Cryovac VPP MonoPro recyclable packaging banner highlighting 79% less plastic weight than traditional PP buckets.
A flexographic press producing printed packaging labels at SZKAYU Packaging's manufacturing facility in China.

China’s flexible packaging market balances recyclability, barrier & production demands

In China’s flexible packaging market, brands and converters are balancing material reduction and monomaterial demands with strict barrier performance, cost constraints, and high-speed production realities. Zhengsen Luo, director at Szkayu Packaging, a China-based manufacturer of custom flexible packaging, printed rollstock, and labels, explains that bridging the gap between recyclability and commercial viability requires connecting material science and digital prepress early in product development.
Woman refills reusable packaging
Refill systems advance amid demand for convenience and material reduction
Eco-conscious consumers are growing accustomed to refillable packaging, but as brands face ever more rigorous regulations, suppliers have to break new ground. Packaging Insights speaks to Amcor, Coveris, and SP Group to better understand how their refill solutions are helping clients reduce packaging weight, introduce recycled content, and push for recyclability. “Demand for refillable and reusable packaging continues to grow, driven by a combination of consumer preferences, sustainability objectives, and evolving regulation,” Ellen Seyda, director of Sustainability for Rigid Packaging Solutions International at Amcor, tells us. 
Black and white picture of a woman
FlavorCloud CEO: Global e-commerce sellers redesign packaging to comply with PPWR
Packaging compliance will evolve from a largely documentation-led obligation into a measurable design and data discipline, says Rathna Sharad, CEO at FlavorCloud. Global sellers are increasingly rethinking packaging systems to meet evolving EU regulations while reducing waste, costs, and environmental impacts. 
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Trends in snack pack launches
Innova Market Insights data indicates that snack launches grew at a +8% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026. Flat pouches accounted for 50% of these launches, aligning with consumer preferences for purchasing salty snacks in pouches. Cup packaging formats showed the fastest growth, while plastic was the dominant packaging material.
Bricspack dual-head non-stop sleeve labeling machine for 36,000 BPH production
Dual-head Redundancy Non-Stop Sleeve Labeling by Bricspack
Bricspack’s dual-head redundancy system enables non-stop sleeve labeling without film splicing. Two independent sleeving heads, dual mandrels, and cutter systems provide hot-standby switching, while intelligent bottle-tracking and closed-loop compensation reduce omissions and defects. Validated at 36,000 BPH, the solution simplifies maintenance, improves fault tolerance, and significantly lowers total ownership costs.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Shanghai Bricspack.
Portrait of a woman in a circular frame beside a pile of colorful discarded plastic bottles for recycling.
Industrial Physics underscores pack testing as rPET and lightweighting reshape performance

Natalia Ciesla, strategic segment manager at Industrial Physics, talks to us about how recycled PET (rPET) content and lightweighting are impacting bottle performance requirements. She discusses how testing can validate changes at production scale, and how quality assurance may evolve alongside sustainability targets.

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Mondelēz and PepsiCo trial digital watermarks to improve flexible packaging...
shopper compares labels in a supermarket
Mondelēz International, PepsiCo, and Constantia Flexibles are trialing invisible digital watermarks through the HolyGrail 2030 consortium to help identify and sort flexible packaging for food-grade mechanical recycling in Belgium. Digital watermarks on wrapper, films, and other plastic food packaging collected by Belgium’s local recycling systems aim to help recognize packaging that has been in contact with food, which can complicate recycling processes. 
Stahl reimagines tactile coatings for premium packaging experiences
Packaging with Stahl's coating
Stahl, a Henkel company, has updated its Sensora portfolio of specialty coatings for flexibles, paper and board, along with narrow web materials, designed to offer a “premium” tactile packaging experience. Sensora is suitable for food and non-food applications, including folding cartons, labels, flexible food packaging, cosmetics, technology products, and luxury goods, according to the global provider of specialty coatings.
Aesop debuts fragrance and refreshed packaging with heritage-inspired design
glass fragrance bottle in smoky background with pine branch
Aesop, a L’Oréal brand, has redesigned its fragrance bottle alongside the launch of a new fragrance, Unforeseen Aer. The redesign features a taller, slimmer amber glass bottle with a domed base and a basalt-textured cap. It maintains Aesop’s minimalist aesthetics but aims to “exist harmoniously within retail spaces alongside the rest of our formulations,” says Aï Kato, Aesop’s creative director. 
US House subcommittee advances Pack Act to standardize claims
Woman checks claims
A US House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce subcommittee has advanced H.R. 6832, the Packaging and Claims Knowledge (Pack) Act, on September 1, 2026. The Pack Act aims to establish a national framework for recyclable, compostable, and reusable packaging claims. “The Pack Act codifies existing federal guidelines on how to label packaging, giving the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce the law under existing consumer protection statutes,” Lynn Dyer, president of the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN), tells Packaging Insights.
Researchers convert microplastics into UV-protective food packaging films
A person putting film over a bowl of fresh fruit
A research team at Saitama University, Japan, has developed a method to transform polyamide microplastic waste into high-value fluorescent nanomaterials to protect UV-sensitive fresh produce. The study, published in Materials Research Bulletin, has examined the synthesis of defect-engineered carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and their incorporation into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films as a potential approach to addressing plastic waste.
Kerry and Cosun Ingredients target Indonesia’s biotics market amid live culture...
A woman shops at a supermarket in Indonesia.

Food Ingredients First

Indonesia’s food and drug agency (BPOM) and the country’s Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) has cleared a probiotic ingredient for on-pack “Live Culture” claims, and a national halal certification mandate which lands in October are opening the doors for innovation at the upcoming Fi Asia 2026 trade show in Jakarta, Indonesia (September 16–18).
Highlighted features
Bricspack dual-head non-stop sleeve labeling machine for 36,000 BPH production
Technical paper
Dual-head Redundancy Non-Stop Sleeve Labeling by Bricspack
Bricspack’s dual-head redundancy system enables non-stop sleeve labeling without film splicing. Two independent sleeving heads, dual mandrels, and cutter systems provide hot-standby switching, while intelligent bottle-tracking and closed-loop compensation reduce omissions and defects. Validated at 36,000 BPH, the solution simplifies maintenance, improves fault tolerance, and significantly lowers total ownership costs.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Shanghai Bricspack.
workers examining something in warehouse
Packaging & Technology News
EU packaging rules impact 93% of UK manufacturers and...
Recent research has found that 93% of surveyed manufacturers and suppliers in the UK have been affected or expect to be affected by the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The research, conducted by Sapio Research on behalf of Advanced Supply Chain, a UK-based international logistics and supply-chain services company, surveyed 200 British businesses, revealing that many are rethinking packaging design to comply with the regulation, which began applying earlier this month. 
Peak Nano nanolayer film technology using the same polymers
Technical paper
Engineering New Film Capabilities Through Nanolayer...
Peak Nano’s nanolayering technology engineers commercially available polymers into high-performance films using existing extrusion equipment. By creating nanoscale layers as thin as 25 nanometers, the technology can improve barrier performance, toughness and recyclability while reducing costly materials and tie layers—accelerating next-generation packaging development without waiting for new polymer chemistry.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Peak Nano.

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Nutrition packaging formatsAug2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that as consumers increasingly incorporate supplements and sports nutrition into their daily routines, product launches continue to grow, driving innovation in nu...

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Product innovation

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Refillable system upgrades Sep 2026

According to data from Innova Market Insights, consumers are interested in refillable packaging solutions, with 23% of consumers globally even willing to pay more for refillable packaging. New product launches show that refillable packaging is most often used in seasonings and water products.

Trend analysis

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Trends in snack pack launchesSep 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates that snack launches grew at a +8% CAGR from July 2021 to June 2026. Flat pouches accounted for 50% of these launches, aligning with consumer preferences for purchasing salty snacks in pouches. Cup packaging formats showed the fastest growth, while plastic was the dominant packaging material.

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Portrait of a woman in a circular frame beside a pile of colorful discarded plastic bottles for recycling.
Video14:49
Industrial Physics underscores pack testing as rPET and lightweighting reshape performance

Natalia Ciesla, strategic segment manager at Industrial Physics, talks to us about how recycled PET (rPET) content and lightweighting are impacting bottle performance requirements. She discusses how testing can validate changes at production scale, and how quality assurance may evolve alongside...

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Yangi scales dry-forming fiber technology for plastic MAP food tray replacement
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Video04:40
Smart Robotics showcases AI-driven Smart Palletizer 2.0
ProAmpac video thumbnail: Man standing beside sustainable product packaging displays, including chocolate nutraceutical protein powder and dried mang
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ProAmpac spotlights fiber-based flexibles and active moisture technology
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