Technology & Innovation: Page

  • Paper bottles on a piece of wood
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    Courtesy of Carlsberg
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    Brands respond to consumer calls for sustainable packaging, but recycling barriers exist

    Many companies are switching to fiber to boost sustainability. But factors like coatings and consumer recycling participation still pose challenges, according to speakers at the Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference.

    By • Oct. 17, 2023
  • An open, compartmentalized box with PlayStation's accessible controller inside.
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    Courtesy of Playstation
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    Packaging innovations: PlayStation boosts accessibility, Dymapak squeezes out tampering

    Plus, packaging launches from Berry Global, Microtek Laboratories and UMF|PerfectCLEAN, including options that are compostable or contain PCR.

    By • Oct. 13, 2023
  • Three people sitting on a stage during a panel discussion at a conference.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Kroger, Lovesac and other brands discuss today’s packaging design priorities

    Incorporating sustainability and marketing while building a relationship with the consumer are all part of the desired “holistic experience,” as coined by one packaging CEO at E-PACK.

    By • Oct. 12, 2023
  • Olga Kachook of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition speaks in front of a crowd about reuse solutions
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    Permission granted by Sustainable Packaging Coalition
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    What’s next for flexible pouch design, reuse and EPR? Packaging professionals weigh in.

    SPC Advance featured perspectives from ProAmpac, Printpack, Dow, Dispatch Goods, Orora Packaging Solutions, Lorax EPI, Specright and more.

    By • Updated Oct. 20, 2023
  • Four people on a stage speaking at a conference.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    For e-commerce packaging, sustainability is imperative, not just ‘nice-to-have’

    Speakers at E-PACK in Chicago agreed sustainability is a force for change in e-commerce packaging. But what sustainable packaging is and how to achieve it are up for debate.

    By • Oct. 10, 2023
  • GreenBlue Executive Director and Keurig Dr Pepper CSO Monique Oxender discuss compostable packaging
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    Cole Rosengren/Packaging Dive
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    Compostable packaging is on the rise. What are consumers supposed to do with it?

    Speakers at SPC Advance from Keurig Dr Pepper, NatureWorks, Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee, Sonoco FRESH and MassDEP talked through the complex questions raised by the uptick in compostable packaging.

    By • Oct. 4, 2023
  • A person with arthritis, which may make it harder to open certain packaging
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    Permission granted by Arthritis Foundation
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    Hard-to-open packaging a concern for designers and the public

    The number of people with arthritis and dexterity issues is forecast to grow. Their packaging concerns should be a higher priority for the packaging industry, designers and nonprofits say.

    By Barbara Hesselgrave • Updated Oct. 11, 2023
  • Two white, skull-shaped bottles of Crystal Head Vodka.
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    Courtesy of Crystal Head Vodka
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    Packaging innovations: Redesigns from L’Occitane, Blue Moon, Denizen Rum and more

    Plus, Crystal Head Vodka bones up its spooky seasonal bottle and Otterbein’s packaging revamp aims to keep cookies crispier.

    By • Sept. 29, 2023
  • Blue Moon's new packaging with a bottle of Blue Moon off to one side.
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    Courtesy of Molson Coors
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    Blue Moon unveils packaging refresh to boost mass appeal

    New packaging designed to better unify the line of beers will arrive in February and be featured in an expanded “Made Brighter” marketing campaign.

    By Sara Karlovitch • Sept. 28, 2023
  • The show floor at Pack Expo 2023 in Las Vegas.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Stories from Pack Expo 2023

    Catch up on all of Packaging Dive’s coverage from Las Vegas, including shifting trends and industry leaders’ insights on what’s next.

    By • Sept. 26, 2023
  • A white robot arm picks up cardboard boxes at a booth display at a conference.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Pack Expo 2023

    AI will revolutionize packaging, but strong controls are needed: Pack Expo speakers

    “Packaging is the hardest piece to corral” due to the complexity of the sector’s data, said Specright founder and CEO Matthew Wright.

    By • Sept. 25, 2023
  • A blue, open "advent calendar" box displays 12 vials of wine inside and sits next to a similar red box.
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    Courtesy of Vinebox
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    Packaging innovations: Vinebox flattens out, Eviosys looks to the horizon for all-metal lids

    Plus, product redesigns and recycling-related changes from Georgia-Pacific, ProAmpac, Back to the Roots and Rebbl.

    By • Sept. 22, 2023
  • A 24-pack of beverage cans sitting in a cardboard base with a fiber wrapper around them.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Pack Expo 2023

    Packaging innovations at Pack Expo 2023: WestRock, Atlantic Packaging’s ‘canopy,’ Tetra Pak goes with Flow

    Orbis, Terphane and RyPax also introduced new or redesigned products to improve sustainability, safety and user experience.

    By • Sept. 15, 2023
  • A Chipotle worker scans an RFID tag on a box as part of a growing traceability initiative
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    RFID on packaging gains traction amid food safety and waste concerns

    A tracking system traditionally used for nonperishable items could become more common on certain types of packaging ahead of future traceability requirements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    By Leslie Nemo • Sept. 12, 2023
  • Person opening a plastic twist cap on a carton of probiotic yogurt.
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    Courtesy of SIG
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    Packaging innovations: SIG’s cartons give probiotics a long life, Berry Global’s beany redesign

    Plus, new products from Printpack and ProAmpac aim to increase packaging sustainability, including through ISCC PLUS certification.

    By • Sept. 8, 2023
  • Bud Light's cans in limited-edition NFL team packaging featuring team logos and players
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    Permission granted by Anheuser-Busch
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    Packaging innovations: Bud Light’s sporty cans, SC Johnson hits recycled plastic out of the ballpark

    Plus: Amcor rolls out new paper packaging in North America, Berry Global details an innovative bottle design challenge and Aldi makes more sustainable packaging announcements in the U.K.

    By • Sept. 1, 2023
  • Two researchers in lab coats working in a biotechnology laboratory.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    LanzaTech’s emissions-gobbling microbes help to create plastic packaging

    The growing biotechnology company engineers intermediate components for plastic packaging and aims to reach 300,000 metric tons of production capacity this year.

    By • Aug. 31, 2023
  • Images of Diet Coke, Sprite and Fanta bottles with tethered caps
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    Courtesy of Sidel
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    Packaging companies and CPGs prepare for EU’s tethered bottle cap regulation

    Berry Global, Sidel and others worked with companies to redesign beverage containers ahead of a new mandate taking effect in July.

    By Hollie Stephens • Updated July 3, 2024
  • Flexible plastic packaging pouches
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    Getty Images
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    Top US packaging conferences for the rest of 2023

    The Packaging Dive team plans to attend several events this year and is tracking others. Keep up to date with this calendar of upcoming packaging-related conferences.

    By Packaging Dive Staff • Aug. 28, 2023
  • Two bottles of The Glenlivit Twist & Mix cocktails next to drinking glasses holding the beverages.
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    Courtesy of Pernod Ricard USA
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    Packaging innovations: Glenlivet puts a twist on caps, Graphic Packaging’s snappy fiber lid

    Sonoco, Hotel Emporium, Healthy Pet and others released new or redesigned packaging, with some saying the innovations are the first of their kind.

    By • Aug. 25, 2023
  • Close up of date on plastic milk jug
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    Getty Images
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    Could food freshness sensors be the end of ‘best by’ dates?

    Expiration and date labels on packaging can cause confusion and food waste. Companies and researchers around the world are testing inks, pH sensors, hydrogels and other approaches to change that.

    By Danielle Beurteaux • Aug. 21, 2023
  • A rendering of Licella's Advanced Recycling Victoria facility, featuring Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor technology.
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    Permission granted by Amcor
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    Amcor, Oreo maker team on ‘advanced recycling’ for plastic packaging

    Amcor’s latest play comes as it seeks to serve customers, like the company behind Cadbury chocolates and other brands, with hard-to-recycle flexible packaging. It builds on a separate agreement with ExxonMobil.

    By • Aug. 17, 2023
  • A person opens a box with a product wrapped in filler packaging in front of a video camera.
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    Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Packaging evolves in response to ‘unboxing’ videos flooding social media

    Brands are requesting customized boxes to touch consumers’ emotions and build loyalty. Filler material, in-box printing and sustainability contribute to memorable unboxing moments, too.

    By • Aug. 16, 2023
  • Close-up view of a plastic bottle cap.
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    Permission granted by Origin Materials
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    Origin Materials introduces PET bottle cap intended to boost recyclability

    While Origin’s CEO notes the company isn’t the first to produce a PET cap, he said “we're processing the material differently” and the items could be made from the company’s biomass-based material.

    By • Aug. 9, 2023
  • Close-up view of Notpla's dishwasher pods made from seaweed-based material.
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    Courtesy of Notpla
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    Packaging innovations: Notpla’s biodegradable pods, WestRock’s fiber ‘dog bone’

    Augusta Label and Packaging, Ranpak and Spartech also introduced new or redesigned packaging for specialty purposes, including cold chain shipments and sterile medical device protection.

    By • Aug. 4, 2023