How shareholders voted on plastics and packaging proposals in 2025

The National Legal and Policy Center and As You Sow each say they see positives after generating discussion around plastics-related proposals this year, including at Walmart, Mondelēz and The Home Depot.

By Maria Rachal • June 13, 2025

How much do consumers really care about sustainable packaging?

Consumers consider packaging sustainability when making purchases, but weigh other characteristics more heavily, according to a study from McKinsey & Co. The consulting firm presents five takeaways based on a consumer survey.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 11, 2025

How Sonoco reduced emissions during a year of change

Transportation revamps and process improvements were among Sonoco's impactful, but less-discussed, sustainability work in 2024, said Vice President of Global Sustainability Scott Byrne during a conversation with Packaging Dive.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 10, 2025

Sonoco expanding 4 US paper can manufacturing sites

Demand from snack food customers is fueling investments in the paper-bottom cans Sonoco introduced in the U.S. market last year. The product’s sustainability features, like recyclability, are driving sales, the company says.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 6, 2025

‘The world has changed’: PepsiCo CSO explains sustainability goal reset

Pepsi isn’t backing away from sustainability, says Chief Sustainability Officer Jim Andrew. He describes the shifts, from better aligning with global recycling infrastructure efforts to weighing the role of quantitative metrics for reuse.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 3, 2025

New widely recyclable and home-compostable Starbucks takeaway cup relies on Metsä Board’s paperboard

Starbucks EMEA and partners developed a recyclable and home-compostable takeaway cup on Metsa Board’s stock.

June 2, 2025

Plastics reduction advocate and former EPA administrator joins Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Jennie Romer, known for plastics pollution work at Surfrider and at the EPA's pollution prevention office, will address e-waste, textiles and circular economy policy in her new role at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

By Megan Quinn • May 27, 2025

PepsiCo resets packaging sustainability goals, ditches reuse target

The company discontinued some sustainability goals and revamped others for packaging and emissions. PepsiCo says the goals are still ambitious and reflect external challenges to achieving targets.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 22, 2025

Walmart, Mondelēz, Mars, Nestlé leave the US Plastics Pact

Multiple major members appear to have recently exited the group, which is gearing up to pursue refreshed 2030 targets. Meanwhile, some other companies have doubled down on participation for the next five years.

By Maria Rachal • May 22, 2025

Washington adopts seventh packaging EPR law in the US

All three West Coast states now have extended producer responsibility for packaging laws. Washington’s law, the seventh in the U.S., was backed by multiple CPG and packaging trade groups.

By Megan Quinn • May 17, 2025

Inside O-I’s sustainability targets

The glass company recently ramped up its 2030 targets. Sustainability Director Sonya Pump discussed the philosophy around goal-setting, including a focus on energy efficiency and assessing opportunity with evolving technologies.

By Maria Rachal • May 12, 2025

Packaging innovation center scores federal funding to ‘strengthen US manufacturers’

Organizers in Michigan are engaging companies to be part of this pre-competitive research hub that leverages National Science Foundation grant money as well as industry buy-in.

By Maria Rachal • May 9, 2025

GreenBlue shares How2Recycle label updates, launches tube and thermoform group

The group announced a new timeline for redesigned labels and a collaboration on hard-to-recycle items. Plus, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition outlined 2025’s top trends in packaging innovation, design, policy and recovery.

By Maria Rachal • May 7, 2025

Grants of up to $50K aim to boost compostable packaging recovery

A new program accepting applications through mid-June seeks to help fund on-site equipment improvements, public education, testing and market development related to packaging.

By Cole Rosengren • May 6, 2025

Kind Snacks launches recyclable paper wrapper pilot program

Printpack helped the snack food company develop a barrier-coated paper wrapper to replace plastic. The partners will gather information about shelf life and durability during transit to determine next steps for scaling.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 1, 2025

CPGs unlikely to hit 2025 PCR goals, Ameripen analysis shows

Companies have upped recycled plastic in packaging the last few years. But CPGs still face considerable uncertainty about how recycled materials and related technologies could be regulated going forward.

By Maria Rachal • April 28, 2025

Mondelēz reports challenges in lowering virgin plastic

The snack foods manufacturer detailed gaps between its 2024 virgin and recycled plastic trends and its 2025 targets in an annual report.

By Maria Rachal • April 22, 2025

The cold chain dilemma: Balancing cost, sustainability and performance

Balancing cost, performance and sustainability in cold chain packaging.

By Altor • April 21, 2025

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 Katie Pyzyk • April 17, 2025

Inside The Recycling Partnership’s policy pivot

Founder Keefe Harrison said the organization’s shift toward recycling policy advocacy has helped spark improvements to recycling systems that can’t be accelerated with grant programs alone.

By Megan Quinn • April 16, 2025

General Mills projects plastic decreases as product portfolio changes

Availability of food-grade PCR has remained a sticking point, the company suggested. However, it expects the divestiture of its North American yogurt business to decrease its use of flexible and rigid plastics going forward.

By Maria Rachal • April 16, 2025

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

Shareholder advocacy targets flexible packaging, reusables and recycling labels

Proposals remain pending at Mondelēz, Amazon, Home Depot, Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo and Wendy’s. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola, Hyatt, Sealed Air, Starbucks and Wyndham recently reached agreements with shareholder advocates.

By Cole Rosengren • Updated April 7, 2025

The beauty of lightweight paperboard packaging

Some industries have prioritized sustainability lately, beauty care has been leading the way for years.

By Christophe Baudry, Sales Director, Brand Owners, EMEA at Metsä Board • April 7, 2025

The rise of lightweight packaging: How to adapt your production line for success

Lightweighting is impacting your change parts, but it doesn’t have to. Read more for the answer.

April 7, 2025