The Latest
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Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Serdar Akar; Getty Images
Tracking packaging mergers and acquisitions in 2024
Sibelco recently acquired Strategic Materials, one of North America’s largest glass recyclers, while CCL Industries announced this week that it completed its buyout of its Middle East joint venture, bolstering its labels business.
Updated June 13, 2024 -
baranozdemir via Getty Images
5 packaging priorities in the federal food waste strategy
The EPA, FDA and USDA highlighted efforts on compostable packaging, biobased materials, food date labeling, PFAS reduction and more in the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics.
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Courtesy of Wayfair
Wayfair boosts packaging recyclability, introduces zero waste goal
The expanded use of paper-based mailers in the U.S. contributed to a bump in packaging recyclability.
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Courtesy of SEE
SEE appoints WestRock executive as CEO
Patrick Kivits, who has been with WestRock for five years, was slated to keep his position upon that company’s combination with Smurfit Kappa in July. Instead, he’ll start the month leading SEE.
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Permission granted by WestRock
Smurfit WestRock transactionWestRock, Smurfit Kappa shareholders vote to approve combination
Recently released documents reveal when executives expect the deal to close and just how long the transaction has been in the works.
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Courtesy of Google
Google details fiber swaps in consumer electronics packaging
Its anticipated plastic-free packaging design guide details implementation of molded fiber trays and hang tabs, paper tapes and other alternatives. Apple and Amazon have also pursued plastic reduction in device packaging.
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Retrieved from Greif on June 11, 2024
North America’s 2 largest URB producers to raise prices
Greif and Sonoco’s recent announcements about increases for uncoated recycled board are the latest in a string of fiber price hikes this year. They may not be the last.
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shank_ali via Getty Images
Aerosol can recycling has confounded consumers. There’s a push to fix that by 2030.
Next steps include stronger labeling and advocating for aerosols on statewide recyclability lists in EPR programs, according to the Can Manufacturers Institute and the Household and Commercial Products Association.
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Liudmila Chernetska for iStock via Getty Images
US Plastics Pact releases new road map with 2030 plastics targets
The new goals look very similar to those in the original road map, with a couple additions and a deadline extended from 2025 to 2030. Participants made progress on the 2025 goals but were unlikely to all meet the original targets.
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Retrieved from New York Senate.
After late push, New York packaging EPR bill runs out of time
The proposed legislation would have also set plastic reduction thresholds and banned certain toxic substances. The long-contested bill was opposed by some of the same groups that supported a packaging EPR law in Minnesota.
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Courtesy of Smurfit Kappa
Smurfit WestRock: The transaction creating a global packaging giant
The pending combination of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock is expected to make the world’s largest publicly traded packaging company.
Updated June 13, 2024 -
Katie Pyzyk/Serdar Akar
Alison Keane to leave Flexible Packaging Association this summer
After more than seven years of pushing for industry improvements such as better plastic film recycling infrastructure, the president and CEO will join a recycling organization.
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Agustin Orduna via Getty Images
Ardagh, USW notch win in ongoing glass wine bottle import review
The U.S. Glass Producers Coalition petitioned on the issue last December. More determinations from the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission are expected in the coming months on China, Mexico and Chile.
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Courtesy of Unilever
Packaging innovations: Hellmann’s debuts ingestible interior, Tesco tattoos produce
Plus, Coast Cannabis turns to the ocean for chocolate bar packaging, and ProAmpac cools down grocery deliveries with recyclable bags.
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Courtesy of Billerud
Billerud’s decision to scrap $1B cartonboard plant could signal further sector pullbacks
While Billerud’s reversal could be positive for competitors like Graphic Packaging, Greif and Westrock, an overall soft boxboard market could result in more delays and cancelations for the sector, industry observers say.
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shaunl via Getty Images
Colorado’s PRO names executive director to manage state’s EPR rollout
Meanwhile, Circular Action Alliance says it's still looking to hire for similar roles in Oregon and California.
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Foto-Video-Studio via Getty Images
Greif opens Dallas bulk corrugated facility, hikes URB prices again
The Ohio-based manufacturer said during a call Thursday detailing paper business trends that demand for its recycled paper products is on the rise. But it reported delayed price recognition as a persistent challenge.
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Permission granted by Tetra Pak
Tetra Pak reports plant-based plastics demand growing in North America
The company is now targeting 2030 for having 10% recycled polymers across beverage cartons sold in Europe. It also shared updates on tethered caps, sugarcane-derived plastic uptake and more in its new sustainability report.
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Courtesy of Hain Celestial
SKU rationalization is in. What does that mean for packaging partners?
Unilever, Hain Celestial and other brands are thinking through their offerings to boost profits. Such efforts can also simplify operations for packaging manufacturers, allowing them to produce quickly at scale.
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Photo illustration by Shaun Lucas/Serdar Akar; photograph by Vudhikul Ocharoen via Getty Images
TrackerPackaging manufacturers set big sustainability goals. How are they doing?
Check out the latest sustainability data shared this year by Tetra Pak, International Paper, WestRock, Sonoco, Berry, Ball and Smurfit Kappa.
Updated June 6, 2024 -
Katie Pyzyk/Serdar Akar
Packaging conferences still to come in 2024
Flexible packaging, compostable packaging, digital printing and other labeling technologies, mechanical and chemical recycling, e-commerce and other topics are on tap at U.S. conferences and trade shows this summer and fall.
Updated June 12, 2024 -
SafakOguz via Getty Images
Novelis backtracks on IPO launch
The supplier to customers like Ball, Ardagh and Coca-Cola said it’s holding off on previously announced plans “due to market conditions” a week after pricing an offering that could have generated as much as $945 million.
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Ideas_Studio via Getty Images
US packaging manufacturers announced more than 600 layoffs in May
Genpak, Georgia-Pacific and Graphic Packaging were among the companies that filed WARN notices. Closures are happening in states including Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin.
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Joe Raedle via Getty Images
Have an idea to reduce retail packaging? Walmart wants to hear it.
The retail giant listed seven specific areas for innovators to prioritize, including snack bags and frozen food trays, that have proven tricky for design and sustainability improvements.
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Courtesy of Diageo
Packaging innovations: Diageo tests paper Baileys bottles, Nestlé wants consumers to eat forks
Plus, L’Occitane en Provence partners with Carbios for PET bottles made by using enzymatic recycling, and Green Life Farms reduces the plastic in its lettuce packaging.
