Polystyrene recycling group cites medical, transport packaging as key end markets

A study conducted by Resource Recycling Systems on behalf of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance identified 81 companies and 119 total facilities that handle expanded or extruded polystyrene foam.

By Megan Quinn • Updated 19 hours ago

Packaging innovations: Lytt’s lit containers, Duni’s paper is the new black

Plus, Sappi North America and CJ Biomaterials introduce products that resist grease in foodservice applications.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 15, 2026

Plastic packaging converters raise red flags over Iran war impact

Polyolefins are bearing the brunt of supply disruptions and price increases, and renormalization isn’t expected until 2027 at the earliest. Experts from ICIS, Emerald Packaging and others weigh in.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 14, 2026

Recycled food-contact materials need regulatory harmonization, UN report says

“We want to recycle more plastic, but we also want to make sure that by solving one problem we don't create new problems,” said Corinna Hawkes, a leader in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

By Maria Rachal • May 14, 2026

20% of US residents can now recycle paper cups, FPI says

Paper cup recycling access quadrupled in the last decade, according to the Foodservice Packaging Institute. But more work is needed, including on end markets, as some mills that accepted the material have backed out.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 11, 2026

Packaging, materials groups testify in Section 301 tariff probe

Representatives from the Can Manufacturers Institute and Association of Plastic Recyclers were among the groups testifying this week about foreign countries’ trade actions that harm U.S. manufacturers.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 8, 2026

Producers launch second wave of containerboard price increases in 2026

Cascades is the latest company to join a price hike wave that Smurfit Westrock initiated.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated May 8, 2026

Containerboard production charts steepest decline in years in Q1

The year-over-year drop is significant but “is not unprecedented,” according to the American Forest & Paper Association. It follows the nearly 10% production capacity cuts announced in 2025, the last of which were finalized this year.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 28, 2026

Breaking the ‘boom-and-bust cycle’ in domestic recycled plastic markets

Ensuring PCR use in more challenging packaging like food-grade pouches can be “way down the road,” said APR Chief Policy Officer Kate Bailey. For now, there’s plenty to do with secondary products and bolstering good policy.

By Maria Rachal • April 27, 2026

Packaging innovations: CVS Health swaps foam, PPG coats pet food cans

Plus, Amcor goes lighter on sauce caps and UPM Specialty Materials works with Felix Schoeller on a barrier solution for flexible food packaging.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 24, 2026

Navigating PCR procurement? A new tool could help.

Given recent shifts in recycling markets, the Northeast Recycling Council hopes the PCR Material Demand Hub will help organizations with purchasing, explained Executive Director Megan Schulz-Fontes.

By Marissa Heffernan • April 21, 2026

Containerboard prices rise in April for second consecutive month

Fastmarkets RISI recognized another bump that brings producers closer to achieving the $70 per ton hikes they announced earlier this year.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 21, 2026

Colorado mass balance debate underscores industry faultlines

The American Chemistry Council withdrew a lawsuit, but the larger question on recycled content verification remains.

By Marissa Heffernan • April 17, 2026

Don’t call it a comeback: Can containerboard still rebound in 2026?

Uncertainty from the Iran war and other factors is harshing the “positive vibe” from early in Q1. Most categories driving box demand aren’t doing well, raising questions about whether Q2 could be a “disaster for containerboard.”

By Katie Pyzyk • April 8, 2026

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 • Updated April 6, 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