Technology & Innovation: Page

  • 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
  • A side-by-side comparison of Kraft Singles packaging before and after the brand refresh.
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    Courtesy of Kraft Heinz
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    Kraft Singles refreshes brand with bold colors, easier-to-open packaging

    The first overhaul in five years arrives as the brand looks to maintain its momentum during a period of high inflation. 

    By Sara Karlovitch • May 23, 2023
  • A person putting a plastic bottle into a recycling bin.
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    Courtesy of Penn State. Creative Commons
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    Penn State no longer accepting compostable packaging, certain plastics in recycling programs

    The “food waste only” composting model is intended to cut down on contamination — but non-food items might be re-added in the future.

    By • May 22, 2023
  • An opened 12-pack package of Budweiser beer with a music magazine printed on the package's inside.
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    Screenshot: Budweiser/YouTube 

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    Packaging innovations: Budweiser’s music box, Quilted Northern puts paper on paper and more

    Catch up on six new packaging technologies and redesigns involving Pepsi, Georgia-Pacific, Bertolli, Ardagh, Ball, Tetra Pak and others.

    By • May 19, 2023
  • Flexible plastic packaging pouches
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    Getty Images
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    Flexible and compostable product groups discuss circularity goals for hard-to-recycle packaging

    The executive directors of the Flexible Packaging Association and Biodegradable Products Institute discussed what their stakeholders view as important tenets of EPR policies.

    By • May 18, 2023
  • Conveyor belt of plastic water bottles
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    Getty Images
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    LanzaTech, Plastipak partner on ‘world’s first’ PET made from carbon emissions

    The two Midwestern companies say the product can be used in food-safe applications and could help customers reduce their Scope 3 emissions.

    By • May 18, 2023
  • Top view of multiple wine bottles
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    Getty Images
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    The future of wine packaging: Lighter bottles and less glass

    Champagne Telmont recently announced the creation of what it says is the lightest champagne bottle in the world. Meanwhile, canned and boxed wines are gaining traction among high-end consumers.

    By Hollie Stephens • May 17, 2023
  • Plastic bottles baled for recycling
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    Getty Images
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    Reports recommend packaging changes ahead of next global plastics treaty negotiations

    The UN Environment Programme and WWF dug into areas for intervention across the product life cycle, like designing for circularity, substituting other materials for plastics, EPR for packaging, reuse and deposit return systems.

    By • May 17, 2023
  • A squeezable tube made from fiber material.
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    Courtesy of Stora Enso
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    Packaging innovations: Stora Enso and Tubex put a twist on tube caps, ClearBags’ pouches shape up

    Catch up on some of the latest news on packaging redesigns and material changes for beauty product refills, compostable containers and more.

    By • May 12, 2023
  • Plastics products with chasing arrow recycling symbol
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    The image by Marco Verch is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    FTC's Green Guides update

    Packaging, recycling groups urge FTC to modernize Green Guides

    Numerous industry and advocacy groups shared recommendations on how to update environmental marketing and recyclability guidelines, which they say are woefully out of date since the last edit in 2012.

    By Megan Quinn , • April 27, 2023
  • Fiber box package containing sushi.
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    Courtesy of Graphic Packaging International
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    Packaging innovations: Graphic’s paper-based sushi packaging, Garnier’s recycled PET bottle

    Catch up on the latest news about packaging shifts from Puracy, Danimer Scientific, TotalEnergies Corbion, MAX Solutions, Lay’s and others.

    By • April 21, 2023
  • A cafe at Google.
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    Courtesy of Google
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    Google wants to try your reusable food service solutions

    The tech giant put out an “open invitation to help reduce plastic waste” across its U.S. cafes and microkitchens.

    By • April 20, 2023
  • A kiosk that accepts reusable shopping bag returns.
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    Permission granted by Closed Loop Partners
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    Returnable retail bag trial launches at CVS Health, Target stores

    Immediately receiving $1 in cash upon returning a borrowed bag provides a stronger incentive to participate than some other deposit programs, according to organizers from Closed Loop Partners.

    By • April 19, 2023
  • Three products from Albertsons' O Organics line.
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    Courtesy of Albertsons
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    Why Albertsons gave its O Organics brand a makeover

    As store brands rake in sales, the grocer wanted to punch up the previously “stale” design with a colorful, modern look, said Brandon Brown, senior vice president of Own Brands.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • April 17, 2023
  • Cherry tomatoes
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    Getty Images
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    Copycat packaging claims at the heart of grape tomato lawsuit

    NatureSweet alleges Mastronardi is mimicking its “iconic” Cherubs grape tomato packaging for the third time.

    By • April 14, 2023
  • Colored PET packaging that looks like sea glass.
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    Courtesy of Ampacet
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    Packaging innovations: Ampacet’s glassy plastic, Chipotle goes biodegradable and more

    Catch up on some of the latest packaging solutions and news from Novolex, ProAmpac, Avery Dennison and California Olive Ranch on PFAS alternatives, designing for recyclability and changing materials.

    By • April 14, 2023