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    Photo illustration by Shaun Lucas/Packaging Dive; photograph by Vudhikul Ocharoen via Getty Images
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    Tracker

    Packaging manufacturers set big sustainability goals. How are they doing?

    Sappi North America released its 2023 sustainability report, which addresses its efforts to meet a 2030 emissions goal and expand its “renewable” paper-based packaging through facility investments and R&D.

    Updated 2 hours ago
  • 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 2024

    Novvia Group acquired a plastic and glass container supplier in Florida; Berlin Packaging acquired a packaging supplier in Japan; Nightfood acquired a distributor of custom takeout packaging for the food service industry.

    Updated Sept. 12, 2024
  • A person speaks into a microphone from a stage where they are next to a podium with a placard branded for the IMFA 2024 conference.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Molded fiber’s growth as a plastic replacement isn’t pulp fiction

    While the market is expanding, speakers at an International Molded Fiber Association event said it still faces an entrenched competitor in plastic and hurdles with feedstock availability, energy use and other factors.

  • PulPac Scala machine, which is a dry molded fiber production line
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    Courtesy of PulPac
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    Dart delves into dry molded fiber for lids, licensing PulPac tech

    The food service packaging company and Solo Cup distributor is the first in North America to license a more compact production platform from the Swedish dry molded fiber specialist.

  • Bale of cardboard for recycling, with Amazon logo
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    MRF and mill advances expected to fuel North American recovered fiber demand, Fastmarkets says

    Analysts highlighted tight OCC and mixed paper supply, as well as ongoing demand from mills willing to pay for cleaner recovered paper material from higher-tech MRFs, during a recent webinar.

  • Hands hold an Aerflo reusable carbon capsule
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    Permission granted by Aerflo
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    Sparkling water craze meets reuse with Aerflo’s launch

    Investor Closed Loop Partners hailed the convenience of the startup’s refillable bottle system. Aerflo estimates its reusable capsules, which carbonate water on the go, could each displace more than 330 beverage cans.

  • a hand sticks a fork in a salad in a disposable cup
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    Giuseppe Lombardo via Getty Images
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    EPA recommends BPI, GreenScreen, other ecolabels in food service ware procurement

    It’s the first time in nearly 10 years the agency is evaluating new recommendations of standards for sustainable federal purchasing. EPA said it would accept comments on the proposed updates for 30 days.

  • A group of workers hold up a sheet of corrugated medium in an industrial facility.
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    Courtesy of Welch Packaging
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    Summer 2024 brought numerous new, expanded facility announcements

    Axium Packaging, Green Bay Packaging, Greif, Pallet Distributors and Tetra Pak are among the companies that have made notable investments in growing operations.

  • Box with paper internal packaging covering products
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    As Amazon and others nix air pillows, packaging manufacturers diversify to cushion the blow

    Packaging companies are having to adapt to keep up as e-commerce expands and protective packaging trends shift. Retailers are trying new void fill materials, rightsizing packages and more.

  • Close-up view of legacy Keurig Green Mountain single-serve K-Cup coffee pods.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Keurig Dr Pepper to pay $1.5M to settle charges about K-Cup recyclability

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says the beverage company omitted from filed documents some important information about testing the curbside recyclability of its K-Cup coffee pods. 

  • The exterior of US EPA headquarters in Washington, DC
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    crbellette via Getty Images
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    Packaging updates anticipated in Biden administration’s waning months

    Some of these updates have been a long time coming, including next steps for the Green Guides and the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution.

  • People cut a ribbon in front of a glass crusher machine
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    (2024). Retrieved from flickr.
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    O-I Glass, spirits industry partner for Kentucky’s first dedicated glass recycling program

    O-I Glass will purchase cullet from the new program run by workforce development nonprofit Workwell Industries. The glass comes from distilleries in the region that also invested in the project.

  • Two sizes of McDonald's McFlurry ice cream treat in cups with four flaps at the top.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    Packaging innovations: McDonald’s four-flap McFlurry, Capri-Sun bottle debate

    Plus, New England Coffee ditches its plastic pod base for commercially compostable materials.

  • Grace Potter stands holding a metal cup with a crowd of people at a music event
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    Retrieved from Plastic Pollution Coalition on August 15, 2024
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    Music venues become a proving ground for reusable packaging

    Groups like Upstream and musicians such as Grace Potter are pushing to replace single-use cups with reusable options. This weekend’s Imagine Zero Music Festival is the latest example of a reuse-focused event.

  • Side view of a semi-truck with the Amcor logo and the phrase "Creating a new world of packaging"
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    Courtesy of Amcor
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    Amcor drops ‘interim’ from Peter Konieczny’s CEO title

    Amcor also named a new chief sustainability officer and chief operating officer. Konieczny stepped in after Ron Delia, CEO for nine years, announced he would retire due to health reasons.

    Updated Sept. 6, 2024
  • Wide shot of a building exterior with the "Myplas" logo.
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    Permission granted by Myplas
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    Myplas film recycling plant in Minnesota to reopen under new ownership

    GDB Circular plans to upgrade the facility and improve operations at the film recycling plant, which opened in December but idled soon after due to financial issues.

  • Heavy-duty trucks with the Veritiv logo in front of a warehouse.
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    Retrieved from Veritiv Corp. on August 07, 2023
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    Veritiv to acquire Orora Packaging Solutions for $1.2B

    The transaction will enhance private equity-backed Veritiv’s specialty packaging distribution capabilities, while Orora will transition to a dedicated beverage packaging business.

  • A Smurfit WestRock banner hangs in front of the New York Stock Exchange
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    Courtesy of Smurfit WestRock
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    Silgan Containers, Smurfit Westrock reported layoffs in August

    The announcements of manufacturing and administrative workforce changes come as U.S. production more broadly hit a four-year low in August, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

  • The California statehouse
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    The image by Jimmy Emerson, DVM is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
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    California lawmakers send bills on grocery bags, date labels, microplastics to governor

    Meanwhile, bills that could have restricted PFAS in plastic packaging and updated the state’s packaging EPR law stalled prior to the end of the legislative session.

  • Flexible plastic packaging pouches
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    Romeo Gacad via Getty Images
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    These packaging companies and organizations have named new CEOs in 2024

    There’s a new wave of leaders this year at some of the most notable public and private companies, as well as related nonprofit groups. Catch up on the latest appointments.

  • A variety of consumer products in flexible packaging, alongside rolls of flexible labels.
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    Retrieved from Fortis Solutions Group on September 03, 2024
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    Fortis Solutions Group names new CEO

    Carlos Tapias brings more than 20 years of packaging experience to the role. He takes over the job from the company’s founder.

  • Cardboard boxes displaying UFP Packaging's logo are bundled together on a pallet and covered with plastic wrap.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    UFP Industries reshuffles top leadership

    CEO Matthew Missad will leave the role at year’s end, and a 26-year UFP employee will step in.

  • Two people eat pizza out of a Pizza Hut box which has a base that can be folded into a miniature table.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Packaging innovations: Pizza Hut’s box makes a move, Vital Proteins chooses paper over plastic

    Plus, Restaurantware adds a compostable food service products line and Pactiv Evergreen introduces an alternative to polystyrene foam trays.

  • Two hands place two purple plastic reusable cups toward a receptacle that says "Thanks for dropping your reusable cup here."
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    Permission granted by Kellyann Petry/Berry Global
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    Berry seeks insights on reusable cups at scale in California rollout

    Berry provided HDPE cups that are ultimately recyclable for a NextGen Consortium initiative that began this month in the city of Petaluma. The company expects legislation will drive more reuse activity in the coming years.

  • bunches of yellow bananas on shelves for sale
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    Traimak_Ivan via Getty Images
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    Multimaterial plastic packaging, some produce stickers land on ‘problematic’ materials list for elimination

    Additions to the U.S. Plastics Pact’s list are targeted for elimination by 2030, building on 2025 goals. The group continues to evaluate non-compostable beverage pods, small-format packaging and other items.