Coveris banner promoting Packaging Innovations 2026, featuring recyclable packaging products and event details for 11–12 February at NEC Birmingham, Stand J114.
Henkel acquires Stahl for €2.1B to expand specialty coatings portfolio
Henkel acquires Stahl for €2.1B to expand specialty coatings portfolio
Henkel has purchased the Dutch Stahl Group for €2.1 billion (US$2.5 billion) from the majority owner, Wendel SE, a French investment firm. Through the acquisition, Henkel gains access to Stahl’s high-performance specialty coatings for flexible materials used in packaging. Stahl’s portfolio includes leather finishing coatings, performance coatings, as well as high-performance paper packaging and graphics coatings. 
E-commerce packaging: Industry balances costs, personalization & regulations
E-commerce packaging: Industry balances costs, personalization & regulations
The future of e-commerce will be about efficiency and adaptation: using less, designing better, and delivering packaging that works harder across multiple channels, while meeting increasingly demanding sustainability and regulatory expectations. We interview packaging experts at International Paper (IP) and Smurfit Westrock to hear more about how the industry giants integrate sustainability, respond to on-demand systems, and address sudden demand spikes. In the years ahead, regulation and sustainability will be the biggest drivers of change in e-commerce packaging, Arco Berkenbosch, chief innovation officer at Smurfit Westrock, tells Packaging Insights. 
Xaar advances accessible packaging with digital inkjet braille printing tech
Xaar advances accessible packaging with digital inkjet braille printing tech
Xaar, an inkjet printing technology group, has published a whitepaper exploring how digital inkjet technology can enable effective braille printing for accessible packaging, as legislation, brand expectations, and consumer needs increasingly align. Packaging Insights sits down with Tom Mooney, product manager, Versatex Printbar at Xaar, to discuss how printing technologies can support accessible packaging, which has become an “essential part of the brand experience.”
Packaging Insights’ sweet spot: Confectionery picks
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.
ISM & ProSweets 2026 live: Papacks reveals next-gen molded fiber packaging
ISM & ProSweets 2026 live: Papacks reveals next-gen molded fiber packaging
At ISM & ProSweets 2026, Papacks showcases how recyclable, food-safe molded fiber packaging is shaping the future of confectionery. Manuel Leibrock, the company’s chief marketing officer, tells us how Papacks helps brands achieve sustainable design, premium presentation, and efficient production. 
Packaging industry 2025: Most read stories
Packaging industry 2025: Most read stories
In 2025, packaging faced tightening regulations, rising scrutiny over environmental claims, and accelerated digitalization, with the integration of AI and connected platforms gaining traction. Meanwhile, cost pressures, consumer priorities, and legal risk led some major brands to scale back or rethink sustainability targets. We look back at the year’s top read stories.

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Zero Waste Europe urges toxic-chemical controls under EU Circular Economy Act
Zero Waste Europe urges toxic-chemical controls under EU Circular Economy Act
A recent report by Zero Waste Europe has urged the EU’s upcoming Circular Economy Act (CEA) to regulate, trace, and increase transparency in the production and supply chains of products, including packaging, featuring toxic chemicals harmful to human health. 
Foundation Investment Partners acquires Paper Converters to scale offerings
Foundation Investment Partners acquires Paper Converters to scale offerings
Foundation Investment Partners (FIP) has obtained Paper Converters, a manufacturer of spiral wound paper tubes, edge board, and sheeting. The acquisition was operated through FIP’s platform company Sustainable Packaging.According to Paper Converters, all of its products are fully biodegradable and recyclable. 
Yale study: Biodegradable plastics cut waste but risk higher emissions
Yale study: Biodegradable plastics cut waste but risk higher emissions
A study conducted by Yale University, US, shows that biodegradable plastic has the potential to reduce packaging waste but warns that, without proper composting facilities, biodegradables could double GHG emissions. Published in Nature Reviews Clean Technology, the research is said to be the first to project the environmental impact of biodegradable plastics through their entire lifecycle at a global scale. 
Ball brings premium aluminum packaging to dairy drinks
Ball brings premium aluminum packaging to dairy drinks
The Ball Corporation has supplied Münsterland J. Lülf with aluminum 250 mL cans in slim format for its special edition flavored milks featuring characters from the new SpongeBob SquarePants film. Ball says the launch highlights its “strength in combining premium design with compelling on-pack storytelling — turning each can into a canvas that connects brands with consumers.”
Eco-Products brings reusable and compostable packaging to the UK
Eco-Products brings reusable and compostable packaging to the UK
Eco-Products has launched its portfolio of reusable, recyclable, and compostable packaging in the UK. The solutions are set to be available through UK-based Vegware, a sister company.The company has been building a customer base across the EU with a growing portfolio of compostable, recyclable, and reusable packaging. The Eco-Products UK portfolio now offers reusables, including the new Veda, which are durable products designed for closed-loop reuse systems.
Fruit Logistica 2026: How the fresh produce sector is tackling climate and...
Fruit Logistica 2026: How the fresh produce sector is tackling climate and consumer pressures

Food Ingredients First

The global fresh produce market is transforming, shaped by mounting climate pressures, shifting consumer expectations, and the need for greater supply chain resilience. As fruits and vegetables remain central to health-driven diets worldwide, producers face challenges balancing quality and sustainability with innovation, as value-added applications become the sector’s defining features.
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New Product Development
Paris Packaging Week 2026: Luxury refill and customization...
As Paris Packaging Week (February 5–6) approaches, packaging experts are getting ready to showcase the latest luxury innovations for cosmetic and beauty products. This year, balancing eco-conscious design with luxury and customizable solutions is taking center stage.
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Packaging & Technology News
Packaging Innovations 2026 preview: Industry responds to...
As Packaging Innovations 2026 in Birmingham, UK, approaches, packaging experts are gearing up to showcase solutions addressing regulatory change, functionality, and data-driven transformation.Packaging Insights catches up with representatives from ATS-Tanner, Ecosurety, PakTech, and Tipa to explore the topics expected to dominate discussion at the trade show, and how exhibitors plan to drive these conversations forward.
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Packaging & Technology News
January in review: International Paper split, Tetra Pak...
Last month, International Paper (IP) announced plans to split into two regional, publicly traded companies. Tetra Pak updated its aseptic beverage cartons and invested €60 million (US$71 million) in a new pilot plant in Sweden. In legal news, Heineken Netherlands was fined €1.5 million (US$1.6 million) for selling beer cans without the mandatory deposit symbol and in Texas, US, Procter & Gamble (P&G) agreed to change the packaging of its Kid’s Crest toothpaste to accurately depict the correct amount of toothpaste needed for children. 

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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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ISM & ProSweets 2026 live: Papacks reveals next-gen molded fiber packaging

At ISM & ProSweets 2026, Papacks showcases how recyclable, food-safe molded fiber packaging is shaping the future of confectionery. Manuel Leibrock, the company’s chief marketing officer, tells us how Papacks helps brands achieve sustainable design, premium presentation, and efficient...

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MD&M West live: Plastic Ingenuity talks sustainable thermoforming tech
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Duni Group expands reuse systems as regulatory support increases
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NakedPak advances edible packaging tech to cut plastic waste
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