ProAmpac has closed its acquisition of TC Transcontinental Packaging from Canada's TC Transcontinental for USD 1.51bn, a deal first disclosed in December 2025. The acquired business runs 25 facilities with 3,500 employees, supplying extrusion, printing, lamination, converting and recycling services to agriculture, beverage, dairy, meat and pet food customers. TC Transcontinental said it will now concentrate on retail services and printing and educational publishing.
Why this mattersProAmpac gains 25 plants and 3,500 employees in flexible packaging, while TC Transcontinental leaves the segment to concentrate on retail services and printing.
- Deal value USD 1.51bn, closed 23 September 2026
- Acquisition first disclosed in December 2025
- TC Transcontinental Packaging comprises 25 facilities and 3,500 employees
- Acquired operations cover extrusion, printing, lamination, converting and recycling
- TC Transcontinental will focus remaining business on retail services and printing and educational publishing
- ProAmpac gains added protein packaging operations and technical resources
Monarch Alternative Capital and General Atlantic are to take majority control of coated-paper maker Loparex through a restructuring of roughly USD 1bn that allows the company to avoid a bankruptcy filing. The deal removes more than USD 400m of liabilities by converting about half of Loparex's first-lien debt into equity and wiping out a junior loan held by Blue Owl Capital. Loparex receives around USD 80m of new equity capital.
Why this mattersThe debt-for-equity swap shows lenders absorbing losses to keep a mid-size specialty paper supplier out of bankruptcy, a bellwether for leveraged packaging-adjacent credits.
- Restructuring is valued at roughly USD 1bn
- More than USD 400m of liabilities will be shed from Loparex's balance sheet
- About half of the company's first-lien debt will be swapped for equity
- A junior loan held by Blue Owl Capital will be wiped out
- Loparex will receive around USD 80m in new equity capital
- Monarch Alternative Capital and General Atlantic will own the majority of the restructured company
U.S. Paper Mill is reviving the 12 Paper Machine, known as The Chief, at its Chillicothe, Ohio facility, targeting full operation by December 2026. The company acquired the site in October 2025 after Pixelle Specialty Solutions closed the mill in August 2025, and is rehiring former Pixelle staff while forecasting up to 350 new jobs within a year.
Why this mattersRestarting a machine Pixelle closed in August 2025 returns specialty paper capacity to the Ohio market and rehires part of the displaced workforce.
- U.S. Paper Mill acquired the Chillicothe, Ohio facility in October 2025 after Pixelle Specialty Solutions closed the mill in August 2025.
- 13 former Pixelle employees are currently working to restart the 12 Paper Machine, nicknamed The Chief.
- The company expects the machine to be fully operational by December 2026.
- Over 180 employees currently work on-site across diverse operations at the repurposed facility.
- U.S. Paper Mill estimates it could add 350 new employees to paper operations within the next year.
Rapids Paper + Packaging has commercially launched an expanded ECOVA Barrier line of heat-sealable, moisture-barrier papers aimed at replacing plastic in flexible packaging formats. The papers use the company's patented Paperlock technology and run on existing form-fill-seal and pouching equipment, and are available as rollstock or premade pouches. The company will showcase the range at PACK EXPO International in Chicago, 18-21 October 2026.
Why this mattersDrop-in paper barrier stock that runs on existing flexible packaging lines lowers the switching cost for brands moving away from plastic film.
- ECOVA Barrier achieves a moisture vapor transmission rate below 0.7g/100 in2/day (<10g/m2/day).
- The line uses patented Paperlock technology for heat sealability.
- Compatible with vertical and horizontal form-fill-seal equipment and pouching lines.
- Available as rollstock or premade pouches with flexible minimum order quantities.
- Rapids Paper + Packaging is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
- The company will present the platform at PACK EXPO International, Chicago, 18-21 October 2026.
PaperWorks Industries has agreed to acquire Color Craft Graphic Arts, adding two cardboard manufacturing plants and six converting plants in the United States and Canada to its folding carton network. The deal extends PaperWorks' fully integrated recycled cardboard and carton manufacturing footprint. No deal value was disclosed.
Why this mattersThe acquisition further consolidates US folding carton capacity, expanding PaperWorks' recycled-cardboard network at the expense of an independent regional converter.
- PaperWorks Industries has agreed to acquire Color Craft Graphic Arts.
- The deal adds two cardboard manufacturing plants and six processing plants in the US and Canada.
- PaperWorks is headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.
- Color Craft is headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and makes packaging for food, beverage and household goods.
- PaperWorks describes itself as one of the largest manufacturers of recycled cardboard and cardboard boxes.
- No financial terms of the transaction were disclosed.
Nine Dragons Paper has signed an agreement for a tissue expansion in Hubei province, China, with planned capacity of 350,000 tonnes a year. The addition would enlarge China's domestic tissue supply base.
Why this mattersA 350,000 tonne tissue addition would add meaningfully to China's tissue supply, with implications for regional pulp demand and competitive pricing.
- Nine Dragons Paper has signed an agreement for a tissue expansion in Hubei province.
- Planned capacity is 350,000 metric tons of tissue per year.
Pulpac, the Swedish developer of dry-moulded fibre packaging technology, has filed for corporate restructuring at a district court, stating that it cannot pay its debts, according to Göteborgs-Posten. The company has issued layoff notices to 50 of its 70 employees, and Johan Sölveland has been appointed restructuring administrator. Pulpac attributes the filing to a slower-than-expected market shift towards fibre-based packaging.
Why this mattersThe insolvency of a leading dry-fibre-moulding technology developer signals that plastic-replacement innovators are struggling to convert development-stage promise into commercial revenue.
- Pulpac has filed for corporate restructuring at a Swedish district court, citing inability to pay its debts
- 50 of Pulpac's 70 employees have received layoff notices
- Pulpac reported 2024 revenue of just under USD 5.7m (SEK 56m) and a loss of USD 17m (SEK 168m)
- Johan Sölveland has been appointed restructuring administrator
- The company cites a slower-than-anticipated market transition to fibre-based packaging
- Pulpac's dry-moulded fibre technology targets replacement of single-use plastics in sectors such as fast food
SCG Packaging (SCGP) returned to profit in its Indonesian operations in the second quarter of 2026 after cost cuts, an optimised energy mix, higher domestic sales volumes and closer business integration. SCGP posted first-half 2026 net profit of USD 116m (THB 3.87bn) and adjusted cash EBITDA of about USD 313m (THB 10.47bn). Parent SCG Group's consolidated adjusted cash EBITDA rose 35 per cent year on year to USD 1.28bn (THB 42.913bn).
Why this mattersA turnaround in Indonesian packaging profitability signals easing regional overcapacity and cost pressure that has weighed on Southeast Asian containerboard producers.
- SCGP posted H1 2026 net profit of USD 116m (THB 3.87bn) and adjusted cash EBITDA of about USD 313m (THB 10.47bn)
- SCG Group's H1 2026 adjusted cash EBITDA rose 35% year on year to USD 1.28bn (THB 42.913bn)
- SCG Group H1 2026 sales revenue was USD 7.75bn (THB 259.57bn), up 4%, while profit for the period fell 4% to USD 530m (THB 17.758bn)
- SCG Group Q2 2026 adjusted cash EBITDA rose 47% year on year to USD 836m (THB 27.984bn), aided by the Indonesian packaging recovery
- SCGP holds about 33% of the Indonesian packaging paper market and sources about 60% of its recovered paper locally
- SCG's Indonesian sales rose 39% year on year in Q2 2026 to USD 360m (Rp 6.51 trillion), driven mainly by petrochemical exports from the Long Son complex in Vietnam
Rabobank estimates that about 20% of the roughly USD 15bn US-Canada plastics trade is exposed to the 50% US tariffs imposed on USD 20bn of Canadian goods since July, with polyethylene bags, closures and tableware among items listed at the 50% rate. Confusion over tariff-code classification and the war involving Iran, which has disrupted polyolefin supply and pricing since it began, are compounding margin pressure on plastic packaging converters.
Why this mattersOverlapping US-Canada tariffs and Iran-driven feedstock volatility make fixed-price contracts riskier for plastic converters and squeeze margins even as resin producers post higher profits.
- Canada's reciprocal tariffs order lists polyethylene bags, stoppers, lids, caps, closures and tableware at a 50% rate, and molds for plastic, metal and rubber manufacturing at 15%.
- Rabobank estimates about 20% of the approximately USD 15bn US-Canada plastics trade is exposed to the 50% US tariffs applied to USD 20bn of Canadian goods since July.
- Section 338 duties stack on top of base duties and apply even to goods otherwise covered by USMCA free-trade terms.
- The war involving Iran reached six months in late August 2026, with disruption and price spikes affecting polyolefins resuming after fighting restarted in July.
- North American PE and PP producers use lower-cost ethane versus naphtha used in Asia and Europe, and are increasingly exporting amid global demand for cheaper feedstock, raising costs for some US converters.
- Cascades CEO Hugues Simon said on an August 2026 earnings call that different products of the same fibre grade are treated unequally under US-Canada tariffs.
DS Smith, owned by International Paper, has proposed closing paper machine PM4 at its Kemsley mill in Kent while spending about USD 26.4m (GBP 20m) to modernise paper machine PM6. PM4 produces about 250,000 tonnes a year of containerboard between 125 and 210 gsm, and its closure would cut the number of roles at the site, with no redundancy figure confirmed and consultation with employees and union representatives still to come. The PM6 upgrade is intended to raise output and add new grades at the mill, which has capacity of about 830,000 tonnes a year and is Europe's second-largest.
Why this mattersThe move reallocates capacity within one of Europe's largest recovered-fibre mills, showing containerboard producers concentrating output on fewer, upgraded lines rather than adding capacity.
- DS Smith proposes closing paper machine PM4 at Kemsley mill, Kent, which produces about 250,000 tonnes a year at 125 to 210 gsm.
- DS Smith plans to spend about USD 26.4m (GBP 20m) to modernise paper machine PM6.
- Kemsley, built in 1924, has annual capacity of about 830,000 tonnes and is Europe's second-largest paper mill.
- Closing PM4 would reduce the number of roles at the site; no redundancy figure has been confirmed.
- Two years earlier DS Smith announced USD 63.5m (GBP 48m) for a new fibre-preparation line at Kemsley.
- DS Smith is owned by International Paper.
RDM Group's cartonboard brand Eska has partnered with materials engineering company Releaf to launch Eska Leaf, a recycled solid board laminated with paper made from fallen leaves collected in cities including Paris. The product debuts at Luxe Pack Monaco, running 28-30 September 2026 at the Grimaldi Forum, aimed at luxury and premium packaging customers seeking recycled-content and provenance credentials.
Why this mattersThe launch gives luxury brand owners a differentiated recycled-content material as visible sustainability credentials increasingly shape packaging specification choices.
- Eska, RDM Group's cartonboard brand, partners with Releaf to launch Eska Leaf, a recycled solid board laminated with paper made from fallen leaves collected from city streets including Paris
- Eska Leaf debuts at Luxe Pack Monaco, 28-30 September 2026, at the Grimaldi Forum, Booth RC02
- RDM Group co-commissioned 2026 research by Perspectus Global finding over half of Europeans link packaging and recycling with sustainability, and 80% say visible recycled cartonboard use helps brand environmental perception
- Eska Leaf pairs recycled solid board with Releaf's leaf-paper lamination, targeting luxury and premium packaging customisation
Tetra Pak has commissioned its USD 1.2m (ZAR 19m) PolyAl processing plant in Germiston, Gauteng, which separates polyethylene and aluminium from used beverage cartons after paper fibre is recovered by Mpact. Manufacturing partner Timber Plastics converts the recovered material into outdoor furniture, roof tiles and pipes, supporting Tetra Pak's target of lifting South Africa's carton recycling rate to 40% by 2030 from 33% currently.
Why this mattersThe plant gives South Africa a domestic processing route for a carton residual stream that previously had none, backing collection targets set by industry scheme Petco.
- The PolyAl plant in Germiston, Gauteng cost USD 1.2m (ZAR 19m) and has now been commissioned.
- The plant separates polyethylene and aluminium layers from used beverage cartons after paper fibre recovery.
- Manufacturing partner Timber Plastics converts recovered PolyAl pellets into outdoor furniture, roof tiles and pipes.
- Mpact recovers the paper fibre from the cartons at its own mill before the PolyAl is processed.
- South Africa's carton recycling rate has risen from 8% in 2023 to 33% currently, with Tetra Pak targeting 40% by 2030.
- The CSIR has supported development of end-use applications including roof tiles and pipes positioned as alternatives to cement and HDPE products.
Packrite, a North Carolina-based corrugated packaging supplier, has invested in a Kodak Magnus Q3600 Titan platesetter and Kodak Sonora process-free plates to bring litho label prepress in-house for the first time. The purchase forms part of a wider investment that includes installation of a new eight-colour Koenig & Bauer press. No deal value was disclosed.
Why this mattersIn-sourcing prepress and press capacity lets a corrugated converter tighten quality control for food and pharma customers, a trend other converters may follow.
- Packrite is based in High Point, North Carolina, and supplies corrugated packaging.
- The company installed a Kodak Magnus Q3600 Titan Platesetter with the Multi-Cassette Unit configuration for automated plate loading.
- Kodak Sonora process-free plates eliminate plate processing chemistry and water use from the workflow.
- The wider investment includes a new eight-colour Koenig & Bauer printing press.
- This is the first time Packrite has brought printing in-house.
- CEO Michael Drummond said the move targets food and pharmaceutical packaging customers requiring speed, quality and consistency.
Seda International Packaging Group has won the Food category of the European Carton Excellence Award 2026 with its Da Vinci Clamshell, a patented rounded paper clamshell for foodservice made using board from MM Board & Paper. The award, organised by Pro Carton and the European Carton Makers Association, was presented in Rome on 17 September 2026.
Why this mattersIndustry recognition of a paper alternative to plastic clamshells signals continued momentum for fibre-based substitution in foodservice packaging.
- Seda's Da Vinci Clamshell won the Food category at the European Carton Excellence Award 2026.
- The award, organised by Pro Carton and ECMA, was announced at a ceremony in Rome on 17 September 2026.
- Da Vinci Clamshell is described as the first rounded paper clamshell for foodservice, patented by Seda.
- The product is made from board supplied by MM Board & Paper.
- Seda operates 13 production plants in Italy, Germany, the UK, Portugal and the US, employing over 3,000 people.
Georgia-Pacific has completed a USD 150m rebuild of the No. 1 paper machine at its Wauna mill in Clatsop County, Oregon, marking the project with a rededication ceremony on 17 September 2026. The rebuilt machine, which makes Vanity Fair napkins, Angel Soft toilet paper and private-label tissue, restarted output on 5 June 2026 after the prior machine's last run on 5 March 2026, following construction that began in June 2025.
Why this mattersThe outlay confirms continued US tissue and towel capacity investment at a mill of over 800 staff even as some rivals pull back from paper.
- Project cost USD 150m, centred on the mill's No. 1 Paper Machine
- Old machine ran last on 5 March 2026; rebuilt line produced first reels on 5 June 2026
- Construction began June 2025 and used over 400,000 labour hours, 500 yards of concrete, 200 tons of structural steel and 70 miles of new wiring
- Rededication and ribbon-cutting held 17 September 2026
- No. 1 machine has run at Wauna since 1965, making Vanity Fair, Angel Soft and private-label tissue and towel products
- Wauna mill employs over 800 people in Clatsop County, Oregon; project also covered roll-handling upgrades on the No. 2 machine and building infrastructure
Holmen has rebuilt paper machine PM52 at its Braviken mill in Sweden so it can switch between graphic papers and lightweight containerboard made from thermomechanical pulp. The SEK 450m (USD 45.4m) project, announced in 2023 and completed in 2024, used technology from Andritz and underpins Holmen's new Elevate kraftliner and fluting range starting at 72 g/m2.
Why this mattersShows an established paper producer repurposing existing graphic-paper assets into flexible containerboard capacity as demand shifts, without new-build capital.
- SEK 450m (USD 45.4m) investment in PM52 rebuild announced in 2023 and completed in 2024
- PM52 has a 9.3 metre web width and can run at up to 1,600 metres per minute
- Andritz developed the process allowing PM52 to switch between book/newsprint paper and TMP-based containerboard
- Holmen Elevate kraftliner is offered at 72, 82 and 92 g/m2; Elevate Flute at 72 and 92 g/m2, both food-contact approved
- Andritz says the mechanical-pulp-based containerboard can cut grammage by up to 20% versus conventional grades
- Holmen's Board and Paper division employs about 3,500 people and runs mills in Sweden and the UK
Swedish forestry group Södra is paying a temporary premium of USD 5 per cubic metre (SEK 50) for hardwood pulpwood and birch logs in Sweden from September to November 2026. The company cites a short-term need for birch pulpwood to supply its mills to the end of the year.
Why this mattersA temporary lift in wood input costs signals tightening hardwood fibre supply in Sweden, a cost factor for pulp-based packaging materials.
- Premium of USD 5 per cubic metre (SEK 50) applies from September to November 2026
- Applies to hardwood pulpwood and birch logs sourced in Sweden
- Södra cites a short-term need for birch pulpwood to supply its mills to the end of 2026
- Södra also sells birch logs to Baltic plywood makers
- Comment attributed to Södra marketing director Markus Springfeldt
Sappi Europe has launched Parade Face Edge, an 80 g/m² one-side coated semi-gloss face stock for self-adhesive labels that resists grease at both surface and fibre level without added PFAS, halogens or wax. The paper targets food, beauty and industrial products exposed to oils and is positioned to help converters meet Article 5.5 of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
Why this mattersA PFAS-free fibre-level grease barrier gives converters an alternative to fluorochemical coatings as PPWR compliance deadlines approach.
- Parade Face Edge is an 80 g/m² one-side coated semi-gloss face stock for self-adhesive labels
- Grease resistance is built into the fibre base as well as the coating, blocking oil penetration through the cut edge
- The paper contains no intentionally added PFAS, halogen-based polymers or wax
- Target uses include olive oil, sauces, dairy and delicatessen products, beauty oils and creams, and industrial lubricants
- It is suitable for direct food contact and available in FSC Mix Credit and 100% PEFC-certified versions
- Sappi positions the launch as meeting Article 5.5 of the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
Ardagh Glass is closing its Germersheim plant in Germany, having told customers in April 2026 that the site would shut because of persistently weak demand and overcapacity in European glass production. A local social media post cited by Die Rheinpfalz said the last bottle was produced at about 4am on 15 September 2026, ending 55 years of output; Ardagh said operations at the site are proceeding as planned and declined to comment on details. About 260 employees are affected, with departures staggered through to the end of 2027.
Why this mattersThe closure removes another German glass site from Ardagh's network and underlines sustained overcapacity across European container glass production.
- Ardagh notified customers in April 2026 that the Germersheim plant would close, citing weak demand and overcapacity in glass production.
- About 260 employees are affected, with departures staggered through to the end of 2027.
- A local social media post cited by Die Rheinpfalz said the last bottle was made at about 4am on 15 September 2026, after 55 years of production from 1971.
- Ardagh said operations at Germersheim are proceeding as planned and declined to comment on details.
- Germersheim produced up to 2 million bottles a year, mainly wine and sparkling wine bottles.
- Ardagh Glass Packaging cut about 320 jobs in Germany and the Netherlands in 2025, closing the Drebkau plant and two of six Germersheim lines.
Schott Pharma and Nemera have launched a passive safety system pairing Schott's 5.5ml syriQ BioPure prefillable glass syringe with Nemera's Safe'n'Sound safety device, targeting subcutaneous self-injection of large-volume biologic drugs. The companies say the pre-aligned platform is already available for technical assessment and compatibility studies, and will be shown at CPHI Milan and PDA in early October 2026. They describe it as the first such combination built around a 5.5ml prefillable glass syringe.
Why this mattersA pre-validated syringe-and-safety-device combination lowers technical risk for biologics makers shifting therapies from intravenous to home subcutaneous delivery.
- The system pairs Schott Pharma's 5.5ml syriQ BioPure prefillable glass syringe with Nemera's Safe'n'Sound passive safety device.
- Launch was announced 22 September 2026.
- The companies describe it as the industry's first passive safety system built around a 5.5ml prefillable glass syringe.
- It targets subcutaneous self-injection of large-volume and biologic drugs, including homecare use.
- The product will be exhibited at CPHI Milan on 6-8 October 2026 and PDA 2026 on 6-7 October 2026.
- It is already available for technical assessment, compatibility studies and development programmes.
Czech mineral water brand Vincentka has launched a 250ml aluminium slim can, its first entry into canned mineral water, produced by Canpack at its Brzesko plant in Poland. The can uses Canpack's Superwhite print base and a matt varnish finish. Canpack also operates a beverage can plant in Stribro, Czech Republic, with planned annual capacity of about 950 million units.
Why this mattersThe launch shows can makers courting mineral water brands to widen aluminium's reach beyond beer and soft drinks into a still-nascent packaging category.
- Vincentka's 250ml aluminium slim can is produced at Canpack's Brzesko plant in Poland
- The can carries Canpack's Superwhite print finish and a matt varnish surface treatment
- This is Vincentka's first product in the canned mineral water segment
- Canpack has run a beverage can plant in Stribro, Czech Republic since 2020 with planned annual capacity of about 950 million units
German audit oversight body APAS has opened a professional proceeding against KPMG over the unqualified opinion it gave on Gerresheimer's 2024 accounts, which were subsequently found to breach IFRS, while BaFin examines further possible misstatements, including unrecognised impairments of up to EUR 196.5m in the Advanced Technologies segment. Schuldschein noteholders have separately approved, with 96 per cent support, an extension to 30 September 2026 for delivery of the audited accounts and a temporary suspension of leverage covenants. Shareholder body DSW has commissioned a legal opinion on the potential liability of former CEO Dietmar Siemssen and former CFO Bernd Metzner, and Active Ownership has disclosed a 13.67 per cent voting stake.
Why this mattersCovenant relief runs only to 30 September 2026, while possible impairments of up to EUR 196.5m constrain Gerresheimer's financing and its Advanced Technologies investment plans.
- APAS has opened a professional proceeding against KPMG over its unqualified opinion on Gerresheimer's 2024 accounts, later found to conflict with IFRS.
- BaFin is examining possible unrecognised impairments of up to EUR 196.5m in the Advanced Technologies segment.
- BaFin is also reviewing leasing liabilities possibly misstated by EUR 65.5m and capitalised development costs of EUR 29.4m.
- The bill-and-hold bookings, confirmed by an independent law firm, cover EUR 35m of revenue and EUR 24m of adjusted EBITDA recognised before delivery.
- Schuldschein noteholders approved, with 96 per cent support, an extension to 30 September 2026 for the audited accounts and a temporary suspension of leverage covenants.
- Active Ownership disclosed a 13.67 per cent voting stake and intends to seek supervisory board representation; DSW has commissioned an opinion on the liability of former CEO Dietmar Siemssen and former CFO Bernd Metzner.
Aptar Beauty has launched its Nomad Refill packaging platform for the first time, in BVLGARI's Le Gemme Tygar travel spray. The 10 ml refillable glass vial sits in a black anodised aluminium case with a Black Marquina marble cap, and was developed with BVLGARI over two years.
Why this mattersThe launch signals dispenser makers pushing refillable formats into luxury fragrance, a segment where brand owners face sustainability pressure while protecting premium design.
- Nomad Refill is billed as the first 10 ml purse spray directly refillable from full-size bottles in under five seconds.
- The product is based on BVLGARI's Le Gemme Tygar fragrance from the Le Gemme Haute Parfumerie collection.
- Casing uses black anodized aluminium with a Black Marquina marble cap and magnetic closure.
- Development took two years of joint work between Aptar Beauty and BVLGARI.
- The vial uses Aptar Beauty's Classic INUNE prestige fragrance pump, described as POM-free with a metal-free pathway.
- The refill connector is compatible with SNI15 screw-on neck finishes.
Indian industrial packaging maker Pyramid Technoplast has received an amended consolidated consent and authorisation from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board to collect, store, transport and recycle up to 960 tonnes a year of contaminated industrial packaging waste from third parties. The same approval permits manufacture of up to 9,000 cleaned drums a month, alongside existing plastic-granule reprocessing capacity of 1,000 tonnes a month. The permit lets the company sell decontamination and recycling services to external chemical and pharmaceutical customers rather than handling only its own output.
Why this mattersCertified third-party decontamination capacity gives converters a route to captive recycled feedstock and a compliance service for chemical and pharma clients facing EPR rules.
- Gujarat Pollution Control Board granted an amended authorisation covering up to 960 tonnes of third-party industrial packaging waste a year.
- The consent also permits manufacture of up to 9,000 cleaned drums, barrels and containers a month.
- Existing plastic granule reprocessing capacity is 1,000 tonnes a month.
- The authorisation covers barrels and containers contaminated with hazardous chemical residues.
- Q1 FY27 revenue rose 35.8% year on year to USD 23.1m (INR 2.22bn), with net profit up 32.1% to USD 1.1m (INR 104m).
Klöckner Pentaplast is rolling out kp Infinity Tavola, a recyclable expanded polypropylene pizza box, in the UK and selected European markets from September 2026. The company says the two-part interlocking design keeps pizza up to 7.3 degrees Celsius hotter after five minutes than traditional cardboard boxes and avoids the oil and cheese contamination that complicates paper-based recycling.
Why this mattersA recyclable plastic alternative to cardboard pizza boxes targets a foodservice category where food contamination has limited paper recycling options.
- Launch covers UK and selected European markets from September 2026
- Testing showed pizzas up to 7.3°C hotter after five minutes versus traditional packaging
- Box uses fully recyclable expanded polypropylene (EPP) in two interlocking identical parts
- Available in a 12 inch format for dine-in, takeaway and delivery
- Product extends the existing kp Infinity Hotpacs foodservice range
- Designed to be recyclable within polypropylene collection streams
Swedish closures maker Emballator has completed an upgrade of its Växjö production hall, raising machine positions from five to eight, six of them for larger injection moulding machines. The site has also gained a larger overhead crane, AGV transport routes and upgraded cooling and compressed air systems, with the remaining new machines due online by end-2026.
Why this mattersThe added closure-moulding capacity gives Emballator more headroom to win new contracts as brand owners seek supply chain resilience in rigid packaging.
- Machine positions in the Växjö hall increase from five to eight, six for larger injection moulding machines.
- First new injection moulding machine was installed at the start of 2026.
- Four more large-segment injection moulding machines are due to be fully operational by end of 2026.
- Upgrades include a larger overhead crane, AGV routes, and new cooling and compressed air systems.
Australian marketing and packaging printer IVE Group has commissioned two Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 X sheetfed offset presses, one seven-colour and one ten-colour, at its new 42,000 sq m Kemps Creek hub in Sydney. Both run at up to 20,000 sheets per hour, the first sheetfed offset presses in Australia at that speed level, and mirror the company's existing press fleet in Victoria to build matching packaging capacity in New South Wales.
Why this mattersThe installation lets IVE Group serve national brands from two mirrored high-speed packaging print sites, sharpening competition in Australian commercial and premium packaging print.
- Two Rapida 106 X presses commissioned at IVE Group's new 42,000 sq m Kemps Creek facility in Sydney.
- Both presses run at up to 20,000 sheets/h, the first sheetfed offset presses in Australia at that speed level.
- One press is a seven-colour hybrid with double coater, triple extended delivery and DriveTronic SPC simultaneous plate changing.
- The second is a ten-colour perfecting press with coater, used for work such as magazine covers.
- IVE Group is ASX-listed and employs more than 2,100 people across 22 sites.
TNA Solutions will preview its tna robag Quantum vertical form-fill-seal platform in North America at PACK EXPO International 2026 in Chicago from 18-21 October, ahead of a planned commercial release in 2027. The single-tube system is designed to produce up to 300 bags per minute, aiming to raise throughput without adding bagmakers while cutting maintenance, cleaning and material waste.
Why this mattersA single-tube design aimed at raising throughput without adding bagmakers targets food manufacturers' pressure to cut labour and footprint costs per line.
- The tna robag Quantum will be shown at PACK EXPO International 2026 in Chicago, 18-21 October, at Booth N-5109
- Commercial release is planned for 2027
- The platform is designed to produce up to 300 bags per minute using a single tube, depending on bag, film and product type
- The system debuted earlier at interpack
- It includes autonomous setup capabilities and software to reduce manual calibration
- The platform is part of TNA's integrated distribution, seasoning and packaging systems
Markem-Imaje, the coding and marking systems unit of Dover Corporation, has launched CoLOS 2D Activate and CoLOS 2D Engage, two SaaS platforms that let consumer goods manufacturers create and manage GS1 Digital Link QR codes on packaging. The launch is aimed at helping brand owners meet the GS1 Sunrise 2027 retail barcode transition and regulatory or retailer requirements for connected packaging, and is paired with new on-site implementation consulting services.
Why this mattersCoding and marking suppliers are positioning software and consulting around the GS1 Sunrise 2027 deadline, adding a recurring-revenue layer to hardware sales for connected packaging.
- Markem-Imaje is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dover Corporation, listed on NYSE as DOV.
- CoLOS 2D Activate and CoLOS 2D Engage are SaaS tools for creating and managing static and dynamic GS1 Digital Link QR codes.
- The launch targets manufacturer readiness for the GS1 Sunrise 2027 transition to 2D barcodes.
- Implementation services include a full-day on-site assessment of production and coding processes.
- Announcement made 23 September 2026 from Downers Grove, Illinois.
Epson has appointed Engineered Printing Solutions (EPS) as its North American partner for CONTOURJET, a new robotic direct-to-object digital printing platform for decorating three-dimensional products. The system, unveiled at PRINTING United Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, combines Epson's printhead technology with robotics to print on complex shapes that fixed-head digital systems cannot reach. EPS will handle sales, applications development, installation, training and service across the region from the first quarter of 2027.
Why this mattersRobotic direct-to-object printing extends digital decoration to complex packaging and product shapes, widening the alternative to pad and screen printing for converters.
- Epson selected EPS as its sole North American partner for the CONTOURJET direct-to-object printing platform.
- CONTOURJET was launched at PRINTING United Expo 2026 in Las Vegas on 23 September 2026.
- The platform is the result of nearly ten years of development combining Epson printhead technology with robotic motion control.
- EPS will provide sales, applications development, installation, training and service support for the system.
- CONTOURJET is expected to be available through EPS from the first quarter of 2027.
- The system adds to EPS's existing portfolio of pad printing, screen printing and direct-to-object printing technologies.
Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A. has launched Embellishment Forge, a design platform that converts a standard PDF into production-ready digital embellishment files without requiring specialist production knowledge. Developed with Adobe using the Print Embellishment Ready SDK, the tool was unveiled at PRINTING United Expo 2026.
Why this mattersSimplifying digital embellishment design could broaden the pool of print service providers offering the finishing technique, expanding demand for compatible equipment.
- Konica Minolta unveiled Embellishment Forge at PRINTING United Expo 2026
- Platform is built on Adobe's Print Embellishment Ready SDK and powered by Adobe Print Services
- Tool converts a standard PDF into production-ready embellishment files for participating print service providers
- Announcement made by Frank Mallozzi, President, Industrial and Production Print, Konica Minolta
AmbaFlex, a Dutch manufacturer of vertical spiral conveyor systems used on packaging and logistics lines, is to build a production plant in Romania. The investment is valued at EUR 30m (USD 34.1m).
Why this mattersAdds Central and Eastern European manufacturing capacity for a supplier of conveying equipment to packaging and logistics lines.
- AmbaFlex, a Dutch maker of vertical spiral conveyor systems, is to build a new production plant in Romania.
- The investment is valued at EUR 30m (USD 34.1m).
Koenig & Bauer Vision & Protection and Bosch Secure Authentication have jointly launched ava, a platform combining product authentication, brand protection and traceability technologies for packaging. It is being presented at Luxe Pack Monaco from 28 to 30 September 2026, aimed at luxury goods, watch, jewellery and spirits producers.
Why this mattersCombining printer-side security expertise with digital authentication software gives brand owners a single platform instead of fragmented anti-counterfeiting solutions.
- Koenig & Bauer Vision & Protection and Bosch Secure Authentication jointly developed the ava platform.
- The platform is presented at Luxe Pack Monaco, 28-30 September 2026.
- It targets producers of luxury goods, watches, jewellery and spirits.
- One featured application, Ovjera, authenticates products via image recognition of surface structure without a QR code or serial number.
- Two further applications, Atheneum and Aegis, embed invisible steganographic security features into the print image or lacquer layer, readable via smartphone app.
- The companies plan to eventually combine all ava security mechanisms into one integrated end-user application.
PCI Pharma Services has opened three new packaging facilities in Rockford, Illinois, adding 500,000 square feet of space and about 650 jobs. The site forms part of a group-wide investment exceeding USD 1bn across the company's US and European operations, and expands capacity for commercial and clinical drug packaging including auto-injectors, pens and prefilled syringes.
Why this mattersThe expansion adds significant contract packaging capacity for injectable and device-combination drugs, reflecting rising demand from GLP-1 and self-administered therapies.
- Three new facilities opened on Sept. 22, 2026 near Linden and Alpine roads in Rockford, Illinois
- Expansion adds 500,000 square feet of packaging space and about 650 jobs
- Part of a group-wide investment exceeding USD 1bn across PCI's US and European operations
- Rockford campus is PCI's largest global site, spanning eight facilities with over 3,000 employees
- Two Linden Road facilities focus on commercial packaging including auto-injectors, pens and prefilled syringes
- Alpine Road site handles clinical trial packaging, storage and global distribution
Bayer has introduced a mono-material polypropylene blister for its Talcid antacid in Germany, replacing a multi-material laminate structure. The packaging launched first in Slovenia in late 2025 and is due to be rolled out in eleven further European markets by 2027, with Germany accounting for around 75% of Talcid's European sales.
Why this mattersThe switch shows brand owners moving pharma blister packs to mono-material PP to ease sorting and recycling ahead of tighter EU packaging rules.
- Germany represents about 75% of Talcid's European sales, according to Bayer.
- The mono-PP blister launched first in Slovenia in late 2025 and reaches Germany in September 2026.
- Roll-out to eleven further European markets is planned between 2026 and 2027.
- Recyclass rated the design Class A, the highest 'Design for Recycling' grade, citing a 98.86% recyclable plastics share.
- The blister was developed with Etimex Primary Packaging using a Purelay mono-material PP solution.
- Talcid is manufactured at Bayer's Bitterfeld site in Germany; formulation and indication are unchanged.
Selenis has acquired the production assets of Greece's Polisan Hellas, to be installed at its Portugal site. The deal adds continuous polymerisation capacity to Selenis' existing batch-based manufacturing base and will lift its total specialty copolyester capacity to more than 200,000 tonnes a year by 2028 across Portugal, Italy, Tunisia and the United States.
Why this mattersAdding continuous-line capacity gives Selenis a lower-cost route into high-volume shrink sleeve and film grades, competing more directly with larger resin suppliers.
- Selenis acquired the production assets of Polisan Hellas in Greece.
- The assets will be installed at Selenis' plant in Portugal.
- Total installed specialty copolyester capacity is set to exceed 200,000 metric tonnes a year by 2028.
- Selenis' manufacturing footprint spans Portugal, Italy, Tunisia and the United States.
- The deal adds continuous polymerisation technology alongside Selenis' existing batch production.
- Priority markets named are shrink sleeves/film, healthcare (Selcare), 3D printing (Mimesis) and textile-to-textile recycling (Texnascis).
Valmet has secured an order to supply a complete coated board making line, automation and lifecycle services to an unnamed customer in Asia. The line will produce premium-quality coated board grades, with machine start-up set for 2028. Order value was not disclosed and is booked in Valmet's third-quarter 2026 orders received.
Why this mattersNew coated board capacity investment in Asia points to continued growth in premium grades even as demand elsewhere in the sector stays subdued.
- Order covers stock preparation and a complete board machine from headboxes to reel and winders
- Scope includes automation, digital services, paper machine clothing and spare parts packages
- Machine start-up is scheduled for 2028
- Order value not disclosed, booked in Valmet's Q3 2026 orders received
- Customer location given only as Asia, customer not named
BASF has introduced a range of reduced Product Carbon Footprint (rPCF) dispersions for paper coating, produced at its Ludwigshafen Verbund site using a mass-balance approach with low-PCF raw materials and renewable electricity and steam. The products cut cradle-to-gate emissions by around 20% to 45% versus BASF's conventional binders and are designed as drop-in substitutes requiring no requalification, aimed at helping packaging customers meet Scope 3.1 purchased-goods emissions targets.
Why this mattersGives paper and board packaging converters a way to cut supply-chain emissions without reformulating or requalifying coating lines.
- BASF's new rPCF paper coating dispersions cut cradle-to-gate Product Carbon Footprint by approximately 20% to 45% versus conventional equivalents
- Products are manufactured at BASF's Ludwigshafen Verbund site using a mass-balance approach with low-PCF raw materials and renewable electricity and steam
- Carbon footprints are calculated per Together for Sustainability (TfS) guidance and certified by TÜV Rheinland
- Products are positioned as a drop-in solution requiring no requalification, targeting customers' Scope 3.1 purchased-goods-and-services emissions reduction
- Launch announced 23 September 2026 by BASF's Dispersions & Resins division
Ink maker Siegwerk, Finnish research group TAMK and partners including coffee company Meira and German converter Hornung Verpackungen have printed paper shopping bags using a water-based ink formulated with colorants derived from coffee-roasting side streams. The August 2026 print run followed two years of research and a 2025 flexographic trial, and is described as a step towards commercial adoption of the technology.
Why this mattersA working bio-based colorant supply chain could reduce packaging printers' reliance on fossil-based pigments, a small but replicable circularity model for other food-industry side streams.
- Paper bags were printed in August 2026 using a water-based ink with colorants from coffee-production side streams supplied by Meira Oy.
- Natural Indigo Finland's BioInk technology was used by Siegwerk to formulate the colorants into industrial printing inks.
- The project began two years before the August 2026 trial, with a first flexographic print on fibre-based shopping bags in 2025.
- The 2025 coffee-ink packaging won the public vote at New Wood 2025 and the Sustainable Innovations Competition at PacTec in Helsinki.
- The ink uses Siegwerk's high bio-renewable content technical varnish as binder and generates no VOC emissions.
- Partners include Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), Natural Indigo Finland, BioInk, Meira and Hornung Verpackungen.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has extended the exemption for food-contact rigid plastic packaging under the state's Recycled Content Law in a memorandum dated 4 September 2026, moving its expiry from 18 January 2027 to 31 December 2029, so post-consumer recycled content is required only from 1 January 2030. NJDEP said food-grade PCR technology is not yet at sufficient scale, described the supporting research as deliberative and confidential, and said it had not sought input from recyclers, suppliers, brand owners or manufacturers. Non-food rigid containers and beverage and glass containers are unaffected and still move to 20 per cent recycled content in 2027.
Why this mattersA three-year delay in one of the largest US state PCR mandates removes near-term demand certainty for food-grade recycled resin, a template other states have followed.
- NJDEP's 4 September 2026 memorandum extends the food-contact rigid plastic packaging PCR exemption from 18 January 2027 to 31 December 2029, under N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.144(b).
- Non-food rigid plastic containers remain at 10% PCR, rising to 20% in 2027.
- Plastic beverage and glass beverage containers have required 15% PCR since 2024, rising to 20% in 2027 and to 50% in later stages.
- NJDEP cited limited food-grade PCR supply and technology readiness, and said the underlying research is deliberative and confidential.
- Recycler Plastic Recycling Inc. says food-grade resin projects developed over two years have been paused and some supply deals cancelled.
- APR, NAPCOR and The Recycling Partnership say NJDEP did not consult recyclers, suppliers, brand owners or manufacturers before issuing the extension.
The US Department of Commerce has revoked antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminium can stock imported from China and Bahrain, following the final results of a changed circumstances review published on 23 September 2026. The move removes a trade barrier that had raised import costs for aluminium sheet used to make beverage cans.
Why this mattersRemoving the duties lowers the landed cost of imported can stock, easing an input-cost pressure for US aluminium can makers and their can-sheet suppliers.
- The US Department of Commerce revoked antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminium can stock imported from China
- The same revocation applies to aluminium can stock imported from Bahrain
- The action follows the final results of a changed circumstances review
- The notice was filed on 23 September 2026
Companies and associations in the European wooden pallet industry have founded the Wood Pallets for Europe alliance to represent the sector to EU institutions. Founding members include CJ Sheeran Group, Euroblock Verpackungsholz, Foresco and PGS Group, alongside associations EPAL and Woodpack Global. The group plans a data-based advocacy campaign focused on wood's role in circular-economy legislation.
Why this mattersA unified pallet-sector voice in Brussels could shape how forthcoming EU circular-economy rules treat wood packaging materials and reuse systems.
- Alliance named Wood Pallets for Europe launched 23 September 2026.
- Founding members: CJ Sheeran Group, Euroblock Verpackungsholz, Foresco, PGS Group, plus associations EPAL and Woodpack Global.
- Alliance says members manufacture, repair or manage a significant share of wooden pallets used in Europe.
- Chairperson is Jan Ponnet.
- Focus areas are reuse, repair, refurbishment and end-of-life recycling of wooden pallets.
- Alliance aims to influence EU legislation to reflect specific properties of wood.
The EU-backed ReBioCycle consortium has demonstrated that PLA bioplastic can be sorted from mixed plastic waste streams and chemically broken down into lactic acid, then rebuilt into PLA with properties equivalent to virgin material. The project links sorting, chemical recycling and remanufacturing steps across the value chain, with participants including TotalEnergies Corbion. The consortium frames the result as support for PPWR recyclability requirements.
Why this mattersA working chemical-recycling loop for PLA would give brand owners a compliance route to recyclable bio-based packaging under the PPWR.
- ReBioCycle consortium demonstrated sorting of PLA from mixed plastic waste using existing technologies
- PLA is chemically depolymerised into lactic acid and repolymerised into virgin-equivalent PLA
- Kevin O'Connor is named as ReBioCycle project coordinator
- Maelenn Ravard, regulatory and sustainability manager at TotalEnergies Corbion, links the result to PPWR recyclability goals
- Announcement published 23 September 2026
The EU's 27 member states exported around 3.1 million tonnes of recovered paper and board to non-EU countries in the first half of 2026, up 370,000 tonnes or 14 per cent year on year, according to preliminary Eurostat data. Imports fell 18 per cent to 845,000 tonnes, leaving the bloc a net exporter with a surplus of 475,000 tonnes, with India and Indonesia the fastest-growing destinations.
Why this mattersRising net exports of recovered fibre to Asia tighten domestic feedstock availability for European paper and packaging producers reliant on recycled content.
- EU exports of recovered paper to third countries reached 3.1 million tonnes in H1 2026, up 14 per cent year on year.
- The increase equates to an additional 370,000 tonnes versus H1 2025.
- EU imports of recovered paper fell 18 per cent to 845,000 tonnes in the same period.
- The EU's net export surplus of recovered paper was 475,000 tonnes in H1 2026.
- Exports to India rose 200,000 tonnes year on year to 1.1 million tonnes, making it the EU's largest export market.
- Exports to Indonesia rose around 150,000 tonnes to 535,000 tonnes, the second-largest destination.
