Sustainability
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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 -
Q&A
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 -
Courtesy of Michigan State University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, School of Packaging
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 -
Sponsored by Altor
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 -
Q&A
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 -
Sponsored by Morrison Container Handling Solutions
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 -
Sponsored by Metsä Board
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 -
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 -
The image by Jimmy Emerson, DVM is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
California packaging EPR implementation moves ahead amid regulatory redo
State officials shared updates in the first SB 54 advisory board meeting since Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a regulatory restart. CalRecycle said it will continue working on multiple other statutory requirements in the meantime.
By Megan Quinn • March 24, 2025 -
Henkel boosts recycled content in plastic packaging
The German consumer goods company’s newly released sustainability report also cited the supplier engagement program it launched last year as being instrumental in reducing emissions.
By Katie Pyzyk • March 18, 2025 -
Sponsored by Cruz Foam
How to make more informed decisions about your products’ packaging with life cycle assessments
As overconsumption continues to fuel an environmental and human health crisis, understanding the full life cycle of the products we create is more critical than ever.
March 17, 2025 -
Walmart says it’s unlikely to meet 2025 plastic, recycling targets
The largest U.S. retailer discussed challenges to increasing PCR adoption. More than two-thirds of its global private-brand packaging was recyclable, reusable or industrially compostable in 2023, according to a company update.
By Maria Rachal • March 11, 2025 -
Packaging innovations: Less plastic in dairy cups, paint refills, pallet wraps
Huhtamaki, Mondi and Ranpak recently announced new packaging launches and technology integrations.
By Maria Rachal • March 7, 2025 -
Evertis, Ingredion, Eco Guardian and more announce expansions
Citing sustainability regulations, tariffs and other driving factors, packaging and materials companies have laid out plans to grow their North American operations.
By Cole Rosengren • March 6, 2025