Design
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Southwest Airlines brings bamboo on board for new cups
The airline recently stirred up change when it began stocking the bamboo-based cold beverage cups and wooden stir sticks, following a yearlong R&D process stemming from plastic reduction goals.
By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 29, 2024 -
Deep Dive
‘Everybody benefits’: Why the beauty industry needs to get serious about accessible packaging
Rare Beauty and Target have taken steps to develop guidance around universally accessible design, but the industry isn’t prioritizing it yet.
By Caroline Jansen • Oct. 15, 2024 -
How2Recycle revamp
How2Recycle doesn’t want to abandon the chasing arrows
Consumer comprehension data played a central role in how How2Recycle redesigned its instructional label, leaders of the process explained. But potential restrictions in California pose a challenge.
By Maria Rachal • Updated Oct. 14, 2024 -
Packaging innovations: United Airlines’ canned wine, Chivas Regal’s light spirits
Plus, RXDco puts cannabis in a cocoon, Novolex flags product tampering and KYSU switches from plastic to paper.
By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 11, 2024 -
Brands make packaging design changes for e-commerce compatibility
Pandemic-related and sustainability trends, along with Amazon's requirements, are among the factors prompting Clorox, Mars Wrigley and Nestlé to tweak product packaging designs they use for e-commerce.
By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 10, 2024 -
How2Recycle revamp
How2Recycle Plus ready to take dynamic labels mainstream
The new offering features a QR code so consumers can access localized recycling information. It will come at a higher price to brands than the more traditional How2Recycle Pro label. Danone will be the first to adopt it.
By Maria Rachal • Oct. 4, 2024 -
Packaging innovations: Hot Pockets go sleeveless, Henkel’s coating lightens dry food packaging
Plus, hair care brand Overtone joins a Target sustainability initiative as it launches tubes with a new look and PCR.
By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 4, 2024 -
How2Recycle revamp
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.
By Maria Rachal • Oct. 1, 2024 -
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.
By Packaging Dive Staff • Oct. 1, 2024 -
Q&A
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.
By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 30, 2024 -
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.
By Sara Karlovitch • Sept. 27, 2024 -
Packaging innovations: Bottle material changes from Albertsons and Johnnie Walker
Plus, Cambio Roasters and Glatfelter debut new coffee pod packaging, while Sleever partners with Carbios for a biodegradable shrink sleeve.
By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 27, 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.
By Maria Rachal • Sept. 20, 2024 -
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.
By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 18, 2024 -
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.
By Maria Rachal , Katie Pyzyk , Cole Rosengren • Sept. 17, 2024 -
Ready-to-drink cocktail brands seek ‘bar cart worthy’ premium glass packaging
“Ready-to-drink” products, many of which come in cans, account for an estimated 12% of the U.S. beverage alcohol market by volume. As glass bottle makers look to diversify, they’re pitching their packaging as premium.
By Hollie Stephens • Sept. 16, 2024 -
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.
By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 16, 2024 -
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.
By Maria Rachal • Sept. 12, 2024 -
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.
By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 10, 2024 -
Packaging innovations: McDonald’s four-flap McFlurry, Capri-Sun bottle debate
Plus, New England Coffee ditches its plastic pod base for commercially compostable materials.
By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 6, 2024 -
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.
By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 30, 2024 -
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.
By Maria Rachal • Aug. 29, 2024 -
Packaging innovations: Xbox gets accessible, DS Smith boxes up fun
Plus, De Nada tequila ditches glass for metal and Alpla works with Zerooo on reusables for cosmetics.
By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 23, 2024 -
Google achieves plastic-free packaging ahead of 2025 with help of new paper
Google says it was important to work with partners such as Veritiv to design the new paper material and other packaging to give consumers visual cues that encourage recycling.
By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 21, 2024 -
Packaging innovations: Twinings gets canned, Black Cow’s udderly different vodka packaging
Plus, e.l.f. Cosmetics makes changes to boost product accessibility and Sensei Farms ditches its plastic clamshells.
By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 12, 2024