Supply Chain


  • 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
  • The cab of a semi truck appears blurry while driving past a stack of shipping containers in the background.
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    Spencer Platt / Staff via Getty Images
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    5 questions about tariff impacts on the packaging industry

    Frequent changes and uncertainty loom over manufacturers as they assess international supply chain risk and consider procurement changes.

    By Shefali Kapadia • May 29, 2025
  • A view of the United States Court of International Trade in New York City, on June 22, 2019.
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    The image by ajay_suresh is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    US court blocks Trump’s sweeping tariffs

    The Court of International Trade said the president overstepped his authority, halting various duties. After an appeal, the ruling has been paused.

    By Edwin Lopez • Updated May 29, 2025
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appears before the House Financial Services Committee on May 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
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    Pete Marovich via Getty Images
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    US, China agree to reduce tariff rates for 90 days

    By Wednesday, the two countries will charge 10% baseline duties during the period and remove certain retaliatory levies that pushed rates over 100%.

    By Philip Neuffer • May 12, 2025
  • Factory workers on an assembly line
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    Permission granted by Plastic Ingenuity
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    Sponsored by Plastic Ingenuity, Inc.

    Tariffs, delays and uncertainty: How to build a resilient packaging supply chain in 2025

    Four tips to help shield your brand from tariffs, material shortages and other supply chain disruptors.

    By Plastic Ingenuity • May 12, 2025
  • Worker scanning barcode of cardboard packages before delivery at storage.
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    Ridofranz via Getty Images
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    Are tariff-era changes to fiber supply chains here to stay?

    Some fiber companies are altering where they source material and ship products, and economic uncertainty is also shifting consumer spending and demand for containerboard, analysts from Rabobank and BCG discussed.

    By May 6, 2025
  • O-I Glass global headquarters.
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    Courtesy of O-I Glass
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    O-I says glass supply chains are a strength amid aluminum tariffs

    The Ohio-based company saw shipments grow in Q1, driven in part by advanced purchasing ahead of new tariffs. But in Europe, O-I is curtailing production.

    By May 5, 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
  • a close up of syringes in packaging
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    Mikhail Dmitriev via Getty Images
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    Healthcare packaging an untapped chemical recycling feedstock: report

    The Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council says its multi-year research into chemical recycling for healthcare packaging shows the material is an untapped feedstock that could help overcome collection and processing hurdles.

    By Megan Quinn • April 21, 2025
  • Close up view of stacked corrugated cardboard.
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    Mikola249 via Getty Images
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    Tariff turmoil: Box demand dips, recession fears rise

    The impact of uncertainty from tariffs already is appearing in the paper and packaging industry, and manufacturers are expressing concern about a potential recession this year, according to analysts.

    By April 18, 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
  • President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on April 7, 2025.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Trump pauses most reciprocal tariffs, hikes China’s further

    The U.S. will now charge a 125% duty on imports from China, while most other countries will be subject to a 10% rate for 90 days.

    By Philip Neuffer • Updated April 10, 2025
  • A truck transports a container at Yangluo container port on the Yangtze River on April 12, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
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    Getty Images via Getty Images
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    China raises tariffs on US to 84%, matching Trump’s increase

    The retaliatory duties, taking effect Thursday, were originally set at 34% before the White House further raised its own rates.

    By Max Garland • April 9, 2025
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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
  • Donald Trump addresses a crowd
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump threatens 50% tariff on China if retaliatory duties stay

    The president said Monday that China, which vowed to fight the action, had until Tuesday to back off from its plan for 34% tariffs on U.S. imports.

    By Max Garland • Updated April 8, 2025
  • China, shipping, scrap, recycle
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    VCG via Getty Images
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    China readies 34% tariff on US imports starting April 10

    The country's retaliation against President Donald Trump's trade policies builds upon previously announced duties.

    By Max Garland • April 4, 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
  • President Donald Trump waves to a crowd at the White House on April 2, 2025.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Trump installs 10% baseline tariff, country-specific duties

    The president said he will levy import taxes on China, Japan and others equal to half of what they charge the U.S. based on White House calculations.

    By Philip Neuffer • April 2, 2025
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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
  • President Donald Trump addresses reporters at the White House on March 3, 2025.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    Manufacturing economy stalls amid tariff confusion: PMI

    Purchasing managers’ index data showed a contraction in March. The industry is bracing for the impact of the Trump administration's upcoming "Liberation Day," on April 2, set to bring a slew of tariffs.

    By Kate Magill • April 1, 2025
  • Several white, plastic yogurt cups containing different colored yogurt, one of which has a metal spoon sticking out of it.
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    AtlasStudio via Getty Images
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    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 March 25, 2025
  • stacks of brown paper cups in a row in a coffeeshop setting
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    dmf87 via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    FPI president touts resilience amid industry changes

    The COVID-19 pandemic and EPR laws are among the forces driving the food service packaging sector to adapt and increase collaboration, said Foodservice Packaging Institute President Natha Dempsey.

    By March 20, 2025
  • Tariff uncertainty sparks manufacturing anxiety, especially among small firms

    Changing foreign suppliers could become more difficult as the Trump administration continues to enact new widespread tariff policies.

    By Kate Magill • March 17, 2025
  • A gloved hand places a takeout salad in a paper bag
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    doble-d via Getty Images
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    5 years later, pandemic-era effects have a mark on the packaging industry

    COVID-19 changed how consumers get meals, order items and more, in turn influencing packaging. Some changes in manufacturing have stuck, from automating certain tasks to adapting supply chain management.

    By , March 14, 2025