Banner ad with blue background reading “Discover Tetra Recart – the package that can have a positive impact on your business,” featuring a Learn more button, carton illustrations, and Tetra Pak logo.
A cell phone with a logo on it

Indovida and EPL merge in multi-billion deal to boost global and emerging market reach

EPL, a flexible packaging solution provider backed by Blackstone, and Indovida, Indorama Ventures’ rigid packaging division, have signed definitive agreements for a merger.The merger will create a US$1 billion revenue entity and a combined valuation of approximately US$2 billion, with EPL being valued at around US$1.2 billion and Indovida India at approximately US$0.7 billion.
Woman looking at carton packaging in store.
Industry advances packaging solutions as “renewables do not mean compromise”
The biggest barrier to renewable packaging adoption is not the materials themselves, but the systems and infrastructure around them, according to Benjamin Cassou, co-founder and CEO at ReStalk. Stefan Mergel, head of Sustainability at SIG, says that the real roadblock — when considering a switch to more eco-friendly packaging — is not the lack of ambition but rather the lack of solutions that work here and now, and without trade-offs like loss of speed and efficiency in production. We sit down with ReStalk and SIG to explore how the packaging industry can accelerate renewable material adoption. 
Gabriel Magdaleno
Masterpress navigates EU regulations to advance sustainable packaging
One of the main barriers to packaging innovation and industry collaboration is the lack of clarity on design-for-recycling guidelines in the EU, according to Gabriel Magdaleno, strategic product management and marketing director at Masterpress. This regulatory uncertainty poses challenges for supply chain actors, making it difficult to confidently invest in new materials or technologies. We sit down with Magdaleno to discuss how Masterpress supports the industry in bridging the gap between brand owners and the market as they transition toward more environmentally sustainable packaging. 
Image
Eco-forward rigid plastic
As consumer concern around sustainability grows, the use of more eco-forward rigid materials is increasing. This is reflected in a rising number of F&B launches using more sustainable rigid packaging, particularly recyclable plastic. Most of these launches are concentrated in Europe.
Aicomp Summit 2026 Domino Printing Sciences video thumbnail: Business professionals seated in a conference, focused on a presentation, with an inset portrait of a smiling older man in a suit
Aicomp Summit 2026: Domino Printing Sciences on data integration in packaging

Lee Metters, group business development director at Domino Printing Sciences, discussed data integration and digitalization in packaging, highlighting traceability, real-time product information, and regulatory compliance. He said healthcare, pharma, and retail sectors are driving demand for advanced printing.

Image
Packaging Innovations 2026 review: Data, design & regulations drive circularity
Packaging Innovations 2026 in Birmingham, UK, welcomed 450 exhibitors showcasing circular packaging design. As the industry adapts to the UK’s packaging EPR and DRS launch, suppliers presented solutions catering to these regulatory shifts. Highlights included recycle-ready monomaterial solutions, compostable packaging and labels, and AI-assisted recyclability data analytics.

Latest headlines

View more
South Africa’s paper recycling climbs but industry calls for better practices
teacher shows children how to recycle paper
The Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) has announced that the country reached a 63.3% paper recycling rate in 2025, but notes that wider consumer awareness is needed to bolster recycling rates. Up from 60% in 2024, the latest figure was a result of national and regional collection systems, highlighting the importance of small recycling businesses, schools, and informal waste pickers. 
Tetra Pak expands F&B packaging capabilities at Texas headquarters
Tetra Pak Texas
Tetra Pak is upgrading its Product Development Center (PDC) at its US and Canada headquarters in Denton, Texas. With the investment, the global food packaging and processing company aims to support F&B brands in creating, formulating, launching, and scaling innovative products.“Innovation is key to our customers’ success and today’s groundbreaking represents our continued commitment to helping brands move faster from concept to consumer,” says Seth Teply, president and CEO at Tetra Pak US and Canada.
Empack 2026: Topa to present data-driven and monomaterial packaging solutions
fiber
Topa is set to showcase its fiber-based and monomaterial packaging solutions at this year’s Empack, in Gorinchem, Netherlands (April 14–16). It will also highlight the importance of data-driven and reusable offerings. “[At Empack] we will be translating the most important industry trends into your day-to-day operations,” says the Netherlands-based packaging provider. 
Industry warns EC guidance on PPWR compliance does not address PFAS and...
Packaging factory worker
The European Commission (EC) has published a new guidance document to support the implementation of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to simplify compliance for economic actors and member states. However, industry stakeholders note the guidance does not sufficiently address recycling rules and PFAS compliance for investment decisions. The EC’s guidance document aims to “clarify rules where the PPWR needs further interpretation and areas where stakeholders have requested assistance,” such as when a company is considered a manufacturer or producer, as well as which items are considered packaging under the PPWR.
Taiwan’s plastic packaging shortage sparks Costco purchase limits
A person holding a plastic bag of fish
The prolonged disruption of the Strait of Hormuz amid the war involving Iran has constrained shipments of crude oil and naphtha to Taiwan, creating uncertainty for the island’s plastics packaging supply chain. In response to feedstock delivery delays caused by shipping disruptions in the Middle East, Taiwan’s Formosa Petrochemical Corporation has declared force majeure on select petrochemical supplies. These include ethylene and propylene, with the company announcing production cuts and suspending new orders. 
Easter chocolate innovation gets ambitious despite cocoa market challenges
Cadbury Creme Eggs and other Easter goodies on a grocery store shelf.

Food Ingredients First

For a category built on tradition, Easter chocolate is evolving in new and dynamic ways. The familiar hollow egg remains, but it now sits alongside a growing mix of filled, layered, and hybrid formats, as well as multipacks and cross-category creations. Texture has become the defining driver of Easter innovation in 2026, with brands layering crunch, creaminess, and inclusions to deliver more complex, multi-sensory experiences.
Highlighted features
Meat packaging check
Packaging & Technology News
Zero Waste Day 2026: Avery Dennison spotlights smart...
Avery Dennison is marking the UN’s International Day of Zero Waste (March 30) with a report revealing how limited inventory control is contributing to “record levels” of meat loss. We catch up with a company spokesperson to find out how connected packaging can help tackle food waste.“Packaging innovation is at the heart of the solution to food waste, but it is most effective when combined with better forecasting and stronger supply chain management,” a spokesperson at Avery Dennison tells Packaging Insights. 
man inspecting glass bottle line
Packaging & Technology News
Gas shortages drive glass bottle price increases in India
Brewers in India have warned of glass bottle and aluminum can price increases due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as disruptions to the supply of natural gas and shipping delay imports. The Brewers Association of India, which represents Heineken, Anheuser-Busch, and Carlsberg, says that glass bottle prices have surged around 20%. Moreover, paper carton rates have doubled, as well as other packaging materials such as labels and tape. 
Innova Top Packaging Trends 2026.
Special report
Top Packaging Trends 2026: Navigating sustainability,...
Innova Market Insights has announced its Top Packaging Trends 2026, with “Substantiated Sustainability” taking top spot. This trend emphasizes the need for verified environmental claims, driven by stricter regulations, such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging but are wary of greenwashing, meaning brands must back sustainability claims with scientific evidence. The second trend, “Digital-Enhanced Designs,” highlights the growing role of digital technologies like AI, augmented reality, and QR codes in packaging. These innovations improve consumer engagement and product traceability, while digital product passports offer detailed lifecycle data.

Packaging focus

View more
Image

Renewable rebellionApr2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates stable growth in F&B launches featuring “renewable packaging” claims between 2021 and 2025. Carton was the most commonly used packaging material, and launches...

Brought to you by:

Innova Market Insights

Product innovation

View more
Image

Packaging for Easter treats Apr 2026

Innova Market Insights data highlights rising momentum in Easter-related F&B packaging launches, with an average annual growth of 11% between 2021 and 2025. Brands are increasingly leveraging seasonal packaging to capture consumer attention, introducing playful shapes, innovative formats, and limited-edition designs. Colorful eggs, bunnies, and spring motifs continue to define F&B packaging design during the festive period.

Trend analysis

View more
Image

Eco-forward rigid plasticApr 2026

As consumer concern around sustainability grows, the use of more eco-forward rigid materials is increasing. This is reflected in a rising number of F&B launches using more sustainable rigid packaging, particularly recyclable plastic. Most of these launches are concentrated in Europe.

Multimedia

View more
Aicomp Summit 2026 Domino Printing Sciences video thumbnail: Business professionals seated in a conference, focused on a presentation, with an inset portrait of a smiling older man in a suit
Video04:50
Aicomp Summit 2026: Domino Printing Sciences on data integration in packaging

Lee Metters, group business development director at Domino Printing Sciences, discussed data integration and digitalization in packaging, highlighting traceability, real-time product information, and regulatory compliance. He said healthcare, pharma, and retail sectors are driving demand for...

Christian Jung, T.CON, Aicomp Summit 2026, Product Planning Software, Packaging Industry, Production Planning, Packaging Facilities, Automation, Machinery & Automation, Industrial Software
Video06:33
Aicomp Summit 2026: T.CON discusses product planning software for packagers
Image
Video04:01
Aicomp Summit 2026: Stratasys talks industrial 3D printing in packaging 
Image
Video05:09
Aicomp Summit 2026: X-IT chief outlines solutions for PPWR compliance
Subscribe to our newsletters
PlatformsFood Ingredients FirstNutrition InsightPackaging InsightsPersonal Care InsightsThe World of Food Ingredients
About usContact usAdvertisingPrivacy statementSitemapArchive
Follow us
linkedinrss_headergoogle_news
Image