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Avery Dennison

To make a material difference for our customers and the world by helping to create a more intelligent, more sustainable future.

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Avery Dennison SWOT Analysis

Updated: October 3, 2025 • 2025-Q4 Analysis

The Avery Dennison SWOT Analysis reveals a company at a pivotal transformation point. Its established leadership in materials science provides a stable foundation, but its future hinges on successfully scaling the Intelligent Labels division. This is both its greatest strength and biggest opportunity, capitalizing on the macrotrends of digitalization and sustainability. However, the company must guard against cyclical market weaknesses and margin pressures from volatile input costs. The key priorities identified—accelerating digital ID, innovating in sustainable materials, expanding into high-growth verticals, and optimizing core operations—form a clear and potent strategy. Executing this plan will transition Avery Dennison from a materials supplier to a true technology and data leader, solidifying its role in creating a more intelligent and sustainable future for global commerce.

To make a material difference for our customers and the world by helping to create a more intelligent, more sustainable future.

Strengths

  • LEADERSHIP: Dominant market share in pressure-sensitive materials.
  • INNOVATION: Strong growth in high-margin Intelligent Labels (+15% YoY).
  • SCALE: Global manufacturing presence enables supply chain resilience.
  • FINANCIALS: Consistent cash flow generation and disciplined capital.
  • PLATFORM: Atma.io manages over 25B unique digital product IDs.

Weaknesses

  • CYCLICALITY: Exposure to consumer spending, apparel, and auto markets.
  • MARGINS: Raw material price volatility impacts Materials Group profits.
  • INTEGRATION: Complexity in unifying diverse acquired technologies.
  • DEBT: Moderate leverage of ~2.5x Net Debt to EBITDA to manage.
  • PERCEPTION: Still viewed as a 'label company,' not a tech innovator.

Opportunities

  • DIGITALIZATION: Every product becoming connected creates massive TAM.
  • SUSTAINABILITY: Growing demand for recycled content & compostable materials.
  • REGULATION: EU's Digital Product Passport mandates item-level data.
  • EXPANSION: Penetrating underserved markets like healthcare and food.
  • SERVICES: Monetizing data analytics and insights from the atma.io cloud.

Threats

  • COMPETITION: Intense rivalry from 3M, CCL, and low-cost Asian players.
  • RECESSION: Global economic slowdown could reduce label/tag volumes.
  • INPUT-COSTS: Inflationary pressures on polymers, pulp, and chemicals.
  • DISRUPTION: Label-less tech (e.g., direct-to-object printing) emerges.
  • GEOPOLITICS: Trade tensions and supply chain disruptions affect operations.

Key Priorities

  • ACCELERATE: Double down on Intelligent Labels to lead digital ID tech.
  • INNOVATE: Launch next-gen sustainable materials to win green economy.
  • EXPAND: Aggressively pursue high-growth medical and logistics verticals.
  • OPTIMIZE: Protect core business margins through operational excellence.

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Avery Dennison Market

  • Founded: 1935, by R. Stanton Avery
  • Market Share: ~20-25% in pressure-sensitive labels
  • Customer Base: Global CPG, apparel, logistics, auto
  • Category:
  • SIC Code: 2672
  • NAICS Code: 322220 Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing
  • Location: Mentor, Ohio
  • Zip Code: 44060
    Congressional District: OH-14 WARREN
  • Employees: 35000
Competitors
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Products & Services
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Distribution Channels

Avery Dennison Product Market Fit Analysis

Updated: October 3, 2025

Avery Dennison transforms physical products into digital assets, giving brands unprecedented real-time visibility into their supply chains. This drives efficiency, enhances sustainability, and unlocks new consumer experiences, turning every product into a data-rich, interactive platform. It's the intelligent future of commerce, delivered at global scale through advanced materials science and a powerful connected product cloud.

1

Drive supply chain efficiency and accuracy

2

Enhance sustainability and circularity goals

3

Enable new digital consumer experiences



Before State

  • Opaque, disconnected supply chains
  • Manual, error-prone inventory tracking
  • Limited brand-to-consumer interaction

After State

  • Real-time, item-level supply chain visibility
  • Automated, accurate inventory management
  • Direct digital engagement with end-users

Negative Impacts

  • Lost sales from stockouts, high waste
  • Counterfeiting & gray market diversion
  • Inefficient recall and return processes

Positive Outcomes

  • Increased sales, reduced operational costs
  • Enhanced brand protection and authenticity
  • Improved sustainability and circularity

Key Metrics

Customer Retention Rates - ~90% for top accounts
Net Promoter Score (NPS) - Estimated 40-50 (B2B industry avg)
User Growth Rate - 20%+ YoY growth in intelligent labels volume
Customer Feedback/Reviews - N/A (B2B focus, not on G2)
Repeat Purchase Rates) - High, due to integration in client products

Requirements

  • Digital triggers (RFID, QR) on every item
  • Cloud platform to manage item-level data
  • Integration with enterprise systems (ERP)

Why Avery Dennison

  • Embed RFID inlays into labels/packaging
  • Utilize atma.io connected product cloud
  • Provide APIs for seamless data integration

Avery Dennison Competitive Advantage

  • Decades of materials science expertise
  • Global scale for consistent application
  • End-to-end solution from tag to cloud

Proof Points

  • 25B+ items managed on atma.io platform
  • Adopted by top global apparel & food brands
  • Proven ROI in inventory accuracy & sales lift
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Avery Dennison Market Positioning

Strategic pillars derived from our vision-focused SWOT analysis

Lead in digital ID solutions (RFID).

Drive circularity and eco-friendly materials.

Expand in high-value categories like medical.

Optimize global operations and capital allocation.

What You Do

  • Provides materials science and digital ID solutions.

Target Market

  • Global brands in consumer goods, retail, apparel, and healthcare.

Differentiation

  • Global scale and manufacturing footprint
  • Leadership in RFID tech (atma.io)

Revenue Streams

  • Sale of label & graphic materials
  • Sale of RFID tags & software
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Avery Dennison Operations and Technology

Company Operations
  • Organizational Structure: Two primary segments: Materials Group and Solutions Group.
  • Supply Chain: Global sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution network.
  • Tech Patents: Holds over 1,500 patents globally.
  • Website: https://www.averydennison.com
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Avery Dennison Competitive Forces

Threat of New Entry

Moderate: Capital intensity for global-scale manufacturing is a high barrier, but niche digital/RFID solution providers can enter more easily.

Supplier Power

Moderate: Key raw materials like polymers and pulp are commodities, but consolidation among chemical suppliers can shift power.

Buyer Power

Moderate to High: Large CPG and retail customers have significant purchasing power, but high switching costs for qualified materials.

Threat of Substitution

Low to Moderate: While digital media is a substitute for some labels, physical product identification is essential. Direct-to-object printing is a long-term threat.

Competitive Rivalry

High: Intense competition from large players like 3M, CCL, and UPM, plus numerous regional specialists, leading to price pressures.

AI Disclosure

This report was created using the Alignment Method—our proprietary process for guiding AI to reveal how it interprets your business and industry. These insights are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.

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