Election 2024: The outlook for packaging and manufacturing policy

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump differ on environmental regulations, manufacturing, energy and ESG policies. What could a Trump or Harris presidency mean for the packaging industry?

By Maria Rachal , Katie Pyzyk , Cole Rosengren • Oct. 23, 2024

Fiber packaging pricing remains flat, Cascades’ 3rd increase doesn’t gain traction

Industry price increases appear to be finished for the year. Meanwhile, analysts point to continued improvement in volumes while the industry pulls up from the post-pandemic “cardboard box recession.”

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 22, 2024

International Paper to close facilities in 4 states, lay off hundreds

The recently disclosed layoffs will occur in Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee in mid-December. These are in addition to 650 layoffs confirmed last week.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Oct. 21, 2024

Gem-Pack Berries ditches clamshell labels with Multisteps’ digital printing technology

Multisteps Industries expects its direct-to-packaging printing to improve recyclability for Gem-Pack’s PET clamshells for berries, starting this year.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 18, 2024

O-I Glass discloses $21M severance charge amid furnace closures

The company detailed an optimization plan in July. In the past two months, O-I has disclosed multiple furnace closures impacting hundreds of employees and a Q3 charge related to expected Q4 severance payouts.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 17, 2024

Reality check: AR, VR transforms training for packaging manufacturers

Augmented and virtual reality experiences at Greif, Papacks, Smurfit Westrock and Sonoco are working to boost employees’ skills and safety, pushing packaging manufacturing training into its “next era.”

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 16, 2024

PulPac leverages partnerships to advance its dry molded fiber technology

The company is experiencing growth as it touts its technology's carbon footprint benefits over the wet molding process. Identifying coatings free of PFAS is a sticking point, says Chief Commercial Officer Sanna Fager.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 15, 2024

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.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 2, 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

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

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 26, 2024

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 25, 2024

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.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 23, 2024

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.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 18, 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

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

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.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 13, 2024

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 11, 2024

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.

By Megan Quinn • Sept. 9, 2024

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.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 4, 2024

Cascades’ new CEO details sales gains, production hit in Q2

Maintenance at facilities in New York and Virginia reduced production capacity by about 8,000 tons in Q2, but CEO Hugues Simon was optimistic about future growth at the company.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 13, 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

Making the meaningful move to glass

The clear difference glass packaging can make in consumer perception and sales.

Aug. 12, 2024

Layoffs and closures at Placon, Supremex, WestRock announced in July

Announcements appeared to slow down from May and June, but New York, North Carolina and New Mexico are among the states where cuts are taking place.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 6, 2024

Starbucks, Huhtamaki partner on compostable cold cup lids

The double-walled paperboard cups have a bioplastic liner, and the lids are made from molded fiber. Two states with local mandates are targets of the initial rollout.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Aug. 9, 2024