Technology & Innovation: Page

  • A paper bottle for Heinz Tomato Ketchup developed with Pulpex.
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    Permission granted by The Kraft Heinz Company
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    Kraft Heinz looks to transform plastic packaging portfolio

    The food and beverage giant is now trying to cut virgin plastic use 20% by 2030. U.S. consumers can expect to buy certain mayo products in packaging made entirely from recycled content starting next year.

    By • July 31, 2023
  • Jell-O portfolio after rebrand
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    Permission granted by Kraft Heinz
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    Jell-O rebrands for first time in 10 years with updated packaging

    The 178-year-old brand is the 18th Kraft Heinz label to get a refresh over the last three years amid an industrywide rebranding trend.

    By Chris Kelly • July 27, 2023
  • Four bottles of Ron Rubin Winery's Blue Bin wines.
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    Permission granted by Amcor Rigid Packaging
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    Move over, glass: Amcor’s new wine bottle is 100% recycled PET

    The rPET wine bottle is approximately 10 times lighter than conventional glass versions, and it results in lower CO2 output during production and transportation, according to an Amcor marketing manager.

    By • Updated July 26, 2023
  • Flexi-Hex's fiber protective packaging that is made of stacked hexagonal shapes.
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    Permission granted by Orora Packaging Solutions
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    Flexi-Hex, Orora partnership brings 100% recycled fiber protective packaging to North America

    It offers an alternative to plastic options like foam peanuts or air-filled cushions.

    By • July 25, 2023
  • Individual-sized drinks in O-I Glass' wide-mouth Drinktainer beverage container.
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    Permission granted by O-I Glass
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    O-I Glass’ Drinktainer gains market availability 2 years after launch thanks to co-packing agreement

    F.X. Matt Brewing Co., parent company of beer brands such as Saranac, will install a bottling line specifically for the unique glass container and offer co-packing to other brands. 

    By • July 21, 2023
  • Person holding a product at grocery store and scanning with smartphone
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    Getty Images
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    Connected packaging proponents talk growth opportunities for QR codes

    Brands can expand the uses for QR codes as consumer familiarity grows, speakers from Amazon, Colgate Palmolive, GS1 and more discussed at the Connected Packaging Summit.

    By • July 17, 2023
  • Close-up of a beverage lid made from fiber material.
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    Courtesy of Matrix Pack
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    Packaging innovations: Matrix Pack, Fieldless, Dr. Bronner’s make a switch to fiber

    Charter Next Generation, Pixelle Specialty Solutions and others announced product launches and redesigns to improve sustainability.

    By • July 14, 2023
  • A Recology employee collects green curbside compostable material bins.
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    Permission granted by Recology
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    Consumers don’t understand ‘compostable’ messaging on packaging, survey finds

    Lack of consumer clarity with terms like “biodegradable” and “made from plants” can result in materials entering the wrong disposal stream, according to a report from BPI and Closed Loop Partners’ Composting Consortium.

    By • July 11, 2023
  • Green glass bottles
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    Getty Images
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    Wash-off labels continue to gain ground as brands look to make their containers more readily recyclable

    While the concept has been around for years, the emergence of producer responsibility laws and other recycling targets could make it more mainstream.

    By Hollie Stephens • July 10, 2023
  • Bath & Body Works' reformulated hand soap collection, whose bottles are made with at least 50% recycled plastic.
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    Courtesy of Bath & Body Works
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    Packaging innovations: Meaty changes from Sainsbury’s and lower-carbon screwtop closures by Amcor

    Bath & Body Works, Eviosys and Aludium were also involved in recently announced packaging redesigns and product updates.

    By • July 7, 2023
  • A collage of some of the products cited in FTC-FDA cease and desist letters to companies selling THC products copying the look of snacks popular with children.
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    Courtesy of Federal Trade Commission
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    Cannabis packaging targeted by FTC, FDA over child safety concerns

    Multiple companies with products said to resemble popular snacks and candy were sent cease-and-desist letters. More states are considering their own regulations addressing packaging design for cannabis products.

    By • July 6, 2023
  • Lipstick
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    Courtesy of The Body Shop
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    Beauty packaging gets a makeover with growing number of refillable options

    Cosmetics and beauty products can create a lot of waste, leading to renewed interest in reusable and refillable options. But designing those options, and ensuring that consumers will adapt to them, is a complex task.

    By Danielle Beurteaux • July 5, 2023
  • Exterior wide shot of Pratt Industries' box factory in Cedar Hill, Texas.
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    Courtesy of Pratt Industries
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    Pratt Industries opens $253M box factory in Texas

    The advanced manufacturing facility, the company’s fifth in Texas, will produce 100% recycled corrugated boxes and provide 375 “green-collar manufacturing jobs.”

    By • June 29, 2023
  • The welcome screen for the OpenAI ChatGPT app is displayed on a laptop screen.
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    Leon Neal via Getty Images
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    ChatGPT can help transform packaging design and manufacturing, industry leaders say

    Generative AI and modeling tools are already impacting jobs and processes in the packaging chain, speakers discussed this month at EastPack.

    By • June 28, 2023
  • Packages of goat cheese.
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    Courtesy of Saputo USA
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    Packaging innovations: Montchevre features ‘mischievous’ goats, Partake Brewing shows ‘lively’ personality

    Sabert, Pregis and others recently announced packaging redesigns and material changes for certain product lines.

    By • June 23, 2023
  • Industrial machinery at a recycled plastic production plant.
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    Permission granted by CG Roxane
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    CG Roxane launches second in-house rPET plant to supply bottled water operations

    The company also upped its bottles’ minimum recycled content to 50%, which is expected to save nearly 33,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

    By • June 20, 2023
  • An array of Heinz sauce packets with specialty packaging for the summer.
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    Courtesy of The Kraft Heinz Company
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    Packaging innovations: Heinz’s stately summer, Entenmann’s rebrand tech boosts accessibility

    Restaurantware, ProAmpac and AdvanSix also recently announced new launches or packaging redesigns.

    By • June 16, 2023
  • Red cases of Coca-Cola
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    Cole Rosengren/Packaging Dive
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    QR code resurgence presents opportunity for food and beverage packaging

    Growing consumer familiarity with the technology, which can host endless information, is a boon to brands as they look to keep up with increasing demands for communicating via packaging.

    By Leslie Nemo • June 8, 2023
  • Tetra Pak building with solar panels on top
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    Courtesy of Tetra Pak
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    Tetra Pak grows share of plant-based packaging, targets greater recyclability

    The food packaging and processing company plans to invest more in carton recycling as it pursues simplified material structures in its products.

    By • June 7, 2023
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    Brandon Bell/ via Getty Images
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    Chipotle prepares national rollout of RFID for food traceability

    The restaurant chain is expanding its use of the technology to track ingredients from suppliers in real time.

    By Sarah Zimmerman • June 5, 2023
  • A Mars bar candy bar with a paper wrapper.
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    Permission granted by Mars
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    Packaging innovations: Mars launches paper wrappers, Absolut lightens up with paper bottle

    Catch up on six innovative sustainable packaging launches and redesigns from Sprite, Earthfirst Films, Sabert Corp. and more.

    By • June 2, 2023
  • Cardboard boxes on conveyor belt
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    Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Specright CTO says to take advantage of AI for packaging, data is key

    Ayman Shoukry, from data platform Specright, sees great potential in using artificial intelligence to better manage supply chains and reporting. But none of it will work without standardized data.

    By • June 1, 2023
  • Compostable containers with tacos inside.
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    Courtesy of Better Earth
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    Packaging innovations: Compostable clamshell prevents taco tipping, Smirnoff Ice’s ‘drippy’ redesign

    Catch up on six new packaging technologies and redesigns from Better Earth, ProAmpac, Pure Protein and others.

    By • May 26, 2023
  • Recycle Check
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    Courtesy of The Recycling Partnership
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    General Mills, Horizon Organic to add QR codes with location-specific recycling information

    The Recycling Partnership’s new tool is meant to provide location-specific information and complement existing labeling programs, namely GreenBlue’s How2Recycle and the Consumer Brands Association’s SmartLabel.

    By • May 25, 2023
  • A panel of experts at the 'Talking Trash at the FTC: Recyclable Claims and the Green Guides' workshop in Washington, D.C., on May 23, 2023.
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    Maria Rachal/Packaging Dive
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    FTC's Green Guides update

    FTC’s Green Guides review brings packaging recyclability debates to the fore

    Chemical recycling, access to recycling as a key metric and the potential for national rulemaking were some of the areas that divided expert panelists at a Federal Trade Commission workshop Tuesday.

    By • May 24, 2023