Pulpex has started production at its first commercial-scale fibre bottle plant near Glasgow, with initial capacity of 40 million units a year and an ambition to scale to 1 billion units. More than 90% of the plant's capacity for the current financial year has already been secured, including by Purely Scottish Natural Mineral Water and smol.
Why this mattersFirst industrial-scale supply of plastic-free fibre bottles gives brand owners an alternative to PET and glass, and gives licensees a route into the format regionally.
- The plant near Glasgow started commercial production in October 2026 with initial capacity of 40 million units a year.
- Long-term target is 1 billion units globally.
- More than 90% of the plant's capacity for the current financial year is secured; early adopters include Purely Scottish Natural Mineral Water and smol.
- Pulpex is backed by a consortium including Diageo, Unilever, PepsiCo and Kraft Heinz.
- Swiss manufacturer Perlen Industrieholding holds licence rights for Switzerland, Austria, Italy and southern Germany.
- India-based Alternicq holds exclusive development rights for India and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Ignacio J. Walker, senior vice president and chief legal officer of Avery Dennison, told the company on 30 September 2026 that he will resign to take up another opportunity. The company did not state a departure date or name a successor.
Why this mattersA core labelling group loses the head of its legal function, with no leaving date or successor stated, across contracts, compliance and deal execution.
- Ignacio J. Walker, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, informed Avery Dennison on 30 September 2026 that he will resign.
- Walker is leaving to pursue another opportunity, according to the company.
- No successor or departure date was stated in the source.
Prinzhorn Group's Hamburger Hungária containerboard mill in Dunaújváros, Hungary, has brought into normal operation a new EUR 150m (USD 168m) power plant following two years of construction and trials since April. Fired by mixed solid fuels including papermaking residues, biomass and coal, the plant makes the mill energy self-sufficient, replacing electricity and steam previously bought in, including from Dunaferr.
Why this mattersEnergy self-sufficiency removes a cost that made up 20-30 percent of local production expenses, strengthening the mill's position within the group's European containerboard network.
- Investment totalled EUR 150m (USD 168m) over two years of construction, involving 160 suppliers and 32 percent domestic content.
- The plant produces 730 GWh of heat and 280 GWh of electricity per year at 75 percent efficiency.
- Energy costs previously accounted for 20-30 percent of local production expenses, with electricity partly imported and a third of steam bought from Dunaferr.
- Mixed-fuel firing using papermaking waste, biomass and coal cuts the mill's CO2 emissions by more than a third.
- Construction employed 300 people on average; the plant now provides about 60 direct jobs, taking Prinzhorn's Dunaújváros headcount above 550.
- Prinzhorn's three Hungarian units represent almost 90 percent of Hungarian paper production; the group has invested EUR 600m in Hungary since 1990.
Kazakh company Capital Plast KZ is constructing a new mill in Aktobe to make corrugating medium and testliner from recovered paper, the regional administration said. The plant, costing about KZT 10.3bn, is due to open in 2027 and will employ more than 300 people once at full capacity.
Why this mattersNew recycled-fibre capacity reduces reliance on imported containerboard and gives Kazakhstan's corrugated sector a local source of recovered-paper-based materials.
- Investment is approximately KZT 10.3 billion
- Plant opening is planned for 2027
- More than 300 jobs expected once the plant reaches full capacity
- Planned output is up to 18,000 tonnes per year of corrugating paper
- Planned output is up to 24,000 tonnes per year of testliner board
- A boiler house is already built; foundation and pile work is underway
Chinese paperboard producer Liansheng Pulp & Paper is raising prices across its kraft linerboard and corrugating medium grades by CNY 50/tonne (USD 7/tonne) in a staggered rollout from 15 to 18 October 2026. The company cites higher raw material and chemical additive costs as the reason. Market commentary tied to the announcement expects the move to support a firmer domestic containerboard spot market.
Why this mattersA price rise from a leading domestic mill signals tightening Chinese containerboard supply-cost conditions that can ripple into regional export pricing for converters.
- High-strength corrugating medium price rises CNY 50/tonne (USD 7/tonne) from 15 October 2026
- A3-grade and T-grade kraft linerboard rise CNY 50/tonne (USD 7/tonne) from 17 October 2026
- A-grade and A2-grade kraft linerboard rise CNY 50/tonne (USD 7/tonne) from 18 October 2026
- Company cites raw material and chemical additive cost increases as the driver
- Final prices subject to the company's official quotation sheet
Middle East Paper Co's board has ended the contract of chief executive Faisal Alawi Haddawi by mutual agreement, effective 31 December 2026. Marwan Diab, formerly of Arabian Packaging, Obegi Chemicals Group and INDEVCO Group, takes over as CEO from 1 January 2027.
Why this mattersA change of chief executive places the Saudi-listed producer's strategy and investment plans in new hands from 1 January 2027.
- Board resolution of 9 October 2026 ended Faisal Alawi Haddawi's contract as CEO by mutual agreement
- Haddawi's last working day is 31 December 2026
- Marwan Diab becomes CEO effective 1 January 2027
- Diab has 25 years' experience including senior roles at Arabian Packaging (Al Ghurair Group), Obegi Chemicals Group and INDEVCO Group
- Diab holds an MBA from Concordia University and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the American University of Beirut
Route 1 Print, part of Bluetree Group, has installed two Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106-8P presses at its Rotherham, UK facility as part of a wider GBP 12m (USD 15.9m) capacity programme. The new presses, fitted with Plate to Unit, LED UV and Push to Stop automation, run up to 40 percent faster than the fleet they replace.
Why this mattersCapacity and automation upgrades at a major trade printer tighten turnaround times and pricing for reseller customers across the UK print supply chain.
- Two Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 106-8P presses installed at Route 1 Print's Rotherham facility.
- Investment forms part of a wider GBP 12m (USD 15.9m) programme.
- New presses run up to 40 percent faster than the predecessor fleet.
- Presses feature Plate to Unit, LED UV and fully automated Push to Stop technology.
- Rotherham facility covers 28,000 sq m.
- Route 1 Print is described as the UK's largest online trade printer.
Washington's Department of Ecology is reassessing a November 2025 wastewater and pulp spill from Port Townsend Paper Co after a former millwright submitted photos and video suggesting the discharge was far larger than the 150 gallons the mill reported. Experts who reviewed the material estimated the actual spill could have ranged from roughly 3,000 to 52,500 gallons, though duration and composition remain unconfirmed. The review follows a USD 734,000 fine imposed on the mill in September 2026 for a separate series of spills.
Why this mattersRepeated spills and a reopened state review raise compliance and reputational risk for a containerboard and pulp producer already fined this year.
- Spill occurred 20 November 2025 when wastewater and pulp escaped through a pipe hole into Port Townsend Bay
- Mill reported about 150 gallons spilled over roughly 25 minutes
- Five experts reviewing new photos and video estimated the discharge could have been 3,000 to 52,500 gallons
- Washington Department of Ecology reopened its review after a former millwright submitted evidence and shared it with an assistant attorney general
- Ecology fined the mill USD 734,000 in September 2026 for earlier spills including chemical releases into wastewater lagoons
- Port Townsend Paper employs about 300 people and produces roughly 1,000 tons per day of paper, containerboard and pulp
Papel Prensa has begun using bitren truck combinations of up to 75 tonnes to haul forestry raw material from the Teodelina area of southern Santa Fe province to its San Pedro mill in Buenos Aires province. The Santa Fe provincial government authorised the corridor on Route 94 to the Buenos Aires border under Resolution 1027/2025, part of a freight-cost-reduction programme that officials say will extend to further corridors toward Gran Rosario ports.
Why this mattersHeavier combinations cut per-tonne wood freight cost for the San Pedro mill in a market where freight can reach a third of final product value.
- Papel Prensa began operating bitren units of up to 75 tonnes for wood supply from Teodelina, southern Santa Fe.
- Santa Fe's Dirección Provincial de Vialidad authorised the route on Provincial Route 94 to the Buenos Aires border under Resolution 1027/2025.
- The wood fibre feeds Papel Prensa's industrial complex in San Pedro, Buenos Aires province.
- Provincial officials describe the move as part of a wider programme of corridor authorisations toward Gran Rosario ports and the central/north Santa Fe production basins.
- Freight cost in Argentina can represent up to a third of a product's final value, according to the provincial Production Development Minister.
Los Angeles private equity firm Butterfly Equity has agreed to acquire Sabert Holding Corp, a US food packaging manufacturer operating 13 plants across North America, Belgium, England, Poland and China with about 3,000 employees. Financial terms were not disclosed; the deal targets a fourth-quarter 2026 close subject to antitrust clearance in the EU, UK and US. Founder Albert Salama will retain a minority stake and chief executive Paul McCann stays in place.
Why this mattersA further private equity bet on convenience food packaging signals continued sponsor appetite for foodservice-exposed plastics and fibre platforms with European manufacturing scale.
- Sabert operates 13 manufacturing facilities globally, including nine in the US.
- The company employs approximately 3,000 people across North America, Belgium, England, Poland and China.
- Sabert holds more than 400 product patents.
- Deal targets a Q4 2026 close, subject to customary closing conditions and antitrust clearance.
- Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
- Founder Albert Salama will retain a meaningful minority investment; CEO Paul McCann remains in place.
Spanish group SP Group, through its pharmaceutical packaging division Rotor Print, has acquired a 51% stake in Livcer, a French pharmaceutical packaging producer. The deal adds Livcer's three flexographic printing lines and 10 million square metres of annual capacity to Rotor Print's existing 90 million square metres. Livcer, which employs 20 staff and reported turnover of about EUR 6m (USD 6.7m) in 2025, will keep its name and operate under Rotor Print's management.
Why this mattersThe deal gives SP Group a French manufacturing foothold and added capacity in the tightly regulated, certification-heavy pharmaceutical flexible packaging niche.
- SP Group's Rotor Print division acquired a 51% stake in France-based Livcer.
- Livcer adds three flexographic printing lines and 10 million sqm of annual pharma packaging capacity.
- Rotor Print's existing annual capacity stood at 90 million sqm before the deal.
- Livcer reported 2025 turnover of approximately EUR 6m (USD 6.7m) with 20 employees.
- Livcer becomes a subsidiary of SP Group but will retain its own brand identity.
- The partnership was highlighted at the CPHI Milan 2026 trade fair, held 6-8 October.
Brazil's development bank BNDES has approved BRL 21.8m (USD 4.4m) in financing for Unipac, the rigid plastics packaging arm of Grupo Jacto, to fund digitalisation across its five Brazilian plants. The project covers artificial intelligence, internet-of-things sensors and an additive-manufacturing line for mould-making at the Pompeia site, with rollout also at Paulinia, Limeira, Maracanau and Uberaba.
Why this mattersShows a mid-sized Latin American rigid-plastics converter using state-backed finance to automate quality inspection and demand planning, a model other regional converters may follow.
- BNDES approved BRL 21.8m (USD 4.4m) under its BNDES Mais Inovacao programme.
- Funds will be deployed at Unipac's Pompeia (SP) headquarters and plants in Paulinia, Limeira, Maracanau and Uberaba.
- An automatic visual inspection system using high-resolution cameras and AI will target zero visual defects on packaging lines.
- Additive manufacturing will replace a conventional mould-making process in Pompeia, producing precision metal parts.
- Unipac marks 50 years in operation in 2026 and employs about 1,100 people.
- Unipac is the rigid plastics packaging and polymer-technology unit of Grupo Jacto, a 78-year-old Brazilian multinational.
Altea Packaging, a Tunisia-based flexible packaging manufacturer active in more than 15 countries across Africa and the Middle East, is adding a new rotogravure printing press and a slitting machine, both due to start operating in early 2027. The company said the equipment will raise production flexibility and support its expansion into European markets. No investment figure or added capacity was disclosed.
Why this mattersAdded rotogravure and slitting capacity lets Altea shorten lead times on complex short-run graphics as it pushes into European flexible packaging markets.
- Altea Packaging operates in more than 15 countries across Africa and the Middle East
- New rotogravure press and slitting machine expected to start operating in early 2027
- Company is based in Tunisia
- Investment aims to support growth in Europe alongside its MENA base
- No capital expenditure or capacity figures were disclosed
Harlow-based paper wholesaler Ovenden Papers was placed into administration on 18 September 2026 and its stock, vehicles, intellectual property, plant and goodwill were sold the same day in a pre-packaged deal to Antalis for USD 297,000 (GBP 225,000). All 47 employees transferred under TUPE rules; unsecured creditors are expected to receive nothing.
Why this mattersFalling demand for paper has removed a 47-staff UK merchant from the market and handed Antalis its stock, IP and customer base for USD 297,000 (GBP 225,000).
- Antalis paid USD 297,000 (GBP 225,000) for stock, vehicles, intellectual property, plant and goodwill on 18 September 2026.
- All 47 employees transferred to Antalis under TUPE.
- Sales fell from USD 50.1m (GBP 37.9m) in the year to March 2025 to USD 32.3m (GBP 24.4m) the following year.
- After-tax losses were USD 1.94m (GBP 1.47m) and USD 2.35m (GBP 1.78m) in those two years, plus USD 929,000 (GBP 703,000) in the four months to July 2026.
- Secured lender Praetura was owed USD 5.16m (GBP 3.91m) and is expected to recover in full; unsecured creditors are expected to receive nothing.
- Administrators Alvarez & Marsal approached 63 potential buyers and received one offer.
Katoen Natie has acquired all shares of Harry Vos Feluy, a logistics operator based in Feluy, Belgium. The Antwerp-based logistics group said the deal strengthens its activities in the petrochemical sector. No financial terms were disclosed.
Why this mattersA logistics group adds petrochemical handling capacity in Belgium, upstream of the resin supply chain that packaging converters depend on.
- Katoen Natie acquired 100% of the shares of Harry Vos Feluy.
- The target is located in Feluy, Belgium.
- The acquisition strengthens Katoen Natie's petrochemical sector activities.
- Deal value was not disclosed.
L'Oréal Travel Retail and Avolta agreed a joint sustainability plan at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, targeting 10% refillable formats in core fragrance categories by 2030. The plan also covers lower supply-chain emissions through more efficient transport modes and optimised truckload capacity, and CSR training for beauty advisers. No investment figure or volume was disclosed.
Why this mattersA major brand owner and a leading travel retailer committing jointly to refill targets signals demand-side pressure on fragrance packaging suppliers to develop reusable formats.
- Target is 10% refill formats across core fragrance categories by 2030.
- The plan was agreed in early October 2026 at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.
- Measures to cut supply-chain emissions cover more efficient transport modes and optimised truckload capacity.
- Beauty advisers will receive dedicated CSR training modules under the agreement.
- No capital commitment, volume or unit target was disclosed.
L'Oréal expects to save roughly USD 1m a year in extended producer responsibility fees by removing metal decals from one Garnier shampoo once California's SB 54 packaging law takes effect in 2028. Estée Lauder has spent about two and a half years developing a recyclable paper sachet to replace multi-layer laminate samples, as both companies adjust packaging ahead of the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, due later this year, and California's producer-responsibility programme.
Why this mattersShows brand owners quantifying EPR cost savings from material changes, a signal that PPWR and SB 54 are starting to drive concrete packaging redesign decisions at scale.
- L'Oréal projects about USD 1m in annual EPR fee savings by removing metal decals from one Garnier shampoo once California's SB 54 takes effect in 2028.
- The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation takes effect later in 2026; California's Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act takes effect in 2028.
- Estée Lauder spent about two and a half years developing a globally recyclable paper sachet to replace its multi-layer laminate sample packets.
- Estée Lauder has run an EPR compliance algorithm for 20 years, originally built with recycler Strategic Materials to validate glass recovery from small fragrance bottles.
- L'Oréal has joined a Closed Loop Partners coalition, alongside Kraft Heinz, Target and P&G, to retrofit material recovery facilities for small-format rigid plastics.
Mondelez International has completed the replacement of rigid PET trays with FSC-certified paper alternatives across more than 115 biscuit products in Europe. The switch spans eight brands and over 25 markets, covering roughly 28,000 tonnes of biscuits produced annually, and is expected to remove about 2,200 tonnes of virgin plastic a year, an 80% cut versus the previous packaging.
Why this mattersShifting trays on 28,000 tonnes of annual biscuit output moves volume from thermoformers to fibre converters and sets a reference format for competing biscuit brands.
- More than 115 products across eight brands switched from rigid PET trays to FSC-certified paper trays
- Brands affected: LU, Milka, Granola, Cadbury, Marabou, Chips Ahoy!, Lacta and Freia
- Rollout covers more than 25 European markets including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain and the Nordics
- Affected products represent about 28,000 tonnes of biscuits produced annually
- Expected to cut virgin plastic use by about 2,200 tonnes a year, an approximately 80% reduction versus prior packaging
- Mondelez has also added recycled content to other trays and developed alternatives for other product formats
Unilever has become a founding member of the PaperFlex Consortium, set up by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and consultancy (Re)set to develop paper-based alternatives to plastic flexible packaging such as sachets, wrappers and pouches. Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestle, PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble are also founding members, funding joint trials of materials intended to protect products and run on existing filling lines.
Why this mattersSix of the largest consumer goods groups backing paper flexibles as a group could accelerate converter investment in fibre-based barrier packaging for sachets and pouches.
- Unilever joined the PaperFlex Consortium in September 2026.
- Founding members also include Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestle, PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble.
- The consortium was formed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and environmental consultancy (Re)set.
- Members will jointly fund and run trials of paper-based flexible packaging as a plastic alternative.
- Unilever says it has doubled its packaging R&D investment and employs more than 60 material scientists working on paper-based materials and barrier coatings.
Selenis, the specialty copolyester producer owned by IMG Group, has acquired the production assets of Greece's Polisan Hellas, to be installed in Portugal. The deal, announced 8 October 2026, is part of a plan to take installed specialty copolyester capacity across Portugal, Italy, Tunisia and the US above 200,000 tonnes a year by 2028. The company is also evaluating bio-based capacity in Germany and DMT-based textile recycling in Tunisia.
Why this mattersAdding continuous polymerisation to Selenis's batch base lets it compete on cost in high-volume packaging resin grades while offering converters multi-site supply security.
- Selenis acquired the production assets of Polisan Hellas in Greece for installation in Portugal.
- Deal announced 8 October 2026.
- Installed specialty copolyester capacity to exceed 200,000 tonnes a year by 2028.
- Production footprint spans Portugal, Italy, Tunisia and the United States.
- Continuous polymerisation, newly added via the deal, lowers conversion cost per tonne versus batch for standard grades used in shrink sleeves, film and sheet.
- IMG Group is evaluating further investment in bio-based capacity in Germany and DMT-based textile-to-textile recycling in Tunisia.
Freepoint Eco-Systems has suspended plastic chemical recycling operations at its Hebron, Ohio facility, roughly a year after the plant shipped its first commercial cargo of pyrolysis oil. The suspension, reported 2 June 2026, coincides with an investigation by Ohio state regulators and ongoing community complaints; the company has not disclosed the operational, financial or regulatory trigger.
Why this mattersA proven commercial-scale pyrolysis unit going offline tightens circular feedstock supply just as brand owners' recycled-content targets depend on such volumes scaling up.
- Freepoint Eco-Systems LLC, a subsidiary of commodities trader Freepoint Commodities, operates the Hebron, Ohio pyrolysis plant
- Chemical recycling operations at the plant were suspended, reported 2 June 2026
- The plant shipped its first commercial cargo of pyrolysis oil roughly a year before the suspension, in mid-2025
- The facility is under investigation by Ohio state regulators and has drawn community complaints
- Ohio law classifies pyrolysis as manufacturing rather than waste processing
- The company has not disclosed whether the suspension is temporary or a wind-down
TotalEnergies has bought Plastic Energy's 35% stake in the Grandpuits chemical recycling plant near Paris, becoming sole owner. The facility processes up to 15,000 tonnes a year of hard-to-recycle plastic waste. No deal value was disclosed.
Why this mattersFull ownership gives TotalEnergies direct control of a chemical-recycling feedstock source as recycled-content mandates under PPWR increase demand for such material.
- TotalEnergies acquired Plastic Energy's 35% stake in the Grandpuits facility
- The plant is located outside Paris, France
- Annual processing capacity is 15,000 tonnes of difficult-to-recycle plastic waste
- TotalEnergies now holds 100% of the plant
- Deal value was not disclosed
An alliance of 26 German food and beverage brands, organised by Berlin-based reuse operator Dotch, plans to launch standardised refillable glass jars for pickles, preserves and sauces with a EUR 0.25 deposit before the end of 2026. The scheme extends a reusable glass bottle system Dotch already runs for cooking oil, which is accepted at more than 1,800 organic-food stores in Germany and Austria with a EUR 0.50 deposit.
Why this mattersA standardised multi-brand refill pool would shift preserved-food volume from single-use glass to returnable jars, cutting container glass demand in Germany.
- Introduction of the reusable jars is planned during 2026; no binding nationwide start date or list of participating retailers has been published.
- Dotch has designed three standardised screw-top jar sizes of 375ml, 580ml and 720ml for sweet and sour preserves.
- The deposit is EUR 0.25 per jar, against EUR 0.50 for Dotch's existing reusable cooking-oil bottles.
- The 'Glas kann mehrWeg' alliance counts 26 manufacturers and brands, up from 24 at its presentation in early June 2026.
- Participants include Carl Kühne, Develey, Feinkost Dittmann, Andros and Werder Feinkost.
- Reusable oil bottles are taken back at more than 1,800 organic-food stores in Germany and Austria; the jars are to be returned through existing reverse vending machines.
The US Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to ease how it classifies outputs from pyrolysis and depolymerization under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, according to Associated Press reporting on 9 October 2026. The reclassification would determine whether pyrolysis oil is treated as a regulated solid waste or a marketable product, affecting permitting and liability for advanced-recycling projects. Environmental groups including NRDC and Beyond Plastics oppose the move, arguing it weakens oversight of hazardous air pollutants.
Why this mattersA lighter RCRA classification would improve permitting certainty and offtake economics for chemical recycling, a route brand owners are counting on for hard-to-recycle flexible plastic packaging.
- EPA is assessing whether to ease RCRA classification of chemical-recycling outputs such as pyrolysis oil, per AP reporting published 9 October 2026
- Classification determines whether output is a regulated solid waste or a lightly regulated product, affecting permitting and liability
- US plastic waste generation is estimated at roughly 40 million tonnes a year, with mechanical recycling rates in the low single digits for most resins
- Projects in commissioning cited as affected include Eastman Chemical's Kingsport, Tennessee facility, ExxonMobil's Baytown, Texas pilot and Braskem's Charleston demonstration plant
- NRDC, Beyond Plastics and the Center for Environmental Health have previously argued pyrolysis and gasification generate hazardous air pollutants
- Next milestone is a public-comment window and any draft rule or interpretive memo filed in the Federal Register
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) has filed an appeal against an Oregon ruling that let the state delegate producer-fee-setting authority under its extended producer responsibility law to the Circular Action Alliance (CAA). NAW argues the delegation bypasses public rulemaking procedure and that CAA's multistate fee schedules disrupt interstate supply chains for covered paper and packaging. The case could affect how similar PRO-based EPR programmes in California, Colorado, Minnesota and Maine set producer fees.
Why this mattersA ruling against CAA's fee-setting power could force state agencies to take direct control of EPR fee schedules, reshaping compliance costs across several US states.
- NAW has appealed a ruling that allowed Oregon's DEQ to delegate producer fee-setting authority to CAA
- CAA is the PRO Oregon selected to run its printed paper and packaging EPR programme
- NAW's appeal cites both improper rate-making delegation and interstate supply chain disruption
- California, Colorado, Minnesota and Maine have similar EPR frameworks that rely on the same PRO model
- Producer fees under Oregon's EPR law fund collection, sorting, processing and recycling-rate improvements
- Oregon's programme is moving toward its first compliance milestones for producers
