Royal Avebe promotional graphic for PerfectaFILM PFAS-free plant-based barrier coatings for fibre-based food packaging
A person packing a box.

China enforces express delivery packaging rules to reduce waste

China’s first mandatory national standard targeting excessive packaging in express delivery, the Requirements for Restricting Excessive Packaging in Express Delivery, came into effect on July 1. The new national standard sets key indicators for the size and suitability of express packaging boxes, the number of packaging layers, and the amount of sealing tape used, defining the baseline requirements for limiting excessive packaging in express delivery, including e-commerce parcels.
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Aluminum can makers rethink design as circularity meets consumer convenience
Aluminum can designs are evolving to meet consumer and manufacturing demands. Canovation, Henkel Adhesive Technologies, and Sonoco tell Packaging Insights how resealable all-metal cans, water-based sealants, lightweighting, and digital process optimization are  helping can makers improve efficiency and circularity. “We see five key drivers shaping the next generation of aluminum can innovation: sustainability, economics, health and safety compliance, branding and marketing, as well as consumer experience,” Jeff Grajewski, chief operations officer at Canovation, tells us. 
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Sealed Air exec: Proof, not promises, will drive packaging sustainability claims
Despite the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation’s (PPWR) complexity, it offers companies the opportunity to truly support a circular economy — but only if transparency and traceability are prioritized, says Arnaud Brunet, executive director for Food Products, Marketing, and Sustainability EMEA, at Sealed Air.As the deadline for the PPWR approaches, Packaging Insights sits down with Brunet to discuss how companies can beat eco-fatigue and use the momentum of the landmark regulation to take “decisive steps” in packaging redesign.
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Trends in dessert packaging
Innova Market Insights data indicates a 9% increase in new dessert launches between April 2025 and March 2026. Among these launches, 44% feature recyclable packaging claims, while compostable packaging claims are growing the fastest. At the same time, consumers say they prefer resealable packaging when purchasing desserts.
GREIF promotional graphic for a science-based look at fluoridation and PFAS, featuring a white plastic container and Access Now button
A Science Based Look at Fluorination and PFAS.
Are all fluorinated packaging technologies created equal? Or are we oversimplifying risk? Greif examines how process chemistry, particularly oxygen control, fundamentally shapes PFAS outcomes. Backed by validated data and scientific rigor, this paper reframes barrier selection for regulators, engineers, and decision-makers seeking compliant, high-performance packaging solutions.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Greif.
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RAWS scales biodegradable plastic additive to tackle packaging waste
Return to Air, Water, and Soil (RAWS) Americas is a US-based plastics technology company that creates an additive for plastic to make it biodegradable. We speak to Camilo Ferro, president at the company, about scaling RAWS technology amid the industry’s effort to innovate end-of-life solutions for plastic packaging waste.

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Researchers test clay for packaging to control produce ripening
Karina Kovalchuk and co-author Leander Michels
A powdered clay solution placed in fresh produce packaging can absorb ethylene to control ripening, researchers at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, have found. According to the researchers, their study provides a “design manual” for the development of food packaging that limits ethylene release. The study, published in Applied Surface Science Advances, explains that when fruits and vegetables are transported and stored in closed packaging, the concentration of ethylene in the produce accelerates, leading to quicker ripening and rotting. 
PackUK updates RAM 2027 to clarify recyclability rules for pEPR
recycling seperation
After a period of industry consultation, PackUK has updated its Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM), including changes to material rules, definitions, assessment guidance, and usability. PackUK is the official scheme administrator for the UK’s packaging EPR (pEPR) program. RAM 2027 is the updated framework that producers must use to assess the recyclability of packaging using a red, amber, and green scale, which determines fee modulation. 
Lion pilots digitally tracked returnable beer bottles in New Zealand
A person holding a green crate with bottles in it
Lion, a beverage company headquartered in Sydney, Australia, has begun piloting a returnable crate and bottle system for Steinlager, a lager-style beer, in New Zealand. Lion says it is “the first in the world” to successfully combine circular beer bottles and digital tracking. The pilot is developed to modernize the classic Kiwi Swappa Crate by eliminating the deposit and adding digital tracking to help consumers manage reusable bottles easily.
Lactips and SmartSolve launch water-soluble packaging for personal care items
packaging
Lactips has partnered with SmartSolve to develop plastic-free, water-soluble packaging for the beauty and cosmetics sectors. The companies say that this is a market-ready alternative to conventional single-use packaging. Lactips is a French company specializing in producing natural and fully bio-based polymers that are said to be water-soluble and biodegradable in various environments.
June in review: Top Packaging Trends 2026, FIFA’s foodservice policies face...
June Industry Review
Last month, Packaging Insights’ webinar, Top Packaging Trends 2026, explored how brands can thrive in a fast-changing market, with packaging industry experts highlighting the forces shaping the future of F&B packaging. The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicked off, sparking discussions about the future of single-use foodservice packaging at large-scale venues, as well as the safety considerations associated with some reusable formats. Additionally, we explored the latest developments in EPR in the US and how packagers in the EU are preparing for the looming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) August deadline. 
Beyond “lab-grown”: Trust and terminology shape cultivated meat acceptance
scientists' hands with cultivated meat in petridishes

Food Ingredients First

Consumers in the US and Germany are more likely to choose and pay more for cellular agriculture meat (CAM) when it is labeled “cultured” or “cultivated” rather than “lab-grown,” according to a new study. For cultivated meat companies, the findings mean branding and consumer trust are likely to be as important to business success as the technology itself.
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Woman refills reusable personal care packaging
Packaging & Technology News
Refillable packaging under PPWR: Personal care & e-commerce...
Major packaging companies are increasingly looking to develop refillable and reusable alternatives to single-use packaging as the August 12 implementation deadline of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) approaches. DS Smith has launched the Reuse Fast Track initiative alongside the French wings of e-commerce manufacturers and suppliers Re-Zip and Raja Group to push for reusable fiber-based packaging in line with the PPWR.  Meanwhile, consumer research conducted by Amcor finds that consumers are becoming “more receptive” to refillable personal care formats, driven by affordability and environmental considerations. 
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Packaging & Technology News
Burgopak packages at-home mole screening kit for Map My Mole
Burgopak, a packaging design agency based in the UK, has developed new packaging for the Image Capture Kit from Map My Mole, a private service that provides remote assessments of moles and skin lesions.The kit contains a clinical dermoscope, which is a magnifying lens attachment for smartphones. The lens allows users to capture medical-quality images of moles at home for assessment by a consultant dermatologist, requiring packaging that provides security and protection.
pharmacist looking at pill box label
Packaging & Technology News
EU simplifies CLP rules for packaging sector with...
The EU Council and the European Parliament (EP) have reached a provisional agreement simplifying the rules of the classification, packaging, and labeling of chemicals (CLP) regulation, as well as for cosmetics and fertilizing products. For packaging products, the provisional agreement made amendments to labeling readability, exemptions, and transitional periods for relabeling. 

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Compostable packaging leadersJun2026

Innova Market Insights data shows that consumers are willing to justify a higher price for a product if it comes with sustainable (including compostable) packaging. 42% of these launches were in Europ...

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Creative aluminum can designs shape beverage packaging Jul 2026

Aluminum can design is trending toward vibrant color blocking, soft gradients, and unexpected color palettes that help drinks stand out instantly on crowded shelves. Brands are also embracing illustrated, hand-drawn styles and playful mascots to add personality and storytelling, blending craft-inspired artwork with modern, clean packaging layouts.

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Trends in dessert packagingJul 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates a 9% increase in new dessert launches between April 2025 and March 2026. Among these launches, 44% feature recyclable packaging claims, while compostable packaging claims are growing the fastest. At the same time, consumers say they prefer resealable packaging when purchasing desserts.

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RAWS Americas video thumbnail: Smiling man in a blazer beside a close-up pattern of amber-colored plastic pellets
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RAWS scales biodegradable plastic additive to tackle packaging waste

Return to Air, Water, and Soil (RAWS) Americas is a US-based plastics technology company that creates an additive for plastic to make it biodegradable. We speak to Camilo Ferro, president at the company, about scaling RAWS technology amid the industry’s effort to innovate end-of-life solutions...

Cheryl Caudill, Greif
Video04:28
Interpack 2026: Greif on PPWR, barrier packaging and digital customer solutions
Promotional webinar graphic featuring packaged fresh fruit in clear plastic containers, with text about PPWR readiness and packaging supply chain compliance, scheduled for 24 June at 3pm CEST, alongsi
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PPWR Deadline: Streamline Supply Chain Compliance Before August 12, 2026
Siegwerk CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE packaging ink graphic highlighting high opacity, oxygen barrier, and lower applied costs
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Siegwerk combines white ink and oxygen barrier in one layer with CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE
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