The Latest

  • Oregon State capitol
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    "Oregon Capitol" by ZehnKatzen is licensed under CC BY 3.0
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    Wholesalers shed more light on Oregon packaging EPR legal challenge

    Oregon agencies received an extension to respond to the lawsuit until mid-September, per an update Friday. In the meantime, wholesalers are analyzing potential legal issues with EPR laws in other states.

  • House Speaker Johnson signs a paper, while seated at a table with a sign that reads "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," while surrounded by a group of people.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Trump’s tax law could boost cash flow for manufacturers with deductions and more

    The recently signed tax law allows bonus depreciation for qualifying equipment, offers R&D deductions, locks in the corporate tax rate and more. But tariffs and tax code interpretations could still complicate companies’ financial plans.

  • Close up view of corrugated cardboard
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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?

    Packaging Corporation of America released 2024 sustainability data, including updates on emissions reductions.

    Updated Aug. 25, 2025
  • A pile of mixed recyclables of different materials, including bottles and containers
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    Solnuha via Getty Images
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    EPR for packaging laws: Dates to know

    CalRecycle has opened another public comment period as it advances rulemaking for SB 54. Oregon DEQ also calculated the 25 largest producers, which will be required to submit life cycle impact evaluations next year.

    Updated Aug. 25, 2025
  • 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
  • an arm holds flattened cardboard
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    MarsBars via Getty Images
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    Paper and Packaging Board shutdown reflects corporate, market changes

    President Mary Anne Hansan shared more about the phaseout of the industry marketing initiative, highlighting evolutions in executive leadership and the economic, policy and sustainability landscapes since 2014.

  • Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (center) and U.S. President Donald Trump (right) walk together during the G7 Leaders' Summit on June 16, 2025, in Kananaskis, Alberta. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni walks behind Carney and Trump.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Canada to scale back retaliatory tariffs for US imports on Sept. 1

    The country will lift levies on goods compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement while maintaining sector-specific duties on steel, aluminum and cars.

  • Three pieces of Laffy Taffy in different colors and flavors: yellow for banana, pink for cherry and purple for grape.
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    Retrieved from Ferrara on August 22, 2025
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    Packaging innovations: Laffy Taffy’s new wrappers are no laughing matter

    Plus, AeroFlexx floats a new packaging format for a Boogie bath product, and Graphic Packaging International works with Radienz Living on a laundry pod container.

  • stacks of white diapers
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    muchemistry via Getty Images
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    International Paper selling global cellulose fibers unit for $1.5B

    Private equity firm American Industrial Partners is the buyer in the long-anticipated sale. CEO Andy Silvernail has been pushing to make International Paper a more streamlined, pure-play packaging solutions company.

  • Close-up view of a printed seal on a brown cardboard box. The black circular stamp includes product details and is from "INTERNATIONAL PAPER" located in "BINGHAMTON, NY." Additional printed text is visible on the right-hand side in large black font.
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    Alamy
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    International Paper to close 4 facilities, affecting 1,100 employees

    The latest closures bring the number of impacted IP workers to 3,600 since October 2024. The actions add to North American containerboard production capacity cuts, which now total 9.5% in 2025, according to an analyst.

  • Close-up view of the edge of flattened corrugated boxes, showing the corrugating medium between the linerboard layers.
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    Adisak Mitrprayoon via Getty Images
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    Containerboard price-fixing lawsuit advances

    The complaint against eight of the largest U.S. containerboard producers is “definitely not frivolous” and shows a “pretty solid basis for bringing the action,” said one attorney with antitrust defense expertise.

  • 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.

  • Various sizes and shapes of plastic containers with food inside.
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    Courtesy of Pactiv Evergreen
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    Novolex 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 ‘disappointed’ 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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    CalRecycle in ‘early stage’ 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 companies’ earnings flag ‘challenging’ 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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    Amcor 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 ‘strong demand’ 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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    Connecticut’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%.