Package customisation offers plenty of ways to add value into packaging. New functional characteristics and targeted messages can be created to consumer packages in order to create added value in the package itself by utilizing the latest digital printing techniques. This means, for example, that personalised and up-to-date product information, announcements or advertisements can be as an integral part of a package. Also new kinds of logistic and anti-counterfeit systems, based on the potentiality of digital printing methods, coding and detection systems, and information networks, can be developed for the optimisation of the supply chain. But there are also several challenges to overcome - like questions of print quality management, compatibility of printing materials, package converting and costs of digital printing - before on-demand packaging production printing can be fully executed. In this paper we present different aspects of our packaging research and especially the utilization and potential of digital printing in package customisation. VTT has carried out several projects aimed at the development of comprehensive systems for new kinds of package production chains. The consumer packaging issues have been studied from both packers' and consumers' point of view. Information was gathered from literature and by qualitative research. The qualitative research was carried out by interviewing packaging specialists in the packaging branch and by participating in consumer workshops.
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