Packaging innovations: Dawn of a new jug, Sunset’s tomato love triangle

Plus, Blueland adds some plant-based zip to its pouches, PulPac brings plastic-like dry molded fiber to bottle caps, and UFP Packaging launches nail-free crates.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 3, 2026

rPET market challenges further impacted by more closures, trade pressures

Incentives and trade transparency could help thermoformers and other packaging producers, according to speakers from WM, Republic Services and the Association of Plastic Recyclers.

By Megan Quinn • March 30, 2026

Packaging stocks among hardest hit by Iran war: Morningstar

Morningstar tracked a packaging stock sell-off over a three-week period. Jefferies also noted this week that packaging manufacturers’ stocks are “significantly underperforming” the S&P 500.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 26, 2026

Spring surprise? Containerboard prices reverse course in March.

For the second consecutive month, some observers reported surprise at a containerboard pricing index’s movement. The March increase reinforces expectations that producers will target another price hike this year.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 23, 2026

USITC advances 4 trade cases with implications for packaging

Polypropylene corrugated boxes and PET films are among the products that saw determinations in Q1. PP corrugated box producer Inteplast explained why it submitted a request for review and what effect new duties would have.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 17, 2026

ReMA advances HDPE beverage carrier spec following PakTech petition

A comment period is open until April 8 regarding the proposal to add these rigid can and bottle carriers to the Recycled Materials Association’s ISRI specifications for inbound residential single and dual streams.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 13, 2026

4 major URB producers announce price increases

Ox Industries, Greif and Sonoco announced price increases within the last week, citing higher input costs. This follows Cascades’ early February URB price hike announcement.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated March 12, 2026

Craft beer’s push into cans is leveling off, Brewers Association says

The conversion from glass bottles to cans may be reaching its ceiling, according to the trade group’s staff economist. Meanwhile, impacts from tariffs are still playing out.

By Maria Rachal • Updated March 11, 2026

Paper-based flexibles could reduce pollution from small-format plastics: EMF

Fiber-based flexibles do “not yet exist at the scale, cost, and performance needed” to solve the flexible plastic pollution problem, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s newly released guide.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 10, 2026

Packaging innovations: Chupa Chups says ‘good luck’ with ‘final boss’ wrapper

Plus, Parkside launches three compostable films and Nova Chemicals commercializes two grades of recycled polyethylene.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 6, 2026

February containerboard prices chart ‘surprising’ dip

Despite production pullbacks and improved demand, one index showed a dip in monthly containerboard prices. This “shocked” some industry participants and could jeopardize certain producers’ planned $70 per ton hikes for March 1.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 23, 2026

Takeaways from The Packaging Conference 2026

Speakers at the February event discussed timely industry topics including M&A, EPR, innovation and market growth.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 20, 2026

Ahead of the demand curve? What’s behind the rPET slump.

A recent spate of rPET facility closures follows a slightly premature ramp-up, said one converter. But renewed investment is needed to ensure “we still have an rPET industry on this continent,” according to NAPCOR.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 20, 2026

Domestic markets and policy could help weather rPET woes

Remedies could include long-term contracts with brands, setting recycled content laws in more states, and investing in reuse and refill, say leaders from The Recycling Partnership, APR, Primo Brands and NAPCOR.

By Megan Quinn • Feb. 17, 2026

CJ Biomaterials builds toward compostables having their moment in EPR era

The PHA producer commercialized multiple new offerings in recent years, invested in a new Massachusetts polymer science facility and regularly works with composters to tests its products.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 13, 2026

Packaging sustainability is ‘failing.’ Or is it?

A speaker set off a firestorm at The Packaging Conference this week with a comment about sustainability efforts being a flop. But others believe reports of packaging sustainability's death may have been greatly exaggerated.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 12, 2026

Packaging innovations: Terra Delyssa does an oil change

Plus, Top Cup got the Ball ahead of the Super Bowl, and Saica Group helps Unilever give plastic film the Axe.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 10, 2026

New year, new label: PP cup recyclability status changes

The new How2Recycle labels are expected to roll out on PP cups this year. Years of collaboration between Starbucks, WM and other partners resulted in meeting the 60% recycling access threshold, said GreenBlue.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 2, 2026

The packaging industry outlook for 2026

Take a closer look at some of the biggest topics and trends that industry leaders expect will shape commodity markets, dealmaking and the future of packaging policy.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Jan. 30, 2026

Plastic scrap imports add to ‘perfect storm’ hitting domestic PCR

Against a backdrop of rising imports, pricing competition and tariff confusion, an unprecedented number of domestic PET reclaimers closed last year. In 2026, expect more emphasis on policy solutions and local supply chains.

By Marissa Heffernan • Jan. 29, 2026

PCA is first major containerboard producer with price increase in 2026

Analysts expected at least one increase this year as operating rates rise following a 10% capacity pullback in North America. International Paper announced a similar increase on Monday.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Jan. 27, 2026

Packaging innovations: Heinz gets a side piece, Butter Wines adds cans

Plus, Saverglass introduces a line of glass wine bottles that are lighter than standard versions.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 16, 2026

What 2026 holds after containerboard’s historic 10% capacity pullback

Following a “mild recession,” recovery could be in store — but not a big one. Muted consumer spending will play a large role, say analysts from Bloomberg Intelligence, BofA Securities, RaboResearch and Truist Securities.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 15, 2026

USDA organics board rejects compostable polymers, puts paper on watch

While the group is concerned about contamination from synthetic polymers broadly, it’s open to evaluating individual substances or narrower use cases such as fruit stickers or collection bags.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Jan. 15, 2026

Abandoning packaging sustainability a ‘serious strategic miscalculation’: Bain

Companies are still pursuing sustainable packaging strategies even though they’ve toned down public messaging about it, according to a newly released report from Bain & Co. Substrate switches remain a leading strategy.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 9, 2026