Promotional graphic from Tetra Pak featuring a cat beside Tetra Recart cartons and text about meeting future demands
Bio-based plastic pellets

Bio-based plastic packaging under PPWR: EU study sparks debate over recyclability & toxicity

The Publications Office of the EU has published a study co-authored by the German Nova Institute concluding that bio-based plastic packaging can support the climate-neutrality goals of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). In response, advocacy groups ECOS, Rethink Plastic Alliance, Fern, and the Environmental Paper Network have addressed a letter to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) calling for alignment between the EU’s bio-based plastics policy and its circular economy objectives. 
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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.
Cryovac brand food packaging logo in white on a red background with the slogan “Where Performance Meets Responsibility”
Inside 85 Years of CRYOVAC® Innovation: Interview with Neil Dunn, Vice President of the EMEA Food Division at Sealed Air
2026 marks 85 years since the CRYOVAC® brand trademark was filed – a move that helped bring vacuum packaging to the world and shape today’s food industry. Neil Dunn, Vice President of the EMEA Food Division at Sealed Air, explains how innovative materials, systems and technical expertise have defined the CRYOVAC® legacy and continue to solve critical food industry challenges.
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L’Oréal and Kraft Heinz target small plastics recovery before California EPR law
small packaging formats
Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy has announced plans to advance the recovery of small-format plastic packaging, like from cosmetic and skin care products, in California, US, ahead of the state’s SB 54 extended producer responsibility (EPR) law. The plan falls under the next phase of the Smalls Consortium, a group backed by founding partner L’Oréal and supporting partner Kraft Heinz, which aims to recover cosmetic packaging, as well as pill bottles, lids, caps, and coffee pods that currently fall through recycling sorting systems. 
ACS hub tackles UK DRS knowledge gap among convenience retailers
A hand putting a can into a recycling bin.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has unveiled a resource hub for convenience retailers to help them prepare for the upcoming deposit return scheme (DRS) in the UK.The UK’s DRS will launch in October 2027 across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, covering PET plastic and metal drinks containers. Wales plans to launch its options on DRS at the same time, after concerns over a lack of a harmonized approach.
Tetra Pak launches carton packaging for shelf-stable tuna
tetra pak carton
Tetra Pak has equipped Spanish seafood producer Jealsa with reportedly the first carton packaging for shelf-stable tuna. The Tetra Recart is said to offer a paper-based alternative to traditional metal cans used to package tuna. The 200 mL format was launched last month with food retailer Axfood in Sweden. Tetra Pak says that the carton will soon be available to brands globally.  
NanoXplore and Techmer PM to launch graphene-enhanced coating for plastic films
Flexible film
NanoXplore and Techmer PM will commercialize a graphene-enhanced solution for high-performance plastic film applications, including packaging. The GrapheneBlack xGnP Masterbatch is said to improve mechanical strength by 70% and to reduce thickness by up to 20% when compared to traditional alternatives. The collaboration makes use of NanoXplore’s proprietary high-surface-area xGnP graphene technology with Techmer PM’s deep films application expertise, compounding capabilities, and customer network. 
Alupro urges UK to retain recycled aluminum as export risks divide industry
aluminum recycling
Securing the supply of aluminum is critical to the material’s future as a continued driver of the UK’s circular economy, according to the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro). In a new manifesto, Alupro, an industry-funded trade body, outlines five themes that can increase the supply of used aluminum packaging in the UK and help the material remain competitive in the “face of headwinds and uncertainty.” 
NGT update: European Parliament adopts deregulation rules and rejects seed...
The European Parliament building with flags in front.

Food Ingredients First

Yesterday (June 17), the European Parliament adopted contested rules deregulating plants made with new genomic techniques (NGTs), and rejected amendments that would have curbed patents on seeds. Meanwhile, the organic sector and civil society groups continue to warn that the vote and soon-to-be law open the door to corporate control of Europe’s genetic resources.
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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. 
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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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Video09:15
Interpack 2026: Sealed Air showcases vacuum packaging solutions for a changing market

At Interpack 2026, Sealed Air presented its Darfresh vacuum skin packaging range, designed to extend shelf life while reducing plastic use by up to 40%. Senior sales director Efrahin Avila Garcia discussed cost-efficiency, regulatory compliance, market volatility, and the future of sustainable...

Cryovac brand food packaging logo in white on a red background with the slogan “Where Performance Meets Responsibility”
Video01:53
Inside 85 Years of CRYOVAC® Innovation: Interview with Neil Dunn, Vice President of the EMEA Food Division at Sealed Air
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Webinars01:04
Top Packaging Trends 2026
Michael Fürgut, Handtmann
Video05:14
Interpack 2026: Handtmann elevates efficiency and flexibility with automated production systems
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