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August review

August in review: EU’s PPWR starts applying, US-China scientists pitch UN Plastics Treaty framework

Last month, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) came into effect, generally applying as of August 12, and Packaging Insights looked back at our regulatory development coverage. Meanwhile, researchers in the US and China identified a gap in the draft UN Global Plastics Treaty text and proposed a reporting framework for improved accountability. We spoke to Julio Cordano, Chair of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, about accountability concerns and the next phase of informal meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, in September. 
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Supplement packaging balances convenience, sustainability & portion control
Growing consumer awareness of health and nutrition is driving innovation in the supplement packaging space, as formats that cater to convenience, sustainability, and portion control evolve to meet regulatory standards.Packaging Insights speaks to Great Earth and ACG Group to understand how format, material, and regulatory pressures are reshaping supplement packaging design.
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Sidel reveals how changing demands are reshaping packaging machinery
Packaging manufacturers are being asked to do more with less, argues Andrea Solfa, product manager for End of Lines and Tunnels at Sidel. He highlights that, as producers manage a growing number of stock keeping units (SKUs) and packaging formats, they are also increasingly under pressure to reduce energy and material use, lower operating costs, and meet targets. Packaging Insights sits down with Solfa to discuss how expanding consumer demands are motivating packaging machinery producers to design with flexibility, integration, and digitalization in mind.
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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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Food packaging chemicals of concern need group-based scrutiny, scientists urge
Young man drinking water after a workout in the park
Scientists from the Food Packaging Forum Foundation have urged for the assessment of food contact chemicals (FCC), such as those from packaging, to be evaluated in groups of structural similarity, rather than on an individual basis. Doing so could reduce the risk of  “regrettable substitutions,” in which a hazardous chemical is replaced by a similar, equally hazardous chemical. 
Recupac and Lindner boost LDPE recycling capacity in Chile
A man in a factory
Recupac, part of the Coipsa Group, is strengthening its low-density PE (LDPE) recycling capabilities in Chile through a partnership with Lindner Washtech, a globally operating company of Lindner Group and a specialist in plastic washing technologies.Recupac’s San Bernardo facility in Chile processes up to 500 metric tons of LDPE per month, with recycled pellets replacing around 40% of virgin resin in new film applications. Lindner has supported the project with its recycling and washing technologies while expanding its regional presence through a dedicated Latin American subsidiary established in 2025.
Pack Expo 2026: IWK to expand pharma cartoner for autoinjector pens
automated cartoning machine
IWK Packaging Systems is presenting its CH 4 Horizontal Cartoner, a cartoning machine for pharmaceutical and medical-device packaging, at Pack Expo 2026, Chicago, US (October 18–21). Specifically, IWK will provide live demonstrations of the system’s expanded viability for autoinjector pens — tapping into patient-centric drug delivery solution trends. At the show, the machine will run a paper tray loaded via an Omron robot with a Ypsomed injection pen. The folding carton and tray are supplied by the manufacturer Kartonveredelung Knapp. 
Aptar Beauty creates refillable pump for L’Occitane hand care redesign
bottles and soaps
Aptar Beauty has provided L’Occitane en Provence with custom dispensing pumps that support the packaging redesign of the beauty brand’s hand care collection, transforming the products into refillable and reusable objects.The design draws on the brand’s apothecary heritage, with a bottle inspired by traditional apothecary jars and a pump stamped as a mark of the brand’s artisanal process.
Chemical recycling scales amid regulatory support and environmental concerns
Engineer industrial facility petrochemical or gas energy site focused balance between industrial development and environmental preservation
Chemical recycling is entering a new stage of investment and regulatory support as developments in the US and EU aim to provide greater regulatory certainty — but questions over economic viability and environmental performance continue. In chemical recycling, mixed and contaminated plastics are broken down into their basic chemical building blocks to create new raw materials. 
What do H1 2026 results reveal about where F&B growth is shifting?
Container with Nestle corporate logo.

Food Ingredients First

Recent H1 and Q2 results from companies across the F&B value chain reveal an increasingly divided market. Health-focused products and formulation-led ingredient solutions are generating growth. However, several commodity and mainstream portfolios faced lower prices, weaker demand or volumes, and cautious consumer spending.
Highlighted features
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.
working looking at cardboard box
Packaging & Technology News
Fiber packaging sustainability claims face recyclability...
While the paperization trend continues to inspire product launches, there is growing attention to certain fiber-based claims that overlook the complexity and nuance of the material. Packaging Insights speaks to experts from Aicomp, Boxway Packaging Group, Flint Group, and MM Board & Paper to explore how overstated sustainability claims and gaps in consumer understanding of fiber have led to an oversimplified picture of the material’s environmental performance. 
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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Product innovation

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Refillable system upgrades Sep 2026

According to data from Innova Market Insights, consumers are interested in refillable packaging solutions, with 23% of consumers globally even willing to pay more for refillable packaging. New product launches show that refillable packaging is most often used in seasonings and water products.

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
Video06:47
ProAmpac spotlights fiber-based flexibles and active moisture technology
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