Arburg packaging banner featuring colorful molded plastic caps, a blueberry container, and the Arburg logo.
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EPR in Latin America: Regulatory momentum meets fragmented implementation

EPR legislation is expanding across Latin America as governments seek to reduce packaging waste and advance the circular economy, but fragmented regulations and socioeconomic realities continue to hamper implementation. Across Latin America, many countries have adopted national EPR laws or regulations that assign producers responsibility for packaging waste. These include Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. However, the scope and regulatory status of the legislation vary between these countries and also differ regionally. 
An old person opening a cap
Cap and closure innovations target lower carbon footprints, accessibility and safety
Packaging companies are innovating on cap and closure solutions to lower carbon footprints through eco-friendly materials while improving consumer accessibility and product safety. Packaging Insights speaks to SIG, Blue Ocean Closures, and SnapSlide on how their proprietary closure architectures are displacing conventional twist-off plastics across pharmaceutical, F&B, and household markets.
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Avery Dennison: Smart labels becoming “media channels” to consumers
Smart technologies like QR codes and radio frequency identification (RFID) are transforming labels from passive features on packaging to points of contact with consumers, but only if brands commit to a long-term digital content strategy, says Noam Assael, CPG business ventures director, Material Group, EMENA, at Avery Dennison. Packaging Insights sits down with Assael to discuss how upcoming consumer interactions, regulations, and data collection are converging to demand more from labels. Increasingly, labels are part of a consumer’s experience with a product, while also enhancing traceability and validation of product credentials. 
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Trends in snack pack launches
Innova Market Insights data indicates that snack launches grew at a +8% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026. Flat pouches accounted for 50% of these launches, aligning with consumer preferences for purchasing salty snacks in pouches. Cup packaging formats showed the fastest growth, while plastic was the dominant packaging material.
Bricspack dual-head non-stop sleeve labeling machine for 36,000 BPH production
Dual-head Redundancy Non-Stop Sleeve Labeling by Bricspack
Bricspack’s dual-head redundancy system enables non-stop sleeve labeling without film splicing. Two independent sleeving heads, dual mandrels, and cutter systems provide hot-standby switching, while intelligent bottle-tracking and closed-loop compensation reduce omissions and defects. Validated at 36,000 BPH, the solution simplifies maintenance, improves fault tolerance, and significantly lowers total ownership costs.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Shanghai Bricspack.
Portrait of a woman in a circular frame beside a pile of colorful discarded plastic bottles for recycling.
Industrial Physics underscores pack testing as rPET and lightweighting reshape performance

Natalia Ciesla, strategic segment manager at Industrial Physics, talks to us about how recycled PET (rPET) content and lightweighting are impacting bottle performance requirements. She discusses how testing can validate changes at production scale, and how quality assurance may evolve alongside sustainability targets.

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Coveris unveils monomaterial stretch sleeve to reduce packaging use
Coveris Dr. Beckmann shrink sleeve
Coveris has announced the development of a monomaterial sleeve for the launch of Dr. Beckmann liquid fabric softener in France. The packaging solution can support material reduction and recyclability while lowering energy usage, according to the company. For the project, Coveris utilized its SleeveFlex Ultra Stretch. “The material reduction is achieved through the fundamental design of the stretch sleeve,” Thorsten Umek, product expert for sleeves at Coveris, tells Packaging Insights. 
Mondelēz replaces plastic cookie trays with paper across Europe
Mondelēz Crunchy melt
Mondelēz International has replaced PET trays with FSC-certified paper trays across its European cookie range. The transition impacts more than 115 cookie products across eight brands, including Milka, Cadbury, Marabou, and Chips Ahoy! “This is a transformation we are proud to have engineered from the ground up. Replacing rigid plastic with paper across 115 products, 8 brands, and 25 European markets in a matter of months required rethinking every layer of our packaging, from tray design to logistics,” says Olivier Kintzig, biscuits packaging director, Europe, at Mondelēz. 
Virginia Tech's monomaterial adhesive tape outperforms duct tape while staying...
A person taping a carton box
Chemists at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), US, have developed monomaterial pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes with chemically recyclable plastic backing and an adhesive layer. Published in Advanced Functional Materials, the study used lipoic acid — a naturally occurring sulfur-containing compound found in foods such as broccoli and spinach — to develop large adhesive polymers. 
Go-Pak unveils Christmas-themed takeaway cups with embossed designs
Go-Pak cups
Go-Pak Group has revealed its 2026 Christmas-themed takeaway coffee cup range, aiming to provide “a premium seasonal experience.” The embossed cups are inspired by traditional cable-knit Christmas jumper designs.  “The cable-knit embossing was developed in-house to bring together functionality and visual appeal,” Ashleigh Fenton-Taylor, product development manager at Go-Pak Group, tells Packaging Insights."The raised texture creates a more tactile surface and improved grip when holding the cup, while also giving it a distinctive, premium appearance compared with a conventional smooth-wall cup. The knitted effect was specifically chosen to complement the festive theme, allowing the design itself to become part of the functionality of the product rather than relying solely on print.”The cups come in 8 oz, 10 oz, 12 oz, and 16 oz sizes and are available in the UK and Ireland. The range includes incorporated sleeves, described as pine green, winterberry red, and woolen white. It features a tactile finish for a comfortable grip and a double-wall for heat retention without the need for an additional protective clutch sleeve.  
Waco completes Tokyo trial of smart public water refill station
Water refill machines
Waco Corp, a manufacturer of water purifiers and water treatment systems headquartered in South Korea, has completed a proof of concept for its redesigned Atlas smart public water refill station in Tokyo, Japan.The company has changed the exterior of Atlas, creating a “futuristic” look designed to harmonize with public spaces. The new exterior is said to improve the product’s visual quality while showcasing the reliability and stability expected of equipment installed in public spaces.
US–Canada trade dispute escalates as whey import ban and dairy tariffs disrupt...
US–Canada trade dispute.

Food Ingredients First

The US–Canada trade dispute has intensified, with Washington moving to ban imports of several Canadian whey products and Ottawa imposing tariffs of up to 50% on US dairy ingredients. Under a White House proclamation, the US import ban will take effect on September 29. It covers whey protein concentrates, modified whey, fluid whey, and dried whey, alongside certain molasses products and non-alcoholic beer.
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Packaging & Technology News
UPM-Sappi paper venture raises EU competition concerns
The European Commission (EC) has informed UPM and Sappi that its proposed joint venture may restrict competition in the communication paper market. In May, UPM and Sappi signed a definitive agreement that proposed creating an independent, equal-owned partnership combining UPM’s global communication papers business and Sappi’s European graphic paper business. 
Bricspack dual-head non-stop sleeve labeling machine for 36,000 BPH production
Technical paper
Dual-head Redundancy Non-Stop Sleeve Labeling by Bricspack
Bricspack’s dual-head redundancy system enables non-stop sleeve labeling without film splicing. Two independent sleeving heads, dual mandrels, and cutter systems provide hot-standby switching, while intelligent bottle-tracking and closed-loop compensation reduce omissions and defects. Validated at 36,000 BPH, the solution simplifies maintenance, improves fault tolerance, and significantly lowers total ownership costs.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Shanghai Bricspack.
Peak Nano nanolayer film technology using the same polymers
Technical paper
Engineering New Film Capabilities Through Nanolayer...
Peak Nano’s nanolayering technology engineers commercially available polymers into high-performance films using existing extrusion equipment. By creating nanoscale layers as thin as 25 nanometers, the technology can improve barrier performance, toughness and recyclability while reducing costly materials and tie layers—accelerating next-generation packaging development without waiting for new polymer chemistry.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Peak Nano.

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Nutrition packaging formatsAug2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that as consumers increasingly incorporate supplements and sports nutrition into their daily routines, product launches continue to grow, driving innovation in nu...

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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.

Trend analysis

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Trends in snack pack launchesSep 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that snack launches grew at a +8% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026. Flat pouches accounted for 50% of these launches, aligning with consumer preferences for purchasing salty snacks in pouches. Cup packaging formats showed the fastest growth, while plastic was the dominant packaging material.

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Portrait of a woman in a circular frame beside a pile of colorful discarded plastic bottles for recycling.
Video14:49
Industrial Physics underscores pack testing as rPET and lightweighting reshape performance

Natalia Ciesla, strategic segment manager at Industrial Physics, talks to us about how recycled PET (rPET) content and lightweighting are impacting bottle performance requirements. She discusses how testing can validate changes at production scale, and how quality assurance may evolve alongside...

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Video04:23
Yangi scales dry-forming fiber technology for plastic MAP food tray replacement
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Video04:40
Smart Robotics showcases AI-driven Smart Palletizer 2.0
ProAmpac video thumbnail: Man standing beside sustainable product packaging displays, including chocolate nutraceutical protein powder and dried mang
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ProAmpac spotlights fiber-based flexibles and active moisture technology
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