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Pack Expo 2026: APC to explore how geopolitics and EPR reshape flexible packaging

American Packaging Corporation (APC) will examine how geopolitics and regulations have shaped the packaging industry over the past year and how their influence is expected to evolve in 2027, at the upcoming Pack Expo 2026 in Chicago, US (Oct 18–21). It is also set to present a range of flexible packaging solutions that respond to consumer and regulatory demands. Ahead of the show, Packaging Insights speaks with APC’s Kevin Bergeson, director of purchasing, Seth Holmen, VP of R&D and technical solutions, and Shawn Banaszak, corporate sustainability and compliance engineer, about how geopolitical shifts, tariffs, and regulations are reshaping global supply chains and material choices. 
woman working in a bakery, packing a pastry into a brown paper bag in a shop with various bread and pastries behind her
The cherry on top: Bakery packaging puts visual appeal at the center of recyclable design
Most bakery products require packaging that protects their delicate structure and intricate ingredients. Meanwhile, converging recyclability and consumer convenience trends are pushing manufacturers to balance these demands while maintaining bakery packaging’s visual appeal. Packaging Insights speaks to Coveris, Klöckner Pentaplast (KP), Korozo Group, and Solidus about current trends in the bakery packaging landscape, as well as prominent formats, and the challenges unique to the fragile nature of pastry and breads. 
Ryo Himuro
Material Week Tokyo 2026: Avery Dennison targets labor and plastic reduction
Avery Dennison highlighted its plug-and-play packaging manufacturing solutions targeting markets in Asia at Highly-Functional Material Week Tokyo 2026 (Sep 30 – Oct 2). Ryo Himuro, senior business development specialist at Avery Dennison said local producers balance environmental sustainability demands with expectations for extreme production speed. 
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Next-gen packaging reshapes bakery aisle
Innova Market Insights data indicates that bakery packaging launches grew at a CAGR of 4% from July 2021 to June 2026. Flat pouches were the leading format, with plastic remaining the top packaging material and carton gaining momentum. Recyclable was the leading sustainability claim, while responsible source claims continued to gain ground.
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Circular by design: unlocking sustainable packaging solutions
Meeting the global challenge of plastic waste and building a low-carbon and circular economy requires innovation, investment and collaboration. Read the LyondellBasell (LYB) white paper to explore how smart packaging design can help optimize packaging performance, reduce material complexity, improve recyclability and support circularity goals.This Technical Paper is brought to you by LyondellBasell.
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Pulpac on scaling dry molded fiber from pilot to commercial reality

Viktor Wingård Borgesson, chief operating officer at Pulpac, discusses scaling dry molded fiber technology from pilots to commercial production, competition with plastic and wet molded fiber, and recent partnerships. 

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Researchers develop “degradable” bio-based PS for electronic packaging
PS in a cardboard box with a new device,
Researchers have developed a polystyrene (PS) alternative containing renewable raw materials, offering potential for use in electronic packaging. The German research team says that the material can be produced in an energy-efficient way and that it is more easily degradable than conventional PS. The study, published in the journal Chem Circularity, describes how the scientists engineered degradable PS-based copolymers through microwave-assisted free-radical polymerization. The solution aims to address plastic waste accumulation in landfills, marine environments, and terrestrial ecosystems.
SP Group buys majority stake in Livcer, targeting French pharma pack market
Rotor Print and Livcer representatives shake hands
Rotor Print, SP Group’s pharmaceutical packaging division, has expanded its industrial capacity and expanded its French market presence following the acquisition of a 51% stake in Livcer, a pharmaceutical packaging provider based in France. Livcer has now become a subsidiary of the Spanish SP Group and will operate under the management of Rotor Print. The deal adds Livcer’s three flexographic printing lines and 10 million square meters of annual pharmaceutical packaging production capacity to Rotor Print’s existing 90 million square meters.
Sonoco GreenCan brings paper-based packaging to Kneipp bath crystals
bright pink paper can
Sonoco has supplied its GreenCan packaging for German personal care and wellness brand Kneipp’s limited-edition Lieblingsmensch bath crystals. Traditionally, bath salts are considered “difficult” to pack in a material other than plastic, due to their sensitivity to humidity and moisture, according to Kneipp. However, Sonoco’s recyclable GreenCan, which has been featured in a string of F&B collaborations in the past year, is designed to meet the technical requirements of moisture-sensitive materials. 
Material Week Tokyo 2026 review: Japan’s plastics policies drive innovation
An event entrance
At Highly Functional Material Week Tokyo 2026, Japan, 1,016 exhibitors spanning corporations, industry organizations, and research institutions, presented packaging innovations across films, plastics, metals, ceramics, and sustainable materials to approximately 35,811 visitors. Driven by the expansion of the regional packaging market, businesses are aligning their strategies with Japan’s accelerating plastics policies, as well as international regulations such as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
Billerud upgrades Flute to boost strength and cut packaging weight
oranges on containerboard
Billerud has introduced the New Billerud Flute, an updated corrugated packaging with higher compression strength that enables lighter weight and reduced material use. The New Billerud Flute has been on the market for nearly two decades and has faced multiple upgrades. Now, new headbox technology at the company’s Gruvön site in Sweden further optimizes fiber formation, resulting in higher compression strength and greater lightweighting potential. 
Innova Market Insights’ top 2027 F&B trends: Nutrient density, protein quality...
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Food Ingredients First

Innova Market Insights has unveiled its “Top 10 Trends for 2027.” Every year, Innova compiles its top ten F&B trends, based on direct consumer research to identify shifts in behavior and preference, as well as on product launches and on-pack information from the market. According to the data-driven market research company, modern consumers are reading nutrition labels and choosing protein by its quality. They are also expecting food to support their energy, appetites, longevity, lifestyles, and sustainability values and goals. Climate concerns, economic pressure, and global uncertainty seem to be making consumers more deliberate about what they buy. 
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Policy & regulation news
EU Parliament committee backs EPR reprieve for SME packaging
Yesterday, the European Parliament’s (EP) Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety voted in favor of a proposal to temporarily suspend authorized representative requirements for micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) under packaging EPR rules.  According to the EP, the proposal comes from the European Commission’s (EC) Environmental Omnibus package and aims to reduce administrative burdens. If adopted, the requirement for SMEs to appoint authorized representatives to export packaging and single-use plastics within the EU will be dropped until 2035. 
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Packaging & Technology News
EU drafts waste export list as Tomra urges recycling...
The European Commission (EC) has published a draft list of countries outside the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that could be allowed to import non-hazardous waste from the EU after May 2027, under the Waste Shipment Regulation. Non-hazardous waste includes recovered paper and cardboard, metal scrap, glass, and certain textiles and rubber, depending on composition and contamination levels. 
September review graphic
Packaging & Technology News
September in review: Industry navigates decarbonization,...
In September, the packaging industry continued to navigate supply chain, market, and sustainability challenges, with companies taking different approaches across packaging formats. We explored the competing pathways to packaging decarbonization, from PET’s carbon footprint to bio-based additives, as well as the practical challenges facing flexible packaging and machinery manufacturers as recyclability demands evolve.We also examined regulatory developments across the UK, EU, US, and Latin America, including diverging approaches to recyclability, the expansion of EPR, and new rules around packaging claims.

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Trends in AI use for packaging manufacturingOct2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that more manufacturers are launching products in new packaging formats. The growing number of formats, materials, and sustainability requirements is creating mor...

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Caps & closures reimagined Sep 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that product launches have increased over the past two years, with reclosable claims showing particularly strong growth, reaching a +15% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026. As reclosability gains momentum, caps and closures are becoming an increasingly important area for packaging innovation.

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Next-gen packaging reshapes bakery aisleSep 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that bakery packaging launches grew at a CAGR of 4% from July 2021 to June 2026. Flat pouches were the leading format, with plastic remaining the top packaging material and carton gaining momentum. Recyclable was the leading sustainability claim, while responsible source claims continued to gain ground.

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Video15:30
Pulpac on scaling dry molded fiber from pilot to commercial reality

Viktor Wingård Borgesson, chief operating officer at Pulpac, discusses scaling dry molded fiber technology from pilots to commercial production, competition with plastic and wet molded fiber, and recent partnerships. 

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Video04:18
Material Week Tokyo 2026: Brückner Group highlights film stretching and testing systems in Japan
Dr. Shekhar Nath, Hindalco Industries
Video06:06
Material Week Tokyo 2026 live: Hindalco presents ceramic solutions for pharma glass
Bahar Koyuncu, CBE JU
Video16:12
CBE JU highlights bio-based packaging projects including fiber bubble wrap
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