Label Academy, the global training provider for the label and package printing industry, is to follow up its inaugural virtual master class on digital label technology from June with a further learning opportunity in October; this time covering flexible packaging.

Flexographic printing, from being a rudimentary printing process has undergone immense development in the last two decades to evolve as technology that delivers printing comparable to the best. Its adaptation as the preferred process for label printing has resulted in unprecedented growth of label manufacturing.

The upcoming Chemicals for Sustainability strategy, part of the Green Deal, will be presented on October 14. It will most likely tackle several relevant challenges in risk assessment, and focus on the presence of chemicals in products, and will guide EU chemicals policy for the coming years/decades. The REACH regulation could be opened and thoroughly revised.

Following the current path, the transition period will end at the end of the year, and the UK will become officially separated form the EU-27 on 1/1/2021. The regime for UK chemical legislation is still being drafted, but will for the most part continue the scheme set by EU-REACH, in a legislation now being called UK-REACH. Chemical Watch offers a free webinar on the upcoming UK legislation on October 8.

Two weeks ago, the 2020 edition of FINAT's #LABELicious competition went live with a new brief and an invitation to students in packaging and graphic design schools across Europe to get ready to show their skills and talent in designing innovative labels and packaging.

Tarsus Group, organiser of Labelexpo Europe, is planning to deliver its most ambitious show to date in a year from now, bringing the global industry back together after the challenges faced from the COVID-19 pandemic.

An Inception Roadmap consultation has been opened until 02 November. The initiative aims to revise and expand EcoDesign initiative (currently only for energy products) to a diverse range of products including electronics, textiles, furniture, among others. The goal is to increase durability, reuse, repairability, recyclability and remanufacturing of products, even at the expense of a short-term increase in costs.

Tarsus Group, organizer of Labelexpo India 2020 and Brand Print India 2020, has today confirmed that the upcoming editions of the co-located shows, due to take place at India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR from 2 – 5 December, have been postponed in light of ongoing concerns over coronavirus/COVID-19.

ECHA announced that they received a notification from the Greek competent authority of their intention to submit a dossier for the harmonization of the classification of Ethanol by the end of 2020. The proposal will include a classification of toxic to reproduction category 2, which could have a major impact in industry across the board. Ethanol is used, among others, as a disinfectant, cleaning agent, and an ink solvent in printing applications. A Classification Task Force representing all affected industry sectors is active in preparing an impact assessment of the proposal.

FINAT, the European self-adhesive and narrow web industry association, is launching the second edition of its #LABELicious Competition. The Competition was introduced last year as part of FINAT’s aim to reach out to students and young professionals around Europe as part of the association’s campaign to attract young talents to its workforce. This year’s edition will focus on a selected number of countries, education institutes and label companies.