Packaging trade shows to watch in 2025

Mark your calendar: These U.S. conferences and events will cover timely trends in sustainable packaging design, recycling technologies, regional market trends, substrate evolutions, automation and more.

BPI Summit highlights ongoing compostable packaging debate ahead of USDA decision

World Centric, the California Compost Coalition, Athens Services, Dirt Hugger, A1 Organics, Moonshot Compost and others weighed in with their thoughts about this growing category of packaging.

Dart Container, Origin Materials announced workforce cuts in September

New data shows U.S. manufacturing contracted and layoffs rose last month. News of workforce reductions by Berry Global and Origin cropped up in Canada, as well as at Dart’s corporate headquarters in Michigan.

The How2Recycle label is getting a new look

The campaign to transform the instructional label program involves a refreshed design, enhanced data sources and partners handling different aspects of the system, and planning for greater investment in consumer education.

Pactiv Evergreen divests 2 facilities to Suzano for $110M

The sale of sites in Arkansas and North Carolina is the culmination of a strategic review by Pactiv as the company also restructures its beverage and food merchandising businesses and explores footprint optimization.

Updated Oct. 1, 2024

What’s next for product certification amid concerns about PFAS and toxics in plastic

Lagging regulation and a potential “toxic treadmill” with recycled content are viewed as just some of today’s pressing challenges. Clean Production Action Executive Director Mark Rossi reflects on two decades of change in the field.

California Gov. Newsom signs food date label law, updates PCR reporting rules

This marks the first state law requiring products to include standardized “best by” and “use by” language in an effort to reduce food waste. Newsom also acted on two microplastics-related bills.

Insights from the 2024 Packaging Recycling Summit

AI applications, recycled plastic supply and demand, and how brands are thinking about extended producer responsibility were among the topics Packaging Dive covered from this year’s event in California.

Nespresso spotlights aluminum in marketing campaign

The Nestlé coffee brand timed the campaign to New York's Climate Week as it seeks to position itself as a more sustainable format than other single-use coffee products.

Packaging innovations: Bottle material changes from Albertsons and Johnnie Walker

Plus, Cambio Roasters and Glatfelter debut new coffee pod packaging, while Sleever partners with Cambio for a biodegradable shrink sleeve.

Advancements push AI from jargon into practice for packaging management

Glacier demonstrated at the Packaging Recycling Summit how it developed new AI models through partnerships with Colgate and Amazon to capture more recyclables at MRFs.

Research spotlights how food-contact chemicals found in packaging show up in humans

Challenges with regulating food-contact chemicals and materials “are diverse and legislation often does not keep up with the latest scientific understanding,” researchers wrote in a widely covered scientific journal article.

New molded fiber company will use industrial hemp as main feedstock

Renw seeks to minimize reliance on forestry assets in packaging by expanding the growth of industrial hemp, which will be used as a feedstock at the company’s molded fiber production facilities.

Dan Felton to leave Ameripen, become Flexible Packaging Association’s CEO

Felton will continue to advocate on behalf of packaging stakeholders, having worked through what he called “seismic shifts to the industry in terms of new laws and regulations” since 2020.

Thermoform reclamation rises along with rPET demand

As one speaker at the Packaging Recycling Summit called thermoforms an “untapped source” for reclaimed PET, Rumpke Waste & Recycling plans to begin accepting the containers in curbside recycling.

Lawsuits from California AG and others take aim at ExxonMobil’s chemical recycling claims

Coordinated lawsuits target the company’s role in pollution and describe the limitations of mechanical and advanced recycling to manage waste. Packaging companies have partnered with ExxonMobil to source recycled plastics.

Containerboard pricing holds steady as box demand sees uneven recovery

The latest Fastmarkets RISI monthly data showed flat pricing for domestic containerboard. While Cascades is attempting its third price increase this year, so far others have not followed.

California closes reusable plastic carryout bag loophole

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1053, a law that will eliminate plastic bags as an option at store checkouts. Retailers will still be allowed to sell certain recycled paper bags.

Flexible Film Recycling Alliance launches with focus on drop-off programs

The initiative, backed by the Plastics Industry Association, intends to improve film recycling from consumer, commercial and industrial perspectives. FFRA plans to introduce a directory, website and new logo this fall. 

Updated Sept. 23, 2024

Home Depot phases out EPS, PVC in fiber packaging overhaul

The process required ample testing and collaboration. “We sell light bulbs, we sell appliances, we sell toilets. These are products that are prone to damage if they are not secured with the right packaging,” said one sustainability leader.

Recycling bill in Congress calls for 30% recycled content in plastic packaging

Berry Global CEO Kevin Kwilinski said in a statement the bill could “significantly increase use of recycled material in new products.” The legislation would also task EPA with setting certain national plastic recycling standards.

Want to know what packaging EPR will look like in the US? So does everyone else.

The industry’s perception of EPR has changed the last two years, according to a speaker at the Packaging Recycling Summit. But stakeholders are still seeking answers related to data collection, ecomodulation and more.

AI is ‘more of an evolution than a revolution’ for packaging: PMMI report

Numerous practical applications of AI are already here for packaging machinery OEMs and their end users, though not without challenges. PMMI Business Intelligence shares recommendations on how companies can get started.

Breaking out of the mold: Innovations in molded fiber drive growth

Speakers at an International Molded Fiber Association event detailed advancements in the energy efficiency of manufacturing equipment, dry molded fiber and R&D to expand into new end-use markets.

Packaging innovations: Johnnie Walker’s lightest bottle design, Seda’s double-walled compostable cold cups

Plus, Sonoco scales its paper-based cans, Braskem touts packaging material made from used cooking oil and Sealed Air details its work with Best Buy on protective packaging.