Banner ad with blue background reading “Discover Tetra Recart – the package that can have a positive impact on your business,” featuring a Learn more button, carton illustrations, and Tetra Pak logo.
tradeshow floor

Empack 2026 preview: Industry to focus on automation, reduced plastic & supply chain disruptions

As Empack 2026 approaches in Gorinchem, the Netherlands (April 14–16), packaging experts are getting ready to showcase the industry’s latest innovations in banding, automation, and reduced plastic solutions. Visitors are invited to explore the booths of 247 exhibitors. As the largest packaging trade fair in the Benelux region, the trade show is also expected to address regulatory compliance and evolving supply chain challenges. 
Woman looking at carton packaging in store.
Industry advances packaging solutions as “renewables do not mean compromise”
The biggest barrier to renewable packaging adoption is not the materials themselves, but the systems and infrastructure around them, according to Benjamin Cassou, co-founder and CEO at ReStalk. Stefan Mergel, head of Sustainability at SIG, says that the real roadblock — when considering a switch to more eco-friendly packaging — is not the lack of ambition but rather the lack of solutions that work here and now, and without trade-offs like loss of speed and efficiency in production. We sit down with ReStalk and SIG to explore how the packaging industry can accelerate renewable material adoption. 
Gabriel Magdaleno
Masterpress navigates EU regulations to advance sustainable packaging
One of the main barriers to packaging innovation and industry collaboration is the lack of clarity on design-for-recycling guidelines in the EU, according to Gabriel Magdaleno, strategic product management and marketing director at Masterpress. This regulatory uncertainty poses challenges for supply chain actors, making it difficult to confidently invest in new materials or technologies. We sit down with Magdaleno to discuss how Masterpress supports the industry in bridging the gap between brand owners and the market as they transition toward more environmentally sustainable packaging. 
Image
Eco-forward rigid plastic
As consumer concern around sustainability grows, the use of more eco-forward rigid materials is increasing. This is reflected in a rising number of F&B launches using more sustainable rigid packaging, particularly recyclable plastic. Most of these launches are concentrated in Europe.
Consumer Goods Forum video thumbnail: Plastic water bottles moving along a conveyor belt in a bottling facility, with an inset portrait of a bald man wearing glasses
Scaling reuse initiatives and industry collaboration to reduce plastic waste
We speak with Cédric Dever, director of the Plastic Waste Coalition of Action at the Consumer Goods Forum, about scaling reuse initiatives, the role of pilot programs, and the importance of cross-industry collaboration. He also shares insights on the future of plastic packaging waste reduction as companies shift toward reusable solutions.
Image
Packaging Innovations 2026 review: Data, design & regulations drive circularity
Packaging Innovations 2026 in Birmingham, UK, welcomed 450 exhibitors showcasing circular packaging design. As the industry adapts to the UK’s packaging EPR and DRS launch, suppliers presented solutions catering to these regulatory shifts. Highlights included recycle-ready monomaterial solutions, compostable packaging and labels, and AI-assisted recyclability data analytics.

Latest headlines

View more
US strengthens metal tariffs, raising packaging costs and aiding canned imports
A close-up of a factory worker
US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to strengthen tariffs imposed on imported steel, aluminum, and copper to “more effectively address the national-security threat posed by such imports.” However, industry groups warn that the tariffs are raising the cost of packaging for US producers while benefiting foreign competitors.
UPM Adhesive Materials expands India footprint with New Delhi terminal
Workers looking in warehouse
UPM Adhesive Materials is opening a new slitting and distribution terminal near New Delhi, India, expanding its presence in the emerging market. The terminal will feature new slitting capabilities and a customized label material inventory, designed to meet regional consumer needs. 
US invests US$144M to measure microplastics health risks and remove them from...
Researcher looking at microplastics
A US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agency has launched a nationwide US$144 million microplastics research program. It aims to create a toolbox for measuring, researching, and affordably removing microplastics and nanoplastics from the human body. The STOMP program (Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics) from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) will uncover how microplastics from food, air, and water build up in the body and protect people from their potential health impact. 
Clearwater Paper unveils lightweight paperboard to reduce packaging costs
Paper, Cardboard
The Clearwater Paper Corporation has launched Velora, a lightweight folding carton paperboard said to deliver dependable performance, higher yield, and strong value for money.Clearwater Paper says Velora meets key food‑contact, health, and environmental standards, including certificates for Sustainable Forestry Initiative fiber sourcing and for US Food and Drug Administration’s 21 Code of Federal Regulations compliance. The company says its solution targets converters and brand owners seeking a reliable packaging solution without moving into premium SBS grades.
Norner spotlights PCR from fish farming waste for personal care packaging
Beauty packaging factory
PCR material is high on brand owners’ agendas, but sourcing high‑quality, locally available PCR remains a major challenge, according to Norner, a Norway-based R&D company for the packaging industry.  Packaging Insights speaks to Tomasz Czulek, senior business development manager at Norner, to find out more about how the polymer company sources and researches recyclate to create PCR suitable for packaging applications.
The post-synthetic shift: How US regulation is rewriting the food color playbook
Natural food colors sweets US regulations

Food Ingredients First

Innovation in the natural color space continues to gather momentum against a backdrop of tightening regulation and shifts away from artificial ingredients. Companies are preparing supply chains and R&D pipelines, not just for compliance, but to meet growing consumer demands for real food with minimal processing. In one of the latest investment moves, Sensient Food Colors, a division of Sensient Technologies, is scaling up natural color production to fuel the transition in the US away from synthetic dyes.
Highlighted features
Packaging factory worker
Packaging & Technology News
Industry warns EC guidance on PPWR compliance does not...
The European Commission (EC) has published a new guidance document to support the implementation of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to simplify compliance for economic actors and member states. However, industry stakeholders note the guidance does not sufficiently address recycling rules and PFAS compliance for investment decisions. The EC’s guidance document aims to “clarify rules where the PPWR needs further interpretation and areas where stakeholders have requested assistance,” such as when a company is considered a manufacturer or producer, as well as which items are considered packaging under the PPWR.
Oil and plastic packaging production.
Packaging & Technology News
March in review: Iran war disrupts supply chains,...
Last month, the Iran war affected the packaging industry, leading to rising oil prices, a move toward recycled materials, and plastic bag shortages. Meanwhile, the UK launched investigations into glass container imports from China and Türkiye, and the US imposed anti-dumping duties on PP corrugated boxes from China. The Aicomp Summit 2026 took place in Austria. We attended the event and explored how facilitating efficiency and regulatory compliance emerged as key benefits of the packaging industry’s accelerating digitalization. 
Innova Top Packaging Trends 2026.
Special report
Top Packaging Trends 2026: Navigating sustainability,...
Innova Market Insights has announced its Top Packaging Trends 2026, with “Substantiated Sustainability” taking top spot. This trend emphasizes the need for verified environmental claims, driven by stricter regulations, such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging but are wary of greenwashing, meaning brands must back sustainability claims with scientific evidence. The second trend, “Digital-Enhanced Designs,” highlights the growing role of digital technologies like AI, augmented reality, and QR codes in packaging. These innovations improve consumer engagement and product traceability, while digital product passports offer detailed lifecycle data.

Packaging focus

View more
Image

Renewable rebellionApr2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates stable growth in F&B launches featuring “renewable packaging” claims between 2021 and 2025. Carton was the most commonly used packaging material, and launches...

Brought to you by:

Innova Market Insights

Product innovation

View more
Image

Packaging for Easter treats Apr 2026

Innova Market Insights data highlights rising momentum in Easter-related F&B packaging launches, with an average annual growth of 11% between 2021 and 2025. Brands are increasingly leveraging seasonal packaging to capture consumer attention, introducing playful shapes, innovative formats, and limited-edition designs. Colorful eggs, bunnies, and spring motifs continue to define F&B packaging design during the festive period.

Trend analysis

View more
Image

Eco-forward rigid plasticApr 2026

As consumer concern around sustainability grows, the use of more eco-forward rigid materials is increasing. This is reflected in a rising number of F&B launches using more sustainable rigid packaging, particularly recyclable plastic. Most of these launches are concentrated in Europe.

Multimedia

View more
Consumer Goods Forum video thumbnail: Plastic water bottles moving along a conveyor belt in a bottling facility, with an inset portrait of a bald man wearing glasses
Video14:00
Scaling reuse initiatives and industry collaboration to reduce plastic waste

We speak with Cédric Dever, director of the Plastic Waste Coalition of Action at the Consumer Goods Forum, about scaling reuse initiatives, the role of pilot programs, and the importance of cross-industry collaboration. He also shares insights on the future of plastic packaging waste reduction...

Aicomp Summit 2026 Domino Printing Sciences video thumbnail: Business professionals seated in a conference, focused on a presentation, with an inset portrait of a smiling older man in a suit
Video04:50
Aicomp Summit 2026: Domino Printing Sciences on data integration in packaging
Christian Jung, T.CON, Aicomp Summit 2026, Product Planning Software, Packaging Industry, Production Planning, Packaging Facilities, Automation, Machinery & Automation, Industrial Software
Video06:33
Aicomp Summit 2026: T.CON discusses product planning software for packagers
Image
Video04:01
Aicomp Summit 2026: Stratasys talks industrial 3D printing in packaging 
Subscribe to our newsletters
PlatformsFood Ingredients FirstNutrition InsightPackaging InsightsPersonal Care InsightsThe World of Food Ingredients
About usContact usAdvertisingPrivacy statementSitemapArchive
Follow us
linkedinrss_headergoogle_news
Image