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A sign at Interpack 2026.

Interpack 2026: EU PPWR drives monomaterial flexibles innovations

Monomaterial flexible packaging crossed a threshold at Interpack 2026. Suppliers showed single-polymer structures capable of replacing multi-layer laminates in the industry’s most technically demanding applications. The driver is the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which requires all packaging on the European market to be recyclable at scale by 2030.
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Smart labels drive consumer engagement and product visibility
Smart labels are transforming packaging beyond its traditional role of protection. Driven by growing consumer demand for transparency and the industry’s move to traceable products, label innovations are reshaping how products are perceived by consumers and tracked along the supply chain. Packaging Insights speaks to Avery Dennison, Polytag, and UPM Adhesive Materials about using smart labels, like QR codes and RFID, to enhance consumer engagement and reduce food waste. 
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Geopolitical tensions could fuel shift to aluminum packaging, says Meadow CEO
The Strait of Hormuz crisis has revealed the critical role of circular materials like aluminum, as well as localized supply chains, says Victor Ljungberg, co-founder and CEO at Meadow. He argues that the packaging industry is at an “inflection point” in which the reason to move away from plastics is not just sustainability, but also cost-effectiveness. The Middle East is a key aluminum smelting hub, accounting for roughly 9% of global production, according to data from the International Aluminium Institute.  
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Pet food packaging trends
Innova Market Insights data indicates that new pet food launches have gained ground, with 3% growth from 2021 to 2025. Most of these launches were packed in plastic, but metal packaging is also gaining traction. Nearly half of pet food launches were in standing pouches, while the use of folded boxes is increasing.
PakTech rHDPE multipack handle for beverage cans data-driven packaging guide visual
A data-driven guide to multipacking
How can CPG brands balance escalating regulatory pressures with changing consumer expectations in their multipacking decisions? Lifecycle analysis, performance testing, and total cost of ownership evaluation are critical in guiding evidence-based choices. Discover strategies to select the best material for the job across key metrics.This Technical Paper is brought to you by PakTech.
Andy Sweetman, Futamura, Interpack 2026, Cellulose-Based Materials, Personal Care Packaging, Cosmetics Packaging, Fiber-Based Packaging, Sustainable Packaging, Plastic Alternatives, Cellulose Films, P
Interpack 2026: Futamura showcases cellulose-based materials for personal care packaging

Andy Sweetman, the Sales and Marketing director at Futamura, highlighted the company’s cellulose-based solutions for cosmetics packaging. Sweetman told us more about how the company uses fibers to produce materials with properties similar to those of plastic.

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California SB 54 faces legal challenge amid mixed industry reactions
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In the US, California’s landmark SB 54 EPR law is facing legal scrutiny from environmental NGOs, who argue it undermines the law’s initial recycling and plastic reduction goals. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Californians Against Waste will challenge the law in court, focusing on whether CalRecycle — the state agency responsible for administering and implementing SB 54 — acted beyond its mandate by adopting regulations that conflict with the law’s legal obligation. 
Avantium sells bio-based glycol IP to UPM in multi-million deal
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Avantium, a Dutch company specializing in renewable and circular polymer materials, has reached an agreement with UPM for the sale of the intellectual property (IP) related to its Ray Technology business.The transaction covers the patent portfolio and invention disclosures developed by Avantium up to the end of 2023, when further development was put on hold by Avantium. The total consideration for the transaction amounts to €2.7 million (US$3.14 million) in cash.
Gentlebrand designs lightweight water bottle for premium applications
Minera SmartWighting
Gentlebrand has introduced its Minera bottle for still water, developed using the company’s SmartWeighting approach. The Italian packaging design agency says its approach reveals the possibility of lightweighting without compromising performance, esthetics, or brand positioning.  The SmartWeighting design and development approach aims to optimize the distribution and expression of material within a bottle structure, rather than simply reducing material weight. The agency says it combines structural engineering with design language to enable lighter packaging to maintain functional reliability and a premium on-shelf presence.  
Japan’s F&B packaging sector struggles with cost and shortages amid Middle East...
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F&B companies in Japan are facing shortages of materials used in manufacturing plastic packaging due to supply disruptions linked to the US-Iran war. This has led to changes in packaging designs and rising costs for products.The country’s snack giant Calbee has announced that it will temporarily switch to black and white packaging for certain products due to the supply instability of colored ink.
Interpack 2026 live: Sappi spotlights paper-based packaging for scalability and...
Sappi booth at Interpack 2026
Sappi is presenting its paper-based flexible packaging and labels, as well as silicone base paper for packaging applications, at Interpack 2026. Flavio Froehli, vice president of marketing and sales at Sappi, tells us the “future proof” solutions respond to the fiberization momentum building at the trade show.“The art of succeeding is to understand your verticals, so we have different verticals. We are presenting packaging solutions for confectionery, food, dairy, tea, and coffee. We also have solutions for beverages, non-food items, and tobacco,” Froehli tells Packaging Insights.
German court finds Mondelēz misled consumers with Milka “shrinkflation”
milka bars on supermarket shelf

Food Ingredients First

A German court has ruled that Mondelēz misled consumers by cutting the weight of Milka chocolate bars without clearly indicating the change on packaging. The ruling emphasizes the importance of clarity in “shrinkflation,” where products that look the same may contain less or cost more — risking consumer confusion.
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Schubert booth at Interpack 2026
Packaging & Technology News
Interpack 2026 live: Schubert highlights machines for cost...
Cost optimization is one of the biggest trends at Interpack 2026, according to Peter Schubert, head of Construction at Gerhard Schubert. At the ongoing trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany, the family-run packaging company is presenting a new generation of its classic top-loading packaging machines (TLM) and two highly standardized machine ranges. “One is the Lightline range of standard machines offering specific solutions to specific packaging tasks, and the other is the tog family, which are individual production cells for single packaging steps. For example, pick & place, erecting, filling, or closing, each via a separate, specific cell,” Schubert tells Packaging Insights. 
PakTech rHDPE multipack handle for beverage cans data-driven packaging guide visual
Technical paper
A data-driven guide to multipacking
How can CPG brands balance escalating regulatory pressures with changing consumer expectations in their multipacking decisions? Lifecycle analysis, performance testing, and total cost of ownership evaluation are critical in guiding evidence-based choices. Discover strategies to select the best material for the job across key metrics.This Technical Paper is brought to you by PakTech.
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.

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Next-gen packaging: Biodegradable films & material innovationMay2026

Innova Market Insights data shows that consumers view sustainability challenges as urgent issues that require immediate action. For the industry, this translates into accelerated investment in recycla...

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Soft drink packaging refresh May 2026

Innova Market Insights data shows that global soft drink launches are on the rise, with 10% growth between April 2021 and March 2026. Bottles are taking the largest share of launches with 52%, followed by cans at 21%, highlighting the continued importance of these formats in meeting consumer needs and product positioning.

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Pet food packaging trendsMay 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that new pet food launches have gained ground, with 3% growth from 2021 to 2025. Most of these launches were packed in plastic, but metal packaging is also gaining traction. Nearly half of pet food launches were in standing pouches, while the use of folded boxes is increasing.

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Andy Sweetman, Futamura, Interpack 2026, Cellulose-Based Materials, Personal Care Packaging, Cosmetics Packaging, Fiber-Based Packaging, Sustainable Packaging, Plastic Alternatives, Cellulose Films, P
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Interpack 2026: Futamura showcases cellulose-based materials for personal care packaging

Andy Sweetman, the Sales and Marketing director at Futamura, highlighted the company’s cellulose-based solutions for cosmetics packaging. Sweetman told us more about how the company uses fibers to produce materials with properties similar to those of plastic.

Marcel Veenstra, SEALPACK
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Interpack 2026: Sealpac discusses thermoformers and traysealers for cost optimization
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Interpack 2026 live: Recyda co-founder discusses regulatory compliance software
Isabelle Le Graet, Sonoco
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Interpack 2026 live: Sonoco spotlights paper, metal & augmented reality packaging solutions
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