Sustainability


  • Former President Donald Trump, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris, right, stand behind podiums at a debate.
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Election 2024: The outlook for packaging and manufacturing policy

    Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump differ on environmental regulations, manufacturing, energy and ESG policies. What could a Trump or Harris presidency mean for the packaging industry?

    By , , Oct. 23, 2024
  • Three compostable Sabert trays with chopped vegetables on a table
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    Courtesy of Sabert Corp.
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    Q&A

    5 questions for Sabert’s new chief sustainability officer

    Richa Desai discusses what it’s like to lead sustainability strategy at a private food packaging company in a changing landscape.

    By Oct. 22, 2024
  • Two black reusable containers in a warehouse holding celery
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    Retrieved from PR Newswire.
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    Sprouts expands reusable packaging partnership with IFCO

    The specialty grocer has piloted reusable containers for fresh produce items packed in high-humidity environments as a way to replace single-use corrugated and wax-corrugated boxes.

    By Peyton Bigora • Oct. 21, 2024
  • An arm clutches a Sway polybag containing a garment. Writing printed on the bag reads "This bag is made with seaweed."
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    Permission granted by Sway
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    Sway scaling compostable seaweed-based polybags with fashion brands

    Prana, Faherty and other brands will begin using the bags to package items like shirts and shorts. California-based material innovation startup Sway says the next applications it’s eyeing include mailers and multilayer packaging.

    By Oct. 18, 2024
  • Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-Designate, speaks on stage.
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    CEOs from Ball, Ikea, Nestlé, H&M, others call for climate action ahead of COP29

    A letter, signed by senior executives from over 100 corporations, urges governments and businesses to collaborate to address challenges related to climate risk mitigation.

    By Zoya Mirza • Oct. 16, 2024
  • People holding coffee cups with natural-colored, fiber-based lids.
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    Courtesy of PulPac
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    Q&A

    PulPac leverages partnerships to advance its dry molded fiber technology

    The company is experiencing growth as it touts its technology's carbon footprint benefits over the wet molding process. Identifying coatings free of PFAS is a sticking point, says Chief Commercial Officer Sanna Fager.

    By Oct. 15, 2024
  • A graphic depicting, from left to right, the current How2Recycle icons and the proposed redesigned How2Recycle icons
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    Permission granted by GreenBlue
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    How2Recycle revamp

    How2Recycle doesn’t want to abandon the chasing arrows

    Consumer comprehension data played a central role in how How2Recycle redesigned its instructional label, leaders of the process explained. But potential restrictions in California pose a challenge.

    By Updated Oct. 14, 2024
  • Front and side view of Silk Kids oatmilk blend
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    Permission granted by Danone
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    How2Recycle revamp

    Danone chooses cartons for initial How2Recycle Plus rollout

    The company also detailed other packaging formats where it’s considering adding the labels, which include a Recycle Check QR code. It’s unclear how much consumers engaged with those QR codes during other brands’ pilots.

    By Updated Oct. 11, 2024
  • Clorox disinfecting wipes are seen displayed for sale at a Walmart Supercenter on September 18, 2023 in Austin, Texas.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Clorox says 2023 cyberattack hurt progress on 2030 plastic, waste reduction goals

    The company is reassessing some sustainability goals, according to its latest annual report. Data shows the company stagnated on lowering virgin material and upping PCR in packaging.

    By Oct. 9, 2024
  • Taco Bell and TerraCycle are expanding a sauce packet recycling program to accept all brands of condiment packets.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Yum! Brands’ 2025 virgin plastic reduction target remains in question

    The corporation described packaging sustainability efforts across its fast-food brands in an ESG report, including updating Pizza Hut box graphics to promote recycling and expanding mail-in recycling for Taco Bell sauce packets.

    By Oct. 8, 2024
  • A production line fills compostable coffee pods with coffee grounds
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    Courtesy of NatureWorks
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    Deep Dive

    Inside the debate over PLA, the packaging industry’s favorite bioplastic

    Polylactic acid has been around for decades, but it only became popular as an option for compostable packaging more recently. While some environmental groups question its credentials, the packaging sector expects demand to grow.

    By Mary Catherine O'Connor • Oct. 8, 2024
  • A large screen at an event shows a bubble graph of words that consumers believe makes a brand sustainable.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Consumers are confused by packaging sustainability claims

    Between greenwashing, confusing terminology and a lack of information, a lot gets lost in translation, according to speakers from the National Retail Federation, NielsenIQ and others at recent industry events.

    By Oct. 7, 2024
  • A person packing products into a box at a production facility.
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    Permission granted by Cruz Foam
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    Sponsored by Cruz Foam

    Why sustainable packaging materials matter in B2C shipping

    The rapid rise in e-commerce, and the resulting increase in B2C shipping, has revolutionized how consumers receive products. However, this convenience has come at a significant environmental cost.

    Oct. 7, 2024
  • A woman in a supermarket smiles and holds a smartphone above a carton
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    Courtesy of GreenBlue
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    How2Recycle revamp

    How2Recycle Plus ready to take dynamic labels mainstream

    The new offering features a QR code so consumers can access localized recycling information. It will come at a higher price to brands than the more traditional How2Recycle Pro label. Danone will be the first to adopt it.

    By Oct. 4, 2024
  • Close-up shot of a food container with film that says recyclable.
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    K Neville via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Hush-hush: Is greenwashing pushback prompting pivot to ‘greenhushing’?

    Companies must focus on data to back their sustainability claims instead of resorting to silence, or exaggerations, said sources from groups such as the U.S. Plastics Pact, Glass Packaging Institute and McCormick & Co.

    By Oct. 3, 2024
  • Piles of organic material in the composting process, managed by a piece of heavy equipment
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    Mary Catherine O'Connor/Packaging Dive
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    BPI Summit highlights ongoing compostable packaging debate ahead of USDA decision

    World Centric, the California Compost Coalition, Athens Services, Dirt Hugger, A1 Organics, Moonshot Compost and others weighed in with their thoughts about this growing category of packaging.

    By Mary Catherine O'Connor • Oct. 2, 2024
  • A person in glasses and a long sleeve shirt stands on a stage in front of the word "Advance"
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    Permission granted by GreenBlue
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    How2Recycle revamp

    The How2Recycle label is getting a new look

    The campaign to transform the instructional label program involves a refreshed design, enhanced data sources and partners handling different aspects of the system, and planning for greater investment in consumer education.

    By Oct. 1, 2024
  • A view of vendor displays on the show floor at Pack Expo East at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on March 20, 2024.
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    Maria Rachal/Packaging Dive
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    Packaging trade shows to watch in 2025

    Mark your calendar: These U.S. conferences and events will cover timely trends in sustainable packaging design, recycling technologies, regional market trends, substrate evolutions, automation and more.

    By Packaging Dive Staff • Oct. 1, 2024
  • Nespresso
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    Courtesy of Nespresso
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    Nespresso spotlights aluminum in marketing campaign

    The Nestlé coffee brand timed the campaign to New York's Climate Week as it seeks to position itself as a more sustainable format than other single-use coffee products.

    By Sara Karlovitch • Sept. 27, 2024
  • Three people sit in chairs on a stage and one person stands at a podium, with a green background behind all of them that says Packaging Recycling Summit.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Insights from the 2024 Packaging Recycling Summit

    AI applications, recycled plastic supply and demand, and how brands are thinking about extended producer responsibility were among the topics Packaging Dive covered from this year’s event in California.

    By Sept. 27, 2024
  • Two bottles of wine - one rose, one chardonnay - on a wood table with a charcutier board, and two empty wine glasses
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    Courtesy of Albertsons Companies
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    Packaging innovations: Bottle material changes from Albertsons and Johnnie Walker

    Plus, Cambio Roasters and Glatfelter debut new coffee pod packaging, while Sleever partners with Cambio for a biodegradable shrink sleeve.

    By Sept. 27, 2024
  • Aerial view indoors of a warehouse space with Home Depot boxes on pallets
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    Courtesy of The Home Depot
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    Home Depot phases out EPS, PVC in fiber packaging overhaul

    The process required ample testing and collaboration. “We sell light bulbs, we sell appliances, we sell toilets. These are products that are prone to damage if they are not secured with the right packaging,” said one sustainability leader.

    By Sept. 20, 2024
  • One person stands behind a podium on a stage next to five other people sitting in chairs.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Want to know what packaging EPR will look like in the US? So does everyone else.

    The industry’s perception of EPR has changed the last two years, according to a speaker at the Packaging Recycling Summit. But stakeholders are still seeking answers related to data collection, ecomodulation and more.

    By Sept. 19, 2024
  • Culligan aluminum water bottles lined up in a beverage refrigerator
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    Courtesy of Culligan International
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    Largest US arena aims to take aluminum water bottles mainstream

    Chicago’s United Center is partnering with local water company Culligan to shun single-use plastic. Although the city has struggled to improve its recycling, the arena can serve as a dense area for messaging, collection and impact.

    By Sept. 17, 2024
  • Hands hold an Aerflo reusable carbon capsule
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    Permission granted by Aerflo
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    Sparkling water craze meets reuse with Aerflo’s launch

    Investor Closed Loop Partners hailed the convenience of the startup’s refillable bottle system. Aerflo estimates its reusable capsules, which carbonate water on the go, could each displace more than 330 beverage cans.

    By Sept. 12, 2024