Smurfit Kappa finalizes plan to acquire WestRock in 2024

CEOs Tony Smurfit and David Sewell outlined their vision for a leading global packaging company and discussed the outlook for possible divestitures on Tuesday.

By Cole Rosengren , Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 12, 2023

Graphic Packaging closes $262.5M acquisition of folding carton company Bell

The deal, which includes three U.S. converting facilities, grows Graphic’s presence in food service packaging and offers an expansion opportunity into the mailer business.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 11, 2023

Packaging innovations: SIG’s cartons give probiotics a long life, Berry Global’s beany redesign

Plus, new products from Printpack and ProAmpac aim to increase packaging sustainability, including through ISCC PLUS certification.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 8, 2023

Sonoco completes $330M deal including WestRock’s stake in RTS Packaging

The transaction, which also includes a mill in Tennessee, adds more than a dozen converting facilities to the company’s portfolio that are focused on protective fiber packaging.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 8, 2023

Domtar to ‘indefinitely’ idle Ontario mill, affecting 450 jobs

After years of operating losses at the Ontario mill, the paper and pulp company couldn’t find a way to keep it open, such as through a site sale, it said.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Sept. 8, 2023

Berry, Menasha Packaging, Solo Cup plan Illinois layoffs

Companies cited business slowdowns, restructuring and site transformation as reasons for cuts that will impact hundreds of jobs.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Sept. 28, 2023

Inaugural chemical recycling summit exposes challenges, opportunities

Despite challenges, including pushback from environmental groups and government entities, the new industry’s participants are encouraged to “stick it out.”

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 31, 2023

Greif executives discuss downtime at mills, signs of industrial recession

The industrial packaging and paper company also announced it’s acquired a majority interest in ColePak, which it described as the second-leading supplier of bulk and specialty partitions in North America.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 31, 2023

WestRock to close two plants in October

The Indiana corrugated sheet plant and Pennsylvania folding carton plant closures bring the company’s 2023 layoff total to more than 1,000 employees.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Sept. 1, 2023

Packaging innovations: Glenlivet puts a twist on caps, Graphic Packaging’s snappy fiber lid

Sonoco, Hotel Emporium, Healthy Pet and others released new or redesigned packaging, with some saying the innovations are the first of their kind.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 25, 2023

Packaging sustainability looks different to consumers post-pandemic

Hygiene still is important to global consumers, but they differ on views of which packaging substrates are most sustainable, according to a new McKinsey report.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 22, 2023

PFAS class action suit alleges Ahlstrom paper mill contaminated Wisconsin farms

Ahlstrom is accused of spreading PFAS-contaminated sludge on Wisconsin farmland. But the company says it didn’t own the mill at the time in question.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 21, 2023

Ball to divest aerospace business in $5.6B deal

The pending sale of this business unit to BAE Systems will streamline Ball’s operations to solely focus on packaging, which accounted for more than six times its aerospace sales in 2022.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Aug. 17, 2023

Teamsters strike at Amcor facility in Iowa ends with new contract

Local 238 said that workers who help make packaging for products like Capri Sun drinks and Slim Jim meat sticks secured a “historic” wage increase and will head back to work Wednesday after a two-week strike.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Aug. 15, 2023

Inventory outlook: What packaging suppliers predict for rest of 2023

Customers’ inventory management dominated numerous recent earnings call discussions, with footprint optimization being another prominent theme among some packaging manufacturers.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 14, 2023

Berry closed 20 facilities last quarter to optimize footprint

Executives offered few details about the closures, which are part of a cost-cutting initiative. As destocking and inflation ease, investments in innovation and sustainability provide a “competitive advantage,” said CEO Tom Salmon.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 10, 2023

Origin Materials introduces PET bottle cap intended to boost recyclability

While Origin’s CEO notes the company isn’t the first to produce a PET cap, he said “we're processing the material differently” and the items could be made from the company’s biomass-based material.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 9, 2023

O-I Glass looks ahead to 2024 expansions amid ‘choppy’ destocking

Q2 results exceeded expectations, executives said, despite lower consumer demand and destocking trends dampening sales volumes.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 3, 2023

Sonoco’s net sales fell 11% in Q2 amid ‘turbulent’ market conditions

The company pointed to “accelerated inventory reduction programs” at top customers in food and aerosols, which resulted in lower-than-expected demand. At the same time, it saw “record results” in flexible packaging.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 2, 2023

Graphic Packaging to enter fiber mailer space via acquisition

The foray into the e-commerce mailers comes as more customers request flexible fiber packaging solutions as they transition away from plastic.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 2, 2023

WestRock to permanently close Tacoma, Washington, paper mill, affecting 400 employees

It’s the latest in a string of 2023 announcements by the packaging company regarding shutdowns around the U.S. as it says it’s “working to optimize” its operational footprint.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 1, 2023

Paper, plastic packaging manufacturers announced layoffs in July

While shutting down facilities in California, Missouri, South Carolina and elsewhere, multiple companies cited ongoing footprint optimization processes.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 1, 2023

Kraft Heinz looks to transform plastic packaging portfolio

The food and beverage giant is now trying to cut virgin plastic use 20% by 2030. U.S. consumers can expect to buy certain mayo products in packaging made entirely from recycled content starting next year.

By Maria Rachal • July 31, 2023

Scale up or down, without tipping the scales

Today’s industries face a truly unique set of challenges. An increasing need to increase sustainability and efficiency, constant staffing issues, and expansion without experiencing hiccups from partners and suppliers.

July 31, 2023

Packaging innovations: Pringles, Heinz, Peet’s make material changes

Graphic Packaging International, Berry Global, Ardagh, Corning and others provided new or redesigned packages for brands’ food, beverage and medical products.

By Katie Pyzyk • July 28, 2023