Royal Avebe promotional graphic for PerfectaFILM PFAS-free plant-based barrier coatings for fibre-based food packaging
woman drinking water at football game

FIFA’s bottle policy raises safety and plastic pollution debate at World Cup 2026

FIFA’s reusable bottle policy for football matches at the 2026 World Cup has prompted questions about the balance between public safety and plastic pollution prevention at large events. After initially banning reusable bottles, FIFA amended its water bottle policy, allowing fans to bring “one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590 mL), factory sealed disposable water bottle into any World Cup 2026 match in the US and Canada.” Reusable bottle policies at venues in Mexico were not mentioned in FIFA’s softened policy. 
Recycling facility workers
Fragmented EPR rules push packaging industry toward value-chain collaboration
EPRs are rolling out across countries and regions, but harmonization remains low. Packaging Insights speaks to Bay Cities Packaging, Constantia Flexibles, Flint Group, Korozo Group, and Recyda, to find out how industry players can work together to ensure compliance.  “EPR frameworks are evolving beyond Europe, including in the UK, North America, and parts of Asia, each with its own timelines and reporting obligations,” Thomas Schulz, VP of Group Marketing Communication at Constantia Flexibles, tells us. “The EPR environment is clearly accelerating the shift toward Design for Recycling, greater material efficiency, and increased transparency.” 
Peter Brücker, head of the KHS packaging technology product center.
KHS advances material reduction with adhesive multipacks and tray shrink alternatives
Amid ongoing demand for optimized packaging solutions for material reduction, Peter Brücker, head of the KHS packaging technology product center in Kleve, Germany, highlights the company’s Innopack Kisters TSP Advanced packer with newly developed BottleClip option, and the KHS Nature MultiPack solution. Brücker also discusses supply chain optimization and software solutions.  The Innopack Kisters TSP Advanced combines maximum flexibility and efficiency with ease of operation and progressive automation technology. For Interpack 2026, KHS has added a new packaging option to its established packer that packs beverage cans as well as PET and glass bottles on trays and pads and in film. 
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Protein packaging reinvented
Innova Market Insights data reveals that consumers find packaging very important when choosing meat & dairy product launches. Standard tray & flat pouch were the leading packaging, while cup emerged as the packaging with the fastest rise in innovation. Biobased material for protein launches had 21% growth from April 2021 to March 2026, opening the path for new packaging opportunities.
GREIF promotional graphic for a science-based look at fluoridation and PFAS, featuring a white plastic container and Access Now button
A Science Based Look at Fluorination and PFAS.
Are all fluorinated packaging technologies created equal? Or are we oversimplifying risk? Greif examines how process chemistry, particularly oxygen control, fundamentally shapes PFAS outcomes. Backed by validated data and scientific rigor, this paper reframes barrier selection for regulators, engineers, and decision-makers seeking compliant, high-performance packaging solutions.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Greif.
Cryovac brand food packaging logo in white on a red background with the slogan “Where Performance Meets Responsibility”
Inside 85 Years of CRYOVAC® Innovation: Interview with Neil Dunn, Vice President of the EMEA Food Division at Sealed Air
2026 marks 85 years since the CRYOVAC® brand trademark was filed – a move that helped bring vacuum packaging to the world and shape today’s food industry. Neil Dunn, Vice President of the EMEA Food Division at Sealed Air, explains how innovative materials, systems and technical expertise have defined the CRYOVAC® legacy and continue to solve critical food industry challenges.
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Aptar Active Material Science patents pharma packaging technology
Blister packaging medicine
Aptar Active Material Science, part of AptarGroup, has secured a US patent for its N-Sorb technology to reduce nitrosamine impurities associated with packaging pharmaceuticals. According to the European Medicines Agency, nitrosamine impurities are classified as probable human carcinogens that may form during the manufacture of medicines. 
Lavazza launches capsule-free coffee tabs to reduce plastic use
A coffee machine and a box
Lavazza North America has introduced Tablì to the US market. Following its launch in Italy, this 100% coffee tab eliminates capsules, individual wrapping, and coatings.The tab’s concave shape is said to allow the coffee to expand as it brews. The tabs are compatible with the Tablì machine, developed in Italy with a bean-shaped slider designed for one-touch use and available in three finishes — graphite black, sand white, and walnut brown. 
World Refill Day: L’Oréal promotes circularity with refill campaign
loreal refill movement
L’Oréal has launched its third #JoinTheRefillMovement campaign to promote refillable packaging alternatives in the personal care sector, bringing together four divisions. On World Refill Day 2026, L’Oréal’s campaign aims to build on previous movements, addressing the knowledge gap about refill. The campaign includes advertising and social media content, and spotlights retail partnerships to ensure refill options are “visible and easy to access.” 
Webinar preview: FoodChain ID urges data optimization ahead of PPWR deadline
Two men check compliance data
Ahead of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) general application, packaging companies should take a close look at their processes and systems, rather than waiting for certainty, asserts Claudia van Berkom-Berrevoets, subject matter expert at FoodChain ID.At the upcoming FoodChain ID webinar, “PPWR Deadline: Streamline Supply Chain Compliance Before August 12, 2026,” Van Berkom-Berrevoets and colleagues, Wim Jansen, strategic account executive and senior technical product expert, and Isabela Tomaz, strategic account executive, will explore how companies can optimize data to meet their PPWR supply chain obligations.
PET thermoform collection rises as rPET use declines, finds industry research
plastic bottle
PET thermoform collection in the US and Canada has increased despite recent losses in domestic recycling capacity, market instability, and imported recycled PET (rPET), finds new research from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR). According to NAPCOR’s 2024 PET Thermoform Market Analysis, 264 million pounds of PET thermoforms were collected for recovery in 2024. This total includes domestically recovered material and exports for recycling. 
EU lawmakers reach deal to modernize seed and plant material rules
Farmer planting seeds in a field.

Food Ingredients First

EU lawmakers have reached a provisional agreement on sweeping reforms to the bloc’s rules governing the production and marketing of plant reproductive material, marking one of the most significant updates to the framework in decades.
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Packaging sitting in a compost pile.
Tech & Innovation
Compostable packaging goes mainstream: How technology,...
The compostable packaging category recently received a regulatory boost from the EU’s mandate requiring home compostable adhesive labels on fruit and vegetables by February 2028. At the same time, compostable packaging technology is reshaping conversations about regional end-of-life strategy.
recycling men New York
Packaging & Technology News
New York packaging EPR bill stalls for third year amid...
In the US, New York’s Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) has failed to pass for a third consecutive year. The EPR bill would require producers to fund recycling infrastructure and reduce packaging, but New York’s legislative session ended before it could be put to a vote, despite the bill having cleared the Senate. 
GREIF promotional graphic for a science-based look at fluoridation and PFAS, featuring a white plastic container and Access Now button
Technical paper
A Science Based Look at Fluorination and PFAS.
Are all fluorinated packaging technologies created equal? Or are we oversimplifying risk? Greif examines how process chemistry, particularly oxygen control, fundamentally shapes PFAS outcomes. Backed by validated data and scientific rigor, this paper reframes barrier selection for regulators, engineers, and decision-makers seeking compliant, high-performance packaging solutions.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Greif.

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Compostable packaging leadersJun2026

Innova Market Insights data shows that consumers are willing to justify a higher price for a product if it comes with sustainable (including compostable) packaging. 42% of these launches were in Europ...

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Food waste fighters Jun 2026

Innova Market Insights data shows that consumers are concerned about sustainability and expect brands to take these issues seriously. Packaging is becoming a key area for innovation, with brands exploring solutions that help reduce food waste by extending shelf life, improving protection, and supporting portion control.

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Protein packaging reinventedJun 2026

Innova Market Insights data reveals that consumers find packaging very important when choosing meat & dairy product launches. Standard tray & flat pouch were the leading packaging, while cup emerged as the packaging with the fastest rise in innovation. Biobased material for protein launches had 21% growth from April 2021 to March 2026, opening the path for new packaging opportunities.

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Cryovac brand food packaging logo in white on a red background with the slogan “Where Performance Meets Responsibility”
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Inside 85 Years of CRYOVAC® Innovation: Interview with Neil Dunn, Vice President of the EMEA Food Division at Sealed Air

2026 marks 85 years since the CRYOVAC® brand trademark was filed – a move that helped bring vacuum packaging to the world and shape today’s food industry. Neil Dunn, Vice President of the EMEA Food Division at Sealed Air, explains how innovative materials, systems and technical expertise have...

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Top Packaging Trends 2026
Michael Fürgut, Handtmann
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Interpack 2026: Handtmann elevates efficiency and flexibility with automated production systems
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Interpack 2026: Ampack presents high-efficiency filling system for sensitive liquids
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