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Beyondly urges clearer roles for UK pEPR and Packaging Recovery Note systems

The UK’s packaging EPR (pEPR) should be complementary to the country’s longstanding Packaging Recovery Note system, according to Beyondly. The regulatory compliance service says the pEPR and PackUK (the pEPR scheme administrator) are tasked with funding and improving household packaging collection. Meanwhile, the Packaging Recovery Note system uses recycling data to help producers meet their legal packaging obligations, underpinning recycling targets, and driving investment in recycling capacity. 
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Dessert packaging prioritizes freshness with resealable, recyclable formats
The sweet snack and dessert packaging sector is advancing to achieve a dual mandate. Businesses are looking into solutions that provide a circular economy profile while protecting food textures, like the precise crunch of a biscuit or the moisture of a baked sweet snack. Packaging Insights speaks to Constantia Flexibles and Südpack, with data from Innova Market Insights about how regulatory updates and shifting consumer expectations are pushing dessert brands to rethink their delivery format.
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GAIA: “Waste colonialism” fuels Africa’s plastic crisis amid circular initiatives
Effective waste management in Africa is undermined by imports of plastic waste from the Global North, says Merissa Naidoo, plastic program manager at the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) Africa. She adds that this plastic waste is often mislabeled as recyclable but, due to the volume of imports, ends up being poorly managed or openly burned. Packaging Insights sits down with Naidoo to explore Africa’s waste management, highlighting the countries that are leading the way, as well as what she calls the industry’s “false solutions,” including  waste-to-energy, chemical recycling, and plastic credits. 
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Trends in dessert packaging
Innova Market Insights data indicates a 9% increase in new dessert launches between April 2025 and March 2026. Among these launches, 44% feature recyclable packaging claims, while compostable packaging claims are growing the fastest. At the same time, consumers say they prefer resealable packaging when purchasing desserts.
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.
Alison Rodwell, James Cropper
James Cropper on how color shapes packaging stories
Alison Rodwell, technical specialist for Paper and Packaging at James Cropper, talks about how color helps packaging tell authentic brand stories on the shelf, balance technical consistency with cultural meaning, and create an unboxing experience for online shopping. She also discusses popular visual trends in packaging design.

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Avery Dennison positions humidity-resistant labeling for East Asia rainy season
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Avery Dennison’s AW5301K has offered the East Asian market a specialized solution that prevents label edge lifting caused by humidity during the regional rainy season.Avery Dennison says that when humidity rises sharply, one of the biggest concerns for printing companies and end users is label wrinkling or edge lifting after labels are applied to corrugated cartons.
DS Smith designs fiber-based transport packaging for water filters
cardboard packaging
DS Smith has equipped Best Water Technologies (BWT), an Austria-based water treatment company, with a transport box for water filters. The fiber-based packaging solution is designed for two types of Mach water filters, which are used for the protection of domestic water pipes. 
FSSC 22000 certification adds packaging rules to reduce food waste
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Foundation Food Safety System Certification (FSSC), the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), and the Australasian Institute of Packaging (AIP) have joined forces to add a new packaging design and development requirement to FSSC 22000 that addresses Food Loss and Waste (FLW). Foundation FSSC is the organization behind the global Certification Scheme FSSC 22000 for Food Safety. Its latest version (V7) includes guidelines regarding packaging in relation to food waste. It was developed after Foundation FSSC acknowledged how the design of packaging “plays a vital role in reducing FLW.” 
Suri launches refillable toothpaste with home-compostable plant-based refills
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Suri, a personal care product provider based in London, UK, has launched a toothpaste featuring a reusable, custom-designed pump and plant-based refill that are said to be home-compostable after use.The Restore Refillable Toothpaste aims to combine high performance, aesthetic design, and a “future-focused approach” to materials. The refills are made from Vivomer, a plastic-free biomaterial designed to compost after storing the toothpaste.
EU updates PPWR reporting methodology as plastic use rises
Woman shops in supermarket
Plastic was the only packaging category that expanded between 2011 and 2025 in the EU, rising by 11%, a new European Commission (EC) Joint Research Center (JRC) study has found. During the same period, packaging from the F&B sector was behind 97% of packaging material released on the market, while the total amount of all packaging on the market was 98 kg per capita. 
Workforce report flags retention risks as IFT FIRST 2026 gets underway
IFT FIRST 2026 in Chicago US.

Food Ingredients First

Workforce pressures are taking center stage, as IFT FIRST 2026 gets underway this week in Chicago, US (Jul 12–15). A new report from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has revealed rising compensation, growing retention risks, and intensifying concern over scientific misinformation. IFT’s 2026 Compensation and Career Path Report shows a profession at a turning point. The report, based on 5,148 responses from food science professionals worldwide, examines salary trends, job satisfaction, benefits, and workplace challenges across industry, academia, government, and nonprofit roles.
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Packaging & Technology News
QR codes on packaging spark consumer privacy debate
Invented to track vehicle parts more efficiently during manufacturing, QR codes are now a common feature on packaging. Yet, as the black and white square becomes second nature for consumers, some voices have highlighted the risk that the technology could undermine digital privacy rights. Meaning “quick response,” consumers can scan QR codes to find out a host of information, such as recycling instructions, allergen information, product origin, promotions, and recipes. They offer companies a direct pathway to engage with consumers and raise awareness around their brand.  
PET bottle production
Policy & regulation news
EU sets chemical recycling calculation rules for PET bottles
The European Commission (EC) has adopted a new Implementing Decision on the calculation, verification, and reporting of data on chemically recycled content in single-use plastic beverage bottles for compliance with the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD).   The EC says that with the new rules, it aims to ensure transparency in the calculation of chemically recycled PET, to “level the playing field,” and secure the plastic recycling sector. “Europe’s plastic recycling sector faces mounting pressures,” adds Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy.  “The new rules on chemical recycling are part of the answer to that challenge.” 
A person packing a box.
Policy & regulation news
China enforces express delivery packaging rules to reduce...
China’s first mandatory national standard targeting excessive packaging in express delivery, the Requirements for Restricting Excessive Packaging in Express Delivery, came into effect on July 1. The new national standard sets key indicators for the size and suitability of express packaging boxes, the number of packaging layers, and the amount of sealing tape used, defining the baseline requirements for limiting excessive packaging in express delivery, including e-commerce parcels.

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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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Creative aluminum can designs shape beverage packaging Jul 2026

Aluminum can design is trending toward vibrant color blocking, soft gradients, and unexpected color palettes that help drinks stand out instantly on crowded shelves. Brands are also embracing illustrated, hand-drawn styles and playful mascots to add personality and storytelling, blending craft-inspired artwork with modern, clean packaging layouts.

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Trends in dessert packagingJul 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates a 9% increase in new dessert launches between April 2025 and March 2026. Among these launches, 44% feature recyclable packaging claims, while compostable packaging claims are growing the fastest. At the same time, consumers say they prefer resealable packaging when purchasing desserts.

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Alison Rodwell, James Cropper
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James Cropper on how color shapes packaging stories

Alison Rodwell, technical specialist for Paper and Packaging at James Cropper, talks about how color helps packaging tell authentic brand stories on the shelf, balance technical consistency with cultural meaning, and create an unboxing experience for online shopping. She also discusses popular...

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UBQ Materials CEO on plastic alternatives in times of supply chain crisis
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RAWS scales biodegradable plastic additive to tackle packaging waste
Cheryl Caudill, Greif
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Interpack 2026: Greif on PPWR, barrier packaging and digital customer solutions
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