Coveris banner promoting Packaging Innovations 2026, featuring recyclable packaging products and event details for 11–12 February at NEC Birmingham, Stand J114.
Can factory

Can Manufacturers Institute pushes for US tariff relief on metals amid rising prices

Tariffs and trade are the main obstacles currently facing the US can making industry, according to Pearce Crosland, the senior director of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs at the Can Manufacturers Institute, based in Washington DC.The Can Manufacturers Institute is the national trade association of the US metal can manufacturing industry and its suppliers, representing more than 28,000 employees. 
Innova Top Packaging Trends 2026.
Top Packaging Trends 2026: Navigating sustainability, digital innovation & consumer-centric design
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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Australia’s plastic recycling sector at “tipping point,” industry calls for reforms
A recent letter from the Australian recycling and packaging industry insists the current government “urgently” introduces packaging reforms or “risks the collapse” of Australia’s plastic recycling sector. The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) have called on the government to protect the country’s recycling industry following a commissioned report by Rennie Advisory. 
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Packaging Insights’ sweet spot: Confectionery picks
Confectionery launches showed a 2% year-over-year growth between October 2023 and September 2025, according to Innova Market Insights data. Nearly half of the launches occurred in flat pouches, and more than half were packaged in plastic. Meanwhile, launches featuring carbon labeling claims gained ground.
Christian Lyth, OnRobot
Packaging Innovations 2026: OnRobot showcases palletizing cobot and software for packagers

Christian Lyth, sales manager at OnRobot, discussed the company’s Stack Smart palletizing solution, which features palletizing software designed to meet the needs of the packaging 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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South Africa signals DRS introduction in draft national waste strategy
A person choosing beverage products in a shop
South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has unveiled the draft National Waste Management Strategy 2026, suggesting plans to introduce a DRS for underperforming EPR products or packaging streams.In a keynote address by Willie Aucamp, minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, at the Polyco 2026 Strategic Overview conference, the introduction of a DRS was acknowledged as strengthening accountability, incentivizing higher collection rates, and ensuring environmental benefits.
Yangi unveils dry-formed fiber tray for food packaging
fiber based trays
Yangi, a Sweden-based packaging provider, has launched a production-ready dry-formed fiber tray for meat, fish, deli, and ready meals. Behind the innovation is Cellera, the company’s dry-forming machine, which, according to Yangi, offers cost-competitive, and high-volume output with repeatable precision. The tray is made of renewable fibers and is PFAS-free, featuring a functional laminate applied selectively to high-demand applications. Recyclability depends on the selected laminate, while integrated fiber chemistry ensures the tray's desired outer properties. 
Quadpack launches wood-based range for cosmetics
wooden cosmetic packaging
Quadpack has created a collection of wooden beauty packaging for makeup products, highlighting the sensory appeal of the natural material. The BeautyWood 2026 collection features a “sumptuous, tactile finish” that aims to evoke an emotional connection with users. The cosmetic packaging is made from ash or maple wood sourced from sustainably managed European forests. The range includes refillable jars, lipsticks, and compacts that feature Quadpack’s Woodacity technology. 
US corporations warned over antitrust risks in circular packaging initiatives
man eating salad from paper-based tray
Nearly 80 corporations associated with the environmental groups the US Plastics Pact, The Consumer Goods Forum, and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, have been warned that continued participation in these initiatives could expose them to antitrust liability. These US-based environmental groups focus on promoting a circular economy and reducing the environmental impact of packaging and plastic. They often work with FMCG manufacturers and retailers to design packaging using non-plastic materials and enhance recycling schemes. 
Multinational beverage giants behind Nigeria’s plastic waste crisis, audit finds
A child standing next to a pile of garbage
A recent audit has identified multinational beverage companies and single-use plastic producers as the largest contributors to Nigeria’s plastic packaging pollution. The audit, conducted across eight Nigerian cities by Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) and Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), identified Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Rite Foods, CWAY Group, and several local table-water producers as major contributors of plastic packaging waste.
Flavor-forward: ADM unveils key culinary trends transforming F&B innovation
male chef decorating steak with rosemary leaf in kitchen

Food Ingredients First

ADM has outlined how F&B manufacturers can advance flavor innovation in its 2026 Global Culinary Trends report — highlighting how “Third Culture Cuisine,” values-driven purchasing, GLP-1-influenced eating behaviors, and the growing demand for immersive dining experiences are reinventing innovation processes.
Highlighted features
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.
Person recycles can
Packaging & Technology News
Europe hits record aluminum can recycling rate, industry...
The overall recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans in the EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland reached a record high of 76.3% in 2023, according to a new report by European Aluminium and Metal Packaging Europe. “The increase was primarily driven by the continued rollout and strong performance of well-designed DRSs,” Andy Doran, director of packaging group at European Aluminium, tells Packaging Insights. 
people working at studio
Packaging & Technology News
Metsä Board opens AI-powered packaging design studio in...
Metsä Board is set to open a new Packaging Design Studio in Milan, Italy, in mid-2026, aiming to strengthen collaboration with European brands, converters, and packaging developers. The studio will be equipped with tools and AI support technology to aid workshops and co-creation in projects where sustainability targets, performance requirements, or regulatory changes “drive the need for new solutions.” 

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Fresh produce packs reinventedFeb2026

Innova Market Insights data reveals that consumers increasingly prioritize packaging that preserves freshness when cooking at home. This preference drives brands to innovate in fresh fruit and vegetab...

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Valentine’s Day food packaging Feb 2026

According to Innova Market Insights data, food product packaging launches for Valentine’s Day recorded a 14% CAGR between October 2020 and September 2025. Confectionery accounted for more than two-thirds of these launches. Nearly half were packed in folded boxes, and 71% in plastic.

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Packaging Insights’ sweet spot: Confectionery picksFeb 2026

Confectionery launches showed a 2% year-over-year growth between October 2023 and September 2025, according to Innova Market Insights data. Nearly half of the launches occurred in flat pouches, and more than half were packaged in plastic. Meanwhile, launches featuring carbon labeling claims gained ground.

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Christian Lyth, OnRobot
Video03:00
Packaging Innovations 2026: OnRobot showcases palletizing cobot and software for packagers

Christian Lyth, sales manager at OnRobot, discussed the company’s Stack Smart palletizing solution, which features palletizing software designed to meet the needs of the packaging industry.

Wendy Lam, EzyGreenPak 
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Packaging Innovations 2026: EzyGreenPak showcases water-soluble, plant-based material
Packaging Innovations 2026: Metpack Thumbnail
Video06:09
Packaging Innovations 2026: Metpack VP talks compostables for US & EU markets
Packaging Innovations 2026: Sun Chemical Thumbnail
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Packaging Innovations 2026: Sun Chemical packaging director on latest printing tech
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