Royal Avebe promotional graphic for PerfectaFILM PFAS-free plant-based barrier coatings for fibre-based food packaging
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CalRecycle defends SB 54 amid opposing legal challenges

In the US, California’s SB 54 is swiftly becoming a battleground for industry and environmental stakeholders, who are at odds with the legislation, though for contrasting reasons. Signed into law in 2022 and approved by California's Office of Administrative Law in early May, The Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act establishes an EPR program in California. It aims to mitigate single-use plastic packaging waste and increase recycling and compostable packaging infrastructure. CalRecycle is the state agency responsible for SB 54’s implementation. 
hands dispensing soap from a black pump bottle onto a yellow sponge
Household refill packs go mainstream as convenience drives adoption
Refill systems are transitioning from a niche packaging choice to a household standard, as environmental regulations tighten and economic pressures shift consumer habits. Packaging Insights speaks to Procter & Gamble (P&G), ProAmpac, and Greiner Packaging about how their refill solutions aim to achieve sustainability by making it user-friendly.
Francesco Giannolo, VP for Commercial at Sonoco
Sonoco advances premium aluminum packaging for digital engagement and circularity
Aluminum packaging is evolving beyond product protection toward premium applications and improved circularity, as technological advances create new opportunities for consumer engagement and traceability, highlights Sonoco.Packaging Insights sits down with Francesco Giannolo, VP for Commercial at Sonoco Consumer Packaging EMEA and APAC, to discuss how aluminum packaging is evolving to meet the company’s sustainability and consumer engagement goals.What can you tell us about Sonoco’s latest aluminum solutions?
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Trends in dessert packaging
Innova Market Insights data indicates a 9% increase in new dessert launches between April 2025 and March 2026. Among these launches, 44% feature recyclable packaging claims, while compostable packaging claims are growing the fastest. At the same time, consumers say they prefer resealable packaging when purchasing desserts.
Constantia Flexibles technical paper on low carbon aluminum for CO2-reduced flexible packaging
Low Carbon Aluminum: Certified CO2-reduced option for flexible packaging
What if reducing your packaging footprint was this simple? This white paper reveals how Low Carbon Aluminum enables real emission reductions without sacrificing performance. Discover emission drivers, certified reduction pathways, and verified product carbon footprint data that help companies cut Scope 3 emissions while keeping processes unchanged and product protection intact.This Technical Paper is brought to you by Constantia Flexibles.
Jano Crema, Huhtamaki
Huhtamaki Australia calls for packaging regulatory reform to facilitate paper recycling

Limited waste sorting capacity and low end-market interest in recycled material pose key challenges to Australia's recycling industry, argues Jano Crema, sustainability and public relations manager at Huhtamaki Australia. He calls for regulatory reforms to strengthen paper recycling, emphasizing the reprocessability of fiber-based packaging. 

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Xaar appoints Colordyne as North American Versatex Printbar distributor
A printer on a flat surface
Xaar has named Colordyne Technologies as the official North American distributor for the Xaar Versatex Printbar, expanding access to digital embellishment and specialty print capability for label, packaging, and converting applications.Under the agreement, Colordyne will provide Versatex sales, service, and support across the region. The printbar expands Colordyne’s retrofit portfolio, helping converters looking to introduce digital capability to existing analog presses, finishing lines, and converting equipment.
The rise of refill: Cosmetics industry moves beyond disposability as...
refillable skincare options
The cosmetics industry is increasingly integrating sustainability into the bedrock of its packaging design, with refillable systems rising as a solution to mitigate single-use packaging pollution. At this year’s London Packaging Week (Sep 16–17), refillable solutions are poised to take center stage. Packaging companies like Amcor and Spectra Packaging, and personal care brands such as Paco Rabanne and Cahé Cosmétique, are presenting their latest innovations in the category. 
Inclusive packaging must survive full use cycle, accessibility advocate urges
man opens glass bottle with opener
The packaging industry is gradually designing for consumers with limited dexterity in mind, but innovation has mainly targeted primary closures, such as twist caps, squeeze bottles, and triggers. Adam Watson, founder of The Sanctuary, a US-based nonprofit focused on early-stage disability recovery, tells Packaging Insights that packaging must be accessible beyond the “first successful interaction” with a primary closure and continue throughout a product’s use. 
SalzburgMilch debuts SIG DomeMini aseptic cartons in Europe
SalzburgMilch launched milk products in SIG’s DomeMini
SalzburgMilch has launched milk products in SIG’s DomeMini on-the-go carton bottle, marking the first commercial use of SIG’s DomeMini 12 Aseptic filling line in Europe. 
EU clears Saica’s Thimm acquisition across four countries
Saica HQ
The European Commission (EC) has approved Saica Group’s full acquisition of Thimm, a corrugated cardboard packaging producer based in Northeim, Germany, under the EU Merger Regulation.  As part of the acquisition, Saica will gain ownership of nine factories in four countries, including four in Germany, two in Poland, one in Czechia, and one in Romania. The Spanish paper packaging provider will also take over Thimm’s preprint facility in Ilsenburg, Germany.
Protein under pressure: Solutions for rising whey costs
Rousselot booth at IFT FIRST 2026

Food Ingredients First

Whey demand is outpacing supply, pushing prices upward as consumer interest in protein continues to boom. As many as 80% of consumers said they “pay attention to protein” in their diet, according to a 2026 Innova Market Insights survey. Just over half said a “high in protein” claim was their most important consideration when choosing food and drinks as protein sources.
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Packaging team uses software for compliance
Packaging & Technology News
Packaging industry turns to data and technology for EPR...
EPRs targeting the packaging industry are taking shape globally and pushing companies to adopt a more data-oriented approach toward the environmental aspects of their business, according to experts across the industry. Packaging Insights interviews Recyda, a provider of software solutions for packaging regulation compliance, Constantia Flexibles, and packaging ink provider Flint Group, to explore the technological solutions packagers are turning to in order to ensure EPR compliance.    “Technology is becoming a key enabler in navigating regulatory requirements, particularly when it comes to data generation, traceability, and transparency,” says Thomas Schulz, VP of Group Marketing Communication at Constantia Flexibles. 
Pharma packaging factory workers
Policy & regulation news
Pharma packaging under PPWR: Safety and validation demands...
Despite certain exemptions for pharmaceutical packaging under the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), as the August 12 deadline approaches, manufacturers must begin testing recyclable, high-barrier materials now while balancing circularity goals with patient safety and regulatory compliance, according to industry experts. Packaging Insights speaks to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) about the upcoming regulatory requirements, and to pharmaceutical packaging providers ACG World, based in Mumbai, India, and Plastic Ingenuity, based in Wisconsin, US, about their evolving strategy to service clients in the EU. 
waste worker
Policy & regulation news
Ecosurety questions Defra’s delay to flexible plastic...
The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) intends to delay the local authorities’ mandatory collection of plastic films and flexible packaging from households and businesses in England from March 2027, as set out in the Simpler Recycling guidance, to April 1, 2030, according to multiple sources. While the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC), representing local government recycling authorities, has welcomed the postponement, Ecosurety, the UK’s packaging EPR compliance scheme, has expressed concern over the consequences of the delay.

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Household packaging trendsJul2026

Household product launches continue to rise as brands expand across cleaning, storage, and home care categories, with a 17% increase recorded between April 2021 and March 2026, according to data from ...

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Fiber-based circularity Jul 2026

Innova Market Insights has announced its Top Packaging Trends 2026, with “Substantiated Sustainability” taking top spot. Driven by stricter regulations, the trend highlights the need for verified environmental claims. Fiber-based and other sustainable packaging solutions must be supported by credible data, as consumers show a willingness to pay more for substantiated sustainability benefits.

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Trends in dessert packagingJul 2026

Innova Market Insights data indicates a 9% increase in new dessert launches between April 2025 and March 2026. Among these launches, 44% feature recyclable packaging claims, while compostable packaging claims are growing the fastest. At the same time, consumers say they prefer resealable packaging when purchasing desserts.

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Jano Crema, Huhtamaki
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Huhtamaki Australia calls for packaging regulatory reform to facilitate paper recycling

Limited waste sorting capacity and low end-market interest in recycled material pose key challenges to Australia's recycling industry, argues Jano Crema, sustainability and public relations manager at Huhtamaki Australia. He calls for regulatory reforms to strengthen paper...

Dr. Nick, British Glass
Video10:33
British Glass director: pEPR reforms key to glass circularity success
Anna Altner, Yangi
Video10:29
Yangi founder: Economic and regulatory uncertainty slow fiber packaging adoption
Alison Rodwell, James Cropper
Video09:10
James Cropper on how color shapes packaging stories
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