Materials

  • A white factory with the blue U.S. Steel logo and U.S. flag on the building.
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    Jeff Swensen via Getty Images
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    Trump promises 50% tariffs on steel

    The president announced the tariff hike while touting Nippon Steel’s proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel during a rally in Pittsburgh.  

    By Sara Samora • May 30, 2025
  • Bales of plastic in a warehouse
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    Courtesy of Nova Chemicals
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    Nova Chemicals, Novolex open mechanical recycling facility for PE film

    The Indiana facility will process up to 145,000 bales of postconsumer plastic film a year to produce recycled LLDPE for use in food-safe applications. End users will include Charter Next Generation and Pregis.

    By Megan Quinn • May 27, 2025
  • Beverage bottles with Pepsi branding sit on a store shelf.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    PepsiCo resets packaging sustainability goals, ditches reuse target

    The company discontinued some sustainability goals and revamped others for packaging and emissions. PepsiCo says the goals are still ambitious and reflect external challenges to achieving targets.

    By • May 22, 2025
  • A square chunk of cheese in a wrapper with messaging for Nestlé's ¡Qué Rico! cheese brand.
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    Screenshot: Ogilvy/YouTube

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    Packaging innovations: Nestlé ‘self-packing’ cheese will have you saying ‘no whey!’

    Plus, ProAmpac discusses a collaboration bringing recyclable paper bags to lawn care, and SIG scales its aluminum-free aseptic carton offerings.

    By • May 21, 2025
  • A rigid plastic bottle of Mrs. Meyer's liquid hand soap sits next to a larger, flexible plastic pouch of the same product.
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    Permission granted by SC Johnson
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    Packaging innovations: SC Johnson’s soap refill system, Amcor and Metsä collaborate on trays

    Plus, Nestlé Purina gets a PCR boost and Futamura brings compostability features to sachets.

    By • May 16, 2025
  • Muhammad Rabnawaz stands under MSU School of Packaging sign
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    Courtesy of Michigan State University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, School of Packaging
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    Packaging innovation center scores federal funding to ‘strengthen US manufacturers’

    Organizers in Michigan are engaging companies to be part of this pre-competitive research hub that leverages National Science Foundation grant money as well as industry buy-in.

    By • May 9, 2025
  • A stick of Every Man Jack deodorant in its previous packaging next to a stick in new packaging.
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    Permission granted by Every Man Jack
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    Packaging innovations: PCR plays from CG Roxane, Every Man Jack, Stumptown Coffee

    Plus, Aveda redesigned its sample product sachets with Xela Pack and Stora Enso launched a next-generation folding boxboard from a newly up-and-running consumer packaging board line.

    By , • May 8, 2025
  • A Kind snack bar that has messaging on the label indicating the new paper wrapper is recyclable.
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    Permission granted by Kind Snacks
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    Kind Snacks launches recyclable paper wrapper pilot program

    Printpack helped the snack food company develop a barrier-coated paper wrapper to replace plastic. The partners will gather information about shelf life and durability during transit to determine next steps for scaling.

    By • May 1, 2025
  • Gloved hands holding polypropylene plastic granules
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    CatherScarl via Getty Images
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    CPGs unlikely to hit 2025 PCR goals, Ameripen analysis shows

    Companies have upped recycled plastic in packaging the last few years. But CPGs still face considerable uncertainty about how recycled materials and related technologies could be regulated going forward.

    By • April 28, 2025
  • A green box of Zyrtec allergy medication with orange messaging.
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    Permission granted by Kenvue
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    Packaging innovations: Zyrtec’s flat-front fiber box, Saint James Iced Tea bets on bottles

    Plus, a look at new packaging launches from Sonoco, DS Smith, Eco-Products and Pulpex. 

    By • April 25, 2025
  • Close-up view of flat, stacked corrugated boxes.
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    SafakOguz via Getty Images
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    Fiber producers could be teeing up another round of price increases

    Analysts say that producers are watching tariffs, and whether the seasonal demand uptick will occur this year, as factors in pricing decisions.

    By • April 22, 2025
  • Human workers next to a conveyor line sort plastic packaging such as bottles.
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    South_agency via Getty Images
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    PCR use still dogged by pricing challenges: report

    The U.S. Plastics Pact released a report with strategies for overcoming barriers to PCR use, including the price disparity between virgin and recycled material.

    By • April 21, 2025
  • A variety of Collective Good wines on a retail store shelf.
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    Permission granted by Frugalpak
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    Frugalpac’s paper wine bottles scale with Target debut

    It’s the first full-scale nationwide rollout of Frugalpac’s paper bottle at a major U.S. retailer, said CEO Malcolm Waugh.

    By • April 17, 2025
  • Various sizes and shapes of disposable food pans and trays made from foil.
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    Nordroden via Getty Images
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    Duties coming on aluminum containers from China following US trade ruling

    The U.S. government investigated after foil container manufacturers raised issue with imports of trays, lids and more. But U.S. industry is still concerned about Chinese companies transshipping through other countries.

    By • April 15, 2025
  • Two people holding up kegs of Liquid Death branded water.
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    Retrieved from Liquid Death on April 09, 2025
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    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 • April 10, 2025
  • A large group of dosing pens for subcutaneous injection of anti-obesity medication piled in a heap.
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    aprott via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    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 • April 9, 2025
  • Foam takeout containers and other packaging waste
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    Genevieve Isabelle via Getty Images
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    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 • April 8, 2025
  • resin pellets fall into an outstretched hand
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    Permission granted by NOVA Chemicals
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    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 at a factory
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    Gumpanat via Getty Images
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    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 • Updated April 4, 2025
  • people sit on a stage in front of a screen
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    Megan Quinn/Packaging Dive
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    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
  • A dark gray plastic industrial crate.
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    Courtesy of Tetra Pak
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    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 • April 2, 2025
  • Machinery inside Graphic Packaging International's Kalamazoo, Michigan, paperboard production plant.
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    Permission granted by Graphic Packaging International
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    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 • April 1, 2025
  • A person shops in a grocery store aisle
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    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
  • A person draws on a white board with a marker.
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    Courtesy of Amcor
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    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 • March 28, 2025
  • A box with branding for Seagram's Escapes flavored malt beverages.
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    Courtesy of Seagram's Escapes
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    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 • March 26, 2025