The Foodservice Packaging Institute reports that 20 percent of US residents now have access to paper cup recycling, up from 5 percent in 2017, even as the number of mills accepting paper cups has fallen from 40 to 35. Graphic Packaging International has built a new mill in Waco, Texas, designed to process fibre recovered from used paper cups. The Recycled Materials Association has added paper cups to its materials specification list without mandating acceptance.
Why this mattersA mill base down from 40 to 35 outlets undercuts fibre-cup recyclability claims even as household collection access quadruples from the 2017 level.
- FPI says 20 percent of US residents now have access to paper cup recycling, up from 5 percent in 2017.
- The number of mills accepting paper cups has fallen from 40 to 35.
- Graphic Packaging International has built a new mill in Waco, Texas, designed to process fibre from used paper cups.
- The Recycled Materials Association has added paper cups to its materials specification list, without mandating acceptance.
- FPI's community partnership programme has engaged more than 30 communities since launch.
- FPI president Natha Dempsey says end markets, collection and sorting still need strengthening
Packaging Corporation of America will permanently close its Baltimore Street plant in Middletown, Ohio, affecting all 91 employees, under a WARN notice filed with the state and the city. Most staff finish on 1 December 2026 and the site is to be vacant by the end of the year, with the work consolidated into larger operations including a newly opened PCA plant elsewhere in Ohio. A separate WARN notice covers a Gas City, Indiana plant and its 78 workers in the week of 26 October.
Why this mattersThree converting closures in 2026 by the third-largest US containerboard producer point to consolidation of volume into newer, larger plants.
- PCA will permanently close its Baltimore Street plant in Middletown, Ohio, affecting all 91 employees
- Most employees finish on 1 December 2026; the plant is expected to be vacant by the end of the year
- The company says the work will be consolidated into larger and more efficient operations, including a newly opened plant elsewhere in Ohio
- A separate WARN notice covers the permanent closure of a Gas City, Indiana plant and its 78 workers in the week of 26 October
- Media reports earlier in 2026 said PCA planned to close a Richmond, Virginia converting operation affecting 110 employees
- Hourly production and maintenance staff are represented by USW Local No. 1676
- The consolidation plant is in Newark, Ohio, cost USD 275m and covers 550,000 square feet.
- The Newark plant started operating ahead of schedule in early summer 2026.
- PCA has invested more than USD 5.2bn in its paper mill and box plant network over the past decade.
- New c.51,000 sq m converting plant in Newark, Ohio started operations in July 2026, ahead of schedule.
- PCA closed its Richmond, Virginia integrated plant from June 2026, after idling the No. 2 paper machine and kraft pulp production at its Wallula, Washington mill from February 2026.
- PCA has invested more than USD 5.2bn in paper mills and box plants over the past decade, including integrating assets from its September 2025 acquisition of Greif's containerboard business.
Graphic Packaging Holding Company has appointed Aditya Gandhi as vice-president and chief accounting officer, reporting to interim chief financial officer Charles Lischer. Gandhi joins from AptarGroup, where he held the same title, having previously served as chief accounting officer at Sonoco Products Company.
Why this mattersA permanent chief accounting officer under an interim CFO adds finance capacity at a company whose second-quarter net income fell 77% to USD 24m.
- Aditya Gandhi joins Graphic Packaging as vice-president and chief accounting officer.
- He reports to interim chief financial officer Charles Lischer.
- Gandhi was previously chief accounting officer at AptarGroup and at Sonoco Products Company.
- He spent more than ten years at Deloitte, including senior posts in its National Office and London practices.
- Graphic Packaging reported Q2 2026 net income of USD 24m, down 77% from USD 104m a year earlier.
Graphic Packaging has launched a transportation and logistics initiative under its Better, Every Day sustainability strategy, aiming to cut emissions through carrier selection, transport mode shifts, alternative fuels and network optimisation. Pilots include eight renewable natural gas trucks on the Chicago-Kalamazoo corridor in the US and electric trucks in Portland, Oregon and in the UK East Midlands to North East corridor.
Why this mattersFibre packaging producers face rising scrutiny of scope 3 transport emissions, and carrier and fuel pilots test options other converters may later adopt.
- Eight renewable natural gas trucks deployed on the Chicago-Kalamazoo corridor in the US.
- Two electric trucks piloted on short-haul routes in Portland.
- Two electric heavy goods vehicles piloted between the East Midlands and North East in the UK.
- Initiative targets carrier selection, transport mode shifts, alternative fuels and network optimisation.
- Aims to reduce empty miles and increase trailer utilisation.
- Initiative sits under Graphic Packaging's Better, Every Day sustainability strategy.
The US Patent Trial and Appeal Board has ruled unpatentable the challenged claims of a Graphic Packaging International patent covering a laminated, biodegradable paper-based cup, finding them anticipated or obvious over prior art. The decision, issued 24 September 2026, came in an inter partes review brought by competitor Clearwater Paper.
Why this mattersThe ruling strips patent protection from a Graphic Packaging cup laminate design, potentially opening the way for rivals to use similar constructions.
- The Patent Trial and Appeal Board issued the decision on 24 September 2026
- The patent covers a laminated paper cup made of a biodegradable paper-based laminate
- Clearwater Paper filed the inter partes review challenging the patent's claims
- The board found the claims anticipated or obvious over prior art disclosing similar laminate and cup structures
US District Judge Mary M. Rowland denied on 4 September 2026 the joint motion to dismiss and the separate motions by Packaging Corporation of America and Pratt Industries in the containerboard price-fixing class action brought in July 2025 by Artuso Pastry in the Northern District of Illinois. The 49-page decision found six of seven alleged lockstep or near-lockstep price increases sufficient to show parallel conduct, lifting the stay on discovery. Defendants must answer by 29 September 2026 and file a joint status report with discovery dates the following week.
Why this mattersThe case moves to discovery, exposing containerboard producers to damages claims and scrutiny of a market the plaintiff says five players now control with at least 85% share.
- Judge Mary M. Rowland denied the joint and the individual dismissal motions in a 49-page decision on 4 September 2026 in the Northern District of Illinois.
- Defendants must answer the complaint by 29 September 2026 and file a joint status report with discovery dates the following week.
- The case, Artuso Pastry Foods Corp. v. Packaging Corp. of America et al, was filed in July 2025 and alleges seven rounds of parallel price increases from November 2020 raising prices by about 30%.
- The court found six of the seven alleged coordinated increases plausible, including a USD 50-per-ton rise implemented on the same day after two and a half years without an industry increase.
- Ten defendants remain, including PCA, Pratt Industries, International Paper, Georgia-Pacific, Greif, Smurfit Kappa, WestRock and three Cascades entities.
- Graphic Packaging International and Smurfit Westrock were dismissed late last year, cutting defendants to 10 from 12; the court gave no reasons.
Graphic Packaging has disclosed plans to close its Lebanon, Tennessee facility as part of a capacity rationalisation programme, after cutting its full-year earnings guidance. Shares hit 52-week lows amid a broader materials-sector selloff tied to the 10-year Treasury yield reaching 5%. Analysts have since trimmed price targets, citing a weaker outlook for packaging demand and pricing.
Why this mattersA closure alongside a guidance cut points to weaker North American paperboard demand, with competing converters facing the same volume and pricing pressure.
- Graphic Packaging plans to close its Lebanon, Tennessee facility as part of a capacity rationalisation programme
- The company has cut its full-year earnings guidance
- Shares hit 52-week lows amid a broader materials-sector selloff
- Analysts have trimmed price targets citing a weaker packaging demand and pricing outlook
Graphic Packaging International Cartons Santander, the Spanish subsidiary of Graphic Packaging, has invested in new equipment that has allowed it to put on the market a product not previously in its catalogue. The investment forms part of the plant's spending under a business plan running to 2028. No investment figure was disclosed.
Why this mattersA new product line at the Santander plant widens what Graphic Packaging can quote to Spanish customers, though neither the product nor the investment figure is disclosed.
- Graphic Packaging International Cartons Santander has invested in new production equipment
- The equipment has brought to market a product not previously in the plant's catalogue
- The investment forms part of a business plan running to 2028
- No investment value was disclosed
