Consumers address user experience with reusable cups

Partners on a major citywide reuse project, whose brand participants included Starbucks and Berry, gathered feedback on the plastic cups. Some consumers flagged microplastics fears with hot beverages, according to a new report.

Amcor, Berry shareholders approve $8.4B combination

Amcor announced in November that it would acquire Berry, which was in M&A talks with multiple other parties earlier in 2024, according to a regulatory filing.

Sealed Air ‘becoming more substrate-agnostic,’ upping fiber mailers

Sealed Air’s new CEO wants to be more competitive in e-commerce. The company is also working to mitigate the impact of tariffs and close two plants by year’s end.

February’s partial price increase for containerboard again raises index questions

Fiber producers continue to move away from third-party indexes and question their relevance to the broader market. Plus, analysts flag that containerboard oversupply and expected mill closures will affect prices.

Caps, pumps, pods: Preventing small packaging from slipping through recycling systems

Tens of thousands of tons of small-format packaging could be captured each year with technological upgrades, according to a Closed Loop Partners report.

Packaging manufacturers detail 2024 results

Sonoco, Smurfit Westrock, Graphic Packaging International, Amcor and International Paper are among the major companies that have shared their 2024 results. Read what executives had to say.

Tariff uncertainty looms large for Cascades

Tariffs could impact 15% of Cascades' revenues, so the company has devised plans to mitigate potential negative effects, executives said on Thursday’s earnings call.

Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council continues exploring chemical recycling

The industry consortium has a new executive director. One focus this year is to expand efforts to more clinical settings, such as dental offices, to increase regional volumes collected for recycling.

Sonoco turns M&A eye to ThermoSafe sale after Eviosys deal close

M&A drove a “milestone” year in 2024, Sonoco executives said. But the Eviosys acquisition’s longer-than-expected approval timeline affected contract negotiations, said CEO Howard Coker.

How PROs can support reuse in EPR programs

Upstream calls on producer responsibility organizations to transparently track targets for reusables’ market share and return rates.

Pactiv Evergreen settles for $6.25M over 2023 North Carolina mill closure

The restitution amount is more than half of what Pactiv Evergreen received from the state in grants for the site. The company is “pleased to have resolved” matters related to the Canton mill, which it sold last month.

Minnesota taps Circular Action Alliance for EPR program

Producers must register in Minnesota later this year. The CEO of CAA says the producer responsibility organization’s work in other states “enables us to immediately find efficiencies for producers” and “scale best practices.”

Updated Feb. 19, 2025

Clearwater Paper eliminates 200 positions as part of cost-cutting plan

The positions represent 10% of the company’s workforce. In 2025, Clearwater will work to broaden its product portfolio and improve operational performance, executives said.

Sealed Air ousts another CEO

Patrick Kivits held the role for less than eight months. Sealed Air recently reorganized into food and protective packaging verticals.

10 manufacturers invest millions in packaging, rPET expansions

The lion’s share of recently announced investments will occur in the central United States, including for International Paper, Genpak, Eagle Flexible Packaging and Premier Packaging.

Trump orders reciprocal tariffs on all countries

“In other words, they charge us a tax or tariff, and we charge them the exact same tax,” President Donald Trump said Thursday.

International Paper to close 4 facilities, affecting 674 employees

The bulk of those jobs are at a Louisiana mill slated to cease operations by March 31, according to an additional securities filing from the company. It adds to more than 1,500 layoffs announced in late 2024.

Updated Feb. 13, 2025

Pactiv Evergreen to close Michigan plant, cut 153 jobs

Jobs will be eliminated this spring. Pactiv Evergreen announced in 2024 a couple rounds of cost-cutting measures, including layoffs and curtailed spending.

Smurfit Westrock balances closures, investments in ‘transformation’ year

The company also is assessing the potential impacts of new tariffs and eyeing other pricing models, executives said.

Tariffs could alter packaging mix, Coca-Cola says

The beverage giant may shift some product sold in aluminum cans to PET bottles if input costs rise in light of new tariffs, said CEO James Quincey.

Metal packaging manufacturers raise red flags over new tariffs

Both packaging and “consumer prices will go up” as manufacturers pass down increased costs, said Can Manufacturers Institute President Robert Budway.

Ball, Crown, O-I talk beverage market, 2025 consumer concerns

Customers’ portfolio diversity, the spending strength of end consumers, and competition between glass and cans were discussion points during recent earnings calls.

Green Guides updates still pending as states lead on labeling

Packaging industry leaders think discussion at the congressional level could be possible this year on how to create greater unity for recyclability, compostability and other labeling standards.

Packaging innovations: Energizer’s move away from plastic just keeps going and going and going

Plus, Carton Service CSI’s cartons go cap-free and Berry Global expands its line of refillable sticks.

Packaging execs share how tariffs could hurt or boost business

CEOs addressed potential impacts, following President Donald Trump’s proposals for Canada, Mexico and China.