A Luxembourg district court summary judge has issued an order prohibiting Ardagh Holdings S.A. from proceeding with the sale of all or part of its interests in Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A. The order followed an ex parte application by minority holders of ARD Finance S.A.'s senior secured toggle notes due 2027. Ardagh Holdings says the application is without merit and has applied to have the order withdrawn.
Why this mattersThe injunction halts a planned sale of Ardagh's listed can-making arm, leaving bondholder claims to determine whether the transaction can proceed.
- Order issued by a summary judge of the district court of Luxembourg against Ardagh Holdings S.A. (AHSA)
- Order prohibits AHSA from currently proceeding with sale of all or part of its interests in Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A.
- Application brought unilaterally (ex parte) by minority holders of ARD Finance S.A.'s senior secured toggle notes due 2027
- ARD Finance S.A. was a parent of Ardagh Group S.A. before its recapitalisation completed in November 2025
- AHSA is challenging the order and has applied for its withdrawal
- Ardagh Metal Packaging reported $5.5 billion sales in 2025 from 23 facilities in nine countries
CCL Label has launched a website featuring a Sustainability Configurator that matches label and decoration technologies to a brand's packaging substrate and recycling stream, timed to the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation beginning to apply. Separately, Innovia Films showed three variants of its RayoFloat polyolefin shrink sleeve at the Loupe Americas trade show, engineered to float away from PET during sink/float sorting. Taghleef Industries and Inx International showed competing floatable sleeve and ink technologies at the same event.
Why this mattersAs PPWR and US state EPR fees tighten recyclability rules, label and sleeve suppliers are competing to supply sorting-compatible materials and the design tools that specify them.
- CCL Label launched a website with a Sustainability Configurator matching label and decoration technologies to packaging substrate and recycling stream.
- CCL's Sustainable Product Family includes EcoFloat, EcoStream, WashOff, EcoSource, EcoStretch and EcoShear technologies.
- The configurator launch coincides with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation beginning to apply.
- Innovia Films' RayoFloat polyolefin shrink sleeve line now has three variants: clear (APO), white opaque (WAPO) and high-shrink (APO-HS).
- Innovia says its floatable sleeve technology has been in the European market for roughly five years, driven by EU packaging rules.
- Taghleef Industries showed its SHAPE360 TDSW white polyolefin sleeve and Inx International its Genesis floatable ink system at Loupe Americas.
Affix Holdings has launched as a new specialty label and identification products platform, combining AAi, Guaranteed Labels and Sticker Ranch. The three US manufacturers of labels, decals, nameplates and graphic overlays will continue to operate under the Affix umbrella, led by chief executive Lynn Higgs.
Why this mattersThe combination consolidates niche US label and identification manufacturing into a larger platform with broader geographic and product reach for industrial customers.
- Affix Holdings announced its formation on 14 September 2026.
- The platform combines AAi (formerly Art Advertising, Inc.), Guaranteed Labels and Sticker Ranch.
- AAi is headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas; Sticker Ranch in Texas; Guaranteed Labels in Alabama.
- Lynn Higgs is chief executive of Affix Holdings; Justin Burris is a director.
- Each constituent company will continue to operate independently under the new group.
Smurfit Westrock is closing its SSK cardboard reprocessing mill in Birmingham, with annual capacity of 200,000 tonnes, following a consultation process. The closure coincides with a net 1.25m tonnes of new UK cardboard reprocessing capacity due by 2027, led by Palm's conversion of its King's Lynn newsprint mill and Eren's new Shotton Mill.
Why this mattersThe UK's cardboard recycling base is being reshaped, with new large-scale corrugated capacity offsetting the loss of older reprocessing sites such as this one.
- Smurfit Westrock is closing its SSK Mill in Birmingham, with 200,000 tonnes annual cardboard capacity, after a consultation.
- Palm is converting its King's Lynn mill in Norfolk from newsprint to corrugated case material, adding 700,000 tonnes annual capacity.
- Eren's new Shotton Mill will add 750,000 tonnes annual capacity plus 67,000 tonnes of tissue paper.
- Essity's Prudhoe mill is due to be fully operational by 2027 and expected to take some cardboard as feedstock.
- The UK reprocessed about 1.3m tonnes of cardboard in 2025 out of roughly 4m tonnes collected, with 2.7m tonnes exported.
- Net UK cardboard reprocessing capacity is expected to rise by 1.25m tonnes by 2027 after accounting for the Birmingham closure.
SIG has opened its first aseptic carton production plant in India, a EUR 90m facility in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, built in 20 months. The plant has initial capacity of up to 4 billion packs a year and employs more than 300 people, supplying dairy and non-carbonated soft drink fillers. SIG's board has also approved a further EUR 50m for a local extrusion line due to start by 2027.
Why this mattersLocal production shortens lead times and cuts import costs, sharpening SIG's competitive position in India's underpenetrated aseptic dairy and beverage packaging market.
- EUR 90m invested in the plant, completed in 20 months in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Initial annual capacity of up to 4 billion aseptic carton packs
- Plant creates more than 300 local jobs
- This is SIG's 10th global aseptic carton plant
- SIG's board has approved a further EUR 50m for a local extrusion line, operational by 2027
- SIG entered the Indian market in 2018 and reported double-digit revenue growth in 2024
Packaging Systems, the Russian former Tetra Pak subsidiary now independent since 2022, is investing about RUB 6 billion (2024-2027) to expand its Lobnya plant, raising capacity from 4 billion to 6 billion aseptic cartons a year. The company has also opened a local assembly centre for filling and processing equipment, previously assembled abroad, with capacity for 25 modules a year. The expansion is due to complete by end-2027 and aims to fully supply Russia's dairy and juice packaging needs.
Why this mattersThe build-out shows Russia's dairy and juice sector localising aseptic carton supply and filling-line assembly, deepening the market split left by Tetra Pak's 2022 exit.
- Investment of about RUB 6 billion planned for 2024-2027 at the Lobnya, Moscow region plant.
- Capacity to rise 50% from 4 billion to 6 billion packages a year, completion targeted by end-2027.
- A local equipment assembly centre opened in March 2026 with capacity for 25 modules a year, previously assembled abroad.
- Packaging Systems was formerly JSC Tetra Pak, sold to local management for a symbolic EUR 1 after Tetra Pak's August 2022 exit from Russia.
- The company is now owned equally by two former Tetra Pak Russia top managers via Eaton Investments LLC.
- 2023 revenue was RUB 31.9 billion; the company supplies about 250 food industry customers.
Detpak has opened a 175,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to produce paper-based packaging for US quick-service restaurant customers. The plant initially employs more than 50 people from the local community, with equipment commissioning under way; the company says full production commences in August. Detpak has supplied US customers from plants in other countries for more than 20 years.
Why this mattersLocal production gives Detpak a direct manufacturing foothold to compete for US QSR business previously served by import, reducing lead times against domestic converters.
- Facility is 175,000 square feet, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Plant makes paper-based packaging for quick-service restaurant customers
- More than 50 people initially employed from the local community
- Equipment commissioning is under way; the company says full production commences in August
- Detpak sells in 45 countries and owns manufacturing facilities in eight countries
- Detpak has supplied US customers from international plants for over 20 years
Tetra Pak has invested ZAR 19 million in an automated carton-recycling machine at its Johannesburg facility, separating aluminium and polyethylene from cartons to produce pellets for roof tiles, pipes and furniture. The company aims to raise South Africa's carton recycling rate from 33% to 40% within two years. The plant is operated by manufacturing partner Unique Timber Plastics in Heriotdale and will create 24 direct jobs, with recycler Mpact and producer-responsibility organisation Petco exploring applications for the recycled pellets.
Why this mattersLocal mechanical recycling capacity for cartons cuts landfill volumes and virgin material use, and could template circular supply chains for other multinationals in Africa.
- Tetra Pak invested ZAR 19 million in an automated carton-recycling machine at its Johannesburg facility
- The machine separates aluminium and polyethylene from paperboard cartons to produce pellets for roof tiles, pipes and furniture
- Tetra Pak aims to lift South Africa's carton recycling rate from 33% to 40% within two years
- The plant is operated by manufacturing partner Unique Timber Plastics in Heriotdale and will create 24 direct jobs
- Local recycler Mpact and industry body PRO Petco are exploring applications for the recycled pellets
- Petco's members include Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Tiger Brands and Tetra Pak itself
Kleannara is expanding exports of its Clay Coated Kraft Board (CCKB), an eco-friendly premium paperboard, to South Africa as part of a push to diversify revenue and improve profitability. The company cites tightening EU packaging rules and rising customer demand for recyclable materials as tailwinds, and plans to pursue new customers in South Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia. Kleannara returned to profit in the second quarter of 2026 with an operating profit of KRW 600m.
Why this mattersTightening EU packaging rules are pulling Korean board makers out of commodity white board and into higher-priced coated grades sold into new export markets.
- Kleannara is expanding exports of its Clay Coated Kraft Board (CCKB) to South Africa
- CCKB offers higher strength, water resistance and printability than standard white board, used in HMR and household product packaging
- EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation took effect from August, cited by the company as driving customer demand for recyclable packaging
- Kleannara plans further customer development in Europe and Southeast Asia alongside South Africa
- The company reported an operating profit of KRW 600m in the second quarter of 2026, returning to profit
Valparaiso, Indiana's city council tabled first readings of annexation and rezoning ordinances on 15 September 2026 needed for Pratt Industries to build a new corrugated converting plant, after residents raised concerns over noise, smells and traffic. A decision is now due on 28 September 2026. Pratt cites an investment of USD 100m creating about 50 jobs, while city documents put capital spending at USD 70m for a 300,000 to 400,000 square foot facility.
Why this mattersThe delay shows local zoning and community opposition can slow converter capacity additions even for an established, large local employer.
- Council tabled first readings on annexation and rezoning ordinances until 28 September 2026
- Proposal covers 92 acres, rezoned from light to heavy industrial
- Jeff Beaver of Pratt Industries cited a USD 100m investment for the converting plant
- City materials cited a USD 70m capital investment for a 300,000 to 400,000 square foot plant
- Plant expected to create about 50 jobs in year one, paying USD 28.59 per hour
- Pratt Industries has operated in Valparaiso for 23 years and is the city's largest private employer and taxpayer
Cepac has proposed closing its Darlington corrugated tray plant, putting up to 63 jobs at risk, after heavy financial losses at the site. The facility produces small corrugated trays under the Flutepac brand, whose expected market growth failed to materialise despite investment in new equipment. A 30-day redundancy consultation with employee representatives is under way before any final decision.
Why this mattersThe closure signals weaker-than-expected demand for fibre-based tray substitutes in a segment several converters have targeted for plastic replacement.
- Cepac proposes closing its Darlington site with up to 63 job losses
- The site makes small corrugated trays under the Flutepac brand
- Closure is attributed to heavy financial losses and slower-than-expected market growth for Flutepac
- A 30-day redundancy consultation with employee representatives has begun
- Company invested significantly in new equipment before the downturn in demand
Metsä Board is upgrading the board machine winder at its Kemi mill in Finland, with the work scheduled for the annual maintenance shutdown in October-November 2026. The company says the investment will improve product quality, supply chain reliability and production efficiency at the plant, which has capacity of about 465,000 tonnes a year and supplies coated white-top kraftliner for corrugated packaging. No investment figure was disclosed.
Why this mattersReliability upgrades at the world's largest coated white-top kraftliner mill reinforce Metsä Board's supply position for corrugated box makers.
- Metsä Board is modernising the board machine winder at its Kemi mill in Finland.
- The upgrade will take place during the annual maintenance shutdown in October-November 2026.
- Kemi mill has annual production capacity of approximately 465,000 tonnes.
- Metsä Board describes Kemi as the world's largest producer of coated white-top kraftliners.
- The company says the investment aims to improve product quality, supply chain reliability and production efficiency.
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
South Korean startup Nanu expects revenue to roughly double to about KRW 1.3bn (USD 970,000) in 2026 from KRW 600m (USD 450,000) in 2025, driven by a proprietary water-based coating that makes pulp mold containers resistant to water, oil and heat. The coating lets paper packaging replace single-use plastic beyond food, with Nanu co-developing phone packaging and semiconductor trays with Samsung Electronics and cosmetics containers with Amorepacific and LOreal. The company received separable-disposal labelling approval for its coated paper in March 2026 and is seeking licensing production in Vietnam to cut unit costs, while also targeting commercialisation of a citrus-peel and brewer grain byproduct material, Deco Mold, by year-end 2026.
Why this mattersA coatings specialist extending pulp mould into semiconductor trays and cosmetics containers widens the categories where paper can displace plastic beyond food service.
- Nanu projects revenue to roughly double to about KRW 1.3bn (USD 970,000) in 2026 from KRW 600m (USD 450,000) in 2025
- Nanu's water-based coating on pulp mold containers blocks water and oil absorption and adds heat resistance
- Nanu received separable-disposal labelling approval for its coated paper products in March 2026
- Nanu is co-developing pulp mold phone packaging with Samsung Electronics and plans to extend the work to semiconductor trays
- Nanu is developing paper containers that hold cosmetic contents directly with Amorepacific and L'Oreal
- Coated pulp molds cost more than twice as much as ordinary plastic containers, prompting licensing plans for production in Vietnam
Tetra Pak has partnered with Shanghai Meilin, a sub-brand of Shanghai Bright Meat Group, to package ready-to-eat Chinese dessert soups in its Tetra Recart carton, giving the products up to 18 months of ambient shelf life. The launch covers Rock Sugar Mung Bean Soup and Rock Sugar Snow Fungus Soup, building on earlier joint work applying the format to regional dishes such as braised pork rice and beef curry.
Why this mattersThe extension shows carton packaging displacing glass and metal in ready-to-eat categories in China, widening Tetra Pak's addressable market against rigid-pack incumbents.
- Tetra Recart gives the new dessert soups up to 18 months of ambient shelf life without preservatives
- Shanghai Meilin, a sub-brand of Shanghai Bright Meat Group, launched Rock Sugar Mung Bean Soup and Rock Sugar Snow Fungus Soup in the format
- Tetra Recart is available in six sizes from 100 mL to 500 mL
- The two companies previously collaborated on Taiwanese-style braised pork rice, Japanese-style beef curry and Shanghai-style borscht soup in Tetra Recart cartons
- Tetra Pak cites potential future applications including soft tofu pudding, Beijing pear soup, mango pomelo sago and lotus seed red bean soup
Rengo announced on 9 September 2026 that nine of its products, developed with partner companies, won awards across seven categories at the 2026 Japan Packaging Contest organised by the Japan Packaging Institute. The top Japan Star Award went to eco-Pon, a recyclable biodegradable paper capsule for toy vending machines, developed jointly with capsule-toy maker K2 Station and plastics moulder Daiho Kogyo.
Why this mattersThe award highlights growing substitution of plastic capsule packaging with recyclable paper alternatives in Japan's toy and novelty retail segment.
- Rengo announced the results on 9 September 2026
- Nine Rengo-linked products won awards across seven categories at the 2026 Japan Packaging Contest
- The top Japan Star Award (Director-General of the Manufacturing Industries Bureau, METI, prize) went to biodegradable paper capsule eco-Pon
- eco-Pon was co-developed with K2 Station (capsule-toy maker) and Daiho Kogyo (plastics moulder)
- The contest is organised annually by the Japan Packaging Institute, evaluating design, logistics, functionality and environmental suitability
Stora Enso has completed negotiations to permanently close its Veitsiluoto sawmill in Kemi, Finland, ending temporary curtailment in place since early August 2026. Sawmill production for the Northern Finland region will be centralised at the company's other sawmills in Oulu, Oulainen and Kalajoki, with about 60 job losses. Stora Enso cited weak profitability driven by high log costs; after the change, roughly 840 people will remain at Business Unit Oulu's sawmills, board mill and port operations.
Why this mattersThe closure tightens Stora Enso's Northern Finland wood-processing footprint but is described as having only a minor impact on wood supply to its Oulu board mill.
- Veitsiluoto sawmill in Kemi, Finland, permanently closed following negotiations concluded 16 September 2026
- Approximately 60 people made redundant
- Production had been temporarily curtailed since early August 2026
- Closure first announced 12 August 2026 as a plan to centralise Northern Finland sawmill production
- After the change, Business Unit Oulu will employ approximately 840 people across board mill, sawmills in Oulu, Oulainen and Kalajoki, and port operations
- Reason cited is need to improve efficiency, profitability and competitiveness amid high log costs
Metsä Group has secured EUR 21m in Finnish public funding for a planned wood-based carbon dioxide capture plant at Metsä Fibre's Rauma pulp mill. The facility would capture around 100,000 tonnes of biogenic CO2 a year from the mill's recovery boiler for use as a raw material in e-fuels. A final investment decision is not expected before early 2027, subject to permitting, engineering and market demand.
Why this mattersState-backed carbon capture at a pulp mill could open a new revenue stream from biogenic CO2 and set a template for decarbonising the forest industry's flue gas emissions.
- Metsä Group awarded EUR 21m via a reverse auction run by Finland's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
- Planned plant at Metsä Fibre's Rauma pulp mill would capture about 100,000 tonnes of wood-based CO2 per year
- Aid is paid only if the investment proceeds, with final investment decision not expected before early 2027
- Pilot testing was carried out at Rauma in 2025 with technology supplier Andritz; pre-engineering began in 2026
- Captured CO2 is intended for use as a raw material in e-fuel production, potentially avoiding emissions equivalent to nearly 30,000 passenger cars annually
- Project remains conditional on environmental permit, completed engineering and sufficient market demand
Finland's forest management associations opened the Pino digital marketplace for mandate-based timber sales on 15 September, and neither Metsä Group nor Stora Enso intends to use it. Metsä Group has confirmed it will not register, arguing an independent marketplace must stop price and bid information from advantaging one participant; Stora Enso says it will keep bidding in power-of-attorney sales but has raised information technology questions. The associations arrange 15m-20m cubic metres of such sales a year, so bids risk being split across Pino, the rival Kuutio platform, buyers' own systems and email.
Why this mattersA fragmented timber-tendering landscape raises procurement costs and reduces price transparency for two of Europe's largest fibre producers.
- Pino, built by MHYP with farmers' organisation MTK, opened on 15 September 2026
- Finnish forest management associations arrange 15m-20m cubic metres of mandate-based timber sales a year
- Metsä Group has publicly confirmed it will not register for Pino, citing concerns over access to commercially sensitive bid data
- Stora Enso will keep participating in power-of-attorney sales but has raised information technology questions over Pino
- UPM had not reached a final decision and said it would continue using the rival Kuutio platform
- Metsä Group is a shareholder in Kuutio and says mandate-based deals can also be handled through Kuutio or by email
Vetropack presented its Strategy 2035 at its first Capital Markets Day on 16 September 2026, setting mid-term targets of above-market sales growth in the low single digits and a return to a double-digit operating margin by 2030. The strategy leans on expanding service offerings, targeting growth segments such as low-alcohol drinks and premium wines, developing export markets, and improving operational efficiency through standardisation, automation and digitalisation.
Why this mattersA public, numbers-backed mid-term target set gives investors a benchmark against which to judge whether the glassmaker can restore profitability amid soft European demand.
- Vetropack held its first Capital Markets Day on 16 September 2026 at its Bülach headquarters.
- The company targets above-market sales growth in the low single-digit percentage range by 2030 versus 2025, at constant exchange rates.
- Vetropack aims to return to a double-digit operating margin and achieve a double-digit return on operating capital employed by 2030.
- The strategy rests on three growth drivers: expanding services beyond packaging, targeting expanding segments such as low-alcohol drinks and premium wines, and developing export markets.
- Vetropack is ramping up its lightweight, thermally tempered reusable bottle Rezon at its Pöchlarn site for large-scale production.
- The strategy was approved by the Board of Directors in late August 2026 and its key points were published in the Semi-Annual Report 2026.
Greif is exiting its coated recycled paperboard business and will close its paperboard mill in Austell, Georgia, removing about 120,000 tons of annual production capacity. The company expects the mill to cease operations by the end of 2026, with about 90 job losses, as part of a strategy to concentrate on businesses where it holds a leading market position.
Why this mattersThe closure removes capacity from the North American recycled paperboard market and signals Greif's retreat from a segment it deems non-core and uncompetitive.
- Greif will close its coated recycled paperboard mill in Austell, Georgia
- The mill removes about 120,000 tons of annual production capacity
- Operations are expected to cease by the end of 2026
- The closure will result in about 90 job losses
- The mill also produced uncoated recycled paperboard and gypsum facing and backing paper grades
- Greif will serve affected uncoated recycled paperboard customers via its broader North American mill network
KKR has emerged as the preferred bidder to acquire Portuguese plastics packaging maker Logoplaste, according to people familiar with the matter. The US private equity firm is in exclusive talks with Logoplaste's owners after rival bidder Apax Partners dropped out of the process. A deal could be reached in the coming weeks.
Why this mattersA change of control would put Portuguese blow moulder Logoplaste under new private equity ownership, resetting its capex and bolt-on acquisition appetite for the next holding period.
- KKR is the preferred bidder for Logoplaste, a Portuguese plastics packaging manufacturer.
- KKR is in exclusive talks with Logoplaste's owners.
- Apax Partners dropped out of the bidding process.
- A deal could be reached in the coming weeks, according to people familiar with the matter.
Italian cosmetics packaging group Lumson has completed the acquisition of Lombardi Design and Manufacturing in the United States through its Lumson USA subsidiary, and separately acquired 100% of Lombardi Design & MFG Limited in Asia. The deals give Lumson a direct presence in Europe, North America and Asia; Lombardi Design and Manufacturing will keep its name and brand, with Carl Lombardi continuing as chief executive.
Why this mattersThe deal gives an Italian cosmetics-packaging specialist manufacturing footholds in the US and Asia, letting it serve global beauty brands from three continents.
- Lumson S.p.A. completed acquisition of US-based Lombardi Design and Manufacturing via subsidiary Lumson USA
- Lumson acquired 100% of Lombardi Design & MFG Limited in Asia
- Lombardi Design and Manufacturing retains its existing name and brand
- Carl Lombardi continues as CEO of Lombardi Design and Manufacturing
- Deals give Lumson direct presence in Europe, North America and Asia
- Announcement made 15 September 2026
Uwe Röhrhoff has stepped down as interim CEO of Gerresheimer AG at his own request, a few weeks ahead of his scheduled term end in October 2026. Board members Wolf Lehmann and Achim Schalk, appointed alongside him in 2025, will take on his duties until further notice, following the July 2026 agreement to sell Gerresheimer's US subsidiary Centor and its global Primary Packaging Plastics business.
Why this mattersLeadership continuity at Gerresheimer matters as it executes the Centor and Primary Packaging Plastics divestment amid an ongoing turnaround.
- Uwe Röhrhoff has stepped down as interim CEO of Gerresheimer AG at his own request, effective 14 September 2026.
- He was appointed interim CEO on 1 November 2025 for a term due to end no later than October 2026.
- Fellow board members Wolf Lehmann and Achim Schalk, also appointed in 2025, will assume his responsibilities until further notice.
- The move follows a late-July 2026 agreement to sell the US subsidiary Centor and the global Primary Packaging Plastics business.
- Supervisory Board Chairman Axel Herberg credited Röhrhoff with helping stabilise the company during his tenure.
ALPLA and CCL Label have jointly developed a 0.33-litre stackable PET beverage container designed as an alternative to aluminium cans. The container can run on existing PET filling lines, uses no internal BPA-containing epoxy coating, and is decorated with CCL's detachable EcoFloat shrink sleeve to support bottle-to-bottle recycling. The companies point to EU bisphenol restrictions taking effect from July 2026 as a driver for beverage makers to consider the format.
Why this mattersA drop-in PET can format lets beverage brands switch from metal without new filling investment, adding competitive pressure on can makers as BPA rules tighten.
- Container volume is 0.33 litres, made from transparent PET
- Can run on existing PET filling infrastructure without line changes
- No internal BPA-containing epoxy coating used, unlike some metal cans
- Container can be produced using recycled PET (rPET) for bottle-to-bottle recycling
- Decoration is CCL Label's detachable EcoFloat shrink sleeve, made from low-density polyolefin
- EU restrictions on bisphenol-containing food packaging apply from July 2026
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.
IFCO has launched Floris, a reusable floral bucket designed to replace single-use plastic buckets in bouquet transport and retail display across North America. The product runs on IFCO's SmartCycle pooling model, under which buckets are collected, washed and reused, and is digitally enabled for asset tracking. Floral providers and retailers in North America are beginning to adopt the product, IFCO said.
Why this mattersExtends IFCO's reusable pooling model, established in fresh grocery, into a new product category with potential to displace single-use plastic buckets at scale.
- IFCO launched the Floris reusable floral bucket for North America, announced 16 September 2026
- Floris replaces standard 8L and 10L single-use plastic floral buckets
- The bucket operates via IFCO's SmartCycle share, reuse and recycle pooling model
- Floris is digitally enabled for asset tracking and shrink management
- Floral providers and retailers in North America have begun introducing the product
Alpla has opened two new production plants in Izmir and Adana, Turkey, investing about EUR 30m in total. The sites will supply beverage, food, dairy and home and personal care customers, shortening delivery routes and adding capacity for PET preforms, closures and HDPE/PP bottles. Alpla now runs five plants in Turkey, a market it says accounts for roughly a third of its Africa, Middle East & Turkey region activity.
Why this mattersThe expansion strengthens Alpla's regional supply network in Turkey, a growing consumer goods market it sees as key to its Africa, Middle East & Turkey strategy.
- Alpla invested about EUR 30m in two new plants in Izmir and Adana, Turkey
- The Izmir plant covers about 50,000 sqm and produces PET preforms, closures and HDPE/PET bottles
- The Adana plant covers about 20,000 sqm and focuses on PET preforms and HDPE/PP packaging
- Adana opened on 14 September 2026 and Izmir on 15 September 2026
- Alpla now operates five plants in Turkey: Kocaeli, Ankara, Konya, Adana and Izmir, present since 1992
- Turkey accounts for about a third of production capacity and business activity in Alpla's Africa, Middle East & Turkey region
Evertis has commissioned a new COEX CAST film line at its Pesquería, Mexico site, adding more than 9,600 tonnes of ultra-thin flexible film capacity and taking the plant beyond 44,000 tonnes. The move extends the rigid-packaging specialist into flexible films for North American food and brand-owner customers, alongside a separate $100m plant under construction in Columbia, South Carolina, due onstream in the first quarter of 2028.
Why this mattersEntry into flexibles by a rigid-PET specialist adds capacity to an already crowded segment and tests whether Evertis can meet converters' speed and consistency requirements.
- New COEX CAST line commissioned at Evertis's Pesquería, Nuevo León site in Mexico
- Line adds more than 9,600 tonnes of ultra-thin flexible film capacity
- Mexican plant's total capacity now exceeds 44,000 tonnes
- Six-extruder configuration produces structures of up to eight layers
- Evertis is building a $100 million plant in Columbia, South Carolina, targeted for operation in Q1 2028 with first commercial sales in Q2 2028
- Evertis has operated in polymers since 1959, specialising in barrier films for food and pharmaceutical packaging
ProAmpac is presenting a range of fibre-based hot-hold packaging formats, including the newly launched Hot HandRap, at the LUNCH! 2026 trade fair in London on 16-17 September. The formats target food-to-go retailers and foodservice operators seeking extended hot-hold performance with reduced plastic content, in line with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU 2025/40).
Why this mattersFibre-based hot-hold formats aligned with PPWR give food-to-go retailers a route to cut plastic use while keeping temperature retention and product visibility.
- ProAmpac is presenting three fibre-based hot-hold formats at LUNCH! 2026 in London on 16-17 September, at Stand L349
- The 6041 Hot Hold Box is tested to maintain food temperature for up to four hours in hot cabinets
- The 5021 Hot Hold Carton is a flat-pack format with a clear waterfall window and grease resistance
- Hot HandRap combines a flexible bag with profiled carton board for items such as breakfast sandwiches, burgers and paninis
- Hot HandRap includes a fog- and grease-resistant window and a tamper-evident tear strip
- The formats are designed to meet applicable requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU 2025/40)
Ahmedabad-based converter Amba Multiprint has installed a Multitec S3S 670 sleeve-based flexographic press to expand its flexible packaging capacity. The upgrade targets faster changeovers for shorter, more frequent packaging runs demanded by India's food, FMCG and e-commerce brands.
Why this mattersSleeve-based flexo shifts Indian converter capacity toward changeover speed for short, multi-SKU food, FMCG and e-commerce runs rather than long-run volume.
- Amba Multiprint (AMP) is based in Ahmedabad, India.
- The company installed a Multitec S3S 670 sleeve-based flexographic printing press.
- The press is designed to improve print consistency and reduce job changeover time.
- India's consumer packaging market is projected to grow from USD 62.8 billion in 2026 to USD 109.3 billion by 2036.
- New client production runs on the press are expected in the coming weeks.
German films specialist RENOLIT is investing EUR 56 million in a new automated raw-materials mixing plant at its Worms headquarters, where plastics, colour pigments and additives are weighed and blended before film production. Earthworks began in February 2025, structural completion is due in December 2026 and start-up is scheduled for June 2027. The facility will use automated guided vehicles, 37 weighing stations and six computer-controlled mixing stations, with heat pumps providing heating.
Why this mattersAutomated dosing at RENOLIT's main plant targets shorter cycle times and less waste, raising the process-control bar for film converters still moving and weighing raw materials by hand.
- Investment of EUR 56 million at RENOLIT's Worms headquarters in Germany
- Earthworks started February 2025; structural completion due December 2026; start-up scheduled June 2027
- Equipment installation is due to begin in November, running parallel to construction
- Eight outdoor storage silos initially, expandable to 16, plus 37 automatic weighing stations
- Six computer-controlled mixing stations and automated guided vehicles replace manual container handling
- The Worms site employs more than 1,000 people
Sudpack has reported a 73% cut in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions in 2025 against its 2021 baseline, compared with a 2030 target of 76.3% under its Science Based Targets initiative commitments. Total group CO2e emissions fell 21% over the same period, while Scope 3.1 emissions from purchased goods and services fell 16%. Renewable energy now accounts for 57% of the group's energy mix, targeted to reach 88% by 2030.
Why this mattersThe results show a plastics packaging converter can cut direct emissions sharply while expanding capacity, a benchmark for peers under SBTi pressure.
- Scope 1 and 2 emissions down 73% in 2025 versus the 2021 baseline, against a 76.3% target for 2030
- Total group CO2e emissions down 21% since 2021
- The group carbon footprint rose 3.91% against 2024, attributed to higher sales volumes and the Erolzheim and Coulmer plant expansions
- Scope 3.1 emissions from purchased goods and services down 16%, targeting 25% by 2030
- Renewable energy share of the total energy mix stands at 57%, targeted to reach 88% by 2030
- All EU production sites run on green electricity after Coulmer, France switched at the start of 2025
Sudpack has consolidated its Pure-Line mono-material PP and PE pouch films under a new brand, CarbonLite, covering flowpacks, doypacks and block-bottom pouches for snacks, cheese, baguettes and confectionery. The company has now extended the CarbonLite PurePP technology to spouted pouches for cold-filled drinkable yoghurt, citing recyclability above 95% and a CO2e footprint per square metre over 40% lower than an equivalent PET/aluminium/PE laminate. A Pure PP flowpack in the range has achieved a 92% recycling rate certified by cyclos-HTP, positioning the range ahead of the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
Why this mattersExtending one recyclable mono-material film platform across snack, dairy and spouted-pouch formats gives brand owners a single compliance route ahead of PPWR deadlines.
- Sudpack has grouped Pure-Line mono-material PP and PE pouch films under the CarbonLite brand.
- CarbonLite covers flowpacks, doypacks and block-bottom pouches for snacks, dairy, bakery and confectionery.
- A CarbonLite Pure PP flowpack has a 92% recycling rate certified by cyclos-HTP.
- CarbonLite PurePP has been extended to spouted pouches for cold-filled drinkable yoghurt.
- The spouted-pouch PP film, paired with a PP spout, offers recyclability above 95%.
- CO2e footprint per square metre of the 111um PP spouted pouch is over 40% lower than a 103um PET/aluminium/PE laminate.
Aptar Pharma has entered a research collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, led by Alice Stanton, to build a predictive screening platform for nose-to-brain (N2B) drug delivery. The New Approach Methodology will combine in vitro, in vivo and computational tools to identify molecules suited to intranasal delivery for central nervous system disorders including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. The tool is intended to incorporate Aptar's Cerespray and Neurospray nasal delivery platforms to guide formulation and device design for pharmaceutical partners.
Why this mattersA validated screening platform could shorten development timelines for CNS drugs and strengthen Aptar's positioning as a device partner earlier in pharma R&D.
- Research collaboration agreement signed with Massachusetts General Hospital, led by Alice Stanton, PhD
- Project targets a New Approach Methodology (NAM) for nose-to-brain (N2B) drug delivery screening
- Platform combines in vitro, in vivo and computational technologies to characterise transport mechanisms
- NAM is intended to incorporate Aptar's Cerespray and Neurospray nasal delivery platforms
- Target applications include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and depression
- Aptar cites 30 years of field data behind its proprietary nasal delivery systems
Indorama Ventures and German packaging maker Rebhan have jointly launched Luxyclear EBM PET 5508, a specialty PET grade for extrusion blow moulding that gives thick-wall cosmetic bottles a glass-like appearance. The grade is available in virgin, up to 100% chemically recycled, and mass-balanced renewable feedstock versions, and is now commercially available to beauty brands in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Why this mattersGlass-look PET offers cosmetics brands a lighter, shatter-resistant alternative to glass while adding recycled and renewable feedstock options.
- Luxyclear EBM PET 5508 is designed for extrusion blow moulding of thick-wall cosmetic bottles.
- The grade is offered in virgin, up to 100% chemically recycled, and mass-balance certified renewable feedstock versions.
- The product is now commercially available across Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Indorama Ventures supplies the specialty PET material; Rebhan provides packaging design and manufacturing.
- Patrick Amrhein is business director of specialty polymers at Indorama Ventures.
- Patrick Kohns is head of sales and product management at Rebhan.
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.
Aptar Pharma has transferred and commissioned production of its Advanced Preservative Free (APF) nasal pump technology at its Berazategui, Argentina facility, which serves customers across 15 Latin American countries. The move forms part of Aptar Pharma's local-for-local manufacturing strategy, alongside recent investments in the US, China and India.
Why this mattersLocalising advanced drug-delivery manufacturing shortens lead times for Latin American pharma customers and signals continued capacity build-out by Aptar's core pharma division.
- APF pump production line transferred and commissioned at Berazategui, Argentina, announced 13 September 2026
- Berazategui facility spans 2,500 square metres and supplies 15 countries in Latin America
- APF is a multidose spray dispensing system for preservative-free nasal formulations
- Move sits alongside Aptar Pharma investments in Congers, New York, Suzhou, China and Mumbai, India
Dantex Group has agreed with Ricoh USA that Ricoh will offer the full Dantex Pico digital label press lineup as part of its production print portfolio across the United States and Canada. The deal covers the PicoColour 254 and PicoJet 1200 DRS presses and builds on an existing technical relationship in which Dantex uses Ricoh inkjet technology. Dantex will showcase the partnership at LOUPE Americas 2026 in Chicago and PRINTING United Expo in Las Vegas this September.
Why this mattersThe tie-up gives Dantex a large-scale US and Canadian sales channel and lets Ricoh add digital label capability to its production print offer for converters and commercial printers.
- Dantex Group and Ricoh USA signed a strategic agreement covering distribution of the Pico label press lineup in the US and Canada
- Portfolio includes the PicoColour 254 entry-level press and the PicoJet 1200 DRS with Dynamic Resolution System
- Agreement builds on a longstanding technical relationship in which Dantex has used Ricoh inkjet technology in its platforms
- Dantex will exhibit at LOUPE Americas 2026 in Chicago, 15-17 September 2026, stand 6415
- Dantex will join Ricoh at PRINTING United Expo in Las Vegas, 23-25 September 2026, on Ricoh stand N6169
- Dantex plans to preview its AI-powered operator support system PAL ahead of an early 2027 launch
IMA TMC has introduced a redesigned WRAP250-NXT packaging machine for single rolls and multipacks of tissue, reaching speeds of up to 220 packs per minute and 1,300 rolls per minute depending on configuration. The machine features a re-engineered belt-and-pulley elevator unit, Never-Stop Technology for automatic rejection of faulty roll configurations without halting production, and a redesigned single-level, platform-free layout for operator access.
Why this mattersFaster changeovers and non-stop fault handling let tissue converters raise line uptime and respond to just-in-time demand without added labour.
- WRAP250-NXT reaches up to 220 packs per minute and up to 1,300 rolls per minute depending on configuration
- Machine handles roll diameters up to 250 mm and standard pack heights up to 410 mm
- Format changeovers take as little as 10 minutes
- Redesigned elevator unit uses a belt-and-pulley system enabling mechanical speeds up to 250 packs per minute
- Never-Stop Technology detects and rejects deformed, misaligned or miscounted rolls without stopping the machine
- Redesign removes platforms and stairways for a single-level, fully accessible working area
HB-Therm has launched Flow-6, a water-based flow measurement and control device for injection moulding temperature control circuits, using an ultrasonic measurement system it developed in-house. The product, unveiled at Fakuma 2026, is available as a monitoring-only or controlled version, with active flow control due to be enabled by software update in March 2027.
Why this mattersThe device can reduce the number of temperature control units needed per mould, offering injection moulders a lower-cost route to more stable, energy-efficient cooling.
- Flow-6 uses a maintenance-free ultrasonic measurement system to monitor and control mould temperature circuits
- Available in four, six or eight-circuit versions rated for fluid temperatures up to 100, 160 or 180 degrees C
- Market launch of monitoring functions is September 2026, with a software update adding operating and integration functions due November 2026
- Active flow control function is scheduled to be enabled via software update in March 2027
- Measurement range is 0.4 to 40 litres per minute per circuit, with a lifetime warranty on measurement sections
- HB-Therm is presenting the product at Fakuma 2026, Hall A4, Booth 4205
Esko has introduced Quartz Thermal Screens (TQ), extending its Quartz screening technology to thermal flexographic plate production, at the Loupe Americas 2026 trade show. The company also previewed forthcoming UV Screens due to launch later in 2026 and showed new WebCenter Pack capabilities including an AI-infused customer portal and integration with GlobalVision's Verify Compare artwork inspection tool.
Why this mattersExtending Quartz screening to thermal and UV plates lets converters standardise print quality across plate types, a factor in flexo's competition with digital printing.
- Quartz Thermal Screens (TQ) made its debut at Loupe Americas 2026
- UV Screens, extending the Quartz approach to UV plate production, are scheduled to launch later in 2026
- WebCenter Pack now integrates GlobalVision's Verify Compare tool for artwork inspection
- Esko added an AI-infused customer portal to WebCenter Pack for job submissions and artwork handling
- The Quartz ecosystem has been shortlisted for the Innovation Award at the Global Label Awards, presented at Loupe
Stahl has launched an upgraded version of its Sensora tactile coatings portfolio for packaging, unveiled on 31 August 2026 in Waalwijk, the Netherlands. The water-based and energy-curable range offers soft-velvet, silky, rubbery, textured and matte finishes for paper, board, labels and flexible packaging, with selected grades meeting food-contact requirements including US FDA, Swiss, German and EuPIA standards. Stahl will present the range at Loupe Americas 2026 in Chicago, booth 727.
Why this mattersTactile finishes give converters and brand owners a new lever for shelf differentiation as visual-only packaging design becomes commoditised.
- Stahl unveiled the upgraded Sensora tactile coatings portfolio on 31 August 2026 in Waalwijk, the Netherlands
- Range offers soft-velvet, silky, rubbery, smooth, textured and matte finishes for paper, board, labels and flexible packaging
- Coating technologies are water-based and energy-curable
- End uses include folding cartons, labels, flexible food packaging, cosmetics, technology and luxury packaging
- Selected products meet food-contact compliance including US FDA, Swiss Ordinance, German Ink Ordinance, ISEGA and EuPIA standards
- Stahl will present the range at Loupe Americas 2026 in Chicago, exhibiting at booth 727
Arburg will present a turnkey automated production cell at Fakuma 2026 based on the Domino family mould jointly developed with Hasco and Polar-Form, first unveiled at K 2025. An Allrounder More 2000 machine runs a 32-cavity hot-runner mould with a 3D-printed hot runner to produce two-coloured ABS dominoes, with a new upstream cobot cell packing the finished parts into boxes. Arburg is acting as general contractor for the full system.
Why this mattersThe exhibit shows how injection moulders now bundle multi-component mould design, machine and end-of-line packing into single automated cells for customers.
- Allrounder More 2000 (2,000 kN clamping force) produces 32 two-coloured ABS dominoes per cycle of about 60 seconds
- Mould from Polar-Form and Hasco uses a 32-cavity hot-runner design with additive-manufactured, 3D-printed interlaced runners, first shown as a concept at K 2025
- Domino family mould project is jointly developed by Hasco, Arburg and Polar-Form as an alternative to cube moulds and rotary tables
- A two-stage core pull concept replaces conventional mould rotation for the two-component process
- A Multilift V 30 robot (30 kg capacity) removes finished parts; an autonomous cobot then pre-assembles boxes and packs and closes them
- System shown at Fakuma 2026, Hall A3, Stand 3101
IMA Group has introduced its first fully IMA-supplied suppository production and packaging line, combining forming, filling, cartoning, labelling, case packing and serialisation in one automated workflow. The line runs at up to 30,000 suppositories per hour and will be available from October 2026 at the IMA Sarong plant.
Why this mattersA single-supplier, fully integrated line reduces interface risk and coordination cost for pharmaceutical manufacturers, a selling point against multi-vendor line assemblies.
- Line integrates IMA Sarong SAAS 15, IMA Safe A83, IMA Life Sensitive AP400, IMA BFB CP18 MINIFLEX and Antares Vision technologies
- Production speed up to 30,000 suppositories per hour
- Forming, filling and sealing done in a single process using aluminium foil
- Full traceability provided from carton level to case level via serialisation and aggregation
- Line available from October 2026 at the IMA Sarong plant
AVT and Mark Andy have formed a strategic alliance combining AVT's inspection and production-data technology with Mark Andy's press engineering, aimed at label and hybrid press converters. The first joint products, a closed-loop register control system for Mark Andy's Performance Series and HD Series presses and a business-intelligence layer feeding AVT press data into the MA ProWorx platform, were introduced at Loupe Americas 2026 in Chicago.
Why this mattersThe tie-up signals a shift in press automation from motion control to closed-loop process control, raising the bar on startup-waste reduction and data visibility for label and packaging converters.
- AVT and Mark Andy announced a strategic alliance on closed-loop register control and production-data visibility
- First joint solutions were introduced at Loupe Americas 2026 in Chicago
- The closed-loop register control system targets Mark Andy's Performance Series and HD Series presses
- The system extends register control to invisible varnish and coating layers
- AVT production data is being integrated into Mark Andy's MA ProWorx platform via a new business-intelligence layer
Herma has launched an optional cutting system for its AutoSplicer roll-change unit, extending automated, uninterrupted roll changes to label rolls whose web is firmly attached to the core. The AutoSplicer also gains a new HMI and GUI for machine control, and Herma cites a calculation showing manual roll changes can cost over 350 hours of downtime a year in a three-shift operation.
Why this mattersAutomating a wider range of roll-change scenarios cuts downtime on high-speed labelling lines, pressuring rivals to match the feature set.
- Herma's AutoSplicer now offers an optional cutting system for rolls where the label web is firmly attached to the core.
- The system cuts the web in a controlled manner before the roll is fully used, avoiding tension damage or tears.
- Herma calculates manual roll changes can cause about 90 minutes of downtime per day across a three-shift operation, over 350 hours a year at 47 production weeks.
- The AutoSplicer handles paper and film labels, including transparent and multi-layer materials, at web speeds exceeding 110 metres per minute.
- The unit now includes a newly integrated HMI system and GUI for machine control and process visualisation.
- Herma says the AutoSplicer can be integrated into existing labelling systems without extensive modification or lengthy training.
Valmet will supply modernisation services for the recovery boiler and evaporation plant at Södra's Mönsterås pulp mill in Sweden, aimed at improving reliability and safety and cutting unplanned downtime. The order value is undisclosed and is booked in Valmet's third-quarter 2026 orders received, with work scheduled during the mill's annual shutdown in November 2026.
Why this mattersUndisclosed modernisation order shows continued aftermarket demand for pulp mill recovery boiler services as mills prioritise reliability over capacity growth.
- Order covers recovery boiler and evaporation plant modernisation at Södra Mönsterås mill in Sweden
- Södra Mönsterås has annual pulp production capacity of 750,000 tonnes
- Order value not disclosed, booked in Valmet's Q3 2026 orders received
- Modernisation work scheduled during the mill's annual shutdown in November 2026
- Recovery boiler scope includes pressure part replacement, new safety system upgrades and Smelt-X equipment
- Evaporation plant scope includes replacement of a tank head and flash tank
Syntegon has opened a new OSD Customer Center in Fellbach, Germany, offering pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developers trial capabilities for solid oral dosage forms from formulation through to series production. The company describes the project as a double-digit million euro investment, part of its growth strategy in pharma solid dosage equipment.
Why this mattersThe facility strengthens Syntegon's position in pharma solid-dose equipment and gives customers earlier access to trial and scale-up capacity, a competitive lever against rival machinery suppliers.
- Syntegon opened a new OSD Customer Center in Fellbach, Germany, on 14 September 2026
- The site includes cleanrooms, a powder laboratory and new equipment for solid oral dosage trials
- The company describes the project as a double-digit million euro investment
- Capsule fillers, sealers and tablet presses are available for customer trials
- The centre supports formulation and manufacturing trials from lab through to series production
hubergroup Print Solutions has launched Gecko CyclOne, a nitrocellulose-free (NC-free) liquid ink system for frontal, reverse and lamination printing on flexible packaging. The polyurethane-based range is designed to support recyclable packaging and complements the company's existing Gecko Platinum and Gecko Xtreme White NC-free lines, which build on PU-based products the company first introduced in 2015.
Why this mattersConverters face pressure to move away from NC- and PVC-based inks for recyclability, and PU-based drop-in alternatives can ease that transition without major process changes.
- Gecko CyclOne is a nitrocellulose-free liquid ink system for frontal, reverse and lamination printing, based on proprietary polyurethane technology.
- The range works for flexographic and gravure printing, with or without lamination, and for mono-solvent applications.
- Product line includes white, CMYK process colours, varnishes and primers.
- It complements hubergroup's existing NC-free lines Gecko Platinum and Gecko Xtreme White.
- hubergroup first launched PU-based ink solutions in 2015.
UK glass packaging specialist Croxsons has signed an exclusive UK distribution agreement with German closure maker PANO Verschluss GmbH for its BLUESEAL PVC-free twist-off caps. The closures, verified to cut CO2 per unit by 81% since 2011, will be offered across Croxsons' glass food jar range as PVC-free alternatives gain traction ahead of tighter European PFAS food-contact rules.
Why this mattersUK food producers gain a compliant, low-carbon PVC-free closure option as European PFAS and PVC restrictions on food-contact packaging tighten.
- Croxsons signed an exclusive distribution agreement with PANO Verschluss GmbH to bring BLUESEAL PVC-free twist-off caps to the UK food sector.
- PANO's closures deliver an 81% reduction in CO2 per closure in 2025 versus 2011, verified by an environmental auditor.
- PANO manufactures more than one billion closures a year across twelve sizes.
- The closures are compatible with cold filling, hot filling, pasteurisation up to 95°C and sterilisation up to 121°C.
- PANO switched from gas-fired thermal drying to induction and UV processes in 2020 and uses 100% renewable energy.
- The deal comes as European restrictions on PFAS in food-contact packaging tighten and PVC-free closures gain traction.
Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble and Unilever have become founding members of the PaperFlex Consortium, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and (RE)SET, to jointly fund and trial paper-based alternatives to flexible plastic packaging such as sachets, wrappers and pouches. The consortium targets markets where flexible plastic use is high but collection and recycling infrastructure is limited, and remains open to further brand owners, innovators, suppliers and investors. Each member will continue to make its own packaging decisions independently.
Why this mattersA joint R&D push by six of the largest packaging buyers could accelerate paper-based substitutes for flexible plastic, reshaping demand for converters and material suppliers.
- Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestle, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble and Unilever are founding members of the PaperFlex Consortium.
- The consortium is convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and powered by (RE)SET.
- Work will cover technologies including biodegradable coatings to improve product protection, shelf life and manufacturing-line performance of paper-based materials.
- The initiative follows an Ellen MacArthur Foundation report published earlier in 2026, endorsed by 48 businesses, NGOs, investors and academics, setting six design criteria for paper-based alternatives.
- Flexible plastic packaging, including sachets, wrappers and pouches, is described by the Foundation as the fastest-growing type of plastic packaging globally.
- The consortium remains open to additional FMCG companies, innovators, suppliers and investors.
Mondelez International, PepsiCo and Pladis have launched a nationwide Belgian trial of digital watermarking technology to improve sorting of flexible food packaging for recycling. The pilot, run under the HolyGrail 2030 consortium with Fost Plus, AIM and Ceflex, embeds Digimarc watermarks read by Pellenc ST optical sorting equipment, with sorted material processed at Hündgen Entsorgungs in Germany. The project aims to build data ahead of a 2030 EU requirement for 10% recycled content in certain contact-sensitive plastic food packaging.
Why this mattersReliable sorting of flexible film is the main technical barrier to closing the loop on food-contact plastics ahead of the EU's 2030 recycled-content mandate.
- Trial launched nationwide in Belgium by Mondelez International, PepsiCo and Pladis
- Participants include Fost Plus, AIM (European Brands Association) and Ceflex
- Part of HolyGrail 2030 consortium, which comprises about 79 organisations
- Uses Digimarc digital watermarks embedded during printing, read by Pellenc ST optical sorting cameras
- Sorted film bales move from Fost Plus in Belgium to Hündgen Entsorgungs' sorting centre in Germany
- EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation will require 10% recycled content in certain contact-sensitive plastic food packaging from 2030
The Australian government has confirmed that no new Commonwealth packaging scheme will be introduced this term, days after plastics recycler Recycling Plastics Australia entered voluntary administration, putting about 60 Adelaide jobs and domestic plastics-processing capacity at risk. Pact Group chair Raphael Geminder described the outcome as a policy rather than a technology failure, while the Australian Council of Recycling and the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association pointed to the unsustainable economics facing plastics recyclers. The environment department says it will instead work with states and territories on nearer-term packaging measures, with no decision taken on how the recyclability grading framework will be used.
Why this mattersThe retreat leaves recyclers built with federal money exposed to imports and fragmented state rules, with no national scheme to underwrite demand for their output.
- Recycling Plastics Australia entered voluntary administration, putting about 60 Adelaide jobs at risk
- The federal environment department told consultation participants that a new Commonwealth packaging scheme will not be introduced in this term of government
- The department says it will work with states and territories on nearer-term packaging regulation instead, with no decision on the recyclability grading framework
- Pact Group chair Raphael Geminder said the government banned plastic waste exports and put AUD 137 million into recycling plants without creating the market conditions for them to be viable
- Australia has banned the export of plastic waste, requiring the material to be processed domestically
- The latest consultation on the Design for Kerbside Recyclability Grading Framework drew on more than 65 interviews
Emirates Global Aluminium said it is disappointed by the European Union's decision to withdraw a proposed 15% export duty on aluminium scrap, warning the reversal could affect its decision-making on a planned six-fold expansion of its German recycling unit. The company's chief financial officer called the U-turn a net negative for domestic scrap supply. No final decision on the German project's scale has yet been confirmed.
Why this mattersWithdrawal of the 15% scrap export duty changes the supply and cost assumptions underpinning recycled aluminium capacity that feeds can sheet and rigid packaging.
- The EU withdrew a proposed 15% export duty on aluminium scrap in early September 2026.
- Emirates Global Aluminium's CFO called the withdrawal a 'net negative' for the company.
- EGA plans a six-fold expansion of its recycling unit in Germany.
- The company says the policy reversal could affect its investment decision-making on the German expansion.
Finnish recycler Syklo has started up a mixed plastics recycling plant in Hyvinkää with annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes, the largest such facility in the country. The EUR 70-80 million investment raises Finland's overall plastics recycling capacity by about 50 percent and created over 100 jobs, producing recycled PP and PE grades alongside biocomposite materials.
Why this mattersThe plant materially expands European recycled-plastics supply ahead of PPWR recycled-content requirements, tightening competition for feedstock and offtake.
- The Hyvinkää plant has annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes of mixed plastic waste, the largest in Finland
- Syklo invested EUR 70-80 million in the facility
- The plant raises Finland's overall plastics recycling capacity by around 50 percent
- Output includes rPP, rHDPE and rLDPE sold under the Sykloplast brand
- The plant uses Impact Recycling's BOSS sorting technology
- Syklo is also producing biocomposites under the Syklocomp brand with initial capacity of 8,000 tonnes per year
ELITe, a 50:50 joint venture of India's Ester Industries and Canada's Loop Industries, has secured an order to supply up to 15,000 tonnes of recycled PET resin to an undisclosed global sports and athletic brand. The material will come from a new chemical recycling plant under construction in the PCPIR Dahej region of Gujarat, being built at a cost of Rs 1,600 crore with 70,000 tonnes of annual capacity.
Why this mattersThe deal signals brand-owner demand for chemically recycled PET and gives Loop's depolymerisation technology its first major India-based commercial reference.
- ELITe is a 50:50 joint venture between Ester Industries and Loop Industries.
- The order covers up to 15,000 tonnes of recycled PET resin for a global sports and athletic brand not publicly named.
- The greenfield plant is being built in the PCPIR Dahej region of Gujarat, India.
- Investment in the chemical recycling plant is Rs 1,600 crore.
- The facility will have annual production capacity of 70,000 metric tonnes.
- The plant will use Loop Industries' depolymerization technology to convert polyester waste into DMT and MEG monomers.
PolyCycle Innovation and PackSys Global announced that PolyCycle's certified food-grade PCR HDPE resin has passed qualification testing on PackSys Global's compression moulding tube equipment, including the noSho tube design. The qualification gives cosmetics, personal care and oral care tube manufacturers a validated PCR HDPE option to meet California's SB 54 extended producer responsibility rules, which took effect in May 2026 with full enforcement from 1 January 2027.
Why this mattersA validated PCR resin-and-equipment pairing lowers the technical barrier for squeeze-tube makers to hit US state recycled-content mandates without retooling.
- PolyCycle's PCR HDPE resin has been tested and approved on PackSys Global's compression moulding equipment for both noSho and traditional tubes.
- California SB 54 took effect in May 2026, with full EPR enforcement from 1 January 2027.
- New Jersey is preparing its own recycled-packaging-content law.
- PackSys Global demonstrated a noSho tube with over 50% PCR content at Paris Packaging Week in February 2026.
- PolyCycle sources PCR resin through a 100% North American supply chain and holds FDA NOL and GreenCircle certification.
- PackSys Global is a business unit of Germany's Brückner Group, serving customers in more than 90 countries.
Italian plastics recycler Aliplast and winery Cantina Pizzolato reported results after a year of collaboration recycling plastic film used in the winery's packaging and logistics. In 2025 the winery handed over 19,810 kg of plastic film to Aliplast, with a further 1,801 kg collected locally, taking the winery's plastic recycling rate to 91.7 percent. The recovered material is processed at Aliplast's Istrana plant into recyclate pellets used to make new films containing 30 percent recycled content.
Why this mattersThe case illustrates a localised closed-loop model for plastic film that producers may scale to meet PPWR recyclability and recycled-content requirements.
- Cantina Pizzolato handed over 19,810 kg of plastic film to Aliplast in 2025
- A further 1,801 kg of film was collected via a local collection scheme
- 91.7 percent of the winery's plastic waste was sent for recycling
- Aliplast processes the material at its Istrana plant in northern Italy into recyclate pellets
- New films produced contain 30 percent recycled plastic and 70 percent virgin material
- The companies frame the project in the context of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
Indian recycler Greenwave Circularity has raised USD 31.5m (Rs 300 crore) from OeEB, the Development Bank of Austria, to build a closed-loop PET recycling facility in Odisha. The financing, guaranteed by the European Union, will fund production of food-grade recycled PET resin, flakes, pellets and preforms for the FMCG sector. OeEB estimates the project will create more than 1,000 jobs.
Why this mattersEuropean development finance backing an Indian rPET plant signals growing cross-border capital flows into food-grade recycling capacity serving FMCG demand for recycled content.
- Greenwave Circularity raised USD 31.5m (Rs 300 crore) from OeEB, Austria's Development Bank.
- The plant is planned in Odisha, India, and is described as one of the country's largest closed-loop PET recycling facilities.
- The financing is de-risked and guaranteed by the European Union.
- The facility will produce food-grade rPET resin, flakes, pellets and preforms for FMCG customers.
- OeEB estimates the project will create more than 1,000 jobs.
- The plant will target LEED Gold certification with rooftop solar and zero-liquid-discharge effluent treatment.
Avantium has signed a partnership with Japanese plastics trader Sojitz Pla-Net Corporation to promote its plant-based PEF polymer, branded releaf, to Japan's FMCG and packaging sector. The deal, announced 8 September 2026, pairs Avantium's bio-based polymer technology with Sojitz Pla-Net's domestic distribution network. The two companies will co-exhibit at the Sustainable Material Expo in Chiba from 30 September to 2 October 2026.
Why this mattersA local distribution partner lowers the entry barrier for bio-based PEF in Japan, a market central to Asia-Pacific PET-substitution policy.
- Avantium and Sojitz Pla-Net Corporation announced the partnership on 8 September 2026
- Deal covers commercialisation of Avantium's plant-based FDCA and PEF polymer, branded releaf, in Japan
- Sojitz Pla-Net will use its plastics distribution network to reach Japanese FMCG and packaging manufacturers
- PEF is cited as offering roughly 6 times better oxygen barrier and 3 times better water vapour barrier than PET
- The companies will co-exhibit at the Sustainable Material Expo (SUSMA) 2026 in Chiba, Japan, from 30 September to 2 October 2026
- Japan's Plastic Resource Circulation Strategy, set in 2020, targets expanded use of bioplastics
Erema Group, the Austrian plastics recycling machinery maker, reported revenue of EUR 235m for the 2025/26 financial year, down 28% year on year, but still closed the period in profit. Management cited weak European recyclate demand, high energy costs and customers postponing investment, while pointing to Asia, the Americas and Africa as growth markets. The company opened Erema India with partner Lindner Washtech in February 2026 and took a stake in Australian textile-recycling firm BlockTexx in October 2025.
Why this mattersA leading recycling machinery supplier absorbing a steep revenue fall shows how far customer investment has stalled, a signal for capex plans across the recyclate supply chain.
- Erema Group revenue fell 28% to EUR 235m in the 2025/26 financial year, which ended in March 2026.
- The company remained profitable despite the revenue decline, citing cost control and its family-owned structure.
- Erema invested in Australian textile-recycling company BlockTexx in October 2025.
- Erema and Lindner Washtech opened Erema India in February 2026.
- Erema has operated in China since founding a Shanghai facility in 2001 and also has sites in North America, South Africa and Thailand.
- The OECD forecasts global plastic demand will triple from 460 million tonnes in 2019 to 1.2 billion tonnes in 2060, with only 17% recycled by then.
The Recycling Partnership has published the second installment of its 2026 State of Recycling Report, based on its National Recycling Database and field measurement studies. The report finds that since 2020 US households have grown by 8.5 million while generation of traditionally collected recyclable material fell 3.7 million tons, or 8 percent, with plastics and cartons rising sharply and mixed paper and glass declining.
Why this mattersA lighter, more plastics-heavy household stream signals recyclers and processors need new sorting and end-market investment to keep pace with packaging design shifts.
- US households grew by about 8.5 million since 2020
- Generation of traditionally collected material fell 3.7 million tons (8 percent) since 2020, excluding film
- Cardboard generation per household rose 32 percent, cartons rose 61 percent, nonbottle PET rose 48 percent, PP rose 47 percent, aluminium foil and trays rose 44 percent, aluminium cans rose 18 percent
- Mixed paper declined 34 percent and glass declined 28 percent per household
- Combined plastics (with film and flexibles) now represent 31 percent of generation, surpassing mixed paper at 28 percent
- US households will generate 51.5 million tons of packaging and printed paper this year, 78 percent within traditionally collected categories
Boretech has signed a contract with Egyptian Chinese Company (ECC) to supply a 4,000kg/h PET-tray washing line for the GreenTech project in Egypt. Boretech describes the installation as the first dedicated PET-tray washing project in Africa and the Middle East, converting used trays into flakes for tray-to-tray recycling. The source does not disclose commissioning date, investment value or expected output.
Why this mattersThe plant creates dedicated regional infrastructure for a harder-to-recycle PET format, potentially a template for tray recycling elsewhere in the region.
- Boretech will supply a 4,000kg/h PET-tray washing line to ECC's GreenTech project in Egypt
- Boretech calls it the first dedicated PET-tray washing project in Africa and the Middle East
- The line uses Boretech's Mega Aspirator technology alongside hot washing and material-loosening steps
- ECC operates in plastics and polyester-fibre and aims to improve quality and capacity of its recycled-polyester output
- Consulting engineer Tarek Abdelmawgoud advised on the planning phase
- Commissioning date, investment value and expected output were not disclosed
Aldi and Arla have entered a new phase of work with UK traceability firm Polytag, applying UV-tagged labels to Arla's milk bottle range produced at its Oakthorpe site to track packaging through the recycling stream. The labels are printed by Saica Flex using a fluorescent ink from Sun Chemical, in what Sun Chemical describes as the first commercial use of that ink with Polytag's detection technology.
Why this mattersReal-time recycling-stream tracking gives brand owners and retailers data to support packaging circularity claims ahead of tightening EPR and recycled-content rules.
- UV-tagged labels applied to Arla's milk bottle range at its Oakthorpe site
- Labels printed by Saica Flex
- Fluorescent ink supplied by Sun Chemical, marking its first commercial use with Polytag's detection technology
- Ink tested against Recyclass Washing Quick Test Procedures and EPBP Quicktest QT 507
- Aldi UK involved via its Plastics and Packaging Director Luke Emery
- Arla Foods UK involved via its Head of Sustainability Helena Delgado Nordmann
New Australian federal data shows 41 per cent of the 6.84 million tonnes of packaging placed on the market in 2023-24 was sent to landfill, despite 86 per cent being rated as having good recyclability. The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) says the figures underline the cost of a stalled national packaging reform process, and is pressing the Federal Environment Minister to act on mandatory extended producer responsibility and design standards at this week's Environment Ministers' Meeting.
Why this mattersA continued policy stall keeps Australian producers without national EPR or design rules, delaying investment certainty for packaging and recycling infrastructure.
- Federal data shows 41 per cent of packaging placed on the Australian market went to landfill in 2023-24.
- Of 6.84 million tonnes of packaging placed on the market, almost 3 million tonnes was buried.
- 86 per cent of that packaging was assessed as having good recyclability.
- Commonwealth consultation on packaging reform closed in October 2024 with over 80 per cent of respondents favouring Commonwealth regulation and 65 per cent supporting mandatory EPR.
- Australia has about 600,000 tonnes of domestic reprocessing capacity at end of 2024, per Plastics Flows and Fates data.
- WMRR is urging the Federal Environment Minister to act at this week's Environment Ministers' Meeting on mandatory EPR, design standards and export rules.
Brazilian trade body Empapel has raised its 2026 growth forecast for the country's paper and corrugated packaging sector to 1.9%, against the 0.6% the FGV estimated at the end of 2025, after first-half output beat expectations. Chief executive Jose Carlos da Fonseca Junior attributed the gain to food-related demand, including meat shipments to China brought forward ahead of an annual Chinese import quota. He cited household debt and high interest rates as constraints on domestic consumption.
Why this mattersFood demand, more than 60% of Brazilian corrugated output, is proving resilient enough to lift volumes even as household purchasing power stays under pressure.
- Empapel revised its 2026 growth forecast for Brazil's paper and corrugated packaging sector to 1.9%, from the 0.6% FGV estimated at end-2025
- Food products account for more than 60% of production tracked by the Brazilian Corrugated Board Index (IBPO), with food at 51.21% and fruit and vegetables at 8.3%
- Brazilian meat exporters brought forward shipments to China early in 2026 ahead of an annual Chinese import quota, concentrating packaging demand in the first half
- Empapel cites household debt and high interest rates as constraints on domestic consumption
- Brazil is the world's largest pulp exporter, sixth-largest producer of corrugated paper and seventh in overall paper production, according to Empapel
- China is the largest destination for Brazilian pulp exports and is expanding its own pulp and paper capacity
The American Forest & Paper Association is lobbying for commercial paper and packaging recycling to be excluded from extended producer responsibility (EPR) programmes in the US. The association argues these materials already move through established, privately funded recycling systems and that including them in EPR would amount to double-charging businesses that do not use residential recycling services.
Why this mattersThe position, if adopted by lawmakers, would narrow the scope and funding base of state EPR schemes for paper-based packaging.
- AF&PA is urging exclusion of commercial paper and packaging recycling from EPR programmes
- The association argues commercial packaging already achieves high recycling rates through privately funded systems
- AF&PA says inclusion in EPR would mean businesses pay for recycling services they do not use
- AF&PA represents the US paper and wood products industry
PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, published its 2026 Packaging State of the Industry Report estimating US packaging machinery shipment value at $11.7 billion in 2025, with food accounting for about 44% of the total. Canadian domestic packaging machinery shipments reached approximately $1.2 billion in 2025, up 3.6% year on year, with 91% of Canadian machinery exports going to the United States.
Why this mattersFood remains the anchor end market at about 44% of US machinery shipments, while SKU proliferation and AI adoption reshape equipment specifications across North America.
- US packaging machinery shipment value reached an estimated $11.7 billion in 2025
- Food accounted for approximately 44% of US packaging machinery shipments, estimated at $5.1 billion, projected to reach $7.1 billion by 2031
- Canadian domestic packaging machinery shipments reached approximately $1.2 billion in 2025, up 3.6% from 2024, expected to reach $1.4 billion in 2027
- The US supplied 30% of Canada's packaging machinery imports in 2025, while 91% of Canadian machinery exports went to the US
- Canada imported approximately $504 million and exported approximately $550 million in packaging machinery in 2025
- PMMI cites SKU proliferation, AI applications, workforce constraints, sustainability and regulatory requirements as key forces influencing equipment decisions
The Canadian government has issued a remission exempting US corrugated cardboard from a planned 50 percent tariff. The move follows lobbying by MP Dave Epp, who argued the tariff would have raised costs for industries including greenhouse growers that rely on cardboard packaging.
Why this mattersRemoves a cost risk for Canadian packaging users and growers reliant on US corrugated board, easing cross-border supply of a key input.
- Canada granted a remission on a planned 50 percent tariff on US corrugated cardboard.
- Chatham-Kent-Leamington MP Dave Epp had lobbied for the exemption.
- Epp said the tariff would have affected industries in his riding and consumers buying food.
- Greenhouse growers, major users of corrugated packaging, welcomed the exemption.
TNT GROUP has developed a removable collar in 75%-recycled zamak for the ten refillable bottles in Bottega Veneta's Alta fragrance collection, pairing a polypropylene insert with a gold-tone finish designed to withstand fragrance exposure. The design targets a common conflict in refillable luxury packaging: collars must stay mechanically stable through repeated use yet separate cleanly for recycling at end of life.
Why this mattersThe design shows how metal-component makers can raise recycled content on visible, load-bearing parts of refillable luxury packaging without compromising durability.
- TNT GROUP moulded the collar from 75%-recycled zamak with a polypropylene insert
- The collar is used across ten refillable bottles in Bottega Veneta's Alta fragrance collection
- The design must allow removal for material separation at end of life while withstanding repeated refill use
- A gold-tone metallic finish and lacquer were developed to resist fragrance exposure
- TNT GROUP was founded in 2013 and operates from Hong Kong, New York and Paris
