A Year Into Tariffs, US Businesses See Declining Sales, Plan Price Increases: KPMG Survey
A year after the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs, U.S. firms report falling margins and higher operational costs, prompting many to shift tariff burdens onto consumers. The KPMG survey shows 34% of companies now pass more than half of tariff costs to customers, and 55% plan price hikes of up to 15% within six months. At the same time, reshoring momentum is growing, with 26% of respondents actively executing domestic relocation plans. Despite mixed sales trends, executives remain cautiously optimistic after a recent Supreme Court ruling that weakened the original tariffs.
Lubricants, Wholesaler Groups Talk EPR Lawsuits
The Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA) filed a lawsuit in Colorado challenging the state’s new extended producer responsibility (EPR) law that imposes a 56‑cent‑per‑gallon fee on packaged lubricants. The suit argues the fee and associated compliance costs cripple small manufacturers...
RPET Market Challenges Further Impacted by More Closures, Trade Pressures
The U.S. recycled PET (rPET) market is under severe strain as cheap virgin resin and rising overseas imports depress prices, prompting the closure of several key reclaimer facilities. Recent shutdowns, including two Evergreen plants, have cut domestic rPET capacity by...
International Paper to Build $225M Box Plant in Mississippi
International Paper announced a $225 million investment to build a 468,000‑square‑foot greenfield box plant in Brandon, Mississippi. The facility will target an annual output of 1.8 billion square feet of packaging and is slated to begin construction in June with operations commencing...
AI-Powered Platform Aims to Speed Packaging Chats and Sales
Matthew Wright, founder of Specright, is launching Forest, an AI‑powered platform designed to unite the fragmented packaging ecosystem. The digital hub will let users create buyer, seller or researcher personas, use natural‑language search, and manage sales conversations in one place....
Paper Industry Joins Oregon EPR Lawsuit
The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has moved to intervene in the lawsuit challenging Oregon’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) packaging law, requesting the same temporary pause granted to the National Association of Wholesaler‑Distributors (NAW). NAW’s earlier preliminary injunction halted...
USITC Advances 4 Trade Cases with Implications for Packaging
The U.S. International Trade Commission has advanced four packaging‑related trade cases this year, adding to a December antidumping ruling on thermo‑formed molded‑fiber products from China and Vietnam. The new investigations target polypropylene corrugated boxes from China, PET film from China,...
The $25K-a-Day Question: How to Decide Which Capex Projects to Fund Now
Packaging firms face a flood of urgent capital requests driven by EPR penalties, tariff spikes and automation needs. The article proposes a three‑step framework: first, separate mandatory compliance projects from discretionary growth initiatives; second, evaluate discretionary projects with a consistent...
As Performance and Growth Avenues Lag, Companies Pursue M&A
Packaging firms face stagnant organic growth post‑pandemic, prompting a shift toward mergers and acquisitions. McKinsey’s new report highlights a surge in programmatic M&A—multiple small‑to‑medium deals—as a preferred lever for scaling and entering high‑growth segments. Top‑quartile companies that pursued such disciplined...
Tennessee Packaging EPR Bill Sidelined for 2026
The Tennessee Waste to Jobs Act, an extended producer responsibility (EPR) bill targeting packaging waste, was set aside during a committee hearing. The revised legislation lets businesses earning under $10 million and counties with fewer than 200,000 residents opt out, aiming...
O-I Glass Flags Harsher-than-Expected Q1
Glass container maker O-I reported a tougher-than-expected first quarter 2026, citing soft European demand, factory closures, and renewed pricing pressure in the wine sector. The company warned earnings contribution will fall below the previously guided 12‑16% of full‑year adjusted EPS....
ProAmpac Completes TC Transcontinental Flexible Packaging Acquisition
ProAmpac has finalized its C$2.1 billion acquisition of Chicago‑based TC Transcontinental, adding 25 plants and roughly 3,500 employees to its portfolio. The deal brings together two of North America’s largest flexible‑packaging companies, boosting combined annual revenue to over C$2.7 billion. TC will distribute...
Cascades Targeting $100M in Additional Divestitures for 2026
Cascades announced a $100 million target for additional divestitures by mid‑2026 as it exits honeycomb and partition packaging segments and shuts three plants. The company sold its Richmond corrugated plant for $69 million, boosting cash flow and helping meet its $120 million asset‑sale...
International Paper CEO Pulls Back the Curtain on Planned Geographic Split
International Paper announced it will separate into two independent companies—one focused on North America and the other on Europe—after CEO Andy Silvernail highlighted regional strengths at the BofA 2026 Global Agriculture and Materials Conference. The split follows the $1.5 billion sale...
CD&R’s Acquisition of Sealed Air Clears Hurdles
Sealed Air shareholders voted to approve a $6.2 billion takeover by private‑equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R). The European Commission recently cleared the deal, finding no competition concerns, allowing the transaction to move toward closing pending final regulatory sign‑offs. The...
