Materials

  • A line of 21 people across dirt, each wearing hard hats and carrying shovels, ceremonially break ground at the site of Novelis' aluminum rolling and recycling plant in Bay Minette, Alabama.
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    Courtesy of Novelis
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    Ball, Ardagh, Coca-Cola aluminum supplier Novelis pursues IPO

    The Atlanta-based aluminum company’s recent filings shed light on the state of the U.S. market for food and beverage cans. It’s looking to boost its recycled content use from 63% to 75% in the coming years.

    By • May 16, 2024
  • U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai speaks into a microphone at a White House press briefing
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Biden raises China tariffs, but can manufacturers still seek greater increases

    The Can Manufacturers Institute remains concerned about imported canned foods and metal can components. The Aluminum Association called the administration’s announcement “a win for the U.S. aluminum industry.”

    By • May 15, 2024
  • A bottle of Pantalones Tequila encased in protective packaging.
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    Permission granted by Ino
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    Ino worms its way into compostable packaging with silk cocoon product

    Silkworm cocoons serve as a protective layer in the home-compostable packaging. Ino is working to scale up production and gain more customers.

    By • May 14, 2024
  • A lineup of five aluminum water bottles from the Deer Park, Poland Spring, Pure Life, Arrowhead and Ice Mountain brands.
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    Courtesy of BlueTriton Brands
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    BlueTriton launches premium water bottles as aluminum packaging’s role grows in market

    Aluminum bottle offerings could tap a wider range of consumer values, researchers and consultants say. The addition expands the portfolio for Pure Life, Deer Park, Poland Spring, Arrowhead and Ice Mountain waters.

    By • May 9, 2024
  • Dozens of paper beverage cups with natural-colored heat sleeves, and one cup with a green sleeve featuring a recycling symbol.
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    Bet_Noire via Getty Images
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    As 40+ mills accept paper cups, advocates turn to boosting residential recycling acceptance

    Only 11% of U.S. communities accept paper cups in residential recycling programs. Mills play a “pivotal role” in advancing acceptance, according to the NextGen Consortium and Foodservice Packaging Institute.

    By • May 8, 2024
  • A variety of colored plastic tubes for health and beauty products, some with recyclability messaging.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Plastic tube recyclability has ramped up rapidly, but not without some tumult

    Research suggests more than 75% of HDPE squeeze tubes in the U.S. are compatible with valuable recycling streams. “I don’t want to underemphasize how big of a change in packaging format this is,” said APR’s technical director.

    By • May 7, 2024
  • A variety of different colored pouches of Dionis Goat Milk Skincare lotion.
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    Courtesy of Dionis Goat Milk Skincare
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    Packaging innovations: Bandit Wines cartons offer augmented reality, Huggies ups PCR in diaper bags

    Plus, Dionis Goat Milk Skincare lotion now comes in refill pouches and American Packaging Corp. tackles pet food pouch recyclability.

    By • May 6, 2024
  • Four different colored tubes of Colgate toothpaste with the message "Recycle Me!" printed on the tubes.
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    Courtesy of Colgate-Palmolive
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    Colgate says it might miss 2025 packaging recyclability target

    Flexible bags and pouches are the key sticking points. In a sustainability report, Colgate-Palmolive also shared updates on transitioning its entire toothpaste portfolio to recyclable tubes, which became the subject of a lawsuit last year.

    By • May 3, 2024
  • Close-up view of flat, stacked corrugated boxes.
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    SafakOguz via Getty Images
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    International Paper to raise fiber product prices again, others likely to follow, analysts say

    A fresh wave of increases, reportedly occurring in June, could further rile markets following a monthslong controversy over price acceptance.

    By • May 1, 2024
  • Eight wine bottles in various shades of green and amber with Champagne Telmont branding on the label.
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    Courtesy of Champagne Telmont
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    Packaging innovations: Telmont goes ‘193,000 shades of green,’ DavidsTea’s pouch breakdown

    Plus, substrate substitutions and other packaging launches from Graphic Packaging International, Rudholm Group, Ranpak and Orlandi.

    By • April 25, 2024
  • More than a dozen labelless, silver-colored steel food cans grouped together.
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    wragg via Getty Images
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    CMI weighs in on Biden’s call for tariff increases

    Trade with China is a key issue ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The Can Manufacturers Institute says the Biden administration should take greater action to mitigate impacts from steel and aluminum imported goods.

    By • April 19, 2024
  • Plastic bottles baled for recycling
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    OperationShooting via Getty Images
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    REMADE conference explores the future of the circular economy

    The conference, featuring keynote speaker Ellen MacArthur, aimed to translate scientific research into tangible circular economy solutions for the researchers, government officials and private companies in attendance.

    By Megan Quinn • April 18, 2024
  • An array of John Paul Mitchell hair care products in green packaging.
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    Courtesy of John Paul Mitchell Systems
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    Packaging innovations: John Paul Mitchell’s revamped hair care line, Essentia’s paper mattress wrap

    Plus, Labelmaster, Firstleaf and ForeFront Supply Chain Solutions introduce a safer shipping product, lighter bottles and food packaging with PCR, respectively.

    By • April 17, 2024
  • A Recology employee collects green curbside compostable material bins.
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    Permission granted by Recology
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    Compostables break down in real-world conditions, but more work needed: report

    The Composting Consortium, which is managed by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, calls this study the largest known North American field test of certified compostable packaging.

    By • April 16, 2024
  • Wide shot of a building exterior with the "Myplas" logo.
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    Permission granted by Myplas
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    Eviction threat looms as film recycler Myplas accrues $1.3M in unpaid bills

    Unexpected financial challenges occurred shortly after the company launched its highly anticipated Minnesota polyethylene film recycling operation in December, according to Peter Shippen, Myplas board chair.

    By • Updated April 15, 2024
  • Two paper cups with Delta Air Lines' branded messaging.
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    Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
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    Aviation industry group recommends how plastic reduction can take off

    Delta Air Lines and American Airlines are among the carriers testing ways to reduce single-use plastic with strategies including substrate switches and reusable cups.

    By • April 10, 2024
  • A 24-pack of beverage cans sitting in a cardboard base with a fiber wrapper around them.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    5 packaging innovation trends to watch in 2024: SPC

    AI, digital labeling and “paperization” top the movements highlighted in the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s inaugural Packaging Innovation Trends Report.

    By • April 9, 2024
  • Rows of industrial hemp growing in a farm field.
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    AndrisTkachenko via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Is hemp the next revolution for sustainable packaging? Startup element6 Dynamics thinks so.

    CEO Kimberly Kovacs details the company’s push to use industrial hemp for making paper and packaging, which she says is a more sustainable option than tree pulp.

    By • April 8, 2024
  • A box of Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime herbal tea bags
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    Courtesy of Celestial Seasonings
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    Free the tea: Celestial Seasonings is latest brand to slash plastic overwrap

    Plastic overwrap was a legacy process for Celestial Seasonings, which recently redesigned its boxes. The U.S. Plastics Pact’s executive director said more brands should ask whether outer plastic wrap is needed.

    By • April 5, 2024
  • A Costco rotisserie chicken in a flexible plastic bag with red and black branded messaging.
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    Permission granted by Cesar Canizales
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    Costco tests a switch from rigid to flexible packaging for its rotisserie chickens

    Costco anticipates the substrate switch will reduce the plastic it uses for the chicken products by 75%, aligning with packaging guidelines it adopted last year. Its five-year action plan for plastics reduction is coming soon.

    By • Updated April 3, 2024
  • Rows of Tide detergent bottles on a store shelf
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    P&G, Dow pursue dissolution technology for recycling rigid, flexible, multilayer plastic packaging

    The in-development technology represents neither mechanical nor advanced recycling, according to Dow. The intent is for the resulting material to be of “near-virgin quality” with a lower greenhouse gas emissions footprint.

    By • March 29, 2024
  • A long, fiber-based box resembling a pillbox that holds seven kiwis, one for each day of the week.
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    Retrieved from Zespri International on March 29, 2024
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    Packaging innovations: Zespri’s kiwi pillbox, Capri-Sun’s recyclable pouch

    Plus, 3M’s modified mailer material offers plastic-free protection, and Greif partners with CDF Corp. on an intermediate bulk container redesign.

    By • March 29, 2024
  • A pile of plastic bottles.
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    ABimagestudio via Getty Images
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    Best practices for using rPET in beverage containers: ISBT

    “Everybody wants to utilize more recycled material,” but differences emerge based on output source and application, said Lee Malvitz, presenting for the International Society of Beverage Technologists during Pack Expo East.

    By • Updated April 3, 2024
  • Close up view of blue plastic beverage bottles.
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    Galina Shafran via Getty Images
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    PCR procurement platform Circular eyes expansion with $10.5M in funding

    Circular plans to expand internationally, add employees and introduce materials besides plastics to the platform.

    By • March 26, 2024
  • Hain Celestial
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    Permission granted by Hain Celestial
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    Material reduction, enhanced recyclability anchor Hain Celestial’s new packaging targets

    The CPG company behind Celestial Seasonings tea and Terra chips set targets to reduce virgin packaging materials and packaging waste while increasing recyclability.

    By • March 25, 2024