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Portugal launches DRS for beverage packaging amid glass exclusion concerns

Portugal has introduced its national DRS for beverage packaging. The system applies to single-use beverage containers of less than 3 L made of plastic, aluminum, and steel. However, environmental associations have expressed regret for the exclusion of glass. The system, branded Volta, is operated by non-profit packers’ association SDR Portugal and is powered by Sensoneo, a data-driven waste management solution provider. The system’s deposit value is €0.10 (US$0.12) per container.
Recycled packaging
Ampacet and Borealis tackle recycled content challenges in rigid plastic packaging
Regulatory pressure and circular economy goals are driving adoption, but challenges remain in scalability, consumer understanding, and infrastructure. The improvement of plastic packaging recyclability and recycling technologies, along with increased inclusion of recycled content in rigid plastic packaging, is vital to developing environmentally sustainable solutions for the sector, according to experts at Ampacet and Borealis. François Thibeau, strategic business manager for Flexibles, E&E, and Sustainability at Ampacet, tells Packaging Insights there are significant opportunities as well as challenges in the rigid plastic packaging space. 
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AI in packaging: Boosting efficiency and sustainability with simple algorithms
As packaging companies navigate the evolving technological landscape, there is potential to integrate AI to complement human workflows, while avoiding excessive computational complexity, according to creative technologist, designer, and chartered engineer Jude Pullen. Packaging Insights speaks to Pullen about his collaboration with product and service solutions provider RS Group and Nvidia to enhance efficiency in packaging production. He highlights that the partnership leverages minimal AI and focuses on a “lean and simple algorithm.” 
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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.
Heico Sandee, Smart Robotics, Automated Palletizing, Warehouse Automation, Empack 2026, Robotics, Food Production, E-commerce, Logistics Automation, Industrial Automation
Empack 2026 live: Smart Robotics on reducing manual labor with automation

At Empack 2026, we speak to Heico Sandee, co-CEO at Smart Robotics, about the company’s automated palletizing solutions, which aim to reduce unneeded manual labor and simplify complicated robotics. We also discussed market potential for warehouse automation, such as in food production and the e-commerce industry.

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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.

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EU-funded Aimplas project converts brewery waste into bioplastics for packaging
Aimplas Bio-based Bioplastics
Aimplas has transformed spent grains from brewery waste into high-performance bioplastics for packaging applications, including bottles and coatings for cups and trays. As part of the EU-funded BioSupPack project involving 18 partners, Aimplas has developed  polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA and PHB) materials that can serve as alternatives to fossil-based plastic and facilitate regulatory compliance. The project has received €7.6 million euros (US$8.9 million) from the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.
Aptar Closures partners with Cheer Pack North America to enhance leak-free...
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Aptar Closures has collaborated with Cheer Pack North America, a manufacturer of spouted flexible pouch and cap packaging, to provide a leak-free customer experience for Cheer Pack NA’s SqueezeNSip spout. Cheer Pack NA’s pouches use Aptar Closures’ patented Elastomeric Flow Control technology. The solution has been outfitted with SureSnap, a combination flow control valve and retaining ring that, after opening, enables dispensing and “reliably closes” upon release for clean product cutoff, according to the companies.
Retailers pilot DRS for foodservice packaging in Finland
Kesko reuse project
Kesko and S Group have joined nine companies to pilot a DRS for reusable takeaway containers in Espoo, Finland. As part of the pilot, customers at four stores in the city can choose a reusable container for takeaway food instead of a single-use one. The DRS project, branded Kiertis, sets out to examine how the circulation of reusable takeaway containers with a deposit will work in practice. It will consider whether reusable packaging is appealing to consumers, if it’s cost-efficient, and its environmental impact.
British Glass urges pause on pEPR over glass packaging penalties
woman glass shopping
British Glass has warned that the UK’s current packaging EPR (pEPR) undermines the glass sector by “distorting” material choices and encouraging the use of “less sustainable” packaging alternatives. In an evidence report sent to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), PackUK, HM Treasury, and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), British Glass suggests that the pEPR fee incentivizes packaging producers to switch from glass to plastic packaging. 
Plastic justice gap exposed as US recycling access favors wealthier...
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A study from the University at Buffalo (UB), US, found that communities with higher income levels and higher education attainment are more likely to recycle items such as soda bottles, takeout containers, and other plastic packaging. Meanwhile, less wealthy states report lower recycling rates, despite the similar amount of plastic waste generation.
GLP-1 medications accelerate frozen food’s shift toward nutrient-dense meals
Woman shops for frozen food.

Food Ingredients First

As GLP-1 weight loss medications grow in use and visibility, they are accelerating a broader shift in how consumers think about food — not just in terms of calories, but nutritional output per bite. This concern is beginning to reshape expectations across the F&B industry, particularly in categories built around convenience and portion control.
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Regulatory News
Packaging industry faces new digitalization compliance...
The EU Machinery Regulation was adopted in 2023 and will become mandatory on January 20, 2027. It introduces revisions to the Machinery Directive, which is currently in place, while aiming to continue the free movement of machinery in the single market and the protection of EU workers and citizens. “For packaging equipment manufacturers, the most significant change lies in the shift from a directive to a regulation, which removes national interpretation differences and creates a more uniform compliance framework across the EU,” Marcel Veenstra, Marketing and Communications manager at Sealpac International, tells Packaging Insights. 
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Packaging & Technology News
Empack 2026 preview: Industry to focus on automation,...
As Empack 2026 approaches in Gorinchem, the Netherlands (April 14–16), packaging experts are getting ready to showcase the industry’s latest innovations in banding, automation, and reduced plastic solutions. Visitors are invited to explore the booths of 247 exhibitors. As the largest packaging trade fair in the Benelux region, the trade show is also expected to address regulatory compliance and evolving supply chain challenges. 
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.

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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...

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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.

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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.

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Heico Sandee, Smart Robotics, Automated Palletizing, Warehouse Automation, Empack 2026, Robotics, Food Production, E-commerce, Logistics Automation, Industrial Automation
Video04:50
Empack 2026 live: Smart Robotics on reducing manual labor with automation

At Empack 2026, we speak to Heico Sandee, co-CEO at Smart Robotics, about the company’s automated palletizing solutions, which aim to reduce unneeded manual labor and simplify complicated robotics. We also discussed market potential for warehouse automation, such as in food production and the...

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste video thumbnail: Headshot of a man and recycling conveyor belt with plastic waste
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Alliance to End Plastic Waste tackles flexible recycling challenges
Restalk, Benjamin Cassou, Sustainable Packaging, Tree-Free Packaging, Farm Waste Materials, Circular Economy, Biodegradable Packaging, Green Materials, Packaging Innovation, Supply Chain Sustainabilit
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ReStalk CEO talks regional, tree-free packaging material production
Consumer Goods Forum video thumbnail: Plastic water bottles moving along a conveyor belt in a bottling facility, with an inset portrait of a bald man wearing glasses
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Scaling reuse initiatives and industry collaboration to reduce plastic waste
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