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Food packaging trends: Global sustainable innovation

Food packaging trends: Global sustainable innovation

Sustainable food packaging is increasingly important as consumers demand eco-friendly and responsible solutions. Packaging waste contributes significantly to environmental challenges, prompting the need for alternatives that reduce carbon footprints and minimize plastic pollution.
Printing tech transforms packaging as personalization and automation proliferate
Printing tech transforms packaging as personalization and automation proliferate
Consumers are increasingly seeking personalized packaging experiences and environmentally sustainable printing solutions. As printing technologies can transform product packaging and redefine how consumers interact with brands, companies are looking into the potential of digital printing, emphasizing on greater customization and automation. We speak to industry experts at Ranpak and Smart Cups about how printing technology can enable mass customization and on-demand production while reducing waste.
Packaging Strategy Lab founder: AI drives sustainable design and recycling infrastructure advancements
Packaging Strategy Lab founder: AI drives sustainable design and recycling infrastructure advancements
As regulations like the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) evolve and circular design becomes the norm, AI gives designers the agility to test more variables, validate assumptions, and iterate processes faster, according to Felix Gass, founder and director of the Packaging Strategy Lab. Based in Cologne, Germany, the Packaging Strategy Lab is a packaging strategy bureau that supports companies with transitioning to sustainable designs and materials.
Ready Meal revamps
Ready Meal revamps
Innova Market Insights data indicates that Ready Meal launches increased by 4% on average annually from 2020 to 2024. Flat Pouch (39%) was the leading packaging type for the Ready Meal launches in 2024, with Cup and Pot having the fastest increase for NPD. Recyclable (38%) is the leading environmental claim, with bio-based/plant-based packaging surging with 103% growth in the last five years.
PRSE 2025: Neste talks circular plastics economy progress and challenges
PRSE 2025: Neste talks circular plastics economy progress and challenges
Chemical recycling is experiencing a new momentum, according to Andreas Teir, Neste’s head of chemical recycling. We spoke to Teir at PRSE 2025 in the Netherlands to discuss recent developments in chemical recycling, the regulatory landscape, and the interplay of mechanical and chemical recycling.
Packaging Innovations 2025 review: UK industry prepares for EPR
Packaging Innovations 2025 review: UK industry prepares for EPR
Packaging Innovations 2025 in Birmingham, UK, witnessed over 400 exhibitors showcase their latest solutions designed to meet the growing demand for packaging that addresses the UK’s incoming EPR regulation. The “fiberization” and plastic monomaterial shifts were prevalent on the show floor, while compostable and reusable systems also featured. We look back at some of the key companies and innovations from this year’s event.

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UNDP launches training for pulp-based packaging in Mauritius
A person and person in lab coats standing in front of a machine
The UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme has launched a series of hands-on training sessions to establish a circular packaging economy in Mauritius. The project supports the use of biomass to create functional pulp-based packaging.The project, “Enhancing the Livelihood of Vulnerable Groups through Circular Economy and Development of Green Products as Replacement for Single-Use Plastics,” is facilitated by researchers from the University of Mauritius and led by Professor Haree Ramasawmy. The training seeks to improve local capacity and foster green skills that support a transition to a circular economy within communities.
Logitech moves to paper-based electronics packaging for mice
Computer mouse in paper box.
Logitech International is replacing its plastic-based clamshell packaging for its mice applications with paper-based solutions. The initiative is estimated to remove 660 tons of plastic and reduce 6,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the air, equivalent to eliminating over 37 million single-use plastic water bottles annually. “Shifting away from plastic clamshell packaging marks a significant step toward our goal of completely eliminating single-use plastics from our portfolio. This milestone is about 90% complete and is our largest packaging endeavor to date,” says Delphine Donné, general manager of the Personal Workspace Solutions business group at Logitech. 
Beyond The Headlines: Epson printers for private label businesses, IP sells European box plants
Temecula Coffee Roasters Epson packaging
This week in industry news, Temecula Coffee Roasters showcased how it uses Epson ColorWorks On-Demand Color Label Printers for its private label coffee business, and International Paper (IP) agreed to sell five of its European plants to meet the EU’s requirements to acquire DS Smith. Meanwhile, KHS received a Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validation, and Berry Global said it would attend the Seafood Expo Global next month.
Eco-Products and DNO Produce partner for school nutrition in compostable packs
child eating school lunch
Eco-Products and DNO Produce have launched a compostable cup and lip designed for school nutrition programs in the US. The four-ounce (118 mL) molded fiber cup is made from renewable sources and sealed with a plant-based lidding film. DNO Produce is a US-based distributor of fresh and bulk produce. It operates school nutrition programs in 17 states, equipping schools with fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
DS Smith finds Brits concerned by excessively packaged Easter eggs
A child holding Easter eggs
A new survey commissioned by DS Smith projects that British consumers will purchase approximately 123 million Easter eggs this year, generating an estimated 8,800 tons of packaging waste across the UK.  The study of 2,000 UK adults found the average British consumer will consume 165 Easter eggs in their lifetime, receiving around three annually. More than two-thirds of the consumers believe Easter eggs are “excessively packaged,” with over a quarter feeling annoyed by the waste accumulated and 22% now choosing eggs based on packaging recyclability. 
Top food trends in China 2025
Chinese consumer eating food.

Food Ingredients First

The food and beverage industry plays a vital role in Chinese society, creating shifting consumer preferences, fostering innovative culinary creations, and boosting the economy. Food trends in China are influenced by cultural heritage, evolving lifestyles, and technological advancements.
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Regulatory News

New York packaging waste bill gains momentum but businesses want protection

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act is currently moving through the US legislative process in the state of New York and will be voted on by the Assembly later this year. While advocates, including Beyond Plastics, support the packaging bill for addressing the growing issue of packaging waste in New York, industry lobbyists oppose it and want to see businesses protected.The bill aims to reduce plastic pollution by shifting the financial burden of packaging waste management from consumers to producers.

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Research & Development

Packaging color saturation shapes consumer perceptions of product efficacy, study finds

New research reveals that consumers associate more saturated packaging colors with higher product efficacy, highlighting how visual design elements can serve as an often subconscious influence in consumer decision-making.The study, published in the Journal of Marketing, found that higher color saturation leads to stronger beliefs in a product’s potency. This effect extends beyond product color to include packaging and advertising backgrounds, and it influences both pre-purchase impressions and post-use evaluations.

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Special report

Top Packaging Trends 2025: AI-enhanced “Connected Platforms” to advance circular economy

Innova Market Insights has revealed its Top Packaging Trends 2025, with “Connected Platforms” taking center stage. Connected technologies are widely expected to transform the packaging value chain, from waste management to brand-consumer engagement, by converting packaging into digitalized platforms. The emergence of AI systems will enhance and expedite this industry shakeup.

Packaging focus

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Emerging Packaging Trends in EuropeApr2025

F&B launches in Europe have grown from 2020 to 2024, driven by consumer concerns about preserving food quality. The UK leads in F&B launches, while Ireland has seen the highest increase. In su...

Product innovation

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Ready Meal revamps Apr 2025

Innova Market Insights data indicates that Ready Meal launches increased by 4% on average annually from 2020 to 2024. Flat Pouch (39%) was the leading packaging type for the Ready Meal launches in 2024, with Cup and Pot having the fastest increase for NPD. Recyclable (38%) is the leading environmental claim, with bio-based/plant-based packaging surging with 103% growth in the last five years.

Trend analysis

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Fruit & Vegetable packagingApr 2025

Innova Market Insights data shows a rise in global fruit and vegetable product launches, with flat pouches being the leading packaging type. Among sustainable claims, "recyclable" was the most common, while carbon label claims saw notable growth.

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PRSE 2025: Neste talks circular plastics economy progress and challenges

Chemical recycling is experiencing a new momentum, according to Andreas Teir, Neste’s head of chemical recycling. We spoke to Teir at PRSE 2025 in the Netherlands to discuss recent developments in chemical recycling, the regulatory landscape, and the interplay of mechanical and chemical...

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