Sustainability

  • The exterior of a building with a sign that says Sonoco near cars in a parking lot.
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    Permission granted by Sonoco
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    Sonoco invests in fiber, water upgrades at 2 Midwest cans plants

    The paper cans production and water treatment investments align with the company’s sustainability strategy, explained John Pontrello, VP of operations for consumer packaging in North America.

    By • June 23, 2026
  • Large drums filled with multicolored plastic flakes.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Cannabis packaging supplier P3 Distributing expands from recycling into reuse

    About a year after delving into reuse, the Oregon packaging supplier aims to grow that operation as well as its nearly decade-old recycling business. “Reuse isn’t taking off yet because it needs scale,” said owner Patrick Caldwell.

    By • June 18, 2026
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    Drazen Zigic via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    CPG Packaging Sustainability and Technology Trends

    Food and beverage companies are navigating a host of changes in regulatory, consumer and technology trends.

    By Packaging Dive staff
  • 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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    How Mars and Mondelēz fared on 2025 packaging targets

    The snacking giants recently released their 2025 sustainability reports, sharing updates on recyclability and recycled content across their packaging portfolios.

    By • June 18, 2026
  • Plastic cups are lined up on a shelf in an industrial warehouse.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Scaling reusable packaging systems in Portland, Oregon

    Businesses, nonprofits, government entities and others have collaborated to make the region a reuse leader in the United States.

    By • Updated June 18, 2026
  • A person's hand holds a plastic cup with branding for Straightaway Cocktails, and an outdoor concert stage is in the background.
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    Permission granted by Bold Reuse
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    30 by ‘30: Bold Reuse details strategies to scale reusables systems in US

    Roughly two years after the operator says it reached profitability, Bold is working with new partners to have a presence in 30 cities by 2030. Extended producer responsibility laws are helping to fuel the growth.

    By • June 17, 2026
  • Two people's arms reach out over a foodservice counter to exchange a reusable coffee mug with a "Choose to Reuse" sticker on it.
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    Permission granted by City of Portland
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    No takeout containers? No problem. BYO takes root in Portland, Oregon.

    A regional government launched a bring-your-own-container initiative after the state passed a law allowing the practice. Local leaders collaborate with nonprofits and private reuse businesses.

    By • June 12, 2026
  • The label on the back of a wine bottle has messaging including a reuse symbol.
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    Permission granted by PR3: The Global Alliance to Advance Reuse
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    A reuse symbol hit the market. Oregon is putting it to the test.

    Reuse and refill businesses in the Portland area are among the initial adopters of PR3’s new logo that organizers hope becomes as universally recognized as the chasing arrows for recycling. 

    By • June 9, 2026
  • A Lavazza Tabli machine sits on a counter next to Tabli tablets.
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    Courtesy of Lavazza
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    Lavazza launches single-serve coffee pods without packaging

    The company is bringing its Tablì single-serve coffee tabs to the U.S., which don’t contain individual wrappings or coatings.

    By Laurel Deppen • June 9, 2026
  • Plastic resin pellets.
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    Getty Images
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    3 insights into rising corporate plastics disclosures

    More companies are detailing plastics data, mapping their value chains and setting targets as business and regulatory risks become more apparent, according to CDP.

    By • June 5, 2026
  • Close up view of Andy Boy packaged lettuce
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Emerald Packaging CEO on his dual role as supplier and policy advisor

    The 63-year-old company just closed its first acquisition. CEO Kevin Kelly spoke with Packaging Dive about forgoing private equity investment and helping customers adapt to EPR.

    By • May 28, 2026
  • A variety of packaging, including expanded polystyrene foam next to cardboard boxes.
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    Getty Images
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    US Plastics Pact urged to remove 2 polystyrene items from ‘problematic’ list

    The Polystyrene Recycling Alliance calls for the changes based on its newly released end market survey that shows the items are recyclable. USPP told Packaging Dive it’s reviewing this new information.

    By • May 22, 2026
  • A TemperPack gusseted mailer made with WaveKraft material
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    Maria Rachal/Packaging Dive
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    Deep Dive

    The envelope, please: Sustainability fuels e-commerce mailer innovation

    E-commerce customers’ growing demand for mailers in place of boxes is driving packaging companies to invest in production expansions and innovations, including at Pregis, Sealed Air and TemperPack.

    By , • May 21, 2026
  • Large rolls of fiber material on industrial equipment inside a manufacturing facility.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Smurfit Westrock introduces 2030 sustainability goals

    In its first sustainability report covering the integrated company, Smurfit Westrock laid out targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water use and waste. It also teased that more goals could be coming.

    By • May 13, 2026
  • Stacks of upside down paper cups with integrated brown holders.
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    Getty Images
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    20% of US residents can now recycle paper cups, FPI says

    Paper cup recycling access quadrupled in the last decade, according to the Foodservice Packaging Institute. But more work is needed, including on end markets, as some mills that accepted the material have backed out.

    By • May 11, 2026
  • Tennessee state Sen Heidi Campbell speaks on stage
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    Permission granted by GreenBlue
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    5 predictions as US packaging EPR progresses

    The last 18 months “feels sort of like 18 years,” said Circular Action Alliance’s CEO. Political, PRO and packaging leaders discussed where EPR is headed, including implications for data and design and how to measure success.

    By • May 1, 2026
  • A trailer with the Greif logo on the side is parked at a loading dock.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Greif drawing up emissions reduction targets for SBTi approval

    The industrial packaging company plans to submit the targets to SBTi this year, including its first ever for scope 3 emissions reduction.

    By • Updated April 23, 2026
  • lineup of five bottles of Purex laundry detergent
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    Courtesy of Henkel
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    Henkel announces 2030 sustainability targets

    Taking lessons from 2025, the CPG adjusted mid-term targets for recycled plastic and design to be more “ambitious and realistic." The company is also expanding innovation in coatings.

    By • April 15, 2026
  • Close up of dentist hands in white sterile gloves holding dental tools for surgical use packed in a protective foil at dental office
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    Getty Images
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    Next step in recycling more healthcare plastics: Better labeling

    Leaders of a Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council project in 2026 want to empower hospitals to divert more material through clearer, more standardized labeling of packaging flowing through healthcare settings.

    By • April 13, 2026
  • A person holds boxes of food while choosing a cylindrical container from a grocery store shelf.
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    Getty Images
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    The ‘pressure-verse’ calls for packaging strategy resets

    Packaging sustainability is an area experiencing disruption, partly due to consumer sentiment shifts. Companies should revisit business plans because focusing on demand is no longer enough, according to a McKinsey report.

    By • April 13, 2026
  • four blue recycling carts stand next to each other
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    Getty Images
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    Where producers’ EPR money is going in Oregon

    Circular Action Alliance projects spending up to $123 million from producer funding for recycling projects through 2027, including money for new recycling carts, collection trucks and facility upgrades.

    By Megan Quinn • April 10, 2026
  • Various pill bottles stand arranged on a pharmacy shelf.
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    IPGGutenbergUKLtd via Getty Images
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    Prescription bottle recycling a real pill for the industry

    Not many pill bottles are getting recycled in the U.S. despite being made of commonly recyclable material. A new Closed Loop Partners report calls for collaboration across the value chain to increase pill bottle recycling rates.

    By Megan Quinn • March 18, 2026
  • A variety of paper-based packaging with Graphic Packaging International's branding sits on a display shelf at a conference.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Paper-based flexibles could reduce pollution from small-format plastics: EMF

    Fiber-based flexibles do “not yet exist at the scale, cost, and performance needed” to solve the flexible plastic pollution problem, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s newly released guide.

    By • March 10, 2026
  • Three bottles of Waiakea bottled water are displayed against a tropical background.
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    Courtesy of Waiakea
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    A ‘catalyst for change’: How Waiākea is pioneering sustainable packaging in bottled water

    The Hawai'i-based brand said it is the first company in the world to print labels with algae-based inks, adding its climate values help it stand out.

    By Laurel Deppen • March 5, 2026
  • A variety of rigid paper containers with Sonoco branding.
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    Retrieved from Sonoco on March 04, 2026
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    Q&A

    Packaging sustainability is transitioning to its next generation, Sonoco VP says

    Sonoco’s sustainability lead spoke with Packaging Dive about EPR's role in ushering in the new sustainability era, and how the company’s recent reorganization affects sustainability strategies for different substrates.

    By • March 4, 2026
  • The tops of silver tabbed beverage cans
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    Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Get louder about sustainability progress, Crown leader says

    Packaging sustainability efforts aren’t failing, but more can be done, said Crown’s VP of global sustainability. She described navigating the challenge of absolute targets and tailoring sustainability work to different geographies.

    By • Feb. 24, 2026