Technology & Innovation: Page

  • 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
  • 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