Cryovac VPP MonoPro recyclable packaging banner highlighting 79% less plastic weight than traditional PP buckets.
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Packaging design can improve consumer waste sorting, study finds

A recent study has revealed that consumers are more likely to correctly sort packaging when the design provides clear disposal guidance or simplified sorting processes. The research team from Yunnan University, the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, and the Beijing Institute of Technology, China, finds that packaging design is more important when waste management policies are weaker. Additionally, environmentally aware consumers  are found to respond more enthusiastically to sorting-friendly packaging. 
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Recycle-ready solutions and convenience formats reshape snack packs
Snack packaging providers spotlight low environmental footprint as a notable consumer trend that is impacting how they approach design, including recyclability and the inclusion of recycled content. At the same time, snackers are looking for on-the-go products and appropriately packaged healthy treats. Packaging Insights speaks to Greiner Packaging, LyondellBasell Industries (LYB), PureCycle, and TNA Solutions to learn more about the most significant developments changing snack packaging conventions. “Snack packaging equipment demand is increasingly shaped by the need to balance value, variety, convenience, and sustainability,” Simon Hill, group product innovation manager at TNA Solutions, tells us. 
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BV Glas: Germany’s glass industry faces capacity pressures amid weak demand
Despite strong infrastructure, technical expertise, and industry experience, Germany’s glass sector is facing weaker demand, says Christiane Nelles, director general of the Federal Association of the German Glass Industry (BV Glas). She argues this is due to overall lower demand in the glass packaging market and changing consumer behavior. 
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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.
Avebe technical paper on PFAS-free oil and grease barriers for fibre-based food packaging
Out with PFAS On with performance. How do you develop an oil and grease barrier that works beyond the laboratory?
Removing PFAS changes more than the coating chemistry. This technical paper sets out five principles for designing fibre-based barriers, from choosing the right base paper and forming a continuous film to testing performance under production and end-use conditions. Explore the principles alongside examples from Avebe’s development work.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Royal Avebe.
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SIG on advancing aseptic packaging through lightweighting and innovation
We speak with Gavin Steiner, chief technology officer at SIG, about the latest advances shaping aseptic filling and packaging. The conversation explores the fastest-growing application areas and regions adopting the technology, alongside the technical challenges of lightweighting packaging materials.
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Epson collaborates with EPS to launch direct-to-object printing system
ControurJet
Epson has selected Engineered Printing Solutions (EPS) as its North America partner for its ContourJet direct-to-object digital printing platform. The new robotic system is designed to print “high-quality” graphics directly on three-dimensional objects. “Robot-enabled print enables packaging suppliers to decorate non-flat and non-cylindrical objects digitally for the first time,” a spokesperson at EPS tells Packaging Insights. “One example would be specialty bottles that have complicated curves and shapes.”
Bayer launches monomaterial PP blister for Talcid in Germany
blister pack
Bayer has launched a monomaterial PP blister for Talcid, its antacid treatment for heartburn and acid-related symptoms, in Germany. The solutions’ single-material design aims to aid recycling while maintaining quality, safety, and product experience. 
Klöckner Pentaplast unveils recyclable PP pizza packaging for heat retention
Pizza in an open box.
Klöckner Pentaplast (KP) has launched kp Infinity Tavola, a recyclable PP pizza packaging solution created to maintain heat, improve protection, and enhance presentation. Launched in the UK and selected European markets, the packaging has been designed for quick-service restaurants, pizzerias, and delivery brands to help ensure pizzas reach consumers in the same condition as when they left the oven.
Selenis expands copolyester capacity with Polisan Hellas asset acquisition
Selenis facility
Plastics producer Selenis has purchased the copolyester production assets of Polisan Hellas in Greece for installation at its site in Portugal. Following the acquisition, Selenis’ total specialty copolyester production capacity will reach 200,000 metric tons annually across production sites in Portugal, Italy, Tunisia, and the US. Selenis says that it is now Europe’s only producer of specialty copolyester, a type of modified polyester with glass-like properties. Packaging Insights sits down with a company representative to discuss the benefits of copolyester for packaging applications, as well as Selenis’ goals for the new acquisition and expanded capacity.
Plasma coating found to boost moisture resistance of bio-based packaging films
scientist
Bio-based cellulosic nanofibril (CNF) films from natural fiber are touted as a more environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional fossil-based flexible plastic films used in packaging. However, CNF films’ moisture absorption properties can compromise their structural integrity, according to scientists at North Carolina State University (NC State), US. The research team used plasma technology to layer a protective coating on the surface of CNF film to reduce water absorption and improve its moisture resistance. This can prevent the film from losing strength and reducing its gas barrier performance, which in packaging, can compromise product protection and shorten shelf life, according to the researchers. “This research provides a practical strategy for turning natural plant and tree fibers into functional, water-resistant packaging,” says Nathalie Lavoine, an associate professor in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at NC State. “It moves society one step closer to replacing everyday plastic wraps with renewable, biodegradable materials.” Discussing what needs to happen before the plasma treatment can be tested in commercial packaging applications, Lavoine tells Packaging Insights that several key research steps are still required. 
Sweetener suppliers target sugar’s structure gap in drinks, confectionery and...
Women drinking beverages and eating confectioneries at a table.

Food Ingredients First

Industry experts state that taking sugar out of a food or drink is not as simple as dropping in a sweetener that matches its taste. Sugar also does physical work in most products, providing body, bulk, texture, and mouthfeel. A high-intensity sweetener used at a fraction of its weight can leave much of that work undone.
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Packaging & Technology News
EPR funding emerges as e-commerce packaging pressures...
The Recycling Partnership’s latest report reveals that, as the US e-commerce industry continues to expand, companies are making packaging lighter to save on shipping costs. However, the increase in lighter, flexible packaging formats is creating challenges for residential recycling systems in many parts of the country. The US-based nonprofit’s 2026 State of Recycling Report, titled The Evolving Ton: Residential Generation Data, highlights that many US states are advancing packaging EPR laws, introducing a new source of funding to support recycling systems.
working producing plastic bottles in factory
Packaging & Technology News
Packaging decarbonization: PET’s carbon advantage meets...
The packaging industry is exploring many routes toward decarbonization. While some companies invest in renewable energy and others switch to bio-based materials, the goal remains the same: to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other GHGs released into the atmosphere due to human operations. The capacity expansion is fully funded by the IMG Group.
Avebe technical paper on PFAS-free oil and grease barriers for fibre-based food packaging
Technical paper
Out with PFAS On with performance. How do you develop an...
Removing PFAS changes more than the coating chemistry. This technical paper sets out five principles for designing fibre-based barriers, from choosing the right base paper and forming a continuous film to testing performance under production and end-use conditions. Explore the principles alongside examples from Avebe’s development work.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Royal Avebe.

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Flexible plastics innovationSep2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that consumers globally associate plastic with portability and ease of storage, highlighting key attributes of flexible plastic packaging. These attributes are re...

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Product innovation

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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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SIG on advancing aseptic packaging through lightweighting and innovation

We speak with Gavin Steiner, chief technology officer at SIG, about the latest advances shaping aseptic filling and packaging. The conversation explores the fastest-growing application areas and regions adopting the technology, alongside the technical challenges of lightweighting packaging...

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QBCRA outlines next steps for Quebec’s evolving DRS
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Shape the future of tuna with Tetra Recart® cartons 
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Video17:07
UFlex expands aseptic pack production capacity with Egypt facility
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