UPM and Sappi's proposed EUR 1.42bn (USD 1.62bn) joint venture to combine their communication paper businesses faces a likely European Commission veto, Reuters reported citing sources, after the companies failed to offer concessions or convince regulators at a closed hearing. The Commission must decide by 11 November 2026; it flagged concerns in August that the deal would reduce competition and raise prices in graphic paper used for magazines and books.
Why this mattersA veto would remove the planned consolidation of Europe's shrinking graphic paper capacity, leaving both producers to manage overcapacity independently.
- The proposed joint venture would combine UPM and Sappi's communication paper businesses at an enterprise value of EUR 1.42bn (USD 1.62bn).
- The European Commission must rule on the deal by 11 November 2026, according to Reuters sources.
- UPM and Sappi have not offered concessions to address the Commission's competition concerns, Reuters reported.
- Difficulty finding a buyer for potential divestment assets has complicated efforts to resolve the antitrust issues, per the sources.
- The Commission issued a statement of objections in August 2026, citing risk of reduced competition and higher prices in graphic paper, including for magazines and books.
- UPM and Sappi signed the deal agreement and named a management team for the planned venture in May 2026, both subject to regulatory approval.
Avery Dennison has introduced Fasson Noble Blanc rPLUS, a self-adhesive wine and spirits label pairing an uncoated felt-embossed paper face with its rPLUS moisture-barrier film, in Argentina and Chile. The barrier film contains 70% post-consumer recycled PET and is aimed at premium bottles exposed to condensation and ice-bucket immersion.
Why this mattersGives wineries a recycled-content label option that withstands moisture without giving up an embossed paper look, supporting packaging circularity targets.
- Fasson Noble Blanc rPLUS pairs uncoated felt-embossed paper with an rPLUS barrier film
- The barrier film contains 70% post-consumer recycled PET content
- Launch covers Argentina and Chile wine and spirits producers
- Paper is FSC-certified with fungicide and wet-strength treatment
- Optional rPET30 liner is available for high-speed automatic labelling
- Adhesive choices are S2047N rubber-based (OK biobased certified) or S2030 acrylic
Nippon Paper Industries' Yatsushiro mill in Kumamoto has remained shut since a July 2026 earthquake damaged its chimney, with no restart date confirmed. The Japan Paper Association said on 24 September that a cross-industry emergency support scheme, including Nippon Paper rerouting output from its Iwanuma mill to Kyushu, has prevented disruption to newsprint supply.
Why this mattersShows Japanese papermakers can pool capacity to absorb a single-site outage, reducing the risk of newsprint supply shocks from natural disasters.
- Nippon Paper's Yatsushiro mill in Kumamoto has been offline since a July 2026 earthquake damaged its chimney, with no restart timeline confirmed
- The Japan Paper Association's newsprint committee set up an emergency response headquarters on 31 July to coordinate alternative supply among member companies
- Nippon Paper rerouted newsprint output from its Iwanuma mill in Miyagi prefecture to Kyushu to cover the shortfall
- Association chairman Hiroyuki Isono, also president of Oji Holdings, said on 24 September there is currently no concern over newsprint supply stability
The Navigator Company has launched Amoos Boom, a new double-ply kitchen roll, extending its Amoos tissue brand in the single-roll format. The product targets the kitchen paper category in the Iberian Peninsula, where Navigator says the format has notable market weight.
Why this mattersThe launch extends Navigator's vertically integrated forestry-to-tissue chain into a specific format gaining traction in the Iberian market.
- Navigator launched Amoos Boom, a double-ply kitchen roll, on 24 September 2026
- The product is positioned in the single-roll kitchen paper format
- Navigator says the format has notable weight in the Iberian Peninsula kitchen paper category
- The launch reinforces the Amoos brand portfolio
- Navigator cites its integrated value chain from forest management and pulp production to tissue manufacturing
Navigator Company, the Portuguese paper and pulp producer, reported a net profit of EUR 49.1m for the first half of 2026, down 42.3 percent year on year. EBITDA fell 33.7 percent to EUR 142.5m, with the EBITDA margin down 4.8 percentage points to 16.4 percent. The company will report next on 22 October 2026.
Why this mattersA sharp margin decline at a core European pulp and paper producer signals continued pricing or cost pressure across its paper, tissue and packaging lines.
- Net profit fell 42.3 percent year on year to EUR 49.1m in H1 2026
- EBITDA dropped 33.7 percent year on year to EUR 142.5m
- EBITDA margin declined 4.8 percentage points to 16.4 percent
- Shares traded at EUR 3.26 on Euronext Lisbon on 23 September 2026, 9.19 percent below the 52-week high of EUR 3.59
- Market capitalisation stood at EUR 2,315.6m on 23 September 2026
- Next results are due on 22 October 2026
Coldenhove has launched Digicol Board, a 100% paper-based, fully recyclable rigid board aimed at replacing PVC foamboard in signage, retail displays and premium packaging. The Dutch paper maker says the material can be printed, cut, scored and folded on existing production equipment without process changes.
Why this mattersA drop-in recyclable substitute for PVC foamboard gives brand owners and display converters a route to cut plastic use without retooling production lines.
- Coldenhove launched Digicol Board in May 2026
- The board is described as 100% paper-based and fully recyclable
- It is aimed at replacing PVC foamboard in signage, point-of-sale displays and premium packaging
- The company says it integrates into existing print, cut, score and fold workflows with no process changes
- Coldenhove is based in Eerbeek, Netherlands, and specialises in paper for digital transfer printing
Pulpex is opening its first commercial-scale paper bottle factory near Glasgow this month, with capacity building towards 40 million bottles a year across three production lines. Initial output supplies bottles for Purely Scottish mineral water and Smol laundry detergent going on sale this autumn. The plant was funded by a USD 82m (GBP 62m) raise announced last year, including USD 57.5m (GBP 43.5m) from the UK National Wealth Fund and USD 13.2m (GBP 10m) from the Scottish National Investment Bank.
Why this mattersA working single-material paper bottle with an integrated barrier moves from pilot to commercial scale, testing whether the technology can displace plastic bottling at volume.
- Pulpex's first commercial-scale factory is opening near Glasgow this month.
- Capacity is set to build towards a maximum of 40 million bottles per year across three lines.
- Initial paper bottles supply Purely Scottish mineral water and Smol laundry detergent, on sale this autumn.
- The factory was funded by a USD 82m (GBP 62m) raise announced last year.
- USD 57.5m (GBP 43.5m) came from the UK National Wealth Fund and USD 13.2m (GBP 10m) from the Scottish National Investment Bank.
- The bottle is moulded from wood pulp with a water-based barrier coating making up six to seven per cent of total weight, containing no PET or HDPE.
M&G Investment Management and Arini Capital Management intend to acquire joint control of Italian cartonboard producer Reno de Medici (RDM), currently controlled by Apollo Management, as part of RDM's ongoing financial restructuring. The deal was notified to the European Commission for merger clearance in early September 2026 and published in the EU Official Journal on 10 September, with the Commission flagging it as a candidate for the simplified procedure.
Why this mattersA change of control at a core European cartonboard producer signals how creditors and funds are reshaping ownership of debt-laden packaging assets through restructuring.
- M&G Investment Management and Arini Capital Management intend to take joint control of Reno de Medici (RDM)
- RDM is currently controlled by Apollo Management
- The transaction is part of RDM's ongoing financial restructuring
- The deal was notified to the European Commission in early September 2026
- The notification was published in the EU Official Journal on 10 September 2026
- The Commission has flagged the deal as a candidate for the simplified merger review procedure
Moody's Ratings has cut Mondi Plc's rating to Baa2 from Baa1, citing weakened earnings and cash flow through a prolonged paper and packaging downturn. The agency revised the outlook to stable from negative, noting adjusted gross debt/EBITDA of about 3.7x against prior guidance of around 2.0x. Mondi held about EUR 154m in cash and an undrawn EUR 1.0bn revolving credit facility at 30 June 2026.
Why this mattersA downgrade at a core containerboard and kraft paper producer signals sector-wide margin pressure and could raise Mondi's future funding costs.
- Moody's cut Mondi Plc's rating to Baa2 from Baa1 on 22 September 2026
- Outlook revised to stable from negative
- Moody's-adjusted gross debt/EBITDA at about 3.7x, versus prior guidance of around 2.0x
- Retained cash flow to net debt fell to about 19.9%, below the 30% prior threshold
- EBITDA margin declined to about 10.1%
- Mondi held about EUR 154m in cash and an undrawn EUR 1.0bn committed revolving credit facility at 30 June 2026
Tetra Pak has developed with Spanish canner Jealsa the first carton package for canned tuna, using the Tetra Recart format. A 200ml Mini version has launched in Sweden with retailer Axfood, ahead of a wider rollout to producers and food brands worldwide.
Why this mattersA retort carton entering canned fish challenges steel and glass in a category they have held for decades.
- Tetra Pak and Jealsa launched the first carton pack for canned tuna in Tetra Recart format.
- The 200ml Mini version debuted in Sweden with retailer Axfood.
- Tetra Pak commissioned Meticulous Research, which forecasts world canned tuna output rising 12% by 2030 to 12.4 billion units.
- The pack uses up to 71% FSC-certified paper from renewable sources.
- Tetra Pak states the carbon footprint is 85% lower than steel cans and 83% lower than glass jars.
- Jealsa will sell the format under its own brands Rianxeira, Mare Aperto and Robinson Crusoe, and for private label.
Elopak has rolled out a 10/90 blend of chemically recycled and bio-circular polymer feedstocks across Orkla Home and Personal Care's D-PAK carton range, replacing fossil-based polyethylene coatings without changes to carton format or filling lines. The blend is now standard on OHPC brands Klar, OMO and Comfort in Sweden, Norway and Finland, with Denmark added for the first time.
Why this mattersThe switch shows liquid-carton makers using mass-balance bio-circular feedstocks to cut fossil polymer content ahead of PPWR recycled-content rules without altering filling lines.
- The polymer coating blend is 10% chemically recycled post-consumer plastic and 90% bio-circular material from waste streams such as used cooking oil.
- Feedstocks are allocated via an ISCC PLUS-certified mass-balance chain-of-custody system.
- The blend is now standard across Orkla Home and Personal Care's D-PAK carton portfolio, covering brands Klar, OMO and Comfort.
- The rollout covers Sweden, Norway and Finland, with Denmark added for the first time.
- No changes were required to carton format, converting process or filling equipment.
Pratt Industries is investing USD 92.5m to build a new recycled packaging plant in Rock Hill, South Carolina, alongside an existing Pratt recycling operation at the same site. The Conyers, Georgia-based company expects the facility to create 116 jobs.
Why this mattersThe plant adds recycled packaging capacity in the US mid-Atlantic, extending Pratt's vertically integrated recycling and manufacturing network.
- Investment of USD 92.5m announced 23 September 2026
- Site located at 2087 Williams Industrial Blvd, Rock Hill, South Carolina
- Facility expected to create 116 new jobs
- Plant will produce the company's recycled packaging
- Pratt already operates a recycling facility at the same Rock Hill location
- Pratt Industries is headquartered in Conyers, Georgia
Smurfit Westrock has launched an online store in Colombia targeted at micro, small and medium enterprises, offering customisable boxes and bags in orders from 20 units with digital printing from 10 units. The platform is aimed at Colombia's roughly 1.7 million formal businesses, of which 99.5% are MSMEs, and forms part of the group's digital transformation strategy.
Why this mattersExtends corrugated packaging demand to low-volume SME buyers, a channel large converters have typically underserved with standard high-minimum order models.
- Orders start from 20 units, with digital printing customisation from 10 units
- Delivery estimated at 3 to 5 business days across Colombian regions
- Colombia has about 1.7 million formal companies, 99.5% classed as MSMEs generating 79% of employment
- Smurfit Westrock has over 80 years of operations in Colombia and collects over 200,000 tonnes of paper and board annually
- The company holds 67,476 hectares of forestry land, including 22,678 hectares of protected natural forest
- Andrés Muñoz is CEO of Smurfit Westrock for Colombia, Ecuador and Peru
Cartonboard converter Alzamora Group won three categories at the European Carton Excellence Awards 2026, presented by Pro Carton and the European Carton Makers Association in Rome on 17 September. The company was recognised for a child-resistant mono-material pack, a postal-optimised skincare pack and a tequila gift pack, taking its cumulative Pro Carton award tally to 16.
Why this mattersThe wins show cartonboard displacing multi-material and plastic formats in child-safety and e-commerce packs as regulators tighten material rules.
- Awards presented in Rome on 17 September 2026 at the 30th European Carton Excellence Awards.
- Innovation Award went to KidGuard, a single-piece cartonboard child-resistant pack made from Billerud's CrownBoard Kraft, developed with Proquimia.
- Sustainability Award went to a postal-ready pack for UK skincare brand Skin + Me, made from Stora Enso's Ensocoat 2S, fitting a 25mm postal-format limit.
- Beverage Award went to the Tequila Buen Amigo Duo Pack for Zamora Company, made from Metsä Board's FBB Bright folding board.
- KidGuard's child-resistant mechanism was tested on children aged 12 to 35 months by product safety institute AIJU.
- The three wins bring Alzamora Group's total Pro Carton award count to 16.
Suzano's single-line pulp mill at Ribas do Rio Pardo in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, is operating at its nameplate capacity of 2.55 million tonnes a year, a level reached in less than a year of full operation after investment exceeding USD 4.2bn (BRL 22bn). The plant, part of the Cerrado Project and built with process technology from ANDRITZ, lifted Suzano's market pulp capacity by about 20% to roughly 13.5 million tonnes a year. It also exports surplus renewable power averaging about 180 MW to the Brazilian grid.
Why this mattersA fast ramp-up of this scale adds significant low-cost pulp supply to global markets, reinforcing pricing and competitive pressure for other producers.
- Investment exceeded USD 4.2bn (BRL 22bn) at the Ribas do Rio Pardo site in Mato Grosso do Sul
- Single-line capacity of 2.55 million tonnes of pulp a year was reached in under a year of full operation
- The plant lifts Suzano's total market pulp capacity by about 20% to approximately 13.5 million tonnes a year
- Process technology, including wood preparation and chemical recovery, was supplied by ANDRITZ
- The plant exports surplus renewable power of about 180 MW on average, enough to supply a city of over 2 million people
- Construction took about 30 months and peaked at over 10,000 workers; the operating workforce has stabilised at about 3,000 jobs
Sappi Europe will raise prices for its Parade Label Pro wet glue label grade by EUR 37 per tonne and its Parade Label WS wet strength label grade by EUR 97 per tonne. The increases apply to new orders and deliveries from 1 November 2026, with the company saying efficiency measures had only partly offset rising input costs.
Why this mattersHigher label paper costs add to input inflation for converters and brand owners already facing pulp and energy cost increases across the packaging chain.
- Parade Label Pro (wet glue label grade) rises EUR 37 per tonne
- Parade Label WS (wet strength label grade) rises EUR 97 per tonne
- Increases apply to orders and deliveries from 1 November 2026
- Sappi says cost-control measures had only partly offset rising input costs
- Sappi Europe's sales organisation will contact customers individually on implementation
Suzano has released its first report under the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures framework, identifying about 388,000 hectares of forest land with some level of nature sensitivity across its operations. The company says the findings will now feed into its Nature Strategy, guiding conservation, restoration and territorial-planning decisions, including its existing goal to connect 500,000 hectares of native vegetation fragments in the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Amazon by 2030.
Why this mattersNature-related disclosure is becoming a reference point for investors and customers assessing forestry-based packaging supply chains for biodiversity and land-use risk.
- Suzano identified approximately 388,000 hectares of forest area with some level of nature sensitivity in its first TNFD report
- The company used the LEAP methodology (locate, evaluate, assess, prepare) alongside tools such as ENCORE and the Natural Capital Protocol
- Suzano has followed TNFD since 2021 and was among 40 institutions supporting its 2023 launch
- The company has a separate goal to connect 500,000 hectares of native vegetation fragments in the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Amazon biomes by 2030
- Findings are said to now inform Suzano's Nature Strategy, conservation and restoration prioritisation, and investment decisions
O-I Glass plans to lay off up to 20% of the roughly 340 employees at its Pointe-Saint-Charles plant in Montreal for an indefinite period, with about 10% going from 6 October 2026 and some 30 further posts about two weeks later, according to Le Journal. Two of the plant's six production lines are to be idled after a four-year supply contract with Anheuser-Busch came to an end; the plant director cited a more difficult and uncertain business environment, and local management declined to comment. Between 60% and 70% of the site's output is normally exported to the United States, and the report links the end of the contract to the US-Canada tariff dispute.
Why this mattersLoss of a major US beverage contract is cutting lines and headcount at a Canadian glass plant, exposing how far such sites depend on US demand.
- About 10% of the plant's roughly 340 workers are to be laid off for an indefinite period from 6 October 2026
- A second round about two weeks later would affect roughly 30 more employees, taking the total to 20% of the workforce
- Two of the plant's six production lines are to be idled, one of them running at 400 bottles per minute
- The end of a four-year supply contract with Anheuser-Busch, a subsidiary of AB InBev, contributed heavily to the decision
- 60% to 70% of the plant's bottle and jar output is normally exported to the United States
- The Pointe-Saint-Charles plant is nearly 125 years old and among the oldest of O-I, which operates in nine countries
BV Glas, the German glass industry association, says weaker demand has forced container glass producers to cut capacity, and warns that a shut furnace cannot be restarted at short notice, so the capacity is lost over the longer term. Ardagh, BA Glass and Verallia have each closed German production facilities, with the European Glass Container Federation citing high energy and carbon costs, overcapacity and weak demand. The association is urging German and EU policymakers to secure competitive industrial energy prices and carbon-leakage protection to prevent further closures.
Why this mattersPermanent furnace closures reduce Europe's domestic glass packaging capacity, tightening supply options for food and beverage brands reliant on local sourcing.
- German container glass sales volumes fell 3.4% year on year to about 929,000 metric tons in Q1 2026
- Beverage bottle sales within that fell 5% in Q1 2026
- German container glass market grew 2.2% to about 3.87 million metric tons in 2025 after declines in 2023 and 2024
- Ardagh, BA Glass and Verallia have recently closed German production facilities
- BV Glas says glass furnaces cannot be restarted at short notice once shut down, causing long-term capacity loss
- BV Glas is calling for competitive industrial energy prices and EU carbon-leakage protection to prevent further closures
Encirc, the glass container maker owned by Vidrala, is investing more than USD 928,000 (GBP 700,000) over three years to retrain staff at its Derrylin site in Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The programme is part-funded by a USD 208,300 (GBP 157,200) grant from Invest NI and covers low-carbon engineering, alternative fuels, digital tools and leadership as the site targets net-zero glass manufacturing from 2030.
Why this mattersThe investment signals how glassmakers are pairing decarbonisation targets with workforce retraining to secure the skills base needed for lower-carbon production.
- Encirc is investing more than USD 928,000 (GBP 700,000) over three years in skills development at its Derrylin, Fermanagh site.
- Invest NI is providing a USD 208,300 (GBP 157,200) grant towards the three-year training plan.
- Encirc produces approximately three billion glass containers annually for brands across the UK.
- The training covers leadership development, low-carbon engineering, alternative fuels, digital and data skills, and AI awareness.
- Encirc is targeting net-zero emissions in its glass manufacturing process from 2030.
- A new 'One Horizon Programme' for continuous leadership development has been introduced as part of the plan.
Coverpla has broadened its refillable perfume bottle range to 19 references and added new 2026 launches including the Neo, Verdi 50ml and Laura 100ml refillable designs. The company has also paired its refill bottles, such as Olympe and Round B, with two third-party refill technologies: Techniplast's RT-Twist connector for home refilling and Aptar Beauty's Nomad Refill pocket vaporiser system.
Why this mattersGrowing brand demand for refillable fragrance formats is pushing rigid packaging makers to bundle bottles with refill technology from specialist partners rather than compete alone.
- Coverpla now offers 19 refillable references spanning travel to 200ml formats.
- New 2026 launches include the Neo bottle with wooden FIT cap, a 50ml Verdi variant and a 100ml refillable Laura model.
- Refill bottles Olympe (200ml) and Round B (100ml/200ml) have been added to the refill catalogue.
- Techniplast's RT-Twist technology enables gravity-fed home refilling with automatic overflow stop.
- Aptar Beauty's Nomad Refill combines a pocket vaporiser with a refill accessory that stops automatically once full.
IMG Group has launched the Everbio Innovation Hub in Portugal, backed by EUR 15m (USD 17.1m) in financing from C2 Capital Partners. The hub brings together group units Evertis, Selenis, Renascis and Renewis to develop circular and bio-based polymer technologies, including a solvent-free delamination process for recovering PET from multilayer plastic waste.
Why this mattersA working solvent-free route to recycled-content PET from multilayer waste could unlock compliance options for packaging currently deemed unrecyclable.
- C2 Capital Partners provided EUR 15m (USD 17.1m) in financing for the Everbio Innovation Hub
- The hub is located in Portugal and combines IMG Group units Evertis, Selenis, Renascis and Renewis
- Key technology is the solvent-free perPETuity delamination process, targeting virgin-quality PET recovery from complex multilayer plastic waste
- The hub aims to commercialise next-generation recycled and bio-based polymer materials
Amcor has introduced a new standard bottle called Mocha, aimed at the beauty and personal care sector, available in 100ml, 250ml and 500ml sizes. The bottle can be paired with various flip-top closures and pumps, including an optional Wave 2cc pump dispenser for the larger sizes, with a minimum order of 10,000 units and delivery within eight weeks.
Why this mattersA stock bottle with a 10,000-unit minimum and eight-week lead time lets beauty brands avoid custom tooling and shorten development cycles.
- Amcor's Mocha bottle is available in 100ml, 250ml and 500ml sizes
- Minimum order quantity is 10,000 units with delivery within eight weeks
- An optional Wave 2cc pump dispenser is offered for the 250ml and 500ml sizes
- The bottle can be paired with different flip-top closures and pumps
Siegwerk and Enplater Group have been given the Labels & Labeling Sustainability Award for a jointly developed recycle-ready mono-material polypropylene pouch for food packaging. The structure combines Siegwerk's high-barrier ink and coating technology with Enplater's converting expertise to replace multi-material laminates while remaining compatible with existing polyolefin recycling streams. The award was presented at LOUPE Americas 2026 in Chicago.
Why this mattersMono-material barrier pouches let converters meet design-for-recycling rules without giving up shelf-life performance, pressuring incumbent multi-layer flexible structures.
- The pouch uses Siegwerk's CIRKIT OXYBAR WHITE, an inline oxygen-barrier and white ink technology.
- The structure is a mono-material polypropylene design intended for existing polyolefin recycling streams.
- The award was presented at LOUPE Americas 2026 in Chicago.
- Siegwerk and Enplater Group jointly developed the pouch through their R&D and technical teams.
- The pouch is designed for food packaging applications.
Beauty packaging supplier GEKA, part of Swiss group medmix, has partnered with luxury cosmetics packaging maker Axilone to launch Symbiosis, a bottle concept combining GEKA's injection blow moulding with an Axilone aluminium outer shell. The concept was shown at Luxe Pack Monaco, and GEKA said a next-generation version with a stronger sustainability focus will follow at Cosmopack Bologna in 2027.
Why this mattersPairing injection blow moulding with an aluminium overshell lets prestige beauty suppliers offer hybrid formats without brands sourcing plastic and metal parts separately.
- GEKA and Axilone unveiled the Symbiosis bottle concept at Luxe Pack Monaco
- Symbiosis pairs GEKA's injection blow moulding technology with an aluminium outer shell made by Axilone
- The design uses low-carbon aluminium and offers customisable finishes including matte, glossy and brushed surfaces
- GEKA is part of medmix, headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: MEDX)
- GEKA plans to unveil a next-generation Symbiosis concept with a stronger sustainability focus at Cosmopack Bologna in 2027
Indorama Ventures and Rebhan have jointly developed a new PET grade, Luxyclear EBM PET 5508, designed to give extrusion blow-moulded cosmetics bottles a thick-walled, high-clarity glass-like appearance while retaining PET's lower weight and impact resistance. The material is already commercially available in Europe, the US and Asia, and is offered in virgin, up to 100 percent chemically recycled, and mass-balance certified renewable-feedstock versions.
Why this mattersA glass-substitute PET grade lets premium beauty brands cut package weight and breakage while keeping a premium shelf look, pressuring glass suppliers in cosmetics.
- Indorama Ventures and Rebhan co-developed the PET grade Luxyclear EBM PET 5508 for extrusion blow moulding.
- The material produces thick-walled, high-clarity bottles intended to mimic glass appearance for beauty and personal care packaging.
- Indorama Ventures offers the grade in virgin, up to 100 percent chemically recycled, and mass-balance certified renewable feedstock versions.
- The product is already commercially available in the European, US and Asian beauty and personal care markets.
- Dr Patrick Amrhein, director of Indorama Ventures' Specialty Polymers business, said beauty brands are showing growing interest in glass-effect plastic bottles.
WuXi XDC's new antibody-drug conjugate manufacturing site at Tuas Biomedical Park in Singapore has achieved GMP release, using filling line and isolator equipment supplied by Syntegon. The site's BCM3 production line and DP4 facility received GMP approval in August 2026, supporting the CDMO's manufacturing expansion in Southeast Asia.
Why this mattersGMP release validates Syntegon's filling and isolator equipment at an Asian bioconjugate CDMO, a reference point for further pharmaceutical capacity awards in Southeast Asia.
- WuXi XDC's Singapore site at Tuas Biomedical Park achieved GMP release
- The BCM3 production line and DP4 facility received GMP approval in August 2026
- Syntegon supplied filling line and isolator technology to the site
- Syntegon's filling line reaches speeds of up to 300 vials per minute using hydrogen peroxide bio-decontamination
- The Singapore site was first announced in 2024
- Systems are integrated through a unified automation control platform to cut downtime and maintenance costs
Nestlé has set a new target to cut virgin plastic use by 12% to 17% by 2030 against a 2018 baseline, replacing its earlier goal of recyclable packaging alone. The company expects most of the reduction to come from higher recycled content, followed by material reduction and paper substitution, with reuse, refill and alternative materials making up the rest. The plan takes into account Nestlé's planned roughly USD 3.4bn sale of a stake in its water business.
Why this mattersA target shift by one of the largest packaging buyers toward recycled PET and paper substitution will steer demand and investment across recycled-content and fibre-based packaging suppliers.
- Nestlé targets a 12% to 17% cut in virgin plastic use by 2030 versus a 2018 baseline.
- Recycled content is expected to deliver 50% to 60% of the planned reduction, from about 21% recycled content in plastic packaging as of 2025.
- Reduction and elimination measures, including paper swaps, are expected to contribute 30% to 40% of the improvement.
- Alternative materials and reuse or refill solutions are expected to contribute the remaining 10% to 15%.
- Nestlé's total plastics packaging use fell to 0.86 million metric tons in 2025 from 1.7 million tons in 2018.
- The target factors in Nestlé's planned roughly USD 3.4bn sale of a stake in its water business.
Coca-Cola is phasing out traditional pack formats in favour of smaller sizes across several markets, including Brazil, to keep unit prices lower amid persistent inflation and weaker purchasing power. Smaller portions hold down the price per pack even as the cost per litre rises. The shift is already under way in the United States and is set to extend to Brazil and other markets; the company frames it as a portfolio reformulation rather than a retreat from Brazil.
Why this mattersA pack-size downsizing by the world's largest beverage brand reshapes format and fill-line demand across the container and closure supply chain.
- Coca-Cola is reducing pack sizes in the US with expansion planned to Brazil and other markets
- Smaller portions are intended to keep the price per pack lower, even though the cost per litre is proportionally higher
- Coca-Cola guides for 2026 earnings-per-share growth of 8% to 9%
- The company frames the move as a portfolio reformulation, not an exit from Brazil
Nisshin OilliO Group and Kewpie have jointly received Japan's top packaging award, the Japan Star Award, for developing bottle-to-bottle recycling of oil-contaminated PET bottles. The two companies began collaborating in 2024 to solve the quality problems residual oil causes in recycled PET, and in April 2026 launched limited-run edible oil and dressing products in bottles partly made from this recycled material, described as Japan's first such horizontal recycling.
Why this mattersOpens a recycling stream previously blocked by contamination, potentially expanding PET bottle-to-bottle volumes available to food and beverage brand owners.
- Nisshin OilliO and Kewpie jointly won the top Japan Star Award (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry prize) at the 2026 Japan Packaging Contest, organised by the Japan Packaging Institute.
- The two companies began joint development in 2024 to recycle oil-contaminated PET bottles, previously excluded from recycling over quality concerns from residual oil.
- In April 2026 they launched limited quantities of edible oil and dressing products in PET bottles partly made from recycled material sourced from oil-contaminated bottles at their own plants.
- The launch is described as Japan's first bottle-to-bottle horizontal recycling of oil-contaminated PET bottles.
German steel group Salzgitter is considering a sale of its filling and bottling equipment division KHS, valued at up to EUR 1bn (USD 1.1bn), as it seeks funds to restructure its steel business. A strategic review of KHS is planned in the coming weeks and private equity firms are seen as possible bidders.
Why this mattersA sale would put one of the largest independent bottling-line makers into new hands, reshaping competition in filling and packing machinery for beverage and food producers.
- Salzgitter is reviewing options to sell KHS GmbH for up to EUR 1bn (USD 1.1bn).
- KHS, based in Dortmund, makes bottling lines for glass and PET bottles, kegs and cans.
- Salzgitter management plans a strategic review of KHS operations in the coming weeks.
- Proceeds would help fund restructuring of Salzgitter's steel business, including a possible mill closure in which it holds a 30% stake.
- Salzgitter's market value is about EUR 1.38bn.
- The review follows a failed attempt by shareholders GP Günter Papenburg and TSR Recycling to raise their stake to 45% plus one share.
Ineos and Norwegian recycler Recuro have announced a partnership to build a chemical recycling facility named "Full Circle" at Ineos' polymer site in Bamble, Norway. The renewable-powered plant is designed to process up to 33,000 metric tons of plastic waste a year via pyrolysis, converting it into virgin-quality recycled polyethylene aimed at food and medical packaging.
Why this mattersAdds food-grade chemically recycled polyethylene supply, helping converters meet recycled-content rules for demanding packaging applications.
- Ineos and Recuro will build the "Full Circle" pyrolysis facility at Ineos' polymer site in Bamble, Norway.
- The plant is designed to process up to 33,000 metric tons of end-of-life plastic waste annually.
- The facility will run on renewable energy and recover oil and gas fractions as feedstock.
- Output is intended as virgin-quality recycled polyethylene for food and medical packaging applications.
Braskem has partnered with 3M and converter MagSac Embalagens to launch flexible packaging containing 50% post-consumer recycled resin from Braskem's Wenew portfolio, used for 3M's 1100 and 1110 ear plug products. The companies say the packaging cuts carbon footprint by an estimated 24% versus virgin resin and enables use of about 180 tonnes per year of recycled material, with the partners describing it as the first such solution in Latin America.
Why this mattersThe project shows brand owners, resin producers and converters coordinating to meet rising recycled-content requirements under EU PPWR and California's SB-54.
- Packaging uses 50% post-consumer recycled resin from Braskem's Wenew portfolio.
- Estimated 24% reduction in carbon footprint versus virgin-resin packaging.
- Solution enables use of about 180 tonnes per year of recycled material.
- Applied to 3M's 1100 and 1110 ear plug products.
- Described as the first flexible packaging of its kind in Latin America with 50% PCR content.
- Project cites alignment with EU PPWR and California SB-54 recycled-content requirements.
A German research collaboration called SoliD-Q is developing AI-based object recognition to sort plastic waste by product type rather than polymer alone, aiming to produce higher-purity post-consumer recyclate. Three partners contribute: WeSort.AI builds the AI sorting technology, Hoffmann + Voss turns the sorted fractions into recycled compounds, and SKZ develops digital traceability infrastructure that generates a batch-specific quality certificate compatible with future digital product passports.
Why this mattersObject-level sorting and batch traceability could let converters and brand owners use PCR in more demanding applications with greater confidence in consistency and documentation.
- The SoliD-Q project involves three German partners: WeSort.AI, Hoffmann + Voss and SKZ.
- WeSort.AI is developing AI-based object recognition to separate plastic waste by product type, for example HDPE shampoo bottles from HDPE food packaging.
- Hoffmann + Voss uses the resulting sorted fractions to produce recycled compounds, adjusting compounding parameters based on incoming material data.
- SKZ is building digital infrastructure to generate a batch-specific digital quality certificate, designed to be compatible with digital product passport systems.
- The project targets more consistent, application-specific PCR grades rather than broadly defined recycled streams.
Recycling and sorting equipment maker Stadler has inaugurated a 2,160 square metre Test Center at its Altshausen, Germany headquarters, including 726 square metres of test installations. The facility was unveiled at the company's 2026 Summit, attended by 50 participants from 10 countries, and lets customers trial HDPE, PET and film processing on different machine configurations. It complements Stadler's existing test centre in Krsko, Slovenia.
Why this mattersMore in-house testing capacity lets recyclers validate sorting configurations before committing capital, potentially speeding adoption of new separation technology.
- The Test Center measures 2,160 square metres, with 726 square metres for test installations and equipment.
- It was inaugurated at Stadler's Altshausen, Germany headquarters, which spans over 20,000 square metres and employs more than 350 people.
- The STADLER Summit 2026 drew 50 participants from 10 countries including recycling company representatives and trade media.
- A live demonstration processed HDPE, PET and film using STADLERconnect modules.
- The facility complements Stadler's existing Test & Innovation Center in Krsko, Slovenia, used for larger-scale trials.
- Recent investments at Altshausen include new welding robots and a vertical CNC machining centre.
A U.S. federal court on 27 August 2026 upheld Oregon's packaging Extended Producer Responsibility law in full, rejecting a constitutional challenge from the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and lifting a preliminary injunction that had blocked enforcement since February 2026. The decision, the first full-trial federal ruling on a state packaging EPR law's constitutionality, restores the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's power to enforce fee and reporting obligations administered by Circular Action Alliance against all covered producers, and is expected to influence pending challenges in Colorado and California.
Why this mattersThe ruling sets the first legal precedent that state packaging EPR fee regimes survive constitutional challenge, reinforcing enforcement risk for producers across six other US states.
- Judge Michael H. Simon of the U.S. District Court for Oregon ruled on 27 August 2026, rejecting Dormant Commerce Clause and Due Process claims against the Recycling Modernization Act (RMA).
- The ruling lifted a preliminary injunction dated 6 February 2026 that had shielded National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) members from enforcement by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
- It is the first federal ruling on the merits, after a five-day bench trial held 13-17 July 2026, addressing the constitutionality of a state packaging EPR law.
- Circular Action Alliance administers Oregon's EPR programme as the producer responsibility organisation, with first producer fee invoices issued in July 2025.
- California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington have enacted similar packaging EPR laws; Nebraska et al. v. Heller, filed 22 June 2026 by a 17-state coalition and NAW, challenges California's SB 54.
- NAW has said it is weighing its next steps, and the district court is considered unlikely to pause implementation of the RMA.
Italy has enacted Decreto-Legge n. 143, requiring compostable versions of single-use plastic packaging formats that the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation will ban from 1 January 2030, covering lightweight fresh produce packs under 1.5kg, hospitality-sector cosmetic and hygiene wrappers, and pre-filled food, drink and condiment packaging in HORECA. All affected packaging must be certified compostable under EN 13432 or an equivalent European standard, with a three-year transition period before penalties of EUR 2,500 to 25,000 apply from 1 January 2030, rising fourfold for larger volume breaches.
Why this mattersItaly's national exercise of PPWR's Article 9(2)(b) option creates a fresh compostable-packaging demand pool but adds a country-specific compliance layer for converters selling across the EU single market.
- Decreto-Legge n. 143 covers single-use plastic packaging for pre-packaged vegetables under 1.5kg.
- Law also covers single-use flexible hospitality packaging for cosmetics, beauty and hygiene products discarded before the next guest.
- Pre-filled single-use HORECA food, drink and individual condiment packaging is included.
- Takeaway food packaging and medical/hygiene packaging in clinical settings are excluded.
- Compostable certification must meet EN 13432 or an equivalent EU-recognised standard.
- Penalties of EUR 2,500-25,000 apply from 1 January 2030, up to fourfold for breaches exceeding 10% of a company's turnover.
RECOUP has begun trials at UK Materials Recovery Facilities to test whether bio-based, biodegradable and compostable packaging materials can be reliably sorted alongside conventional packaging. The work forms the second phase of the Innovate UK-funded BB-REG-NET programme, led by the Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association, and will also assess the case for organic recycling of certified compostable packaging.
Why this mattersResults will determine whether MRFs can handle a growing range of bio-based packaging without disrupting existing sorting streams for conventional plastics and fibre.
- RECOUP is leading trials at UK Materials Recovery Facilities to test sorting of bio-based, biodegradable and compostable materials.
- The trials are part of the second phase of the UK Bio-Based Solutions Network (BB-REG-NET), funded by Innovate UK's Regulatory Science and Innovation Networks programme.
- The consortium includes BBIA, University of Sheffield, Biorenewables Development Centre, BSI, Alder BioInsights, Perspective Economics, Twig Bio and Resource Media.
- The UK bio-based chemicals and materials sector comprises more than 1,200 businesses and generates over USD 16.6bn (GBP 12.5bn) in annual revenue.
- Innovate UK estimates the sector could be worth more than USD 270bn (GBP 204bn) annually by 2050.
- The programme will produce a Material Sustainability Assessment Tool and an AI-enabled Regulatory Intelligence Platform to guide commercialisation.
