Conference hears how regulations, AI are shaping the future of printing

The impact that the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will have on the printing and publishing of graphic papers, alongside the transformation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the newsroom and beyond were two of the key topics at the World Printers Summit 2025, held in Munich, Germany, on October 7-8.

Organized by the World Association of News Publishers WAN-IFRA, the event brought together newsprint producers and newspaper printers and publishers, along with industry experts from around the globe.

The World Printers Summit, not only underpinned the resilience that defines the graphic paper industry, but offered a “big-picture discussion on the future of print,” according to Ingi Olafsson, director of the World Printers Forum.

Olafsson said that through “collaboration and shared experience, market participants tackled challenges head-on and discovered practical strategies.”

AI in the newsroom

Kicking off the conference with a presentation about the potential impact of AI, Thomas Schultz-Homberg, chief executive officer of German newspaper publishing company Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger Medien, talked about AI’s influence on the future of print and highlighted how, through various channels, AI can optimize workflows across print along with streamlining customer service.

“You have to become an AI company if you want to prolong the future of your company,” Homberg said, adding that while his media house still relies on 80% of revenues coming from print, “when you look to the future, we need AI to optimize this process”.

Publishers are expecting to invest more in AI and data tools according to early results of WAN-IFRA’s 2025 World Press Trends Outlook Survey.

In terms of investment, the survey found that 91% of market participants voted to pour money into AI and automation while an equal number are prioritising data analytics. Other key investment areas include customer relationship management (80%) and video (76%), signaling a continued focus on audience engagement.

Despite the advantages that may be gained from automating processes within print and publishing, the value of AI remains hard to measure. The survey further found that more 90% of publishers found it difficult to calculate AI’s actual value or to prove its value with data.

Commenting on the transformation of AI and on the case studies presented, Axel Springer, print management managing director at Betram Stausberg, said that, in the current phase of the digital transformation of media, it would be “very helpful for all participants to discuss on how publishers and newspaper printers will adapt and develop their businesses.”

Regulatory challenges

The adoption of the EUDR, which requires companies to prove their paper products are deforestation-free, will involve submitting due diligence statements (DDS), alongside the submission of traceability data and providing a long list of accountability measures.

According to sources, the situation has become “unfeasible,” with some distribution companies asking publishers to provide their information two weeks in advance. In addition to this, other sources reported that a mass of money and resources have been spent on employing staff and preparing for the law to come into force.

Sarah Lesting, EUDR lead for WAN-IFRA, highlighted how the regulation presents significant challenges for many of its  members.

“We have heard, for instance, that some publishers outside the EU are reconsidering their supply into Europe, as the compliance costs associated with the legislation are proving prohibitive,” Lesting said.

“While many of our members are actively preparing to meet the requirements, others continue to face difficulties in aligning with the regulation’s demands,” she added.

Under the EUDR, all paper products must carry a DDS and a reference number before they can be placed in or out of the EU market, with the number then needing to be provided to retailers at least seven days before a product launch.

Sources at the summit told Fastmarkets that for most traded goods the system would work smoothly, but for printed products such as newsprint the situation is far more complex as print runs and paper batches could often change at the last minute.

As the regulation tightens traceability requirements, the European print industry is warning that existing systems are not fit for purpose due to short production cycles – particularly for time sensitive printed products.

In a presentation by German media company FUNKE Mediengruppe, both Lars Ole Eichelberg, head of strategic procurement direct materials, and Gundula Ullah, chief sustainability officer highlighted a proposed new “pooling model” which would bridge the gap, allowing for regulatory compliant end products to be produced.

The pooling model will allow for products to be grouped in batches over a specific time period rather than per product, allowing all raw materials, semi-finished goods and finished goods to be stored in a central silo warehouse, where “only EUDR-compliant materials are stored.”

The new model would then allow for the bundling of print products from two existing VAT categories, which would “significantly reduce the number of reference numbers required and make compliance more practical,” they said.

The new pooling system will also take into account temporal uncertainty, as not all raw materials and finished products are processed in the same period.

The potential delay of the enforcement date of the EUDR to 2026 has pushed some European industry associations to call to continue anti-deforestation efforts despite the delays, according to PEFC secretary general and CEO Michael Berger.

“Deforestation doesn’t wait for legislation, and nor should businesses. We continue to experience high levels of nature loss globally, and it is important companies continue to take action to safeguard habitats, encourage biodiversity and support climate resilience”.

As both AI and EU regulations are redefining the boundaries of print, Betram Stausberg concluded that it has become “crystal clear that every publisher and printer has to find their own way to meet their specific challenges.

“There is no one size or solution that fits all,” he added.

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