Materials

  • Human workers next to a conveyor line sort plastic packaging such as bottles.
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    South_agency via Getty Images
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    PCR use still dogged by pricing challenges: report

    The U.S. Plastics Pact released a report with strategies for overcoming barriers to PCR use, including the price disparity between virgin and recycled material.

    By • April 21, 2025
  • A variety of Collective Good wines on a retail store shelf.
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    Permission granted by Frugalpak
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    Frugalpac’s paper wine bottles scale with Target debut

    It’s the first full-scale nationwide rollout of Frugalpac’s paper bottle at a major U.S. retailer, said CEO Malcolm Waugh.

    By • April 17, 2025
  • Various sizes and shapes of disposable food pans and trays made from foil.
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    Nordroden via Getty Images
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    Duties coming on aluminum containers from China following US trade ruling

    The U.S. government investigated after foil container manufacturers raised issue with imports of trays, lids and more. But U.S. industry is still concerned about Chinese companies transshipping through other countries.

    By • April 15, 2025
  • Two people holding up kegs of Liquid Death branded water.
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    Retrieved from Liquid Death on April 09, 2025
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    Packaging innovations: Liquid Death’s ‘Kegs for Pregs,’ Crown has a Moment

    Plus, brand and packaging company collaborations led to new or redesigned packaging from Dole, Henkel, Furminator, Bubbies Ice Cream, Happy Campers, Berlin Packaging, AeroFlexx, Earthcycle and Verde Bioresins.

    By • April 10, 2025
  • A large group of dosing pens for subcutaneous injection of anti-obesity medication piled in a heap.
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    aprott via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Weighty issue: GLP-1 drugs are reshaping packaging demand

    Soaring use of these medications for weight loss is shifting demand, including for packaging manufacturers that serve pharma and food customers. Analysts say the game-changer is an opportunity for innovative companies.

    By • April 9, 2025
  • Foam takeout containers and other packaging waste
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    Genevieve Isabelle via Getty Images
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    California confirms EPS food service ware ban

    CalRecycle said that after a review, there’s not sufficient data showing covered materials meet a required 25% recycling rate. This clarifies what many had already considered a de facto ban under SB 54.

    By • April 8, 2025
  • resin pellets fall into an outstretched hand
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    Permission granted by NOVA Chemicals
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    Closed loops may help boost US food-grade PCR supply

    Industry groups and packaging companies support increasing the use of PCR in food-grade packaging, but progress remains incremental in many cases. 

    By Hollie Stephens • April 7, 2025
  • Aluminum cans at a factory
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    Gumpanat via Getty Images
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    Aluminum cans, beer imports subject to 25% tariffs

    The duties are separate from President Trump’s baseline tariffs. The Aluminum Association supports the move, while the Consumer Brands Association joined others in asking the administration to “fine-tune their approach.”

    By • Updated April 4, 2025
  • people sit on a stage in front of a screen
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    Megan Quinn/Packaging Dive
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    Ideas for easing recycled content woes through policy, packaging

    Brand innovations, policy changes and better communication could help ease challenges associated with adding recycled content to packaging, said speakers at the Plastics Recycling Conference.

    By Megan Quinn • April 2, 2025
  • A dark gray plastic industrial crate.
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    Courtesy of Tetra Pak
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    Crate idea: Transport packaging made from recycled Tetra Pak cartons

    The polymer and aluminum material, polyAl, that gets separated from fiber during carton recycling is a key material for the new transport crates made by Schoeller Allibert. 

    By • April 2, 2025
  • Machinery inside Graphic Packaging International's Kalamazoo, Michigan, paperboard production plant.
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    Permission granted by Graphic Packaging International
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    Graphic Packaging International to close Ohio plant, affecting 130 employees

    The Ohio closure had been anticipated as part of the company’s effort to consolidate its mill system and focus on new facilities in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Waco, Texas, but it comes months ahead of schedule.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • A person shops in a grocery store aisle
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Hitting a plateau: Circular packaging designers face flexibles hurdle

    Many companies have targets to make 100% of their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Now, as they face the hardest categories to transform, some are weighing whether it’s feasible.

    By Shefali Kapadia • March 31, 2025
  • A person draws on a white board with a marker.
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    Courtesy of Amcor
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    Amcor extends open call for novel barrier coatings

    The company aims to work with innovators and startups on compostable and recyclable coatings for flexible packaging. Chosen projects could receive up to $500,000 in funding.

    By • March 28, 2025
  • A box with branding for Seagram's Escapes flavored malt beverages.
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    Courtesy of Seagram's Escapes
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    Packaging innovations: Seagram’s slims down, J. Lohr puts cab in a keg

    Plus, Wimbée and Koehler Paper cap off a fiber packaging project and Contempo Specialty Packaging keeps plastics and kids out of its cannabis packaging.

    By • March 26, 2025
  • Several white, plastic yogurt cups containing different colored yogurt, one of which has a metal spoon sticking out of it.
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    AtlasStudio via Getty Images
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    AI-enabled MRF technology aids food-grade polypropylene recovery: report

    A study led by Closed Loop Partners, in collaboration with Greyparrot, analyzed more than 650 tons of material from four U.S. MRFs. 

    By • March 25, 2025
  • Close up of fiber tubes with blue Sonoco logos on them.
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    Retrieved from Sonoco on March 21, 2025
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    URB producers to increase prices as tariffs affect fiber demand

    Greif, Sonoco, Cascades and Ox Industries are leading the price increases for uncoated recycled paperboard. Meanwhile, analysts flag that tariff uncertainty has prompted fiber demand shifts.

    By • March 21, 2025
  • A wheel loader moves bales of plastic
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    Courtesy of Republic Services
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    Republic opens Indianapolis plastics complex to meet recycled content demand

    The location has the company’s second polymer center and a Blue Polymers facility. Together, they’re expected to process 175,000 pounds of recycled plastic annually and in part offer resin for food-grade packaging.

    By Megan Quinn • March 20, 2025
  • Various fruits inside clear plastic food containers.
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    Retrieved from Plastic Ingenuity on March 19, 2025
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    PET thermoform recycling is rising, but still not matching PCR demand

    Only 54% of U.S. residents with recycling programs have access to thermoform recycling. That must increase to meet growing postconsumer recycled content demand, according to NAPCOR.

    By • Updated March 20, 2025
  • A Greyparrot AI system sits on top of a sorting line
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    Courtesy of Greyparrot
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    Recyclers give packaging designers a glimpse into limitations, opportunities in today’s MRFs

    Leaders from Republic Services, Rumpke Waste & Recycling and elsewhere discussed their role in recycling plastics at the Sustainability in Packaging US conference.

    By • March 17, 2025
  • President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn at the White House on March 9, 2025.
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    Samuel Corum via Getty Images
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    Trump reverses Canada steel, aluminum tariff hike

    A 25% tariff increase on the metal imports will still go into effect Wednesday, but that rate won’t double after Ontario backed off from imposing retaliatory energy tariffs.

    By Philip Neuffer • Updated March 11, 2025
  • Hands hold a white paper cup filled with yogurt and fruit
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    Courtesy of Huhtamaki
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    Packaging innovations: Less plastic in dairy cups, paint refills, pallet wraps

    Huhtamaki, Mondi and Ranpak recently announced new packaging launches and technology integrations.

    By • March 7, 2025
  • A close-up view of various old corrugated boxes that are flattened.
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    Watcharin panyawutso via Getty Images
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    China’s import policies changed fiber trade. Tariffs could change it again.

    RaboResearch explored how pulp and paper are “caught in the cross fire of a new North American trade war” as well as trade trends with folding cartonboard and recovered paper.

    By • March 5, 2025
  • Bundled stacks of flat corrugated boxes.
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    samritk via Getty Images
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    February’s partial price increase for containerboard again raises index questions

    Fiber producers continue to move away from third-party indexes and question their relevance to the broader market. Plus, analysts flag that containerboard oversupply and expected mill closures will affect prices.

    By • Feb. 25, 2025
  • A variety of small-sized packaging and caps in various colors and shapes.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Caps, pumps, pods: Preventing small packaging from slipping through recycling systems

    Tens of thousands of tons of small-format packaging could be captured each year with technological upgrades, according to a Closed Loop Partners report.

    By • Feb. 24, 2025
  • The tops of silver tabbed beverage cans
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    LordRunar via Getty Images
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    Metal packaging manufacturers raise red flags over new tariffs

    Both packaging and “consumer prices will go up” as manufacturers pass down increased costs, said Can Manufacturers Institute President Robert Budway.

    By • Feb. 11, 2025