Packaging innovations: Liquid Death’s ‘Kegs for Pregs,’ Crown has a Moment

Plus, brand and packaging company collaborations led to new or redesigned packaging from Dole, Henkel, Furminator, Bubbies Ice Cream, Happy Campers, Berlin Packaging, AeroFlexx, Earthcycle and Verde Bioresins.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 10, 2025

Weighty issue: GLP-1 drugs are reshaping packaging demand

Soaring use of these medications for weight loss is shifting demand, including for packaging manufacturers that serve pharma and food customers. Analysts say the game-changer is an opportunity for innovative companies.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 9, 2025

California confirms EPS food service ware ban

CalRecycle said that after a review, there’s not sufficient data showing covered materials meet a required 25% recycling rate. This clarifies what many had already considered a de facto ban under SB 54.

By Maria Rachal • April 8, 2025

Closed loops may help boost US food-grade PCR supply

Industry groups and packaging companies support increasing the use of PCR in food-grade packaging, but progress remains incremental in many cases. 

By Hollie Stephens • April 7, 2025

Aluminum cans, beer imports subject to 25% tariffs

The duties are separate from President Trump’s baseline tariffs. The Aluminum Association supports the move, while the Consumer Brands Association joined others in asking the administration to “fine-tune their approach.”

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated April 4, 2025

Ideas for easing recycled content woes through policy, packaging

Brand innovations, policy changes and better communication could help ease challenges associated with adding recycled content to packaging, said speakers at the Plastics Recycling Conference.

By Megan Quinn • April 2, 2025

Crate idea: Transport packaging made from recycled Tetra Pak cartons

The polymer and aluminum material, polyAl, that gets separated from fiber during carton recycling is a key material for the new transport crates made by Schoeller Allibert. 

By Katie Pyzyk • April 2, 2025

Graphic Packaging International to close Ohio plant, affecting 130 employees

The Ohio closure had been anticipated as part of the company’s effort to consolidate its mill system and focus on new facilities in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Waco, Texas, but it comes months ahead of schedule.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 1, 2025

Hitting a plateau: Circular packaging designers face flexibles hurdle

Many companies have targets to make 100% of their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Now, as they face the hardest categories to transform, some are weighing whether it’s feasible.

By Shefali Kapadia • March 31, 2025

Amcor extends open call for novel barrier coatings

The company aims to work with innovators and startups on compostable and recyclable coatings for flexible packaging. Chosen projects could receive up to $500,000 in funding.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 28, 2025

Packaging innovations: Seagram’s slims down, J. Lohr puts cab in a keg

Plus, Wimbée and Koehler Paper cap off a fiber packaging project and Contempo Specialty Packaging keeps plastics and kids out of its cannabis packaging.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 26, 2025

AI-enabled MRF technology aids food-grade polypropylene recovery: report

A study led by Closed Loop Partners, in collaboration with Greyparrot, analyzed more than 650 tons of material from four U.S. MRFs. 

By Katie Pyzyk • March 25, 2025

URB producers to increase prices as tariffs affect fiber demand

Greif, Sonoco, Cascades and Ox Industries are leading the price increases for uncoated recycled paperboard. Meanwhile, analysts flag that tariff uncertainty has prompted fiber demand shifts.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 21, 2025

Republic opens Indianapolis plastics complex to meet recycled content demand

The location has the company’s second polymer center and a Blue Polymers facility. Together, they’re expected to process 175,000 pounds of recycled plastic annually and in part offer resin for food-grade packaging.

By Megan Quinn • March 20, 2025

PET thermoform recycling is rising, but still not matching PCR demand

Only 54% of U.S. residents with recycling programs have access to thermoform recycling. That must increase to meet growing postconsumer recycled content demand, according to NAPCOR.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated March 20, 2025

Recyclers give packaging designers a glimpse into limitations, opportunities in today’s MRFs

Leaders from Republic Services, Rumpke Waste & Recycling and elsewhere discussed their role in recycling plastics at the Sustainability in Packaging US conference.

By Maria Rachal • March 17, 2025

Trump reverses Canada steel, aluminum tariff hike

A 25% tariff increase on the metal imports will still go into effect Wednesday, but that rate won’t double after Ontario backed off from imposing retaliatory energy tariffs.

By Philip Neuffer • Updated March 11, 2025

Packaging innovations: Less plastic in dairy cups, paint refills, pallet wraps

Huhtamaki, Mondi and Ranpak recently announced new packaging launches and technology integrations.

By Maria Rachal • March 7, 2025

China’s import policies changed fiber trade. Tariffs could change it again.

RaboResearch explored how pulp and paper are “caught in the cross fire of a new North American trade war” as well as trade trends with folding cartonboard and recovered paper.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 5, 2025

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 25, 2025

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 24, 2025

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 11, 2025

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 7, 2025

How2Recycle questions recyclability level of aerosol cans, boosts paper canisters

Sonoco celebrated the development for its paper cans after “collaboration with recyclers.” How2Recycle will also review the status for single-use PP coffee pods, bulky rigid plastics, and HDPE trays and thermoforms.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 6, 2025

US and Canada agree to 30-day pause on tariffs

The two countries will push back a Feb. 4 enforcement date as they coordinate anti-drug trafficking efforts at their shared border.

By Philip Neuffer • Feb. 3, 2025