Aptar has appointed Virginie Maes as President of Aptar Pharma, effective 1 January 2027. Maes joins from Amcor, where she led the Flexibles Pharma and Medical packaging business across North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia.
Why this mattersAptar Pharma will be led by an executive recruited from Amcor's pharma and medical flexibles business, bringing in leadership from a rival healthcare packaging supplier.
- Virginie Maes becomes President of Aptar Pharma effective 1 January 2027
- She joins from Amcor, where she led global Flexibles Pharma and Medical packaging
- Earlier career includes McKinsey & Company, Terra Firma Capital Partners and Morgan Stanley
- Appointment announced by Aptar CEO Gael Touya on 22 October 2026
California's SB 343 truth-in-labelling law, which restricts use of recyclability symbols such as the chasing arrows, applies to products and packaging made after 4 October 2026, according to CalRecycle. A preliminary injunction granted in July suspended most enforcement, but companies that do not comply remain exposed to private lawsuits. Amcor says the resulting uncertainty is stalling moves to formats such as paper-based flexible packaging, while How2Recycle is continuing to prepare for compliance.
Why this mattersUnresolved recyclability-claim rules leave US converters exposed to private litigation and are holding back commitments to new recyclable formats such as paper-based flexibles.
- SB 343 restrictions on recyclability claims apply to products and packaging made after 4 October 2026, according to CalRecycle
- A preliminary injunction granted in July 2026 suspended most enforcement, but private lawsuits against non-compliant companies remain possible
- Under SB 343, a material may be called recyclable only if it is collected by programmes covering at least 60 per cent of California's population and sorted at facilities serving at least 60 per cent of state recycling programmes
- Recyclability determinations under SB 343 also feed into the extended producer responsibility programme created by SB 54 of 2022
- Sarah Paleg, sustainability director at Amcor's flexible packaging division, says the law has added a new level of substantiation and is stalling shifts to formats such as paper flexibles
- How2Recycle processed about 35,000 label requests this year as users migrated to How2Recycle Pro, with requests up 29 per cent year on year
Dow and Amcor have agreed a strategic collaboration pairing Dow's low-carbon polyethylene and resin research with Amcor's flexible packaging manufacturing and brand-customer network. The partnership targets food and personal care flexible packaging, covering material-packaging co-development, supply-chain integration and standardised carbon-footprint data for customers' ESG reporting. The two companies previously co-developed a mono-material all-PE recyclable toothpaste tube as a pilot project.
Why this mattersA materials-converter alliance aimed at scaling low-carbon mono-material flexible packaging could help brand owners meet Scope 3 and PPWR-driven recyclability targets at lower cost.
- Dow and Amcor have agreed a strategic collaboration on low-carbon packaging, reported on 12 October 2026.
- The partnership focuses on flexible packaging for food and personal care.
- Work covers low-carbon resin and packaging co-development, early involvement of value-chain partners, and verified carbon-footprint data for customers' reporting.
- The two companies previously co-developed an all-PE recyclable toothpaste tube.
- No investment amount, capacity figure or implementation date was disclosed.
Amcor has inaugurated a new lacquering line at its Froges site in the French Alps, replacing equipment installed in 1974, following an investment of several million euros. The line, described by the company as the fastest in its network for lacquering aluminium foil used in cheese portion packaging, also enables closed-loop solvent capture and recovery and direct printing on foil. The Froges plant employs 150 people and supplies cheese packaging largely for markets in Africa and the Middle East.
Why this mattersA faster line with closed-loop solvent recovery lifts Amcor's foil output for cheese portion packs supplied largely to Africa and the Middle East.
- Investment of several million euros in a new lacquering line at Amcor's Froges site, France
- Line replaces lacquering equipment installed in 1974
- Described as the fastest aluminium foil lacquering line in Amcor's network
- New equipment enables closed-loop solvent capture, recovery and reuse, plus direct printing on foil
- Froges employs 150 staff and sits alongside Amcor's Sarrebourg (France) and Teningen (Germany) sites
- About 80% of Froges output supplies cheese portion packaging for Africa and the Middle East
- Froges has operated for more than 100 years and specialises in varnishes and thin aluminium foil lacquering for cheese packaging.
- A separate account of the investment cites Froges headcount at approximately 125, against 150 cited elsewhere.
Atedia Films, the former Amcor site in Dax, France, inaugurates on 6 October 2026 a new seven-layer coextrusion line built with a EUR 2.5m investment. The line produces up to 450 kg of technical film per hour, serving the aerospace, animal feed and food-contact flexible packaging markets.
Why this mattersA former Amcor site adds seven-layer barrier film output of 450 kg per hour, serving aerospace, feed and food-contact flexibles as an independent converter.
- Investment of EUR 2.5m (USD 2.8m) in the new line
- Line produces up to 450 kg of film per hour
- Film web rises 16.5 metres on the new coextrusion tower
- Inauguration held on 6 October 2026 for customers and partners
- Site became independent in 2024 after over 50 years inside larger groups, most recently Amcor
- Dax site produced about 12,000 tonnes of film annually under Amcor ownership
Amcor divested five non-core businesses representing about USD 500m in annual revenue during FY26, its first full financial year after combining with Berry Global. The group's annual report shows flexible packaging at 55 per cent of sales, or USD 12.8bn, against 45 per cent, or USD 10.7bn, for rigid packaging. New business wins in the year reached roughly half of the USD 280m three-year revenue synergy target.
Why this mattersThe near-even split between flexible and rigid packaging gives Amcor more scope to cross-sell across healthcare, nutrition and beauty customers than either standalone business had.
- Amcor divested five non-core businesses in FY26, representing about USD 500m in annual revenue
- Flexible packaging generated 55 per cent of FY26 group sales, or USD 12.8bn
- Rigid packaging, including containers, closures and dispensing systems, generated 45 per cent, or USD 10.7bn
- New business wins during FY26 reached roughly half of Amcor's USD 280m three-year revenue synergy target
- North America contributed 50 per cent of group sales, Western Europe 29 per cent and emerging markets 19 per cent
- Amcor reports annual R&D investment of about USD 170m across ten innovation centres
Amcor's board has elected Tom Long, an independent non-executive director since 2017 and former MillerCoors chief executive, as its next chairman. He succeeds Graeme Liebelt, who steps down at the annual general meeting on 11 November 2026 after almost 13 years in the role. The change comes as Amcor reports strong post-merger earnings growth following its acquisition of Berry Global.
Why this mattersNew board leadership takes over as Amcor delivers sharply higher post-merger earnings from its integration of Berry Global.
- Amcor's board elected Tom Long as chairman on 29 September 2026, succeeding Graeme Liebelt
- Liebelt steps down at the AGM on 11 November 2026 after almost 13 years as chairman
- Long has been an independent non-executive director since 2017, was previously CEO of MillerCoors and currently chairs Wolverine Worldwide's board
- Amcor reported FY2026 revenue of USD 23.51bn, up 57 percent from USD 15.01bn in FY2025, driven by the Berry Global acquisition
- FY2026 adjusted EBITDA rose to USD 3.673bn from USD 2.186bn; net profit was USD 1.106bn versus USD 511m a year earlier
- Fourth-quarter adjusted net income was USD 570m, up 40 percent from USD 408m a year earlier
- Amcor has delivered USD 285m of Berry Global merger synergies in fiscal 2026, ahead of its first-year target
- Amcor targets USD 650m in total synergies from the Berry Global integration over three years
Amcor will present new facial skincare packaging, including the Magic One airless dispenser and extensions to its Prima Jar and Ocyl bottle ranges, at LUXE PACK Monaco on 28-30 September 2026. The company says the new products are designed to accommodate post-consumer recycled content and to comply with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
Why this mattersAdds premium, PPWR-compliant rigid formats to Amcor's beauty portfolio as brand owners face tightening recycled-content and eco-modulation requirements in France and the EU.
- Amcor will showcase the products at LUXE PACK Monaco, 28-30 September 2026, on stand DB07.
- Magic One is an airless dispenser with 0.3 ml precise dosing and a 96% restitution rate.
- Prima Jar and Ocyl bottle ranges are manufactured in France and are being extended.
- New products are designed to include post-consumer recycled material, subject to availability, to access France's EPR eco-modulation.
- Each new product is designed to comply with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
ACG has launched RecycloPod PP Ultra, a polypropylene blister packaging system for pharmaceutical products that combines high moisture and oxygen barrier performance with design for recyclability. The product uses a PP/EVOH/PP forming structure and is aimed at manufacturers preparing for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and increased recyclability requirements.
Why this mattersA mono-material PP blister with full barrier protection could let pharma packers meet PPWR recyclability rules without sacrificing product protection, a longstanding trade-off in blister packs.
- RecycloPod PP Ultra uses a PP/EVOH/PP forming structure paired with a PP lidding film
- Water vapour transmission rate is below 0.60 g/m2 per day
- Oxygen transmission rate is below 0.20 cm3/m2 per day
- The launch introduces ACG's wider 'Pod' family of sustainable packaging solutions
- Development was carried out in collaboration with customers
- ACG cites the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation as a driver of the launch
- Sumitomo Chemical and Amcor are named as pursuing similar mono-material PP blister pack solutions
- The structure is compatible with existing thermoforming and heat-sealing lines
- The system is designed for thermoforming and sealing on pharmaceutical packaging lines
- The blister was unveiled publicly at CPHI 2026 in Milan, 6-8 October 2026.
- Some pharmaceutical packaging remains exempt from PPWR recyclability rules, but EFPIA, ACG and Plastic Ingenuity have urged the industry to prepare regardless.
- Bayer has separately adopted a monomaterial PP blister for its Talcid antacid product.
Amcor has introduced a new standard bottle called Mocha, aimed at the beauty and personal care sector, available in 100ml, 250ml and 500ml sizes. The bottle can be paired with various flip-top closures and pumps, including an optional Wave 2cc pump dispenser for the larger sizes, with a minimum order of 10,000 units and delivery within eight weeks.
Why this mattersA stock bottle with a 10,000-unit minimum and eight-week lead time lets beauty brands avoid custom tooling and shorten development cycles.
- Amcor's Mocha bottle is available in 100ml, 250ml and 500ml sizes
- Minimum order quantity is 10,000 units with delivery within eight weeks
- An optional Wave 2cc pump dispenser is offered for the 250ml and 500ml sizes
- The bottle can be paired with different flip-top closures and pumps
Pulpac, the Swedish developer of dry-moulded fibre packaging technology, has filed for corporate restructuring at a district court, stating that it cannot pay its debts, according to Göteborgs-Posten. The company has issued layoff notices to 50 of its 70 employees, and Johan Sölveland has been appointed restructuring administrator. Pulpac attributes the filing to a slower-than-expected market shift towards fibre-based packaging.
Why this mattersThe insolvency of a leading dry-fibre-moulding technology developer signals that plastic-replacement innovators are struggling to convert development-stage promise into commercial revenue.
- Pulpac has filed for corporate restructuring at a Swedish district court, citing inability to pay its debts
- 50 of Pulpac's 70 employees have received layoff notices
- Pulpac reported 2024 revenue of just under USD 5.7m (SEK 56m) and a loss of USD 17m (SEK 168m)
- Johan Sölveland has been appointed restructuring administrator
- The company cites a slower-than-anticipated market transition to fibre-based packaging
- Pulpac's dry-moulded fibre technology targets replacement of single-use plastics in sectors such as fast food
- PulPac previously raised SEK 340m (USD 34m) in a funding round backed by Stora Enso and Amcor Ventures.
- The company separately received a EUR 65m loan from the European Investment Bank.
- 2025 operating result was a loss of SEK 117.6m (USD 11.8m) on net sales of SEK 52m (USD 5.2m).
- PulPac holds more than 500 international patents; CEO Linus Larsson Green cites slower-than-expected market conversion to dry-moulded fibre as the cause.
Butterfly Equity, a Los Angeles private equity firm focused on food and beverage, has agreed to acquire Sabert Holding Corp, a US-based maker of plastic, paper and molded fibre food packaging with 13 plants worldwide. Financial terms were not disclosed and the deal, backed by financing from UBS, Goldman Sachs and KKR Capital Markets, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. Founder Albert Salama will retain a minority stake.
Why this mattersSabert's 13 plants and multi-material foodservice range pass to a food-focused sponsor rather than a strategic buyer, keeping a scaled platform inside the private equity cycle.
- Butterfly Equity signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sabert Holding Corp, financial terms undisclosed
- Sabert operates 13 manufacturing facilities globally, including nine in the US and others in Belgium, England, Poland and China
- Sabert, founded in 1983 and based in Sayreville, New Jersey, employs about 3,000 people and holds over 400 product patents
- The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions
- Sabert founder and executive chairman Albert Salama will remain a minority investor after closing
- Financing is being provided by UBS Investment Bank, Goldman Sachs and KKR Capital Markets
GreenCorp has acquired Strata Products, a plastics processor formerly part of Berry Global. Strata makes consumer products using injection moulding, blow moulding and rotomoulding. The transaction was reported on 21 September 2026.
Why this mattersThe deal moves injection, blow and rotomoulding capacity for consumer products out of the former Berry Global perimeter to an independent owner.
- GreenCorp acquired Strata Products, a plastics processor.
- Strata was formerly part of Berry Global.
- Strata uses injection moulding, blow moulding and rotomoulding to make consumer products.
- Deal reported 21 September 2026.
Pratt Industries will build its first Iowa manufacturing facility, a corrugated packaging plant in Bondurant, with total capital investment of USD 97.6m including more than USD 80m in equipment. The project is expected to create 105 jobs and has been awarded USD 1.8m in tax credits by the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
Why this mattersThe plant extends Pratt's US corrugated footprint into a new state, adding capacity against Smurfit Westrock, International Paper and Packaging Corporation of America.
- Total capital investment of USD 97.6m, including more than USD 80m in manufacturing equipment
- The corrugated plant in Bondurant will be Pratt's first manufacturing facility in Iowa
- The project is expected to create 105 jobs, 20 of them incented at a qualifying wage of USD 35.11 per hour
- The Iowa Economic Development Authority awarded USD 1.8m in tax credits through its BIG programme on 19 September 2026
- Pratt (4.0 Corrugating), LLC, a subsidiary of Pratt Corrugated Holdings, is part of Atlanta-based Pratt Industries
- Pratt Industries expects the Bondurant plant to increase its use of Iowa-based suppliers
Guala Closures has launched an enhanced version of its Alusnap premium aluminium closure, adding advanced embossing and debossing options and a new tamper-evident indicator feature. The upgrade targets counterfeiting in the spirits sector, which the company cites industry estimates put at 25% to 40% of global consumption. The closure is made across Guala's plants in Italy, Ukraine, India and Bulgaria.
Why this mattersAnti-counterfeiting features on closures give premium spirits brands a differentiator as illicit product estimates run as high as 40% of global consumption.
- Alusnap closure upgraded with new embossing, debossing and surface-texture options for aluminium shells.
- New tamper-evident feature called Indicator can now be integrated into the platform.
- Guala Closures cites industry estimates that 25% to 40% of spirits consumed globally may be counterfeit or illicit.
- Alusnap is produced across Guala Closures facilities in Italy, Ukraine, India and Bulgaria.
- Guala Closures reported over EUR 923m in revenue in 2025 with more than 5,000 employees and 39 production facilities.
- Alusnap's anti-refill technology uses a dual glass-ball valve system
- Alusnap's anti-pull-out mechanism uses a hook that locks the pourer onto the bottle neck
- Alusnap production has been extended to include facilities in Mexico and Scotland, in addition to Bulgaria, Italy, India and Ukraine
- The upgraded Alusnap closure adds an anti-extraction hook design that locks the pourer to the bottle neck.
- Guala Closures introduced a new manufacturing technology intended to make premium closures harder to reproduce.
- Diageo has begun rolling out a smartphone-verifiable security seal across its spirits portfolio in Brazil.
- SpiritSeal has launched an NFC-based bottle authentication and provenance platform.
Amcor and Dow announced a strategic collaboration on 17 September 2026 to accelerate adoption of low-carbon packaging, combining Dow's low-carbon polyethylene and carbon-footprint expertise with Amcor's packaging design and manufacturing. The partners will use a Carbon Footprint Ledger methodology, aligned with ISO 14067 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, to give customers verified product carbon data supporting Scope 3 reduction targets.
Why this mattersA resin supplier and converter jointly offering assured low-carbon PE data could shift how brand owners source packaging to meet Scope 3 targets without redesign.
- Dow and Amcor announced the collaboration on 17 September 2026
- It pairs Dow's low-carbon polyethylene, materials science and carbon footprint expertise with Amcor's packaging design, manufacturing and global reach
- Central to it is the Carbon Footprint Ledger, which applies mass-balance greenhouse gas accounting and issues product carbon footprint information
- The methodology is aligned with ISO 14067 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Standard, with limited third-party assurance
- The aim is drop-in low-carbon polyethylene packaging that helps brands cut Scope 3 emissions without redesign or new infrastructure
- The partners named no specific packaging applications, participating customers, emissions-reduction figures or implementation timeline
- Keith Cleason, Business President, Packaging & Specialty Plastics at Dow, and David Clark, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amcor, commented publicly on the collaboration.
- No financial terms, volumes or commercial availability date have been disclosed.
- Dow's Keith Cleason, business president for Packaging & Specialty Plastics, and Amcor's chief sustainability officer David Clark are named as leading the collaboration.
- The companies said they will work to identify viable packaging applications and involve value-chain partners early in adoption.
Eunomia and Delterra published a report identifying eight end-use applications that could absorb up to 800,000 tons per year of recycled polyethylene from household film in North America, and launched the Recycled Flexibles Demand Accelerator with Amcor and Kraft Heinz to pilot such uses. The report found only 27 mechanical film reclaimers operate in North America, fewer than half able to process lower-grade household material, as state EPR targets for flexible plastics approach.
Why this mattersWeak reclaiming capacity and thin end markets for household film threaten brand owners' ability to meet incoming state recycled-content and EPR recyclability thresholds.
- Report identifies eight end-use applications able to absorb up to 800,000 tons per year of recycled PE film in North America.
- Only 27 mechanical film reclaimers operate in North America, and fewer than half accept lower-grade household material.
- The Recycling Partnership estimates only 2% of US households can recycle film and flexible packaging.
- California's EPR programme targets a 65% recycling rate by 2032 for single-use plastics, versus under 5% currently for flexible plastics.
- Oregon has a 25% PE film collection target by 2028, rising to 50% by 2040.
- The Recycling Partnership's Film & Flexibles Recycling Coalition has granted about USD 5m across 19 projects since 2020.
The National Association for PET Container Resources has published a decarbonisation roadmap for PET beverage bottles, developed with consultancy Eastern Research Group, setting out a pathway to cut life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions intensity by more than half by 2050 using existing technologies. The roadmap models total US PET industry emissions falling from about 3.3 million tonnes CO2e to 1.9 million tonnes by 2050 even as production volumes rise, driven mainly by bottle lightweighting and renewable energy adoption. Amcor, Plastipak Packaging, Indorama Ventures, Alpek Polyester, Husky Technologies, Niagara Water, Southeastern Container and Western Container took part in surveys underpinning the analysis.
Why this mattersA credible, peer-reviewed sector roadmap gives PET converters and brand owners a benchmark to defend the material against substitution by glass, metal or alternative packaging.
- Roadmap targets a 57% reduction in PET bottle life-cycle GHG emissions intensity by 2050 versus current levels.
- Total US PET industry annual emissions modelled to fall from about 3.3 million tonnes CO2e to 1.9 million tonnes by 2050.
- 16.9-ounce PET water bottle system emissions intensity could fall about 44% by 2035 versus 2023 baseline.
- Carbonated soft drink bottle systems studied could see emissions intensity cuts of roughly 35% to 43% by 2035.
- The 'cut-off' life-cycle method would show an 83% reduction using the same levers, versus 57% under the more conservative 'system expansion' method used.
- Study was funded by NAPCOR and developed by Eastern Research Group, with input from Amcor, Plastipak Packaging, Indorama Ventures, Alpek Polyester, Husky Technologies, Niagara Water, Southeastern Container and Western Container.
Amcor has supplied Tiptree, the preserves brand owned by Wilkin & Sons, with RecyClass-certified collation shrink film and Bontite Sustane stretch wrap containing 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. The switch positions Tiptree for UK Plastic Packaging Tax rules taking effect from April 2027, when only PCR content will count toward the 30% recycled-plastic threshold and post-industrial recycled content will no longer qualify. Both films are made at Amcor's Leominster and Bromborough sites in the UK and carry EN15343 traceability certification.
Why this mattersThe UK's shift to a PCR-only recycled-content threshold from April 2027 will force other brand owners using PIR-blended films to requalify their packaging or face higher tax exposure.
- UK Plastic Packaging Tax rules change from April 2027 to exclude post-industrial recycled content from the 30% recycled-plastic threshold.
- Tiptree has moved to Amcor's collation shrink film and Bontite Sustane stretch wrap, both with 30% post-consumer recycled content.
- The films are produced at Amcor's UK sites in Leominster and Bromborough.
- Both products are RecyClass Recycled Plastics Traceability Certified to EN15343.
- Tiptree is the preserves and spreads brand of Wilkin & Sons.
A major fire broke out on 14 September 2026 at an Amcor Plastics facility on London Road in Beccles, Suffolk, requiring 14 fire crews to bring it under control. The blaze is understood to have gutted neighbouring industrial units and no injuries have been reported; the cause is under investigation.
Why this mattersAny lost output at the Suffolk site would fall on regional customers until Amcor establishes the extent of the damage and restores production.
- Fire occurred on 14 September 2026 at Amcor Plastics, London Road, Beccles, Suffolk
- 14 fire crews responded to the blaze
- Neighbouring industrial units are understood to have been gutted
- No injuries reported
- Health, power and environmental agencies were alerted as a precaution
- Cause of the fire remains under investigation
Amcor and Chinese premium pet food brand Ge Wu An have launched the Li Kou pet food cup, an inverted-cup wet pet food pack combining a polypropylene cup, top lidding film and bottom seal film. The companies say it is the first commercial deployment of this packaging format in China, developed over more than a year through Amcor's Catalyst customer collaboration platform. The design aims to replace traditional pull-ring cans, simplifying serving and reducing packaging weight.
Why this mattersA commercially deployed lightweight alternative to metal pet food cans could accelerate flexible packaging's inroads into a category still dominated by rigid formats.
- Li Kou is described as the first commercial deployment of an inverted-cup packaging format in China.
- The pack combines a polypropylene cup body, top lidding film and bottom seal film.
- Design allows peel, invert, tear and lift to release wet pet food in one piece.
- The format is positioned as a lighter alternative to traditional aluminium cans.
- Amcor and Ge Wu An developed the product jointly for more than a year via Amcor's Catalyst innovation platform.
- Ge Wu An is a premium pet food brand of Jianmo Biotechnology Co., Ltd., focused on wet pet food in China.
- Amcor states the Li Kou format uses less material per unit than traditional aluminium wet pet food cans.
- Amcor said the Li Kou design uses less material per unit and reduces transport weight compared with metal cans.
