Cascades to close 3 containerboard facilities, affecting 310 workers

The company plans to shift production from sites in the U.S. and Canada to newer facilities, following other closures in Oregon and South Carolina last year. It will assist laid-off employees with finding new jobs.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 13, 2024

O-I Glass says demand in beer and food is recovering, destocking lingers for wine and spirits

The year ended with shipments down 16% in Q4. Sales were hurt by customer destocking, which CEO Andres Lopez said began later than in other categories, giving O-I hope to mirror recovery trends in other parts of the industry.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 9, 2024

SPC overhauls sustainable packaging development guide

Sustainable packaging involves more than just recyclability, according to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s new definition of the term. It also should consider elements like end markets and ease of opening.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 6, 2024

Crown touts beverage can growth in Americas as equipment sales stall

CEO Tim Donahue described a positive outlook for the Americas Beverage and Transit Packaging divisions while also describing weak demand for aerosols and canmaking equipment. Crown closed five production facilities in Q4.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 6, 2024

Sonoco to close facilities in Washington and Tennessee, affecting 117 workers

The decisions will shutter an uncoated paperboard mill, part of Sonoco’s “ongoing strategy to optimize our mill network and lower operating costs,” as well as an ends and closures facility.

By Katie Pyzyk , Maria Rachal • Feb. 5, 2024

Packaging manufacturers’ sales results in 2023

See how major packaging companies, including Ardagh, Ball, Crown, O-I Glass, Sonoco, Smurfit Kappa and others, closed out the year, with more earnings reports to come.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Updated March 1, 2024

Ball looks to put Bud Light disruption behind it in 2024

The company is also focused on optimizing its production capacity, as well as opportunities following the pending sale of its aerospace business, which will make it a pure-play aluminum packaging company.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 2, 2024

Stora Enso to lay off up to 1,000 employees under profit improvement program

The company is launching the plan following “a historical low fourth quarter in 2023” and dim hopes for significant recovery in Q1. It recently completed a previous restructuring effort that resulted in 1,150 layoffs.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 1, 2024

Lingering destocking trends affect Silgan sales, but CEO projects 2024 recovery

CEO Adam Greenlee also said during a Wednesday earnings call that consolidation of five manufacturing facilities will support a $50 million cost savings plan, 40% of which will be realized by the end of this year.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 1, 2024

Graphic Packaging, WestRock, Crown announced layoffs in January

More than 700 jobs are expected to be impacted following multiple closure announcements this month, with North Carolina workers particularly affected.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 31, 2024

Paperboard Packaging Council’s new leader talks importance of listening, representation

PPC promoted Emily Leonczyk to executive director and vice president. She plans for “feet-on-the-ground” engagement during a series of facility visits to better understand members’ changing needs.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 29, 2024

Can maker Crown to close plants in Illinois, Mississippi

About 190 employees may be impacted by site closures expected in March.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 24, 2024

WestRock to build $140M box plant in Wisconsin

Construction is expected to begin in Q2 and finish next year. Upon the Wisconsin plant’s opening, a nearby Illinois facility will close.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 23, 2024

The packaging industry outlook for 2024

Packaging Dive takes a closer look at what’s in store for policymaking, producer responsibility, plastics and more.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Jan. 23, 2024

Will fiber price hikes stick in 2024? Early signs are questionable.

Fiber packaging companies including Greif, Sonoco and WestRock announced price increases, largely citing higher production costs. But multiple observers believe the hikes are ill-timed and could be reversed.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 23, 2024

Graphic Packaging discloses closures and layoffs in Michigan, Massachusetts

The packaging company also said this month it will close a converting facility in Charlotte, North Carolina.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Jan. 18, 2024

WestRock to close plants in Seattle and North Carolina, affecting more than 240 jobs

Production volumes from the Seattle box plant and North Carolina healthcare packaging plant will shift to other WestRock facilities. Laid-off employees can apply for open positions at other locations.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 18, 2024

Graphic Packaging to close paperboard converting facility, affecting 112 jobs

A Graphic Packaging International spokesperson provided details about the company’s decision to consolidate production at the Charlotte, North Carolina, plant into the company’s “broader network of plants.”

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 17, 2024

5 packaging trends to watch in 2024

Shifting consumer habits and manufacturing footprints, evolving end-of-life design and looming sustainability targets are some of the factors poised to impact the packaging industry this year.

By Katie Pyzyk , Maria Rachal • Jan. 8, 2024

Sonoco workers in Los Angeles add to Teamsters’ recent growth in packaging

The union said this is the fourth group of print industry workers to join since October, adding to decisions by Graphic Packaging employees in Chicago and WestRock and Southland Box employees in California.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 4, 2024

2023 packaging trends by the numbers

These are some of the stats that defined policymaking, e-commerce, sustainability, dealmaking and more for the packaging industry across varied substrates and markets.

By Katie Pyzyk , Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • Dec. 22, 2023

2023 saw thousands of packaging layoffs amid manufacturing shutdowns

Packaging Dive tracked at least 9,000 packaging-related jobs affected by manufacturing closures and layoffs this year, according to state notices, company disclosures and local news reports.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Dec. 21, 2023

BLS reports fatal worker injuries in plastics manufacturing, paper mills in 2022

The American Forest & Paper Association, PMMI and the Plastics Industry Association commented on ongoing efforts to improve safety.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Dec. 21, 2023

Digital inkjet printing’s transformation of the packaging industry

The technology’s uptake is expected to accelerate. Current use cases include customization to connect with consumers, and future advancements focus on AI and scannable codes. Learn more in our three-part series.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 20, 2023

Destocking, a pandemic hangover, lingered in 2023

Inventory imbalances persisted, affecting results at many of the packaging industry’s biggest companies quarter after quarter.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 20, 2023