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Pack Expo 2026 review: Industry balances material optimization, shelf life and recyclability

Over 72,000 total packaging and processing professionals attended the Pack Expo 2026 trade show in Chicago, US, last week (Oct 18–21). Conversations with companies on the show floor highlighted the growing industry demand for material optimization and recyclable packaging structures amid evolving regulatory requirements. Packaging Insights spoke to Peak Nano, ProAmpac, Uflex, and SIG about the packaging industry’s efforts to reduce material use without compromising performance, increase the availability of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, and simplify structures to support recyclability. 
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E-commerce packaging balances compliance, cost & consumer experience
E-commerce packaging is no longer a post-production afterthought, flag industry players. It has evolved into a field requiring alignment across chemistry, material engineering, reverse logistics, regulatory compliance, and digital infrastructure. Packaging Insights speaks to Aicomp, Henkel, Re-Zip, and Turn Green about how the e-commerce packaging industry is exploring the intersection of process integration, sensory branding, economics, and total system compliance. 
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FSSC warns packaging reduction can drive food waste if protection fails
Material reduction innovations are growing across the F&B industry as regulations and sustainability targets attempt to reduce packaging waste. However, Antoinette Maake, technical officer at Foundation FSSC, warns that only when essential food-protection and usability functions remain “fully effective,” can material reduction contribute to environmental benefits.  Foundation FSSC (Food Safety System Certification) is an independent non-profit organization based in the Netherlands that manages the FSSC 22000 Scheme for food safety certification.
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Next-gen packaging reshapes bakery aisle
Innova Market Insights data indicates that bakery packaging launches grew at a CAGR of 4% from July 2021 to June 2026. Flat pouches were the leading format, with plastic remaining the top packaging material and carton gaining momentum. Recyclable was the leading sustainability claim, while responsible source claims continued to gain ground.
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Circular by design: unlocking sustainable packaging solutions
Meeting the global challenge of plastic waste and building a low-carbon and circular economy requires innovation, investment and collaboration. Read the LyondellBasell (LYB) white paper to explore how smart packaging design can help optimize packaging performance, reduce material complexity, improve recyclability and support circularity goals.This Technical Paper is brought to you by LyondellBasell.
Milana, Pack Expo
Pack Expo 2026 recap: Automation, regulation & packaging evolution
Automation and robotics took center stage at Pack Expo 2026 in Chicago, US, as packaging companies showcased solutions to improve production efficiency. We spoke with industry experts about the evolving EPR regulations in the US, recyclability, recycled content, on-the-go formats, and the challenges shaping packaging innovation.

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EU weighs bio-based plastic packaging targets under PPWR review
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The European Commission (EC) has opened a public consultation on the role of bio-based plastic in packaging policy as part of a review under Article 8 of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the Strategic Framework on a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy.  The EC says that based on feedback, it may develop a legislative proposal to increase the use of bio-based feedstock in plastic packaging. 
South Korean study finds paper straws have higher lifecycle impacts than...
A paper straw in a glass of water
A study commissioned by the South Korean Government has investigated the lifecycle costs associated with different drinking straw materials, finding that paper straws register a carcinogenic impact 6.33 times higher than conventional plastic alternatives. Commissioned by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, and disclosed by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Wi-sang, the Comprehensive Study on Single-Use Straws evaluated four material types, namely, conventional plastic, paper, biodegradable plastic, and bio-based PE. 
Hydropac replaces conventional cold chain insulation with paper fiber
Paper cardboard boxes
Hydropac, has unveiled EcoCool, an insulated box liner that combines thermal insulation and cushioning protection. The paper-fiber liner aims to replace traditional insulation such as polystyrene, loose paper fill, cotton, jute, and wool.  EcoCool’s structure is developed to absorb shock and keep its shape during transit. The solution is said to be able to maintain optimum levels of thermal insulation, while the liner protects cold chain goods from physical damage. 
EPR reshapes Latin American packaging from performance to circularity
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EPRs in Latin America are shifting packaging design focus beyond branding and performance, toward including design that centers on end-of-life circularity. Across Latin America, many countries have adopted national EPR laws that assign producers responsibility for packaging waste. The legislation is forcing brands to take responsibility for all packaging materials placed on the market — and any subsequent environmental impact it may have. 
EU delays PPWR labeling rules to Q2 2027, plans consultation
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The European Commission (EC) has pushed back the implementation of the updated labeling rules under the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to the second quarter of 2027, while confirming that the adoption process will include a public consultation. “The PPWR lays down EU-wide rules on labels for packaging and for waste receptacles, including to help consumers sort packaging waste; identify reusable packaging, and packaging covered by deposit return systems (DRS); and indicate recycled and bio-based content,” the EC states. 
Chicken-fed salmon raises sustainability concerns as producers rethink fish feed
Salmon farming at sea.

Food Ingredients First

Farmed salmon are being fed chicken by-products as Norway’s feed industry turns to alternatives to marine ingredients. The move revives concerns about consumer acceptance and whether the shift delivers environmental benefits or transfers pressure onto other animals. Poultry-derived ingredients offer a locally available protein source that can support salmon growth and reduce reliance on fishmeal, according to Margareth Øverland, professor of aquaculture nutrition at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. However, Eurogroup for Animals questions their sustainability credentials and warns that ingredient substitution cannot resolve the wider problems of intensive salmon farming. 
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Packaging & Technology News
Pack Expo 2026: EU and Canada move faster than US on GS1...
The GS1 Sunrise 2027 transition from traditional 1D codes to new 2D codes, like QR and GS1 DataMatrix, is set to come into global fruition next year. However, according to packaging industry experts at Pack Expo International 2026 in Chicago, US, the changeover is taking place faster in the EU and Canada than in the US, where industry interest remains low. According to GS1, the transition can bring about supply chain improvements such as traceability for product protection and corporate responsibility at end of life, and provide brands with new consumer engagement opportunities. 
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Packaging & Technology News
Sealed Air, Coveris & Dole rethink food packaging to cut...
Global supply chains are seeking to reduce waste and carbon emissions as regulations aim to tackle rising GHG emissions. Increasingly, the packaging industry is combining developments in material science with smarter logistics to improve how food is protected, preserved, and transported. Packaging Insights speaks to Sealed Air, Coveris, and Dole about how innovative materials, optimized engineering, and circular supply chain strategies are transforming food preservation without compromising product quality or sustainability goals. 
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Packaging & Technology News
Pack Expo 2026 live: Siemens showcases AI-powered digital...
Siemens is presenting its digital twin robotic solution, made in collaboration with PepsiCo and Nvidia, that uses AI to improve the speed and efficiency of packaging and bottling lines, at the ongoing Pack Expo International 2026 exhibition in Chicago, US (Oct 18–21).  The partnership combines Siemens’ digital twin and industrial AI technologies with Nvidia’s AI and visualization capabilities to create high-fidelity virtual models of PepsiCo’s manufacturing and warehouse operations. 

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Trends in AI use for packaging manufacturingOct2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that more manufacturers are launching products in new packaging formats. The growing number of formats, materials, and sustainability requirements is creating mor...

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Bioplastics expand across packaging formats Oct 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that 30% of consumers globally have chosen biodegradable packaging to be more sustainable in the past year. In response, bioplastics are appearing across diverse packaging formats, from compostable coffee and tea capsules to pouches, trays, cartons, and bottle wrappers, with innovation focusing on renewable materials, compostability, and end-of-life solutions.

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Next-gen packaging reshapes bakery aisleOct 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that bakery packaging launches grew at a CAGR of 4% from July 2021 to June 2026. Flat pouches were the leading format, with plastic remaining the top packaging material and carton gaining momentum. Recyclable was the leading sustainability claim, while responsible source claims continued to gain ground.

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Milana, Pack Expo
Video05:26
Pack Expo 2026 recap: Automation, regulation & packaging evolution

Automation and robotics took center stage at Pack Expo 2026 in Chicago, US, as packaging companies showcased solutions to improve production efficiency. We spoke with industry experts about the evolving EPR regulations in the US, recyclability, recycled content, on-the-go formats, and the...

Pack Expo 2026 Sealed Air video thumbnail: exhibition booth at a packaging trade show, featuring staff, visitors, packaging equipment, and Cryovac and BubbleWrap branding.
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Pack Expo 2026: Sealed Air showcases protective packaging range and equipment
Justin Garski, Rockwell Automation
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Pack Expo 2026: Rockwell Automation on AI’s role in tackling production labor shortages
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Pack Expo 2026: Syntegon CEO on packaging machinery trends
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