Materials

  • Plastic bottles baled for recycling
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    OperationShooting via Getty Images
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    REMADE conference explores the future of the circular economy

    The conference, featuring keynote speaker Ellen MacArthur, aimed to translate scientific research into tangible circular economy solutions for the researchers, government officials and private companies in attendance.

    By Megan Quinn • April 18, 2024
  • An array of John Paul Mitchell hair care products in green packaging.
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    Courtesy of John Paul Mitchell Systems
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    Packaging innovations: John Paul Mitchell’s revamped hair care line, Essentia’s paper mattress wrap

    Plus, Labelmaster, Firstleaf and ForeFront Supply Chain Solutions introduce a safer shipping product, lighter bottles and food packaging with PCR, respectively.

    By • April 17, 2024
  • A Recology employee collects green curbside compostable material bins.
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    Permission granted by Recology
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    Compostables break down in real-world conditions, but more work needed: report

    The Composting Consortium, which is managed by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, calls this study the largest known North American field test of certified compostable packaging.

    By • April 16, 2024
  • Wide shot of a building exterior with the "Myplas" logo.
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    Permission granted by Myplas
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    Eviction threat looms as film recycler Myplas accrues $1.3M in unpaid bills

    Unexpected financial challenges occurred shortly after the company launched its highly anticipated Minnesota polyethylene film recycling operation in December, according to Peter Shippen, Myplas board chair.

    By • Updated April 15, 2024
  • Two paper cups with Delta Air Lines' branded messaging.
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    Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
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    Aviation industry group recommends how plastic reduction can take off

    Delta Air Lines and American Airlines are among the carriers testing ways to reduce single-use plastic with strategies including substrate switches and reusable cups.

    By • April 10, 2024
  • A 24-pack of beverage cans sitting in a cardboard base with a fiber wrapper around them.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    5 packaging innovation trends to watch in 2024: SPC

    AI, digital labeling and “paperization” top the movements highlighted in the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s inaugural Packaging Innovation Trends Report.

    By • April 9, 2024
  • Rows of industrial hemp growing in a farm field.
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    AndrisTkachenko via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Is hemp the next revolution for sustainable packaging? Startup element6 Dynamics thinks so.

    CEO Kimberly Kovacs details the company’s push to use industrial hemp for making paper and packaging, which she says is a more sustainable option than tree pulp.

    By • April 8, 2024
  • A box of Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime herbal tea bags
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    Courtesy of Celestial Seasonings
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    Free the tea: Celestial Seasonings is latest brand to slash plastic overwrap

    Plastic overwrap was a legacy process for Celestial Seasonings, which recently redesigned its boxes. The U.S. Plastics Pact’s executive director said more brands should ask whether outer plastic wrap is needed.

    By • April 5, 2024
  • A Costco rotisserie chicken in a flexible plastic bag with red and black branded messaging.
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    Permission granted by Cesar Canizales
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    Costco tests a switch from rigid to flexible packaging for its rotisserie chickens

    Costco anticipates the substrate switch will reduce the plastic it uses for the chicken products by 75%, aligning with packaging guidelines it adopted last year. Its five-year action plan for plastics reduction is coming soon.

    By • Updated April 3, 2024
  • Rows of Tide detergent bottles on a store shelf
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    P&G, Dow pursue dissolution technology for recycling rigid, flexible, multilayer plastic packaging

    The in-development technology represents neither mechanical nor advanced recycling, according to Dow. The intent is for the resulting material to be of “near-virgin quality” with a lower greenhouse gas emissions footprint.

    By • March 29, 2024
  • A long, fiber-based box resembling a pillbox that holds seven kiwis, one for each day of the week.
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    Retrieved from Zespri International on March 29, 2024
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    Packaging innovations: Zespri’s kiwi pillbox, Capri-Sun’s recyclable pouch

    Plus, 3M’s modified mailer material offers plastic-free protection, and Greif partners with CDF Corp. on an intermediate bulk container redesign.

    By • March 29, 2024
  • A pile of plastic bottles.
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    ABimagestudio via Getty Images
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    Best practices for using rPET in beverage containers: ISBT

    “Everybody wants to utilize more recycled material,” but differences emerge based on output source and application, said Lee Malvitz, presenting for the International Society of Beverage Technologists during Pack Expo East.

    By • Updated April 3, 2024
  • Close up view of blue plastic beverage bottles.
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    Galina Shafran via Getty Images
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    PCR procurement platform Circular eyes expansion with $10.5M in funding

    Circular plans to expand internationally, add employees and introduce materials besides plastics to the platform.

    By • March 26, 2024
  • Hain Celestial
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    Permission granted by Hain Celestial
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    Material reduction, enhanced recyclability anchor Hain Celestial’s new packaging targets

    The CPG company behind Celestial Seasonings tea and Terra chips set targets to reduce virgin packaging materials and packaging waste while increasing recyclability.

    By • March 25, 2024
  • Two "flat" bottles of Aldi wine next to wine glasses on a table.
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    Courtesy of Aldi
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    Packaging innovations: Aldi wine bottles flatten out, Baileys bottles lighten up

    Plus, Atlantic Packaging brings fiber zip ties to North America; Seaman Paper launches stretchable fiber pallet wrap; and PulPac’s partnership results in a fiber coffee cup lid.

    By • March 22, 2024
  • Close-up view of clear, plastic containers with strawberries inside.
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    Retrieved from Gem-Pack Berries on March 18, 2024
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    Gem-Pack partners with BADP to develop biodegradable berry clamshells

    The enzymes added to the PET clamshells will allow the containers to completely break down after use, thus creating a more sustainable berry container, the companies say.

    By • March 18, 2024
  • A person puts a fish in a fiber box.
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    Permission granted by DS Smith
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    Packaging innovations: DS Smith’s fiber fish carrier, Monterey Mushrooms’ color change

    Plus, Chlorophyll Water ramps up its recycled content; Pregis flexes its fiber muscle; and Eco-Products combats composting contamination.

    By • March 15, 2024
  • A sign for the Food and Drug Administration is seen on July 20, 2020 in Maryland.
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    Sarah Silbiger via Getty Images
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    Questions remain after FDA says market phase-out complete for PFAS in paper food packaging material

    The agency said certain grease-proofing substances used on wrappers and containers are no longer being sold by manufacturers for food contact in the U.S. Others credited state leadership on the issue for driving change.

    By • March 15, 2024
  • Two Huhtamaki fiber egg cartons stacked on top of each other, with another open carton in the foreground, on a kitchen counter.
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    Permission granted by Huhtamaki
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    Molded fiber packaging growth fueled by expanding demand, updated technology

    Companies such as Huhtamaki, PulPac and Tanbark are seeing notable growth in opportunities for molded fiber to gain scale as a plastic alternative.

    By Hollie Stephens • March 6, 2024
  • Clear plastic bottles
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    golubovy via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Does this packaging contain recycled plastic? Inside the mass balance debate

    An accounting system long used in other industries is gaining prominence in the packaging sector, due in part to the rise of chemical recycling. Companies, trade groups and regulators are weighing the complexities and controversies.

    By Leslie Nemo • March 5, 2024
  • Califia Farms bottle
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    Permission granted by Califia Farms
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    Califia Farms rolls out 100% rPET bottles in North America

    The plant-based beverages brand is still seeking recycled content solutions for caps and sleeve labels. The company estimates packaging lightweighting from 2019 to 2023 avoided 4 million pounds of plastic production.

    By • Feb. 29, 2024
  • Pink boxes of Tesco aluminum foil next to a stack of foil rolls that do not contain the standard cardboard tube.
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    Courtesy of The Aluminum Federation
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    Packaging innovations: Tesco takes on tubeless foil, Atlantic bones up can carriers

    Plus, packaging launches and changes to Genesee Brewery’s ring carriers, CCL Label’s floating label, Cleancult’s laundry detergent and American Packaging Corp.’s flexible packaging for frozen foods.

    By • Feb. 29, 2024
  • Various packages of Angel Soft toilet paper featuring the new animated main character, Angel.
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    Courtesy of Georgia-Pacific
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    Packaging innovations: Angel Soft gets baby fever, Juicy Juice pumps up its playfulness

    Plus, packaging refreshes and new launches from Crystal Light, Chanel, O-I Glass, ProAmpac, Berries Paradise, Sway and IPG.

    By • Feb. 16, 2024
  • Exterior view of Berry Global's Circular Innovation and Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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    Courtesy of Berry Global
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    Berry invests in stretch film circularity at new innovation and training center

    “State-of-the-art” technology at the center will measure stretch film properties and behaviors, including tensile strength and force-to-load ratio.

    By • Feb. 14, 2024
  • A hand holds several strands of Mardi Gras beads while standing on a balcony above Bourbon Street
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    Joel Carillet via Getty Images
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    Can makers back Mardi Gras push to capture used beverage cans

    Recycle Dat in New Orleans is the first of many events the newly launched U.S. chapter of Every Can Counts hopes to support to increase the capture of aluminum cans from beverages consumed away from home.

    By • Feb. 13, 2024