergens and nanomaterials
- Environmental compliance tied to packaging and lifecycle disclosures
Expanding Food and Ingredient Labeling Obligations
Several new regulations are on the way, forcing food and beverage manufacturers to rethink how they list their ingredients. For example, a new law in Texas will require warning labels on foods containing certain additives, with requirements slated to take effect in 2027.
Chemical and Safety Regulation Updates
Chemical manufacturers should also watch out for updates, with regulatory bodies introducing new classification requirements for persistent and toxic substances. This means updated hazard information and revised safety label standards in key markets, driving upstream changes in artwork production and data validation processes.
2. Emerging Trends Shaping Labeling and Artwork
Sustainability and Smart Packaging
Sustainability hasn’t been optional for a while now, so if you’re treating it like it still is, your business should expect to pay the price. Regulatory reporting and environmental labeling expectations are increasing constantly. Smart packaging and Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are becoming mainstream, offering real-time traceability on composition, origin, and end-of-life instructions, directly on or linked from the physical label. You can read more about connected packaging and how it's transforming packaging sustainability here.
Advanced Compliance Automation
Manual labeling and artwork processes involving spreadsheets and emails are well and truly a thing of the past. Instead, businesses are looking to cloud-based, automated, end-to-end platforms that minimize human errors, significantly cut time-to-market, and ensure consistency across thousands of SKUs. This shift not only saves money, but can potentially save lives too!
Workflow Integration and Collaboration Platforms
Cross-functional teams now require connected systems where product, regulatory, marketing, and packaging stakeholders share controlled data and art assets that can be accessed anywhere in the world. Platforms that enforce version control, automated approvals, and real-time compliance checks will be even more critical to success in 2026.
3. The Role of Technology: Why 2026 Is a Turning Point
Agentic AI: From Assistant to Autonomous Workflow Engine
One of the standout trends for 2026 and beyond is the increasing maturity of agentic AI – intelligent systems that can take autonomous action to achieve goals across tools and processes. Unlike traditional AI that responds to prompts, agentic AI can plan, execute, and monitor complex tasks with minimal human input.
Gartner projects that by 2028, a significant share of enterprise software (over 30%) will embed agentic AI capabilities, and a growing number of daily business decisions will be made autonomously by AI agents. But reality is, it could still be a few years before agentic AI will be reliable for correct, compliant labeling. But when it is fully up and running, the potential for how it could influence packaging is huge.
Here are a few benefits we'd likely see:
- Automated compliance validation thanks to AI agents continuously monitoring global regulatory feeds and checking label content against multiple rule sets to flag or correct issues before release.
- Agentic AI makes it possible to analyze bottlenecks in labeling and artwork production, reroute tasks, suggest resource adjustments, and optimize timelines, all in the name of self-optimizing workflows for maximum efficiency.
- Distributed AI agents can work together like a digital team, with specialized agents handling data harmonization, compliance checks, and artwork approvals.
While some industry analysts warn that not all agentic AI projects will deliver immediate business value and that governance remains essential, the trend toward autonomous process automation is unmistakable.
Digital Twins, Blockchain, and Traceability
Emerging technologies like blockchain and digital twins will further enhance labeling accuracy and traceability, enabling brands and regulators to verify label data throughout the supply chain.
The Next Step For Labeling and Artwork Management
To prepare for 2026, labeling and artwork leaders should adopt a proactive mindset focused on:
- Investing in intelligent compliance platforms that integrate with regulatory data feeds
- Embracing automation and AI-enabled workflows that prioritize accuracy and efficiency
- Building governance frameworks for ethical, transparent use of agentic AI and other autonomous systems
- Strengthening cross-functional collaboration between regulatory, supply chain, and marketing teams
A Pivotal Year to Come
2026 will be a pivotal year for the labeling and artwork industry. With regulatory change accelerating and technologies like agentic AI and smart packaging reshaping how compliance and creative workflows operate, brands that anticipate and adapt will gain a competitive edge. Staying ahead means more than adopting tools — businesses must foster a culture that views compliance not as an obligation but as a strategic asset.
We're Now Giving Away Five Amazon Vouchers for Answering our End of 2025 Survey!
We’re running a short industry survey Nov-Dec 2025 on labeling and artwork challenges in 2025 and coming up in 2026, and we’d really appreciate your input! Your insights could help shape our upcoming 2026 industry report. If you can spare five minutes, take the survey and enter our draw for one of five $/£50 Amazon vouchers.
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