Technology & Innovation: Page

  • A pouch of All free clear detergent tablets with a NaviLens smart code on the front.
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    Courtesy of All
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    Packaging innovations: 2 brands boost accessibility

    Laundry detergent brand All and Carmine’s Italian foods introduced different solutions to assist users with accessibility challenges. Plus, DS Smith eases e-commerce returns and TriMas launches an all-plastic foaming pump.

    By • Jan. 17, 2025
  • A woman looks down at a grocery item next to a freezer case
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    Getty Images
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    What packaging designers should know about FDA’s proposed nutrition info box

    Industry sources predict required front-of-pack labeling could mean giving up key real estate in costly redesigns — or, more optimistically, an opportunity for some brands to modernize packaging and rethink consumer messaging.

    By • Jan. 15, 2025
  • Example of proposed FDA front-of-pack nutrition label
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    Courtesy of U.S. Food and Drug Administration
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    FDA formally proposes front-of-pack nutrition labels

    This could force food manufacturers to update their packaging in the coming years. The agency says the goal with a new nutrition info box is to combat chronic diseases.

    By • Jan. 14, 2025
  • O-I glass bottles on the hot end of a line.
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    Courtesy of O-I Glass
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    DOE cancels $57M award for O-I Glass furnace project

    The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations canceled 24 funding awards, including multiple to packaging companies. O-I was pursuing more energy-efficient technology at a furnace in Ohio. 

    By • Updated June 2, 2025
  • Side-by-side comparisons of Daily Harvests old and new packaging for its frozen foods.
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    Permission granted by Daily Harvest
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    Packaging innovations: Daily Harvest revamps for retail, Töst cans it

    The companies explain the consumer-focused factors that prompted them to switch up their food and beverage packaging.

    By • Jan. 10, 2025
  • Two orange robot arms handle food packages on a conference floor.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Deep Dive

    E-commerce packaging shows why it’s hip to be square

    Squared-off designs often are better for densification, or waging the “war on air,” according to sources from Smurfit Westrock, Paccurate and others. Geometry grows more important as robots and SIOC proliferate.

    By • Jan. 9, 2025
  • person bends over and picks up a stack of packages from a porch step
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    Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    2024 packaging trends by the numbers

    These are some of the stats illustrating key storylines this year in policy and regulation, M&A activity, manufacturing, pricing, recycling, sustainability goals and more.

    By , • Dec. 20, 2024
  • A screenshot of a YouTube video showing KFC's paper bucket lid that doubles as a record.
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    Screenshot: KFC/YouTube

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    Packaging innovations: KFC’s record-making lid, Greif’s mod containers

    Plus, Ahlstrom launches paper tape and American Packaging Corp. adds a fiber-based material solution for pouches.

    By • Dec. 20, 2024
  • O-I Glass quality inspection.
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    Courtesy of O-I Glass
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    Deep Dive

    The packaging workforce grew for a decade. Labor shortages and COVID-19 changed that.

    The top 12 publicly traded U.S. packaging manufacturers by revenue collectively have more employees than they did a decade ago. Mergers and acquisitions heavily influenced the numbers, but that’s not the only factor.

    By • Dec. 11, 2024
  • Two people in yellow safety vests stand in a Nefab warehouse with wooden crates
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    Courtesy of Nefab
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    Packaging companies invest in design, training centers during November

    UFP Packaging, TriMas, TransPak, Nefab and others announced openings and investments in innovation or training centers, touting benefits for design collaboration and upskilling.

    By • Nov. 27, 2024
  • Hundreds of people in a convention center
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Stories from Pack Expo International 2024

    At the largest Pack Expo event ever held, Packaging Dive connected with manufacturers, brands and trade groups for insight on the latest industry trends.

    By Packaging Dive Staff • Updated Nov. 14, 2024
  • Three different sizes of cartons that bear branding for Pactiv Evergreen's SmartPour.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Packaging innovations at Pack Expo 2024: Pactiv Evergreen cartons go dry, Packsize melts emissions

    Plus, Accredo Packaging sweetens the pouch space with a 100% biobased bag, Greif shows off a recycled fiber food container with a water-based coating and Georgia-Pacific’s mailers get gusseted up.

    By , • Nov. 8, 2024
  • An aerial view of exhibitors set up in a large convention hall.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Automation, labor shortage discussions permeate largest-ever Pack Expo

    Sustainability also sat among the top themes at Pack Expo International in Chicago this week, including a focus on reusable and flexible packaging. PMMI says the event broke records for attendance and the number of exhibitors.

    By • Nov. 7, 2024
  • Close-up view of zippers for compostable packaging from Fresh-Lock
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    Permission granted by Fresh-Lock
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    Packaging suppliers and CPGs increasingly zip up flexible packaging

    Experts from Fresh-Lock, the U.S. Plastics Pact and Clemson University say that functionality testing covering closure durability and accessibility is critical among a range of consumers. 

    By Shefali Kapadia • Nov. 6, 2024
  • A paper-based cup and a wooden stir stick with Southwest Airlines branding sit on an airline tray table next to a window.
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    Courtesy of Southwest Airlines
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    Southwest Airlines brings bamboo on board for new cups

    The airline recently stirred up change when it began stocking the bamboo-based cold beverage cups and wooden stir sticks, following a yearlong R&D process stemming from plastic reduction goals. 

    By • Oct. 29, 2024
  • Kroger Ocado
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    Courtesy of Kroger
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    Kroger rolls out Avery Dennison RFID tech

    The automation technology aims to provide more frequent and accurate inventory insight to prevent food waste and streamline in-store operations. 

    By Peyton Bigora • Oct. 24, 2024
  • A clear plastic thermoform container for strawberries with Gem-Pack Berries' logo.
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    Permission granted by Gem-Pack Berries
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    Gem-Pack Berries ditches clamshell labels with Multisteps’ digital printing technology

    Multisteps Industries expects its direct-to-packaging printing to improve recyclability for Gem-Pack’s PET clamshells for berries, starting this year.

    By • Oct. 18, 2024
  • A person wearing an augmented reality headset uses calipers in an industrial facility.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Deep Dive

    Reality check: AR, VR transforms training for packaging manufacturers

    Augmented and virtual reality experiences at Greif, Papacks, Smurfit Westrock and Sonoco are working to boost employees’ skills and safety, pushing packaging manufacturing training into its “next era.”

    By • 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 person using two hands to unscrew Rare Beauty's Soft Pinch liquid blush
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    Permission granted by Rare Beauty
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    Deep Dive

    ‘Everybody benefits’: Why the beauty industry needs to get serious about accessible packaging

    Rare Beauty and Target have taken steps to develop guidance around universally accessible design, but the industry isn’t prioritizing it yet.

    By Caroline Jansen • 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
  • Four different colored cans of wine on an in-flight tray table.
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    Courtesy of United Airlines
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    Packaging innovations: United Airlines’ canned wine, Chivas Regal’s light spirits

    Plus, RXDco puts cannabis in a cocoon, Novolex flags product tampering and KYSU switches from plastic to paper. 

    By • Oct. 11, 2024
  • Fiber packaging on equipment at a shipment fulfillment center.
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    Permission granted by Amazon
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    Brands make packaging design changes for e-commerce compatibility

    Pandemic-related and sustainability trends, along with Amazon's requirements, are among the factors prompting Clorox, Mars Wrigley and Nestlé to tweak product packaging designs they use for e-commerce.

    By • Oct. 10, 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
  • A box of Hot Pockets microwaveable sandwiches.
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    Permission granted by Nestlé USA
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    Packaging innovations: Hot Pockets go sleeveless, Henkel’s coating lightens dry food packaging

    Plus, hair care brand Overtone joins a Target sustainability initiative as it launches tubes with a new look and PCR.

    By • Oct. 4, 2024