Royal Avebe promotional graphic for PerfectaFILM PFAS-free plant-based barrier coatings for fibre-based food packaging
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US packaging EPR landscape expands as states move beyond California’s SB 54

While California’s new SB 54 and New York’s stalled EPR legislation have dominated packaging headlines, packaging EPR laws are expanding elsewhere across the US, with seven states now adopting laws that shift the cost of waste management to producers. Maine became the first state in the country to adopt EPR for paper and packaging waste, its Stewardship Program for Packaging, in 2021, followed by the Oregon legislature, which also passed the Recycling Modernization Act (Senate Bill 582) during the 2021 legislative session.
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Compostable packaging advances as brands adapt to regulatory shifts
The global packaging market is moving away from fossil-based materials toward circular alternatives, such as compostable packaging. However, the path to a sustainable future is not uniform, and the definition of compostable packaging is expanding. Packaging Insights speaks to Avebe, NantBioRenewables, and Sulapac on how they are balancing environmental footprints with process compatibility and commercial viability.
Peter Brücker, head of the KHS packaging technology product center.
KHS advances material reduction with adhesive multipacks and tray shrink alternatives
Amid ongoing demand for optimized packaging solutions for material reduction, Peter Brücker, head of the KHS packaging technology product center in Kleve, Germany, highlights the company’s Innopack Kisters TSP Advanced packer with newly developed BottleClip option, and the KHS Nature MultiPack solution. Brücker also discusses supply chain optimization and software solutions.  The Innopack Kisters TSP Advanced combines maximum flexibility and efficiency with ease of operation and progressive automation technology. For Interpack 2026, KHS has added a new packaging option to its established packer that packs beverage cans as well as PET and glass bottles on trays and pads and in film. 
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Protein packaging reinvented
Innova Market Insights data reveals that consumers find packaging very important when choosing meat & dairy product launches. Standard tray & flat pouch were the leading packaging, while cup emerged as the packaging with the fastest rise in innovation. Biobased material for protein launches had 21% growth from April 2021 to March 2026, opening the path for new packaging opportunities.
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.
Siegwerk CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE packaging ink graphic highlighting high opacity, oxygen barrier, and lower applied costs
Siegwerk combines white ink and oxygen barrier in one layer with CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE
Siegwerk launches CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE, a solution for film-based packaging that merges oxygen barrier performance and white ink opacity into a single, printable layer. Designed for flexible films, it protects products and enhances visual design while eliminating added structural complexity in packaging.
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CEFLEX urges wider PCR use to meet PPWR targets
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A report from a Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging (CEFLEX) has reviewed how recycled content from polyolefin-based flexible packaging will need to be used in greater volumes and across more secondary applications as EU legislative targets for recycled content and recycling rates come into force later this year. The report, Secondary Applications for Recycled Content — Key Insights for Flexible Packaging, reveals that around 2.5 million metric tons of flexible packaging derived post-consumer recyclate (PCR) will be required by 2030 to meet the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) recycled content targets in flexible packaging, encompassing recycled PE, PP, and mixed polyolefins.  
Hotpack and HZ Corporation launch joint paper packaging venture
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Hotpack, a packaging solution provider headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, has announced a joint venture with HZ Corporation, a Malaysia-based manufacturer specializing in paper-based foodservice packaging.The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of paper-based packaging solutions. The venture is set to increase manufacturing capabilities by combining the strengths of the companies while supporting customer requirements and responding to the demand for environmentally responsible packaging solutions.
Avery Dennison launches Pathfinder Edge labeling printer to speed up operations
avery pathfinder
Avery Dennison has launched the Pathfinder Edge, a handheld label printer that enables faster operator labeling times. The handheld label printer delivers up to 50% faster print speeds and 25% more battery life than prior Pathfinder generations, says Avery Dennison. It combines scanning, printing, and label operations into one device. 
Dow and Walki develop recyclable monomaterial matte PE pouch for premium frozen...
gyoza packaging
Dow and Walki have announced a monomaterial machine direction orientation (MDO) PE pouch with matte finish for frozen or dry food products. In the collaboration, Walki designed the pouch and handled the printing, lamination, and finishing, while Dow supplied low-temperature sealing technology. 
Markem-Imaje launches software for GS1 Digital Link compliance
A person wearing a hard hat and safety vest scanning a bar code
Markem-Imaje, part of Dover Corporation, has launched CoLOS Software Version 7, expanding its software suite with new features engineered for industrial organizations with multiple production facilities. The solution is said to build on earlier releases with stronger automation, compliance, and security features. Its improved operations also support enhancing efficiency and reducing errors. CoLOS also follows global standards for marking and coding, including 1D/2D barcodes, and is compliant with the GS1 Digital Link (GS1DL).
Cargill pushes holistic sugar reduction as bakery reformulation challenges...
A woman peruses the baked goods aisle in a grocery store.

Food Ingredients First

The pressure on F&B manufacturers to cut sugar continues to intensify. As sugar taxes, front-of-pack labeling, and nutrient profiling systems tighten across major markets, manufacturers are moving beyond simple sweetener swaps toward integrated formulation systems. According to Cargill, its beverage-led Eversweet stevia sweetener and broader portfolio of polyols, starches, and texturizers reflect a shift away from one-to-one substitution. The company points out that in bakery, especially, the loss of structure, browning, and shelf life makes single-ingredient solutions unworkable.
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Packaging & Technology News
FIFA’s bottle policy raises safety and plastic pollution...
FIFA’s reusable bottle policy for football matches at the 2026 World Cup has prompted questions about the balance between public safety and plastic pollution prevention at large events. After initially banning reusable bottles, FIFA amended its water bottle policy, allowing fans to bring “one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590 mL), factory sealed disposable water bottle into any World Cup 2026 match in the US and Canada.” Reusable bottle policies at venues in Mexico were not mentioned in FIFA’s softened policy. 
Two men check compliance data
Packaging & Technology News
Webinar preview: FoodChain ID urges data optimization ahead...
Ahead of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) general application, packaging companies should take a close look at their processes and systems, rather than waiting for certainty, asserts Claudia van Berkom-Berrevoets, subject matter expert at FoodChain ID.At the upcoming FoodChain ID webinar, “PPWR Deadline: Streamline Supply Chain Compliance Before August 12, 2026,” Van Berkom-Berrevoets and colleagues, Wim Jansen, strategic account executive and senior technical product expert, and Isabela Tomaz, strategic account executive, will explore how companies can optimize data to meet their PPWR supply chain obligations.
GREIF promotional graphic for a science-based look at fluoridation and PFAS, featuring a white plastic container and Access Now button
Technical paper
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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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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Food waste fighters Jun 2026

Innova Market Insights data shows that consumers are concerned about sustainability and expect brands to take these issues seriously. Packaging is becoming a key area for innovation, with brands exploring solutions that help reduce food waste by extending shelf life, improving protection, and supporting portion control.

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Protein packaging reinventedJun 2026

Innova Market Insights data reveals that consumers find packaging very important when choosing meat & dairy product launches. Standard tray & flat pouch were the leading packaging, while cup emerged as the packaging with the fastest rise in innovation. Biobased material for protein launches had 21% growth from April 2021 to March 2026, opening the path for new packaging opportunities.

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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

Siegwerk launches CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE, a solution for film-based packaging that merges oxygen barrier performance and white ink opacity into a single, printable layer. Designed for flexible films, it protects products and enhances visual design while eliminating added structural complexity in...

Sappi, Flavio Froehli, Interpack 2026, Paper-Based Packaging, Sustainable Packaging, Fiberization, Packaging Compliance, Packaging Regulations, Supply Chain Resilience, Renewable Packaging, Packaging
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Interpack 2026: Sappi showcases scalable paper-based packaging solutions
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Interpack 2026: Sealed Air showcases vacuum packaging solutions for a changing market
Cryovac brand food packaging logo in white on a red background with the slogan “Where Performance Meets Responsibility”
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Inside 85 Years of CRYOVAC® Innovation: Interview with Neil Dunn, Vice President of the EMEA Food Division at Sealed Air
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