Making Moves: New Packaging Leaders Appointed in 2026
In 2026 a wave of executive changes swept the packaging sector. Dow elevated longtime COO Karen Carter, a 30‑year veteran of its packaging and specialty plastics unit, to CEO. Georgia‑Pacific, Aptar, Stephen Gould, US Plastics Pact and Sonoco also announced new CEOs, interim leaders or the retirement of a long‑serving COO, underscoring a broader leadership renewal. The appointments aim to accelerate integration, expand pharma packaging, and reinforce sustainability and supply‑chain resilience.
3 Growth Areas for CPG Packaging
Circana’s 2025 U.S. CPG growth leaders report identifies three key drivers of packaging demand: expanding pack‑size assortments, a surge in private‑label and smaller brand sales, and a higher share of revenue from new product launches. Pack‑size diversification lets manufacturers capture...
Dow Names Former Packaging Leader as CEO
Dow announced that Chief Operating Officer Karen Carter will become CEO on July 1, 2026, succeeding Jim Fitterling who will move to executive chair. Carter brings over 30 years at Dow, most recently leading the packaging and specialty plastics unit, which...
Next Step in Recycling More Healthcare Plastics: Better Labeling
The Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) launched a 2026 project to create standardized labeling for flexible and rigid medical packaging. With less than 5% of healthcare plastics currently recycled in North America and Europe, the initiative seeks to improve material...
Where Producers’ EPR Money Is Going in Oregon
The Dalles became the first Oregon community to use producer‑funded Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) money, receiving $200,000 from Circular Action Alliance to purchase 5,000 new 96‑gallon recycling carts. Oregon’s packaging EPR program, the nation’s first, projects roughly $123 million in recycling...
CD&R Completes Acquisition of Sealed Air
Private equity firm CD&R has completed the acquisition of Sealed Air, paying roughly $6.3 billion to shareholders and valuing the company at $10.3 billion enterprise value. The packaging maker will now operate as a privately held entity headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina,...
From Tariffs to Iran War, Geopolitics Are Upending Packaging Supply Chains
A year after the “Liberation Day” tariffs imposed a 10% duty on most imports, packaging costs have surged, with some items jumping from $0.80 to $3 each. The Trump administration’s partial rollback on steel, aluminum and copper has left high...
Don’t Call It a Comeback: Can Containerboard Still Rebound in 2026?
Containerboard producers trimmed roughly 10% of North American capacity in 2025, hoping to correct a multi‑year oversupply. Early 2026 data showed modest demand upticks, but the Iran‑Israel conflict that began in February reignited fuel and logistics cost pressures, dampening optimism....
Uncertainty Reigns for Manufacturers Seeking Tariff Refunds
The U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down most Trump‑era IEEPA tariffs, leaving more than 300,000 manufacturers to decide how to recover payments. Only a handful of large importers have sued in the Court of International Trade, while the majority are...
AF&PA Can’t Join NAW’s Oregon EPR Lawsuit, Judge Rules
An Oregon federal judge narrowed the preliminary injunction that blocks enforcement of the state's Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law, limiting its relief to National Association of Wholesaler‑Distributors (NAW) members as of February 6, 2026. The court also denied the American...
Metal Tariff Adjustments Aren’t a Win for Packaging, Trade Groups Say
The Trump administration revised Section 232 metal tariffs, keeping a 50% rate on products made almost entirely of aluminum, steel or copper while lowering the levy to 25% for derivative items substantially composed of those metals. Items containing 15% or less...
The Automation Gap No One Talks About — Until It Stops the Line
Manufacturers are rapidly adopting automation, yet many facilities still rely on manual intervention at the final wrap station, creating a hidden bottleneck. A loose film tail can trigger AMR sensors, halting production and costing roughly $125,000 per hour of downtime....
Iran War May Dampen Packaging M&A in 2026
The Iran war has injected fresh geopolitical risk into the packaging sector, curbing M&A momentum in 2026. While Q1 saw 36 announced deals—up slightly from 34 a year earlier—the pace lags behind earlier forecasts and megadeals are fading. Companies are...
PCA Closing Full-Line Plant in Richmond, Virginia
Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) will close its full‑line converting plant in Richmond, Virginia, affecting 110 employees in June 2026. The shutdown follows a similar capacity reduction in Wallula, Washington, where 200 jobs were eliminated earlier this year. PCA plans...
New EU Guidance on PPWR Released Less than 5 Months From Start Date
The European Commission has published detailed guidance for the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) that will become mandatory on August 12. The document clarifies who qualifies as a covered producer, defines packaging categories, and tightens rules on single‑use items...
