California Advances Compostables, Recycled Content Labeling Bills
The California Legislature moved three packaging‑related bills forward before the August 31 deadline. AB 2253 would eliminate mass‑balance accounting, requiring that recycled‑content claims reflect the actual physical recycled material used. AB 1812, with near‑unanimous support, bars the sale of any plastic‑based product labeled “compostable” or “home compostable” beginning in 2027. SB 1031 tightens compostable labeling rules and mandates a study of potential health impacts from degraded plastics.
Emerald Packaging CEO on His Dual Role as Supplier and Policy Advisor
Emerald Packaging acquired the Blower‑Dempsay manufacturing assets in Santa Ana, its first acquisition in a 63‑year history, creating a second production site. The deal avoided a costly greenfield build, giving the company immediate capacity and equipment parity with its Bay Area...
Ardagh Glass Leaders Talk Optimization Plans Amid ‘New Normal’ for Demand
Ardagh Group’s glass division has launched the “Clearly Ardagh” transformation, a commercial and operational improvement program aimed at boosting efficiency after a recent recapitalization. The initiative targets the high‑cost, energy‑intensive nature of glass production, emphasizing utilization, cost control and smarter...
Packaging Innovations: Lytt’s Lit Containers, Duni’s Paper Is the New Black
Boston Beer’s Lytt Electric Coolers debut in resealable, glow‑in‑the‑dark 6.8‑ounce plastic bottles, marking the brewer’s first foray into recyclable plastic packaging. Sweden’s Duni Group rolls out black paper trays and bowls that replace hard‑to‑recycle black plastics while remaining PFAS‑free and...
Plastic Packaging Converters Raise Red Flags over Iran War Impact
The Iran‑Israel war has sent polyethylene and polypropylene prices soaring, with ICIS reporting a 115% jump in resin costs since February. North American packaging converters are feeling the squeeze, prompting Emerald Packaging to raise flexible‑pack prices by 8%—its largest monthly...
Packaging, Materials Groups Testify in Section 301 Tariff Probe
Packaging and materials groups testified before the U.S. Trade Representative in a new Section 301 investigation covering 16 countries. Representatives from the Can Manufacturers Institute, Aluminum Association, American Forest & Paper Association, Association of Plastic Recyclers and American Chemistry Council warned...
Canmakers Say Capacity Is Tight as They Gear up for Big Summer
Cankmakers Ball, Crown Holdings and Ardagh Metal Packaging reported strong Q1 revenue growth but warned that capacity will be tight as summer promotions ramp up. Ball posted $3.6 B sales, up 16.3% YoY, and is investing $35 M in a new Oregon...
Amcor to Open Miami Headquarters
Amcor reported a strong third‑quarter performance, with flexible packaging net sales climbing 35% to $3.25 B and rigid packaging surging 187% to $2.66 B year‑over‑year. The company announced it will relocate select corporate functions to a new U.S. headquarters in Miami starting...
GPI Cut 3% of Global Workforce After Business Review
Graphic Packaging International (GPI) announced a 3% global workforce reduction, cutting more than 500 salaried positions as part of a 90‑day business review. The restructuring delivered $10 million in Q1 cost savings and targets $60 million of annual reductions, while canceling low‑return...
Gerresheimer Glass, Oliver, TriMas, Veritiv Visual Announced Closures in April
In April 2026 a wave of restructuring hit North American packaging firms. Clearwater Paper will halve its solid bleached sulfate output in Arkansas, cutting about 70 jobs and removing roughly 170,000 tons—about 3.1% of regional supply. Gerresheimer Glass announced the closure...
5 Common Bottlenecks in Palletizing and How to Fix Them
Modern end‑of‑line operations face five recurring palletizing bottlenecks—labor gaps, inconsistent pallet quality, limited floor space, SKU proliferation, and poor system integration. The article outlines how robotic palletizers, centralized designs, and PLC‑connected software can eliminate each constraint, turning manual stations into...
Producers Launch Second Wave of Containerboard Price Increases in 2026
North American containerboard producers International Paper, Georgia‑Pacific and Packaging Corporation of America announced a second wave of price hikes effective June 1, 2026, adding $70 per ton for IP and $50 per ton for G‑P and PCA. Smurfit Westrock also introduced a $50‑per‑ton...
5 Predictions as US Packaging EPR Progresses
U.S. packaging producers are moving from voluntary sustainability pledges to mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) regimes after Oregon’s law took effect, a shift highlighted at the SPC Impact conference in Nashville. The Sustainable Packaging Coalition warns that regulations will stay...
Smurfit Westrock Examines Delisting From LSE, Closing UK Mill
Smurfit Westrock reported Q1 net sales of $7.71 billion, a modest 0.7% rise, but net income fell sharply to $63 million amid weather‑related costs and muted consumer confidence. The company announced a medium‑term growth plan that includes closing its high‑cost Birmingham mill and...
How Packaging Manufacturers Started 2026: Q1 Results
Packaging manufacturers reported mixed Q1 results as cost pressures and geopolitical tensions shaped performance. Smurfit Westrock announced a potential delisting from the London Stock Exchange and the closure of its UK mill, while International Paper disclosed a $200 million EMEA cost‑cutting...