Shandong Pharmaceutical Glass has filed with the Shanghai Stock Exchange to issue up to 199m new A-shares and raise up to USD 482.5m (CNY 3.235bn), with proceeds earmarked entirely for working capital. The placement hands control of the pharmaceutical glass maker to Sinopharm International, part of state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group, replacing former controlling shareholder Luzhong Investment and the Yiyuan county finance bureau. The exchange accepted the filing on 17 September 2026; CSRC registration is still pending.
Why this mattersA central state conglomerate taking control of China's leading pharma glass maker could reshape supply terms and consolidation in the domestic pharmaceutical packaging chain.
- Shandong Pharmaceutical Glass (600529.SH) plans to issue up to 199m new A-shares to raise up to USD 482.5m (CNY 3.235bn), entirely for working capital
- Sinopharm International replaces Luzhong Investment and the Yiyuan county finance bureau as controlling shareholder, with the State Council's SASAC as ultimate controller
- The Shanghai Stock Exchange accepted the placement filing on 17 September 2026; CSRC registration is still pending
- The two cash subscribers are China International Medicine and Health Co and Shandong Yaoxin Health Industry Co
- 2025 revenue fell 8.78% to USD 667m (CNY 4.474bn) and net profit fell 26.87% to USD 103m (CNY 690m), under centralised drug procurement pricing
- Inventory rose to USD 259m (CNY 1.734bn) at end-June 2026 from USD 191m (CNY 1.279bn) at end-2024
Chinese specialty paper producer Wuzhou Special Paper has reached 70 percent construction progress on its 600,000 tonne per year chemical pulp project in Hukou, Jiangxi province. The plant will use imported wood chips and include an alkali recovery system, with all pulp output consumed internally to integrate the company's pulp-and-paper operations. Single-machine equipment commissioning is scheduled to start in January 2027.
Why this mattersIn-house pulp integration cuts a specialty paper maker's exposure to pulp price swings, a cost lever that affects downstream packaging and graphic paper pricing.
- Project is a 600,000 tonne per year chemical pulp plant in the Yinshawan park of Hukou High-tech Industrial Zone, Jiangxi province
- Overall construction progress stands at 70 percent as of early October 2026
- Main equipment installation is largely complete; work has shifted to instrumentation and electrical fit-out
- Single-machine equipment commissioning is planned to begin in January 2027
- Peak on-site workforce during the national holiday period exceeded 2,000
- All chemical pulp produced will be used internally for the company's own paper production, forming a closed-loop pulp-to-paper system
Construction continues on the Zhihu Yuanchuang household paper full-industry-chain project in Guigang, Guangxi, with total investment of CNY 13.7bn (USD 2.04bn). The project's first-phase pulping plant is about 95 percent complete and entering final commissioning, part of a two-phase build targeting combined pulp-and-paper capacity of 1.26 million tonnes a year. Once fully operational the site is expected to generate over CNY 16bn (USD 2.39bn) in annual output value and create more than 4,000 jobs.
Why this mattersAdding 1.26m tonnes a year of integrated pulp and tissue capacity in Guangxi will weigh on regional tissue pricing and lift wood and pulp demand.
- Total project investment is CNY 13.7bn (USD 2.04bn)
- Site covers over 2,000 mu (about 133 hectares) in Guigang, Guangxi
- Combined pulp-and-paper capacity targeted at 1.26 million tonnes/year across two phases
- Phase-one pulping plant is about 95 percent complete and in equipment commissioning
- Project expected to generate annual output value over CNY 16bn (USD 2.39bn) once fully operational
- Full operation expected to create more than 4,000 jobs and annual tax revenue over CNY 500m (USD 74.6m)
French plastic-free paper packaging maker Eurobrillance will invest EUR 7.5m (USD 8.4m) at its historic Altorf site near Strasbourg, funding new production equipment, line automation and an AI-assisted ERP overhaul. The investment comes with 35 new hires, split across production, logistics, maintenance and quality, after the company already doubled headcount to 62 staff over the past year. Management aims to double revenue this year on export growth for its plastic-free packaging.
Why this mattersA small converter scaling fast on plastic-free demand signals how tightening EU single-use packaging rules are reshaping capacity investment among mid-sized paper packaging specialists.
- Investment totals EUR 7.5m (USD 8.4m) at the Altorf site in Bas-Rhin, France
- 35 new jobs planned: 28 in production, 3 in logistics, 2 in maintenance, 2 in quality control
- Current headcount is 62, having doubled over the past year
- Revenue was EUR 12.2m (USD 13.7m) for the year to 30 June 2025
- Funds cover new production equipment, line automation and an ERP system with AI tools
- Management targets doubling revenue this year, driven by export growth in plastic-free packaging
Norske Skog has completed the sale of certain properties at its Saugbrugs publication paper mill in Halden, Norway, to Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning (NND) for NOK 770m (USD 79.8m). Most of the proceeds will be used to repay short-term debt, with the remainder added to the company's liquidity.
Why this mattersThe disposal strengthens Norske Skog's balance sheet without affecting mill production, as paper producers monetise non-core land assets amid sector overcapacity.
- Sale price: NOK 770m (USD 79.8m)
- Asset: certain properties at the Saugbrugs publication paper mill in Halden, Norway
- Buyer: Norway's nuclear decommissioning agency NND
- Larger share of proceeds to repay short-term debt, remainder to strengthen liquidity
Packaging Corporation of America will permanently close its Baltimore Street plant in Middletown, Ohio, affecting all 91 employees, under a WARN notice filed with the state and the city. Most staff finish on 1 December 2026 and the site is to be vacant by the end of the year, with the work consolidated into larger operations including a newly opened PCA plant elsewhere in Ohio. A separate WARN notice covers a Gas City, Indiana plant and its 78 workers in the week of 26 October.
Why this mattersA string of US plant closures by the third-largest containerboard producer signals rationalisation of converting capacity amid softer demand.
- PCA will permanently close its Baltimore Street plant in Middletown, Ohio, affecting all 91 employees
- Most employees finish on 1 December 2026; the plant is expected to be vacant by the end of the year
- The company says the work will be consolidated into larger and more efficient operations, including a newly opened plant elsewhere in Ohio
- A separate WARN notice covers the permanent closure of a Gas City, Indiana plant and its 78 workers in the week of 26 October
- Media reports earlier in 2026 said PCA planned to close a Richmond, Virginia converting operation affecting 110 employees
- Hourly production and maintenance staff are represented by USW Local No. 1676
Amaral Embalagens, a Brazilian paper and board packaging supplier based in Pouso Alegre, is opening a new production unit in São Sebastião da Bela Vista, in southern Minas Gerais. The municipal government says the facility is expected to create more than 80 new jobs. No investment figure or capacity was disclosed.
Why this mattersA new plant adds regional capacity for a paper and board packaging supplier serving hundreds of Brazilian municipalities, though scale remains undisclosed.
- Amaral Embalagens, based in Pouso Alegre, will open a new unit in São Sebastião da Bela Vista, southern Minas Gerais.
- The new plant is expected to create more than 80 jobs, according to the municipal government.
- Amaral Embalagens was founded in 2004 and supplies paper and board packaging to more than 570 cities across Brazil.
- The facility will be located in the Bela Vista Hub Empresarial, near the Fernão Dias highway.
Mercer International has suspended the restart of its Rosenthal kraft pulp mill in Germany after discolouration was detected near its wastewater discharge point into the Saale River, following a roughly four-week scheduled maintenance shutdown. The Saale-Orla District Office has imposed a precautionary swimming ban in part of the Bleiloch Reservoir while an investigation continues, and the mill is holding wastewater in buffer tanks.
Why this mattersAn unplanned halt at a 360,000 tonne mill tightens kraft pulp supply to German and Italian paper and tissue buyers while regulators investigate the discharge.
- Rosenthal mill has 360,000 tonnes per year of kraft pulp capacity
- Restart followed a scheduled maintenance shutdown of about four weeks
- Discolouration was found near the wastewater discharge point into the Saale River
- Saale-Orla District Office imposed a precautionary swimming ban in the southern Bleiloch Reservoir
- Wastewater is being held in buffer tanks pending investigation
- The Rosenthal site also operates a biomass power plant of 413 MW thermal and 57 MW electrical capacity
A USD 2.0bn (BRL 10.35bn) pulp and energy complex in Alto Araguaia, Mato Grosso, first granted a preliminary licence in 2019, has resurfaced with a new timetable published on LinkedIn by Leonardo Garcia Degrazia. The plan covers a 2 million tonne per year bleached eucalyptus pulp mill, a 372 MW biomass plant, a rail spur and a freight terminal, with investment approval set for June 2027 and construction from December 2027. No equipment contracts have been publicly confirmed.
Why this mattersA new 2 million tonne pulp mill would add meaningful capacity to the fibre supply chain that underpins paper-based packaging, once financing and permits clear.
- Project valued at USD 2.0bn (BRL 10.35bn) for a 2 million tonne per year bleached eucalyptus pulp mill in Alto Araguaia, Mato Grosso
- The mill alone is estimated at USD 1.84bn; the site's preliminary environmental licence dates from 2019
- Plan includes a 372 MW biomass power plant, a dedicated rail spur and a freight terminal
- Schedule foresees environmental and financing approvals by January 2027, investment approval in June 2027 and equipment quotations from August 2027
- Bidding documents are expected in October 2027, construction from December 2027 and completion in December 2028
- Valmet and Andritz Brasil are named as technology suppliers under evaluation, with no definitive contracts publicly confirmed; AFRY Brasil is engineering consultant
Site operator Infra Leuna has commissioned a new anaerobic wastewater treatment plant built for UPM's wood-based biochemicals biorefinery at the Leuna chemical park in Germany, at a cost of EUR 41.7m including a linked biogas unit. The plant will pre-treat up to 130 cubic metres of heavily loaded water per hour once UPM reaches planned full output of about 220,000 tonnes of biochemicals a year, with throughput ramped up as UPM's own production rises.
Why this mattersThe facility removes the last major infrastructure bottleneck for UPM's biochemicals plant to reach full capacity at Leuna.
- Infra Leuna invested EUR 35.7m in the anaerobic treatment plant plus EUR 6m in a linked biogas unit, EUR 41.7m total
- At full output the plant will pre-treat 130 cubic metres of UPM wastewater per hour
- UPM's planned full production is about 220,000 tonnes of biochemicals a year at Leuna
- The anaerobic process removes 80 percent of organic load and generates biogas for up to 6 MW of continuous output
- UPM has invested EUR 1.3bn in total at the Leuna site
Vetropack used its first Capital Markets Day to unveil Strategy 2035 and publish mid-term financial targets for the first time, covering 2026 to 2030 against a 2025 base. The glass packaging maker is targeting low-single-digit percentage revenue growth above the market at constant exchange rates, a return to a double-digit operating margin and a double-digit return on capital employed by the end of the period. Growth is to come from customer solutions beyond glass, structurally growing segments such as low and no-alcohol drinks, food and premium wine, and export market development.
Why this mattersFirst public targets commit Vetropack to restoring a double-digit operating margin by 2030 and to growth beyond glass containers, giving customers a measurable benchmark.
- Vetropack presented Strategy 2035 and, for the first time, public mid-term financial targets at its first Capital Markets Day
- Targets run to 2030 with 2025 as the base year: low-single-digit percentage revenue growth above the market at constant exchange rates
- The group targets a recovery in operating profit and a double-digit operating margin by the end of the period
- A double-digit return on capital employed is targeted over the mid term
- Growth levers are product and service solutions for food and drink customers, structurally growing segments (low- and no-alcohol drinks, food, premium wines) and export market development
- The board approved the revised strategy at the end of August, with its key points published alongside the 2026 half-year report
Specialty glass maker Schott has appointed Stefan Brandl, former chief executive of automotive supplier Dräxlmaier Group, as its new chief executive effective 1 November 2026. He succeeds Dr Torsten Derr, who steps down on 31 October 2026 for family reasons after the Supervisory Board approved early termination of his term.
Why this mattersSchott changes chief executive at four weeks' notice; the incoming CEO's long supervisory board tenure points to continuity rather than a reset for its 18,000 staff.
- Stefan Brandl becomes Schott CEO effective 1 November 2026.
- Dr Torsten Derr steps down as CEO on 31 October 2026, citing family reasons.
- Brandl was Vice Chairman and CEO of Dräxlmaier Group since 2021.
- Brandl was CEO of ebm-papst from 2017 to 2021.
- Brandl has served on Schott's Supervisory Board for many years.
- Schott employs nearly 18,000 people.
Ball Corporation announced on 11 September 2026 plans to build a new beverage can manufacturing facility in Uttar Pradesh, India, with two production lines expected to start up in 2029. The company said the project is backed by customer contracts and fits its guidance to keep capital expenditure in line with depreciation and amortisation over time.
Why this mattersA third Indian plant adds capacity to serve growing beverage-can demand in South Asia, extending Ball's footprint beyond its existing Taloja and Sri City sites.
- Ball Corporation announced the Uttar Pradesh facility plan on 11 September 2026
- The plant will have two production lines
- Start-up is expected in 2029
- Ball said the project is supported by customer contracts
- Ball already operates plants in Taloja, Maharashtra, and Sri City, Andhra Pradesh
Alpla is building a new plastic packaging plant in North Las Vegas, Nevada, covering about 13,000 square metres, with production due to start in spring 2027. The facility will use extrusion blow moulding to make bottles for food, beverage, healthcare, cosmetics and household care customers and will create 36 jobs.
Why this mattersA second western US site adds regional bottle capacity and shortens supply lines for Alpla's food, beverage and healthcare customers in the region.
- Plant located at Craig Road Logistics Center, North Las Vegas, Nevada
- Facility covers approximately 13,000 square metres
- Production scheduled to start spring 2027
- Uses extrusion blow moulding technology to make plastic bottles
- Will be Alpla's second production site in the western US, bringing US locations to 19
- Expected to create 36 new jobs
Alpla has opened a new plastic packaging plant in Tire, Izmir province, Turkey, built with an investment of about EUR 20m (USD 22.5m). The facility combines PET preform, closure, HDPE blow-moulding and PET blow-moulding technology, raising Alpla's annual processing capacity in Turkey from about 90,000 to 120,000 tonnes. It is the company's fifth Turkish plant, alongside sites in Kocaeli, Ankara, Konya and Adana, and is expected to employ about 120 people at full capacity.
Why this mattersTurkish capacity rises by a third to 120,000 tonnes, giving Alpla a larger local base for dairy and beverage customers and for supply into neighbouring markets.
- Investment of about EUR 20m (USD 22.5m) for the new Tire, Izmir plant
- Alpla's Turkish annual processing capacity rises from about 90,000 to 120,000 tonnes
- Combined with an Adana plant, total new investment in Turkey is about EUR 30m
- Plant covers 26,000 square metres of built space on a 50,000 square metre site
- Expected to employ about 120 people at full capacity
- Fifth Alpla plant in Turkey, after Kocaeli, Ankara, Konya and Adana
Italian cosmetics packaging group Lumson has acquired Lombardi Design and Manufacturing in the United States through its Lumson USA subsidiary, and separately bought 100% of the group's Asian entity, Lombardi Design & MFG Limited. The moves give Lumson direct operations on three continents and were backed by a consortium of Italian banks including Intesa Sanpaolo and Banco BPM, with support from export credit agency SIMEST.
Why this mattersThe deal extends consolidation among specialised cosmetics packaging suppliers and gives Lumson manufacturing footprint directly in the US and Asian beauty markets it previously served from Europe.
- Lumson USA completed the acquisition of Lombardi Design and Manufacturing, a US-based maker of primary cosmetics packaging
- Lumson separately acquired 100% of Lombardi Design & MFG Limited, the group's Asian entity
- The deals extend Lumson's direct presence to three continents: Europe, North America and Asia
- Carl Lombardi remains chief executive of the US business and will support integration
- The acquisition was financed by a banking consortium of Intesa Sanpaolo, BNL BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole Italia and Banco BPM, with support from SIMEST
- Lumson's M&A was led internally by vice president Francesco dell'Elmo
Amcor's board has elected Tom Long, an independent non-executive director since 2017 and former MillerCoors chief executive, as its next chairman. He succeeds Graeme Liebelt, who steps down at the annual general meeting on 11 November 2026 after almost 13 years in the role. The change comes as Amcor reports strong post-merger earnings growth following its acquisition of Berry Global.
Why this mattersNew board leadership takes over as Amcor delivers sharply higher post-merger earnings from its integration of Berry Global.
- Amcor's board elected Tom Long as chairman on 29 September 2026, succeeding Graeme Liebelt
- Liebelt steps down at the AGM on 11 November 2026 after almost 13 years as chairman
- Long has been an independent non-executive director since 2017, was previously CEO of MillerCoors and currently chairs Wolverine Worldwide's board
- Amcor reported FY2026 revenue of USD 23.51bn, up 57 percent from USD 15.01bn in FY2025, driven by the Berry Global acquisition
- FY2026 adjusted EBITDA rose to USD 3.673bn from USD 2.186bn; net profit was USD 1.106bn versus USD 511m a year earlier
- Fourth-quarter adjusted net income was USD 570m, up 40 percent from USD 408m a year earlier
Atedia Films, the former Amcor site in Dax, France, inaugurates on 6 October 2026 a new seven-layer coextrusion line built with a EUR 2.5m investment. The line produces up to 450 kg of technical film per hour, serving the aerospace, animal feed and food-contact flexible packaging markets.
Why this mattersA former Amcor site adds seven-layer barrier film output of 450 kg per hour, serving aerospace, feed and food-contact flexibles as an independent converter.
- Investment of EUR 2.5m (USD 2.8m) in the new line
- Line produces up to 450 kg of film per hour
- Film web rises 16.5 metres on the new coextrusion tower
- Inauguration held on 6 October 2026 for customers and partners
- Site became independent in 2024 after over 50 years inside larger groups, most recently Amcor
- Dax site produced about 12,000 tonnes of film annually under Amcor ownership
LEAP India has incorporated two wholly owned subsidiaries, Vimprotech Private Limited and Total International Packaging Solutions Private Limited, with a combined cash investment of USD 0.59m (INR 56.8m). Vimprotech will make vacuum-formed and injection-moulded plastics products, while Total International Packaging Solutions will run returnable packaging pooling for the automotive, electronics and consumer durables sectors.
Why this mattersA returnable-packaging pooler moving into in-house specialised plastics manufacturing signals vertical integration in India's growing pooling and logistics packaging market.
- Combined investment across the two new entities is USD 0.59m (INR 56.8m) in cash
- Vimprotech Private Limited was incorporated on 1 October 2026 with USD 0.42m (INR 40.3m) for 4.03m equity shares
- Total International Packaging Solutions Private Limited was set up with USD 0.17m (INR 16.5m) for 1.65m equity shares
- LEAP India's board approved the move on 29 September 2026
- Vimprotech will focus on specialised vacuum-formed and injection-moulded plastics manufacturing
- Total International Packaging Solutions will pool returnable packaging for the automotive, electronics and consumer durables sectors
Meiji Co. and Toppan Holdings are running a paper cup take-back scheme for Meiji's Bulgaria Yogurt LB81 (400g) range at 13 Aeon Retail and Aeon Food Style stores in Yokohama from 1 October to 30 November 2026. Collected cups will be upcycled into merchandise sold at Meiji's pavilion at the 2027 International Horticultural Expo (GREEN x EXPO 2027) in Yokohama, running 19 March to 26 September 2027.
Why this mattersThe scheme tests collection logistics for water-resistant yoghurt cartons, a paper packaging stream that current recycling systems cannot process alongside milk cartons.
- Collection runs 1 October to 30 November 2026 at 13 Aeon-group stores in Yokohama
- Scope covers four SKUs of Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt LB81 400g paper cups
- Toppan designs and supplies collection boxes and manages the reprocessing
- Collected cups are upcycled into goods sold at the 2027 International Horticultural Expo, 19 March to 26 September 2027
- Earlier pilots ran from May 2025 at Meiji facilities and from October 2025 with retailer Bandai Co. at nine Kansai-region stores
- Collection and transport logistics are handled by Kaneko Co.
Gallus Group, the label-printing technology subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, has changed its top leadership. Chief executive Dario Urbanati steps down on 1 November 2026 to become president of the board of Gallus Ferd. Rueesch AG from 1 January 2027, with chief financial officer Michael Bsirske taking over as interim CEO. Uwe Boerner becomes head of global sales effective 1 October 2026, succeeding Thomas Schweizer, who leaves the company.
Why this mattersLabel converters buying Gallus presses face an interim chief executive from 1 November and a new global sales head from 1 October.
- Dario Urbanati steps down as Gallus CEO on 1 November 2026
- Urbanati becomes president of the board of Gallus Ferd. Rueesch AG from 1 January 2027
- CFO Michael Bsirske becomes interim CEO of Gallus
- Uwe Boerner appointed head of global sales effective 1 October 2026, succeeding Thomas Schweizer
- Gallus is a label-printing technology subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) plans to begin producing polypropylene at its Gujarat Refinery by the end of the current fiscal year, with initial output of 500,000 tonnes a year. The move adds a third domestic PP source alongside IOCL's Paradip and Panipat refineries, as imports currently meet 25-30% of India's polypropylene demand.
Why this mattersNew domestic PP capacity could reduce India's import reliance for a key packaging resin and affect supply and pricing for converters.
- Gujarat Refinery to start polypropylene production by end of current fiscal year
- Initial capacity set at 500,000 tonnes per year
- Imports currently account for 25-30% of India's domestic polypropylene demand
- IOCL already produces polypropylene at Paradip (Odisha) and Panipat (Haryana) refineries
- Gujarat Refinery is also expanding total refining capacity to 18 million tonnes per year under the LuPech project
- Gujarat Refinery, established in 1966, is marking its diamond jubilee year
Borouge and Borealis, with Catalytic Finance Foundation, Pelita Mekar Semesta and Reciki Solusi Indonesia, have begun a feasibility study for a fully integrated circular waste management and polyolefin recycling ecosystem in Indonesia. The study, funded through the Subnational Climate Fund Technical Assistance programme, will assess a proposed greenfield plastics recycling facility in East Java and the viability of the full waste-to-recycled-resin process chain.
Why this mattersA viable East Java recycling hub could add a new source of recycled polyolefin feedstock for Asian packaging converters facing tightening recycled-content rules.
- Borouge and Borealis are studying a greenfield plastics recycling facility in East Java, Indonesia
- The study covers the full chain, from turning plastic waste into feedstock to producing high-quality recycled polyolefins
- The study is funded by the Subnational Climate Fund Technical Assistance facility, with the fund managed by Pegasus Capital Advisors
- Catalytic Finance Foundation is supporting execution of the study
- Local partners Pelita Mekar Semesta and Reciki Solusi Indonesia contribute waste management and recycling expertise
- The partners describe the project as Indonesia's first fully integrated circular waste management ecosystem
The Canadian province of Alberta has finished moving to a fully producer-managed extended producer responsibility system for single-use packaging and paper, with funding and oversight transferred from municipalities to brand owners and packaging producers. The rollout, coordinated by producer responsibility organisation Circular Materials, now covers 287 communities and standardises the materials collected across the province.
Why this mattersA completed provincial EPR transition gives producers and converters a working model of fully industry-funded collection as similar but contested schemes advance in the UK and elsewhere.
- Alberta's EPR transition covers 287 communities across the province.
- Funding and operational responsibility for recycling has moved from municipalities to brand owners and packaging producers.
- The scheme is coordinated by producer responsibility organisation Circular Materials.
- Materials collected are now standardised across participating communities.
- The transition was reported as completed on 2 October 2026.
Colombia's tax authority DIAN has issued guidance clarifying that its single-use plastics tax applies to the plastic component itself, not the goods it contains, covering caps and cellophane used for packaging functions. DIAN confirmed the levy extends to primary, secondary and tertiary packaging and embalaging levels wherever they meet the single-use plastic definition, with the tax base calculated on the full plastic component.
Why this mattersWider scope across all packaging tiers raises compliance exposure and tax base for converters and brand owners selling into Colombia.
- DIAN clarified the tax applies to the plastic component itself, not the contained product
- Plastic caps and cellophane performing a packaging function are covered if single-use
- The levy extends to primary, secondary and tertiary packaging and embalaging levels
- Tax base is calculated on the entirety of the plastic component
Italy has issued a national decree requiring formats such as small produce packs, condiment sachets and hotel toiletry bottles to be certified compostable and processed through its domestic biowaste infrastructure. The move diverges from the EU-wide Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which plans to ban these single-use formats outright from 2030, creating a fragmented compliance landscape for converters exporting into Italy.
Why this mattersConverters serving Southern Europe must now run dual compliance tracks, certified compostable polymers for Italy versus recyclable conventional plastics elsewhere, raising production and segregation costs.
- Italy's decree covers small produce packs, condiment sachets and hotel toiletry bottles
- Formats must be certified compostable and processed via Italy's domestic biowaste collection and industrial composting network
- The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation plans to ban these same single-use formats outright from 2030
- The divergence affects exporters including UK packaging converters and Turkish plastic manufacturers selling into Southern Europe
- Compliant materials cited include PLA and PBAT
