The China International Exhibition on Label Printing Technology 2026

Intergraf, the leading European federation representing national printing and packaging associations, has issued a formal warning about the impending implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), citing potentially catastrophic operational challenges for the continent's printing industry. The organization joins French paper industry association Copacel in calling for urgent revisions to the regulation set to take effect December 30, 2025.

The EUDR mandates unprecedented supply chain traceability requirements for wood-derived products, including detailed documentation of the geographic coordinates of all forest sources. With Europe's printing sector comprising approximately 100,000 companies—95% employing fewer than 20 people—industry leaders warn the regulation in its current form could paralyze essential business operations.

Data Management Crisis Looms for Fragmented Industry
"The printing industry sustainability efforts are well-established, but the EUDR's technical requirements create an impossible administrative burden," stated an Intergraf spokesperson. "Our analysis shows a single book could contain paper from up to 300,000 separate forest parcels, each requiring individual DDS identifier documentation and verification."

The fragmented nature of the printing value chain—involving multiple suppliers, printers, converters, and distributors—means compliance data must pass through numerous hands. Processing millions of data points through existing ESG compliance systems presents what Intergraf describes as "an insurmountable obstacle" for most organizations.

SME Protection Clause Called "Practically Useless"
While the regulation officially grants small and medium enterprises an additional year for compliance, Intergraf argues this provision offers little practical protection. Most smaller printing operations serve as subcontractors to larger companies that must comply by December 2025, effectively forcing the entire supply chain to meet the original deadline.

"This staggered timeline creates an impossible situation for sustainable printing businesses," the organization noted. "The green supply chain cannot function with disconnected compliance deadlines."

Proposed Solutions: Aggregated Traceability and Regulatory Pause
Intergraf is advocating for fundamental changes to the implementation approach:

• Replace individual DDS tracking with aggregated traceability systems
  

• Implement conventional supplier registration using established business identifiers
  
  
• Maintain sustainable forestry oversight through existing certification systems
  
  
• Pause the EUDR timeline for comprehensive impact assessment
  
  

"Circular economy printing requires workable regulations," Intergraf emphasized. "We support the EU's environmental objectives but believe responsible printing can be achieved through less burdensome means that don't threaten business continuity."

Call for Collaborative Solution
The printing federation is urging EU regulators to engage in immediate dialogue with industry stakeholders to develop technically viable compliance mechanisms. Intergraf proposes establishing a joint task force to identify simplified approaches that maintain environmental integrity while ensuring the continued operation of Europe's vital printing sector.

Source: PrintIndustry.news