Sealed Air banner promoting CRYOVAC Darfresh packaging with fresh meat cuts in vacuum trays on a rustic surface
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Japan’s F&B packaging sector struggles with cost and shortages amid Middle East conflict

F&B companies in Japan are facing shortages of materials used in manufacturing plastic packaging due to supply disruptions linked to the US-Iran war. This has led to changes in packaging designs and rising costs for products.The country’s snack giant Calbee has announced that it will temporarily switch to black and white packaging for certain products due to the supply instability of colored ink.
QR code scanning
Smart labels drive consumer engagement and product visibility
Smart labels are transforming packaging beyond its traditional role of protection. Driven by growing consumer demand for transparency and the industry’s move to traceable products, label innovations are reshaping how products are perceived by consumers and tracked along the supply chain. Packaging Insights speaks to Avery Dennison, Polytag, and UPM Adhesive Materials about using smart labels, like QR codes and RFID, to enhance consumer engagement and reduce food waste. 
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Geopolitical tensions could fuel shift to aluminum packaging, says Meadow CEO
The Strait of Hormuz crisis has revealed the critical role of circular materials like aluminum, as well as localized supply chains, says Victor Ljungberg, co-founder and CEO at Meadow. He argues that the packaging industry is at an “inflection point” in which the reason to move away from plastics is not just sustainability, but also cost-effectiveness. The Middle East is a key aluminum smelting hub, accounting for roughly 9% of global production, according to data from the International Aluminium Institute.  
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Pet food packaging trends
Innova Market Insights data indicates that new pet food launches have gained ground, with 3% growth from 2021 to 2025. Most of these launches were packed in plastic, but metal packaging is also gaining traction. Nearly half of pet food launches were in standing pouches, while the use of folded boxes is increasing.
PakTech rHDPE multipack handle for beverage cans data-driven packaging guide visual
A data-driven guide to multipacking
How can CPG brands balance escalating regulatory pressures with changing consumer expectations in their multipacking decisions? Lifecycle analysis, performance testing, and total cost of ownership evaluation are critical in guiding evidence-based choices. Discover strategies to select the best material for the job across key metrics.This Technical Paper is brought to you by PakTech.
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Interpack 2026 live: Recyda co-founder discusses regulatory compliance software

Vivian Loftin, co-founder and managing director at Recyda, tells us about the company’s software solution designed to help businesses manage sustainability regulations and packaging compliance. She says Recyda covers regulations such as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and EPR schemes across various regions, supporting design for recyclability.

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BASF unveils BPA-free food-contact material range for EU compliance
coffee pods
BASF has launched a product line within its Ultradur polybutylene terephthalate portfolio specifically for food-contact applications. These Ultradur food-contact types respond to the EU’s Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 that will prohibit Bisphenol A (BPA) in food-contact plastics after July 2026. 
Amcor advances reusable packaging partnership with Ocado
reusable bottle
Amcor has announced it will continue to produce the containers for the Refill Coalition’s project with Ocado Retail, which allows the retailer to deliver online orders for everyday products such as pasta, rice, and washing liquid in refillable packaging. Consumers can then hand back the empty containers to their driver on the next delivery, after they have been cleaned for reuse. 
Interpack 2026 live: Sappi spotlights paper-based packaging for scalability and...
Sappi booth at Interpack 2026
Sappi is presenting its paper-based flexible packaging and labels, as well as silicone base paper for packaging applications, at Interpack 2026. Flavio Froehli, vice president of marketing and sales at Sappi, tells us the “future proof” solutions respond to the fiberization momentum building at the trade show.“The art of succeeding is to understand your verticals, so we have different verticals. We are presenting packaging solutions for confectionery, food, dairy, tea, and coffee. We also have solutions for beverages, non-food items, and tobacco,” Froehli tells Packaging Insights.
Interpack 2026 live: Schubert highlights machines for cost optimization amid...
Schubert booth at Interpack 2026
Cost optimization is one of the biggest trends at Interpack 2026, according to Peter Schubert, head of Construction at Gerhard Schubert. At the ongoing trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, the family-run packaging company is presenting a new generation of its classic top-loading packaging machines (TLM) and two highly standardized machine ranges. “One is the Lightline range of standard machines offering specific solutions to specific packaging tasks, and the other is the tog family, which are individual production cells for single packaging steps. For example, pick & place, erecting, filling, or closing, each via a separate, specific cell,” Schubert tells Packaging Insights. 
Interpack 2026 live: Greif showcases barrier technology portfolio & lifecycle...
Greif booth at Interpack 2026
Collaboration with global customers and associations is essential for navigating today’s “complex buying and regulatory environment,” emphasizes Cheryl Caudill, the vice president of marketing and sustainability at Greif. Packaging Insights speaks with Caudill during the ongoing Interpack 2026 trade show in Germany about the packaging solutions the company is showcasing and how they address the latest market trends, supply chain challenges, regulatory changes, and software developments. 
Cargill and Voyage Foods expand cocoa-free confectionery to North America amid...
Chocolate products from Voyage Food and Cargill partnership.

Food Ingredients First

Cargill and Voyage Foods are bringing cocoa-free confectionery alternatives to the North American market, as manufacturers seek greater resilience against cocoa supply volatility, pricing pressures, and climate-related sourcing risks. Through the launch of the NextCoa portfolio in the US, the companies are positioning cocoa-free formulations not as niche novelties, but as commercially scalable ingredients, designed to support flexibility across confectionery and snack applications.
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Sealed Air booth at Interpack
Packaging & Technology News
Interpack 2026 live: Sealed Air’s vacuum pack solutions...
As Interpack 2026 gets underway in Düsseldorf, Germany, Sealed Air is presenting its range of vacuum-sealed food packaging solutions that respond to performance and regulatory demands.  This includes the Darfresh vacuum skin packaging system, which aims to enhance freshness, extend shelf life, and reduce environmental impact through less plastic.On the show floor, Packaging Insights speaks to Efrahin Avila Garcia, senior sales director at Sealed Air, about the company’s vacuum solutions, as well as current industry trends and pressures.   
PakTech rHDPE multipack handle for beverage cans data-driven packaging guide visual
Technical paper
A data-driven guide to multipacking
How can CPG brands balance escalating regulatory pressures with changing consumer expectations in their multipacking decisions? Lifecycle analysis, performance testing, and total cost of ownership evaluation are critical in guiding evidence-based choices. Discover strategies to select the best material for the job across key metrics.This Technical Paper is brought to you by PakTech.
Innova Top Packaging Trends 2026.
Special report
Top Packaging Trends 2026: Navigating sustainability,...
Innova Market Insights has announced its Top Packaging Trends 2026, with “Substantiated Sustainability” taking top spot. This trend emphasizes the need for verified environmental claims, driven by stricter regulations, such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging but are wary of greenwashing, meaning brands must back sustainability claims with scientific evidence. The second trend, “Digital-Enhanced Designs,” highlights the growing role of digital technologies like AI, augmented reality, and QR codes in packaging. These innovations improve consumer engagement and product traceability, while digital product passports offer detailed lifecycle data.

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Sustainable power: Unlocking paper & paper band packaging for F&BMay2026

Innova Market Insights data shows that 89% of consumers globally perceive paper as a sustainable material. This shift in perception is driving increased use of paper-based packaging, with a rise in la...

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Labeling that connects May 2026

According to a survey by Appetite Creative and Koenig & Bauer, the packaging industry’s confidence in connected packaging has reached 92.3%, with adoption rising to 81.2% and skepticism falling. Labels are no longer just about compliance or shelf appeal; they are helping brands build transparency, supporting smarter purchasing decisions, and extending the consumer journey beyond the pack.  

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Pet food packaging trendsMay 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that new pet food launches have gained ground, with 3% growth from 2021 to 2025. Most of these launches were packed in plastic, but metal packaging is also gaining traction. Nearly half of pet food launches were in standing pouches, while the use of folded boxes is increasing.

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Video04:09
Interpack 2026 live: Recyda co-founder discusses regulatory compliance software

Vivian Loftin, co-founder and managing director at Recyda, tells us about the company’s software solution designed to help businesses manage sustainability regulations and packaging compliance. She says Recyda covers regulations such as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and EPR...

Isabelle Le Graet, Sonoco
Video06:11
Interpack 2026 live: Sonoco spotlights paper, metal & augmented reality packaging solutions
Interpack 2026 Metsä Spring video thumbnail: Metsä trade show booth with product displays, seated attendees, and an inset portrait of a woman wearing a lanyard
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Interpack 2026 live: Metsä Spring exhibits PPWR-ready Muoto uncoated fiber series
Interpack 2026 Fuji Seal: Fuji Seal trade show booth displaying branded packaging samples, with an inset portrait of a company representative
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Interpack 2026 live: Fuji Seal showcases server-controlled labeling system 
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