The Latest

  • a group of people hold signs behind a pile of discarded plastic
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    Courtesy of NSAC
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    Lawmakers, recyclers call for SB 54 regulations that reflect intent of EPR law

    CalRecycle is expected to open the 45-day public comment period on SB 54 rulemaking soon. Circular Action Alliance is asking producers to register by Sept. 5.

  • Puzzle pieces with packaging
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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Tracking packaging mergers and acquisitions in 2025

    Prometheus Retail Solutions acquired the packaging and retail display division of PackagingARTS, Inteplast Group acquired Con-pearl from private equity firm Blue Cap AG, and an investor purchased Innovative Packaging Group.

    Updated Aug. 19, 2025
  • Various sizes and shapes of plastic containers with food inside.
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    Courtesy of Pactiv Evergreen
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    NovolexĀ closing Pactiv Evergreen plant in California, affecting 127 employees

    This follows a Pactiv Evergreen facility closure in Michigan earlier this year that resulted in 153 layoffs.

  • Building exterior for Blue Polymers facility
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    Permission granted by Blue Polymers
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    Blue Polymers takes over food-grade rPET pellet production in California

    “Whereas we sell flake to folks that create pellets, now we can sell pellets to folks that create packaging,” said Pete Keller, vice president of recycling and sustainability at Republic Services, a partner in the Blue Polymers venture.

  • Plastic bottles and trash on a beach
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    Dan Kitwood via Getty Images
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    Recycling and waste groups ā€˜disappointedā€™ by lack of plastics treaty

    Plastics groups will push recycling over environmentalists’ calls for plastic production caps. Recycling groups will monitor the next round of talks for clues on infrastructure and end market impacts.

  • Flexible plastic packaging pouches
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    Romeo Gacad via Getty Images
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    Driven by EPR, brands to offer film and flexibles funding to California recyclers

    General Mills, Mars, PepsiCo and other brands are investing in film and flexible packaging recycling in the state as California implements stricter recycling regulations for the materials under SB 54.

  • Pepsi reusable cups on a ledge overlooking the San Francisco 49ers field
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    Courtesy of San Francisco 49ers
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    PepsiCo, Bold Reuse partner on NFL stadium cups

    The collaboration follows PepsiCo doing away with a formal reuse target earlier this year. It’s also Bold Reuse’s first implementation in California.

    CPG
  • Hands carry styrofoam takeout containers
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    twinsterphoto via Getty Images
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    CalRecycleĀ in ā€˜early stageā€™ of enforcing EPS food service ware ban

    Meanwhile, multiple companies have been trying to formally demonstrate a recycling rate of at least 25% for expanded polystyrene in order to stay on the market, but none have been approved yet.

  • A large roll of kraft paper in a factory setting
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    Foto-Video-Studio via Getty Images
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    4 fiber companiesā€™ earnings flag ā€˜challengingā€™ industry conditions

    Weak demand, trade conditions, divestitures and swing production dominated earnings reports from Clearwater Paper, Sappi, Stora Enso and Sylvamo.

  • Amcor logo
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    Permission granted by Amcor
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    AmcorĀ considers divesting North American beverage business

    The company is redefining its “core portfolio” after acquiring Berry Global. Since finalizing that deal, Amcor has cut 200 roles and worked to close five sites. It’s also hit some unexpected snags in North America.

  • A large roll of white paper is next to industrial equipment in a manufacturing facility.
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    Retrieved from Screenshot: Sappi/YouTube on August 14, 2025
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    Hood Container, Sappi, Uline invest in expansions

    Cosmo Films, Eco King, Flair Packaging, Schütz Container Systems, TricorBraun and Trioworld Group are among the other packaging companies expanding their production capacities or geographical footprints.

  • A large yellow front loader moves a scoop of shredded paper and cardboard onto a conveyor labeled "Drum Feeder" inside a dimly lit industrial warehouse. The floor and surrounding area are covered in piles of mixed paper waste and recyclables.
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    Alamy
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    Exports pulled down 2024 paper recycling rate: AF&PA

    Decreased fiber exports, especially to Asia, affected both paper and OCC recycling rates in the U.S., according to the American Forest & Paper Association. But domestic mills increased their fiber consumption.

  • The tops of silver tabbed beverage cans
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    LordRunar via Getty Images
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    Novelis sees ā€˜strong demandā€™ for aluminum beverage packaging sheet

    The company is readying additional capacity at a new Alabama facility as it expects continued sustainability-driven growth in aluminum beverage packaging.

  • A stick of Dura Chill branded deodorant sits next to a can of Coors Light beer, both of which feature similar packaging images with mountains.
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    Courtesy of Coors Light
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    Packaging innovations: Coors Light pits out, Pure Sunfarms gives a peek at weed

    Plus, SIG works on a monomaterial bag for boxed wine, Smurfit Westrock and Papa Johns partner on digitally printed boxes to fit entire meals, Aptar brings biobased resins to nasal spray pumps, and more.

  • A pile of plastic bottles.
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    ABimagestudio via Getty Images
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    Connecticutā€™s beverage container redemption rate rose 21% in 2024

    The Container Recycling Institute says improvements like a 10-cent deposit, more return locations and a broader range of accepted containers boosted redemption rates. Some other bottle bill states saw declines of 1% to 3%.

  • Bundled stacks of flat corrugated boxes.
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    samritk via Getty Images
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    Manufacturers nix the USDAā€™s Paper and Packaging Board

    Since 2014, the organization has been funded by paper manufacturers and importers to boost paper-based packaging markets. But a recent vote on continuing the marketing efforts failed to garner majority support.

  • Rear view of a person in a Smurfit WestRock jacket and a Cover Guard hat
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    Courtesy of Smurfit WestRock
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    Smurfit Westrock shutting down Cedar Rapids, Iowa, facility

    This 100-employee closure follows other company announcements this year eliminating certain sites in Illinois, Oregon, Minnesota and Texas, spanning corrugated products, containerboard and more.

  • strawberries
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    USDA funds packaging innovations for $143B specialty crop export industry

    The Sustainable Packaging Innovation Lab, through Clemson University, selected projects to help align with international regulations like the EU’s PPWR. Companies involved include Kwik Lok, NatureSweet, Sway and others.

  • Outside view of an office building with a sign for Cascades paper.
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    Courtesy of Cascades
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    Cascades details Virginia production ramp-up, New York wind-down

    The Canadian fiber specialist said it accelerated the closure of corrugated medium manufacturing operations in Niagara Falls in light of notable tonnage increases at Bear Island that persisted through July.

  • A view of numerous trees in a dense forest.
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    Stockyme via Getty Images
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    Greif inks deal to sell timberlands for $462M

    The sale to Molpus Woodlands Group is expected to close by the end of September. The divestiture aligns with Greif’s ongoing optimization and cost-reduction efforts.

  • Cans of AƧaĆ­ Motion energy drinks
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    Courtesy of Ball Corp.
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    Ball optimistic after growth in nonalcoholic beverages

    Meanwhile, the can manufacturer has been doing some “repositioning” of its beer-heavy portfolio, as that category has been relatively soft across geographies. The company called tariff impacts “manageable.”

  • Cookies are housed in a clear plastic try with a reclosable plastic film cover.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Sealed Air details protective packaging turnaround progress, introduces new CFO

    The second quarter of 2025 brought the most stable year-over-year volume results for protective packaging since 2021, said CEO Dustin Semach on Tuesday’s earnings call.

  • European Union President Ursula von der Leyen speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 27, 2025, in Turnberry, Scotland.
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    EU delays countermeasures to US tariffs by 6 months

    The bloc has now paused countermeasure implementation three times. The measures currently put on hold include additional duties for aluminum and steel products.

  • Oregon's state capitol building in Salem, Oregon.
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    KingWu via Getty Images
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    After Oregon packaging EPR law launches, wholesaler lawsuit follows

    The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors filed a complaint last week. The trade group is “reviewing all of the various proposals to implement EPR programs wherever they are being discussed,” a spokesperson said.

  • The exterior of an industrial facility with cars in a parking lot, which is surrounded by a chain-link fence.
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    Permission granted by Cascades
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    Cascades, IP, O-I Glass announced layoffs in July

    Employees in California, New York and Oregon are affected by the closures at paper and glass facilities, according to state WARN filings.