Silgan Holdings is to combine its Metal Containers segment and Food and Beverage Flat Cap Closures business with Trivium Packaging, currently owned by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and Ardagh Group, to form Silgan Metal Containers and Closures. The all-cash deal values Trivium at USD 3.4bn enterprise value, 7.1x LTM adjusted EBITDA (4.8x including expected synergies), and Silgan's contributed units at USD 3.8bn, 8.1x LTM adjusted EBITDA. Silgan will hold 60% and American Industrial Partners 40%, with the Trivium acquisition expected to close in mid-2027.
Why this mattersThe deal creates a larger metal containers and closures group across North America and Europe, while USD 2.3bn of cash proceeds lets Silgan retire debt.
- Trivium valued at approximately USD 3.4bn enterprise value, 7.1x LTM adjusted EBITDA.
- Including USD 225m of expected synergies, the Trivium valuation falls to 4.8x LTM adjusted EBITDA.
- Silgan's contributed Metal Containers and Flat Cap Closures businesses are valued at USD 3.8bn, 8.1x LTM adjusted EBITDA.
- Silgan will receive approximately USD 2.3bn in cash proceeds to retire existing debt and retain 60% control of the new entity, Silgan Metal Containers and Closures.
- American Industrial Partners will hold the remaining 40% and contribute approximately USD 1.0bn of cash equity.
- The acquisition of Trivium is expected to close mid-2027.
Argentina's securities regulator CNV has opened a formal proceeding against Celulosa Argentina, its former directors and statutory auditors over alleged disclosure failures during the 2024-2025 crisis that led to the paper and pulp producer's insolvency filing. The probe covers September 2024 to September 2025, when the company idled its plants, filed for creditor protection and changed control. A preliminary hearing is set for 27 November 2026, when the company will present its defence.
Why this mattersA formal regulatory proceeding over disclosure during the insolvency crisis adds legal exposure for Celulosa Argentina and its former board after the 2025 change of control.
- CNV's board opened the proceeding through Resolution RRFCO-2026-341-APN-DIR#CNV on 7 October 2026
- The proceeding covers Celulosa Argentina and the directors and statutory auditors in office between September 2024 and September 2025
- Alleged breaches concern Article 99 of Capital Markets Law 26.831, CNV rules and Article 59 of the General Companies Law
- A preliminary hearing is set for 27 November 2026, when the company is to present its defence
- The company informed the market of the proceeding on 16 October 2026
- During the period under review the company halted its plants, entered creditor protection and changed control
UK independent corrugated packaging maker The Box Factory has completed a new 50,000 sq ft distribution hub outside Leamington Spa, raising warehousing capacity by 45% and freeing 15,000 sq ft of manufacturing space at its existing sites. The company also installed a USD 667,000 (GBP 500,000) Eterna automatic die-cutter in December and upgraded its shop-floor data system, lifting machinery utilisation by 18% in the first three months.
Why this mattersConsolidated logistics and added capacity let an independent converter compete on lead times as UK corrugated supply consolidates through M&A and closures.
- New 50,000 sq ft distribution hub near Leamington Spa increases warehousing capacity by 45%
- Facility consolidates three existing warehouses and four temporary storage units
- Pallet capacity rises from 5,500 to over 8,000
- Freed-up space adds 15,000 sq ft of manufacturing floor at existing sites
- Company separately invested USD 667,000 (GBP 500,000) in a new Eterna automatic die-cutter, installed in December
- Upgraded shop-floor data system with 33 live screens cut downtime and lifted machinery utilisation by 18% in three months
NOVER, a glass packaging factory in Chlef, Algeria controlled by Groupe ENAVA, has commissioned a new production line supplied by Falorni Group's FalorniTech unit. The installation, including a recuperative melting furnace and SCADA-based process controls, entered production in May 2026, targeting improved energy efficiency and lower emissions.
Why this mattersA new furnace and forming line at ENAVA-controlled NOVER adds North African glass container capacity designed for lower energy use and emissions.
- NOVER is a glass factory in Chlef, Algeria, controlled by Groupe ENAVA.
- Falorni Group's FalorniTech acted as EPC contractor for the new line.
- The installation comprises a recuperative melting furnace, three distribution channels, forehearths and a metal recuperator.
- Famor Engineering supplied new and overhauled forming machines for the line.
- The line includes a SCADA system for real-time production monitoring and remote technical support.
- The line entered production in May 2026.
Zotefoams has acquired Pennsylvania-based Verttec, a maker of crosslinked technical roll foam, for up to USD 7.3m, adding a product line it previously lacked in the US. The deal comprises USD 5.1m paid upfront on a cash-free, debt-free basis, plus up to USD 2.2m in earn-outs over 24 months tied to revenue performance. Verttec will keep operating from its existing Pennsylvania site under current president Ryan Dempsey.
Why this mattersBuying rather than building gives Zotefoams US crosslinked-foam capacity for up to USD 7.3m, against an estimated USD 20m and five years to replicate it organically.
- Zotefoams pays up to USD 7.3m for Verttec, including USD 5.1m upfront and up to USD 2.2m in contingent earn-outs over 24 months.
- Verttec reported unaudited revenue of USD 5.1m and adjusted EBITDA of USD 0.3m for the year ended 31 December 2025.
- Verttec's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 9% since 2023.
- Zotefoams estimated organic replication of Verttec's capabilities would cost approximately USD 20m and take five years.
- Verttec operates two crosslinked roll foam production lines at its East Greenville, Pennsylvania facility, which continue under the deal.
- Ryan Dempsey remains Verttec president under a new employment agreement.
Saudi Printing & Packaging (SPP) has agreed to sell its polypropylene cup and plastic container production lines in the UAE to Al Aamal Al Dhahabiya General Trading for SR1.12m (USD 297,583). The lines, operated through subsidiary Commercial United Packaging Company (CUPCO), carried a book value of SR6.1m at 30 September 2026, implying a non-cash loss of roughly SR5m. The sale follows SPP's February decision to shut down its other UAE subsidiary, Al Madinah Packaging Co (City Pack).
Why this mattersThe disposal shows a mid-sized regional converter retreating from lower-margin single-use plastics to cut debt and refocus on higher-margin segments.
- Deal price SR1.12m (USD 297,583)
- Buyer is Al Aamal Al Dhahabiya General Trading
- Lines held book value of SR6.1m as of 30 September 2026
- Expected non-cash loss of approximately SR5m on completion
- Lines were operated by CUPCO, owned via Emirates National Factory for Plastic Industries
- In February SPP began shutting down UAE subsidiary Al Madinah Packaging Co (City Pack)
Taiwan's Ministry of Environment and a retail packaging sustainability alliance launched 350 green-packaging products across 61 categories on 19 October 2026. The products are sold through hypermarket and supermarket chains and backed by ten companies including Kao, Swire Coca-Cola, Heineken and Unilever. Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming set a target of 1,000 such products within two years, as the ministry works towards the EU goal of a 10% packaging reduction by 2035.
Why this mattersThe voluntary programme moves brand owners supplying Taiwanese retail towards packaging reduction in line with EU targets, with a link to circular-label certification under consideration.
- 350 green-packaging products across 61 categories launched on 19 October 2026
- Ten companies took part, including Kao, Swire Coca-Cola, Heineken, Unilever, PX Mart and FamilyMart
- Environment Minister Peng Chi-ming targets 1,000 green-packaging products within two years
- The ministry aims to meet the EU target of a 10% packaging reduction by 2035
- PX Mart's bulk-sale sections and lighter fresh-food packaging cut plastic use by more than 11,000 kg last year, according to the ministry's resource circulation agency
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has approved, by order of 9 October 2026, a standard contract governing utilisation (recycling) fee payments between operator Zhasyl Damu and producers and importers, effective 24 October 2026. The contract covers products and packaging subject to extended producer responsibility and sets procedures for filing applications, invoicing within three working days, payment and issuance of a compliance certificate.
Why this mattersProducers and importers selling packaged goods into Kazakhstan get a fixed EPR payment procedure, and the operator can reject applications with incomplete or inconsistent documents.
- Standard contract approved by Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources order No. 264 of 9 October 2026
- Takes effect 24 October 2026
- Applies to products and packaging under extended producer responsibility (EPR)
- Operator Zhasyl Damu must issue an invoice within three working days of a correctly completed application via app.recycle.kz
- Extended producer responsibility obligations are considered fulfilled from the date the certificate is issued
- Producers and importers must ensure the certificate is passed to the end buyer when products are sold
Indonesia's government has set a zero percent import duty for six months on six tariff codes of polyethylene and polypropylene, under Finance Ministry regulation PMK No. 68/2026 enacted 2 October 2026. The move responds to global resin price rises of roughly 43 percent for polypropylene and 28 percent for polyethylene year on year, though industry feedback suggests the exempted grades are mostly liquid-form resin not matching the pellet feedstock used by packaging converters.
Why this mattersThe six-month duty waiver offers limited relief to Indonesian packaging converters, which report that the exempted resin grades do not match the pellet feedstock they use.
- Regulation PMK No. 68/2026, enacted 2 October 2026, sets 0 percent MFN import duty on six tariff codes covering polyethylene and polypropylene for six months.
- Global polypropylene prices rose about 42.79 percent and polyethylene about 27.87 percent year on year as of 13 October 2026, per government data.
- The zero-duty codes cover PE tariff lines 3901.10.12, 3901.10.19, 3901.10.99 and 3902.10.30, and PP lines 3902.10.90 and 3902.30.30.
- Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto says the measure follows presidential instructions to protect domestic industry competitiveness amid rising global raw material costs.
- Industry feedback indicates the exempted codes mostly cover liquid-form resin grades not matching the pellet-form feedstock needed by downstream packaging, household, agricultural and small-business converters.
- The government plans ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the policy's effectiveness, with Airlangga noting the incentive was issued some time after the coordinating meeting decision.
German waste management associations BDE and bvse, together with paper industry body Die Papierindustrie (DPI), have called on the German government for a binding, uniform regulation ending the waste status of recovered paper once it is sorted to DIN EN 643 quality standards. The groups, joined by Austrian bodies Austropapier and VOEB, are also commissioning a study by Vienna's Boku university to develop a method for measuring contaminants in mixed waste paper, to support a legally secure end-of-waste framework initially in Germany and eventually across Europe.
Why this mattersA binding end-of-waste status would ease recovered fibre trading and supply for European paper and packaging mills, reducing regulatory uncertainty in a key raw material stream.
- BDE, bvse and Die Papierindustrie (DPI) jointly call for a binding end-of-waste rule for recovered paper in Germany, with a longer-term aim of EU-wide application
- Waste paper would gain product status once separately collected, sorted by certified disposal firms and quality-assured to DIN EN 643 grade definitions for groups 1 to 4
- Austrian associations Austropapier and VOEB join the German groups in commissioning an accompanying study
- The research project at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (Boku) will develop a standardised method to quantify contaminants in mixed waste paper
- The study will include analysis of existing standards, development of sampling and analysis strategies, and practical testing at model facilities
UK packaging waste recycling notes (PRNs) and their export equivalents (PERNs) recorded in January-June 2026 totalled 417,365 tonnes, down about 29% from 586,191 tonnes a year earlier. The figures come from Environment Agency data reported by RECOUP in July. The fall prompted talks between Defra and industry on its causes and possible regulatory intervention, although RECOUP found discrepancies in the dataset, and tighter accreditation, reporting changes and action against fraud can also reduce the supply of valid notes.
Why this mattersA tighter supply of valid notes would raise compliance costs for packaging producers whether the cause is lost recycling capacity or stricter enforcement against fraudulent operators.
- Recorded PRNs and PERNs fell to 417,365 tonnes in January-June 2026 from 586,191 tonnes a year earlier, a decline of about 29%, per RECOUP citing Environment Agency data
- The decline prompted discussions between Defra and industry representatives on its causes and possible regulatory intervention
- RECOUP identified discrepancies between tabs in the underlying dataset and sought clarification from the Environment Agency
- PRN and PERN sales generated USD 429m (GBP 322m) in 2025, according to a government parliamentary answer published in June 2026
- The dataset was updated on 25 September 2026 using information extracted on 21 September
The European Commission has proposed returning 26 Swedish pulp, paper and cardboard installations to the EU Emissions Trading System from January 2027, with no free allowances granted. The move follows a request from the Swedish government and would require the affected plants to buy all their carbon allowances on the open market. The proposal comes amid a wider EU ETS reform debate over free-allowance rules and use of carbon market revenue.
Why this mattersFull carbon-cost exposure for Swedish pulp and paper producers raises compliance costs and could widen the competitiveness gap with mills still receiving free allowances.
- 26 Swedish pulp, paper and cardboard installations affected
- Proposed re-entry into the EU ETS from January 2027
- No free allowances to be granted to the installations
- Proposal made at the request of the Swedish government
- EU member states had separately proposed a 40% increase in free ETS allowances under the fallback benchmark
