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.
tradeshow booth

Empack 2026 live: Fuji Packaging navigates PPWR and monomaterial challenges

The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) mandate on minimum free space requires a new approach to sealing, with greater focus on time, temperature, and product protection, says Peter Matel, general manager at Fuji Packaging Benelux. At Empack 2026 in Gorinchem, Netherlands (April 14–16), Matel tells Packaging Insights that switching to monomaterial PE and PP solutions, although aligned with regulations, can affect supply change and product flow. 
A child getting soap from a hand
Packaging sector advances accessibility through inclusive design
Packaging industry leaders and advocates are emphasizing that the concept of an “average” consumer does not account for the diverse needs of millions living with disabilities, chronic pain, or visual impairments. For these individuals, everyday tasks such as opening a bottle or identifying a product can be challenging.Packaging Insights speaks to Amcor, Tilt Beauty, and Etia about how inclusive design is moving from a niche “special project” to a core pillar of packaging innovation strategy.
A man smiling into the camera
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.” 
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.
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.

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
India tightens plastic waste rules to boost recycling and reuse
India packaging factory
The Government of India has officially notified the amendment of its Plastic Waste Management Rules. The update aims to facilitate circularity through the mandatory use of recycled plastic and reusable packaging.The notification released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change sets categories for recycled plastic use over a phased timeline.
Aptar Closures partners with Cheer Pack North America to enhance leak-free...
A close-up of a white and blue package
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.
Portugal launches DRS for beverage packaging amid glass exclusion concerns
A hand holding a voucher
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.
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.
Djazagro 2026: What’s driving innovation in North Africa’s F&B industry?
african woman reading food label in supermarket

Food Ingredients First

North Africa’s F&B industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by rising consumer demand for affordable products that blend taste with a healthier, more natural profile. This shift is propelling innovation in sugar reduction, natural colors and flavors, shelf life extension, and local adaptation.
Highlighted features
woman glass shopping
Regulatory News
British Glass urges pause on pEPR over glass packaging...
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. 
tradeshow floor
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.

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
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
Video08:36
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
Video08:49
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
Video14:00
Scaling reuse initiatives and industry collaboration to reduce plastic waste
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