The Latest

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    Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images

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    Tracking packaging mergers and acquisitions in 2026

    Veritiv made acquisitions in Florida and New Jersey, TRG acquired a Baltimore-based corrugated manufacturer, and Emerald Packaging announced what it says is the first acquisition in its 63-year history.

    Updated 2 hours ago
  • A pile of mixed recyclables of different materials, including bottles and containers
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    Getty Images
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    EPR for packaging laws: Dates to know

    CalRecycle followed up the recently finalized SB 54 regulations with new guidance documents for producers. Producers are weeks away from certain reporting deadlines in Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington.

    Updated 2 hours ago
  • A commercial building's exterior features Graphic Packaging International's name and logo.
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    Permission granted by Graphic Packaging International
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    Class action lawsuit alleges Graphic Packaging misled investors

    The lawsuit, which also names former GPI CEO Mike Doss and former CFO Stephen Scherger as defendants, claims shareholders endured harm from investment decisions based on misleading or withheld information.

  • 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.

  • A worker sorts paper at a MRF
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    Courtesy of Recology
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    CAA seeks to standardize responsible end market requirements

    Circular Action Alliance is accepting public comments on a proposed REM standard meant to be cohesive across packaging EPR states. It aims to ensure materials are handled in an environmentally sound way.

  • The state capitol in Augusta, Maine
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    Getty Images
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    Maine’s packaging EPR implementation lags

    The Maine Department of Environmental Protection still expects producers will owe money this year. But the process of contracting with a stewardship organization has repeatedly been pushed back.

  • U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer holds up a document that says "foreign trade barriers."
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    Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
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    Packaging, materials groups testify in Section 301 tariff probe

    Representatives from the Can Manufacturers Institute and Association of Plastic Recyclers were among the groups testifying this week about foreign countries’ trade actions that harm U.S. manufacturers.

  • Stacks of flattened corrugated boxes at an industrial facility.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Producers launch second wave of containerboard price increases in 2026

    Cascades is the latest company to join a price hike wave that Smurfit Westrock initiated.

    Updated May 8, 2026
  • Industrial equipment and boxes are seen from an aerial view inside a facility that says Smurfit Westrock operation center on the wall.
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    Permission granted by Smurfit Westrock
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    Automation takes center stage at Smurfit Westrock ‘superplant’ in Wisconsin

    From pizza to industrial products, there’s a corrugated box for that at the year-old, $136 million Pleasant Prairie plant. Automation lets it use about 60% of the labor of a traditional box plant, while scale enables service to greater Chicago.

  • An Amcor sign on a building
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    Courtesy of Amcor
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    Amcor to open Miami headquarters

    In other news announced Wednesday, Amcor says it’s maintaining higher inventories to mitigate any disruptions related to conflict in the Middle East, and is ahead of schedule on synergies one year since acquiring Berry Global.

  • Budweiser and Bud Light cans
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    Thai Phi Le/Packaging Dive
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    Canmakers say capacity is tight as they gear up for big summer

    Ball, Crown and Ardagh are navigating higher input costs and inflationary pressures as beverage customers prepare promotions related to the World Cup and America250 celebrations.

  • California state flag and state capitol building in Sacramento
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    Getty Images
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    At long last, California publishes SB 54 EPR rules

    The milestone gives way to next compliance steps for the sweeping extended producer responsibility and source reduction law. Circular Action Alliance also published estimated fees for obligated producers.

  • A box of butter with Graphic Packaging International branding on the outside.
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    Permission granted by Graphic Packaging International
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    GPI cut 3% of global workforce after business review

    In addition to reducing the workforce by more than 500 people, the company discontinued low-return projects and is divesting a facility in Croatia to cut $60 million in costs, executives said during Tuesday’s earnings call.

    Updated May 5, 2026
  • The outside of an industrial facility with flags in front.
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    Retrieved from Gerresheimer Glass on May 05, 2026
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    Gerresheimer Glass, Oliver, TriMas, Veritiv Visual announced closures in April

    Plus, Clearwater Paper and Graphic Packaging International announced restructurings to result in dozens of layoffs.

  • 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.

  • The exterior of an industrial facility with a sign next to a driveway that has Smurfit Westrock's logo.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Smurfit Westrock examines delisting from LSE, closing UK mill

    Executives on Thursday’s earnings call took an optimistic tone about the future despite weather and demand contributing to “a challenging quarter.” A newly announced price increase is expected to offset some Q1 cost increases. 

  • The top of an aluminum can has a device that allows reclosing.
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    Permission granted by Re:Lid USA
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    Wish you could reseal your canned beverage? Now you can.

    Re:Lid USA is partnering with L.A. Libations to launch canned water with a reclosable aluminum lid. The next step is to establish a U.S. manufacturing presence for the can innovation.

  • International Paper's new logo.
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    Courtesy of International Paper/Cision
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    ​​​​​​​International Paper touts $200M in EMEA cuts ahead of business split

    After the company splits, IP will take a 20% stake in the new EMEA business. Meanwhile, IP is accelerating reinvestment in its assets as part of its ongoing optimization plan, including via the acquisition of North Pacific Paper Co.

  • GreenBlue Executive Director Paul Nowak and SPC Director Olga Kachook sit on stage at SPC Impact with a presentation in the background
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    Permission granted by GreenBlue
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    EPR budgeting conversations: Advice from the frontlines

    Extended producer responsibility costs are elevating packaging discussions to the C-suite and forcing companies to work out budget strategies. A “conversation companion” tool could help.

  • An industrial facility exterior with a sign that says Greif.
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    Getty Images
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    Middle East conflict adds to Greif’s demand challenges

    The company has multiple locations in the Middle East and faced “direct impacts” from the war with Iran during its fiscal second quarter. Meanwhile, Greif made progress on its $120 million cost-cutting plan.

  • Quality inspection at an Owens-Illinois glass manufacturing facility
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    Courtesy of O-I
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    O-I Glass calls Q1 ‘a story of two hemispheres’

    Europe, which trails the Americas by several months in implementation of O-I’s restructuring program, was weaker than expected. O-I lowered its earnings outlook for 2026.

  • A person's hands are holding a stack of flat corrugated boxes next to a manufacturing production line.
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    Getty Images
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    Containerboard production charts steepest decline in years in Q1

    The year-over-year drop is significant but “is not unprecedented,” according to the American Forest & Paper Association. It follows the nearly 10% production capacity cuts announced in 2025, the last of which were finalized this year.

  • Paul Nowak, Cheryl Lam and Matt Swenson sit on stage
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    Permission granted by GreenBlue
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    Amazon, Walmart seek source reduction solutions from suppliers

    What parameters for innovation should packaging R&D teams pursue? There’s a new effort to demystify what “sustainable packaging” and “good innovation” mean to the biggest names in retail.

    CPG
  • Audience at SPC Impact in Nashville, Tennessee
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    Permission granted by GreenBlue
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    Breaking the ‘boom-and-bust cycle’ in domestic recycled plastic markets

    Ensuring PCR use in more challenging packaging like food-grade pouches can be “way down the road,” said APR Chief Policy Officer Kate Bailey. For now, there’s plenty to do with secondary products and bolstering good policy.

  • A person works with industrial equipment.
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    Permission granted by JBM Packaging
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    JBM Packaging celebrates first graduate of in-prison training program

    While in prison, Billy Campbell trained on JBM Packaging’s manufacturing equipment, and then secured full-time employment upon his release. He joined the roughly 40% of JBM’s employees who were formerly incarcerated.