Huhtamaki has welcomed the conclusions of a new report, which reviews 26 scientific studies comparing the environmental impact of single-use packaging vs. reusable tableware used in takeaway settings. Conducted by Ramboll, a leading global engineering, design and consultancy company, the ‘meta-analysis’ of 26 previous scientific studies concludes that the additional and specific burdens of reusable tableware, when used for takeaway food and beverages, makes it far less sustainable than paper-based single-use tableware. The reasons for this are the energy and water required for sanitization, together with the impacts of take-back transport and the breakage rates associated with takeaway systems. Previous Life Cycle Assessments, undertaken by Ramboll for the European Paper Packaging Alliance (EPPA), revealed that when used within in-store settings in Quick Service Restaurants, reusable tableware systems generated 2.8 times more CO2-equivalent emissions and consumed 3.4 times more freshwater than paper-based packaging.

Intertape Polymer Group Inc. is pleased to announce the receipt of the approval under the Investment Canada Act in respect of the previously announced acquisition of the Company by an affiliate of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. for CDN$40.50 per share by way of a plan of arrangement in accordance with Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act. The parties to the Arrangement intend to complete the Arrangement on June 28, 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Pregis joined 1% for the Planet, pledging to donate one percent of sales of its Inspyre brand products to support nonprofit organizations. 1% for the Planet is a global organization with a mission to inspire businesses and individuals to support approved environmental nonprofits to build a better world and future for all. Pregis introduced its Inspyre brand in 2018 with the mission of providing customers with the option to choose packaging that does good for the world. Since the introduction, Pregis has donated a portion of the proceeds of these products, including Inspyre hybrid cushioning with water blue color tint and tissue paper packaging, to Uzima Clean Water Mission. The company plans to expand the Inspyre product offering to increase its global impact. Uzima provides water filters, hygiene kits and education to communities across the world to overcome water insecurities improving overall wellness in those communities through access to clean water.

“Packaging waste, climate change and other environmental crises demand an urgent and joined up response from the CPG [consumer packaged goods] community. The Sustainability Awards sets the agenda on best practice, turns the spotlight on the most important areas of R&D, and helps separate greenwash from the innovations that make a genuine difference. This year’s competition has introduced five new Pre-Commercialized categories, dedicated to showcasing the most important areas of emerging innovation that will hit the market in the years to come. Among the categories for commercialized products and initiatives, there are two new categories: ‘Climate’ and ‘Renewables’” – Packaging Europe. At Stora Enso, our approach to innovation combines our capabilities with renewable materials to drive change towards a more sustainable future. We address trends that affect our customers and end-consumers, while advancing solutions to reduce dependence on fossil-based materials. One of these innovations is Papira® by Stora Enso. Papira is a natural, bio-based and recyclable alternative, ideal for protective and cushioning applications in packaging. This lightweight and shock absorbent foam material is made from pulp fibers. With Papira, you can forget fossil-based foams and ensure that your packaging is renewable, biodegradable and fully recyclable in currently existing paper and board steams.

Mayr-Melnhof Group (MM) has entered into an agreement to buy Essentra Packaging (100% equity interest in ESNT Packaging & Securing Solutions Limited (UK) and its affiliates and 100% equity interest in Essentra Packaging US Inc (US)) from Essentra plc (UK) for GBP 312 million - currently around EUR 365 million. The acquisition of Essentra Packaging serves to implement MM Packaging's strategy to grow in profitable and resilient segments such as pharma secondary packaging and strengthens its position in the European market for pharma folding boxes and leaflets. Additionally, this acquisition expands MM's presence in the US market with a significant position in the East Coast pharma hub. Essentra Packaging reported sales of around £370m for 2021 - currently c.€430m. The company comprises 21 production sites in 10 countries in Europe and North America, ideally complementing MM Packaging's current position in Scandinavia through the recently acquired Eson Pac and the existing business in France. Essentra Packaging serves over 800 customers worldwide, including 19 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies, and employs over 3,500 people.

See short video at: https://www.atlanticpkg.com/2022/06/atlantics-stretch-film-recycling-equipment/ Atlantic has invested in recycling equipment to: *Recapture used stretch film from our customers *Transform used stretch film into high-quality post-consumer resin (PCR) *Repurpose that PCR into new stretch film!

Transcontinental Inc. announced that it has acquired Banaplast S.A.S., a flexible packaging company founded in 2009 and based in Armenia, Colombia. Banaplast is active in the protection of crops in the banana and plantain agro-industrial sector and other fruit plantations. “The acquisition of Banaplast is aligned with our growth strategy of innovation and proximity to key markets in the agro-industrial segment” said Ricardo Garcia Merlo, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Latin America at TC Transcontinental Packaging. “With Banaplast we are expanding our offering, namely with banana tree bags and agro-mulches, and our network with the addition of Banaplast to our existing operations in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico. This acquisition opens new and exciting opportunities to better serve our customers”.

Kimberly-Clark Professional, a global leader in contamination control solutions for cleanrooms and laboratories, has expanded The RightCycle Program, the first large-scale recycling effort for non-hazardous lab, cleanroom and industrial PPE waste. Flex-film plastic packaging from Kimtech™ and KleenGuard™ products will now be accepted for recycling through the program. "This is a significant step in addressing a challenging waste stream that currently has very low recycling rates compared with other commodities, such as paper and cardboard," said Mike Haley, Vice President of PPE at Kimberly-Clark Professional. "As the program continues to grow and evolve, we remain committed to finding ways to expand our recycling capabilities in order to help our customers reach their goals and to deliver on our purpose of Better Care for a Better World." Since 2011, The RightCycle Program has empowered more than 900 customers to divert 3.7 million pounds of waste.

Mondi has been recognised by the Swiss Packaging Institute (SVI) for its RetortPouch Recyclable solution. The packaging won the Swiss Packaging Award for the Sustainability category and was developed for Coop’s private label range of healthy pulses and grains sold in Switzerland. RetortPouch Recyclable, made of polypropylene (PP)-based mono-material, offers exceptional shelf life and reduces potential food waste. The innovative packaging can replace complex multilayer unrecyclable packaging that uses aluminum or metallised layers to provide high barrier food protection. RetortPouch Recyclable is able to withstand high temperatures during the retort process used in food preparation and is suitable for a wide range of applications in the ready-made food and pet food industries. The packaging, which is used for Coop’s products that are manufactured by Hilcona, has an attractive yet sturdy stand-up design that includes a transparent window to allow consumers to view the product on-shelf.

The recyclable and compostable UPM Solide Lucent is a highly versatile specialty kraft paper with endless possibilities for recyclable packaging innovations. The paper is suitable as a coating base or for lamination, single-packs, bags, and wraps; UPM Solide Lucent can do it all and more! UPM Solide Lucent is a brilliant example of the type of packaging innovations the world needs right now. Through co-creation, it enables brand owners to effectively reduce the amount of fossil-based or non-recyclable materials and increase usage of materials from renewable sources in their packaging. “Together with customers and partners, we can develop truly sustainable medium and high barrier packaging solutions, matching customer needs in a wide range of food and non-food applications,” explains Mika Uusikartano, Senior Manager, Product Portfolio Management, UPM Specialty Papers. “Thanks to its outstanding sustainability credentials, this paper is a safe and smart choice for converters and brand owners looking to co-create new products with us. The target is also to reduce value chain recycling fees in the long run,” continues Tommi Heinonen, Head of Sales, UPM Specialty Papers.

A study released by R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company found the market’s most pressing challenges forced packaging decision makers to shift priorities and rethink operations, with 90% changing how their packaging is sourced. The Unpackaging Reality Report explores how converging disruptive issues like supply chain volatility, inflation, labor shortages, and increasing sustainability pressures have impacted the industry. Surveying 300 packaging decision makers in the U.S., RRD’s study found that material price hikes and supply shortages presented the biggest hurdles for the industry over the past year, with over half of respondents reporting they have been strongly impacted. These challenges, among others, forced organizations to reprioritize packaging materials (68%), budget (52%), packaging design and aesthetics (49%), and sustainability goals (45%). Despite the many challenges brought on by the pandemic and downstream issues, the report found that overall, the packaging industry proved resilient and continued to track toward a more sustainable and innovative future.

The first HolyGrail 2.0 sorting prototype was successfully validated in March this year following semi-industrial trials, using NIR and digital watermarks detection to sort packaging waste with a 99 percent detection rate and the potential to develop new, more granular post-consumer recycling streams. The Digital Watermarks Initiative HolyGrail 2.0, driven by AIM – European Brands Association, and powered by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, has the goal of assessing whether the digital watermarks technology can enable better sorting and higher-quality recycling rates for packaging in the EU. Today, more than 160 partners across the value chain are working together to refine and commercialize this concept. Sonoco, one of the largest global sustainable packaging companies, is a member of the HolyGrail 2.0 initiative to prove the viability of digital watermarking for sorting packaging waste and the business case at scale, likely with global implications. Trials in Copenhagen found that using digital watermarks on packaging resulted in 98 - 100 percent being correctly detected, with a subsequent total ejection rate of 90 - 100 percent.

Committed to bringing innovative and sustainable solutions to the market, Klabin, Brazil’s largest producer and exporter of packaging paper and paper packaging, has developed a new version of its paperboard Klamulti, designed for beverage packaging (multipack), which now has microfibrillated pulp (MFC) in its composition. This innovation, led by the Product Development and Technology Center teams at Klabin, was produced at the MFC plant located in Telêmaco Borba, Paraná. Experiments proved that the addition of MFC in the paperboard composition significantly improves the product’s properties and performance while also reducing grammage. As such, the new solution is capable of creating lighter and more resistant packaging, enhancing the efficiency of the material. The MFC production process develops the microfibrillation of the walls of pulp fibers, enabling a wider connection area between them, thereby increasing the paper’s mechanical strength.

Mondi has created a range of fit-for-purpose packaging solutions to protect and transport fresh produce from farm-to-shelf-to-home safely, efficiently and conveniently. Grow&Go encapsulates the spirit of Mondi Corrugated Solutions’ new product portfolio for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry. Key to its appeal is the wide range of available options, covering everything from heavy bulk shipments to light fruit and vegetable assortments for on-shelf display. "Steep demand increases are on the horizon for small portion packaging. Small portion packs offer many benefits to the end consumer, such as providing the product to be taken directly from the shelf in its packaging without the fresh produce being touched. They also make the shopping experience more convenient – no more fussing with scales or sachets – and they protect fragile items like tomatoes for the trip home." Jan Blankiewicz, Product Innovation Manager, Mondi Corrugated Solutions The World Star award-winning CoralTray, offering hassle-free handling, protection, ventilation and visibility for up to a kilo of produce, is one of several Grow&Go solutions fulfilling this need.

DS Smith and Ipsos MORI, a global leader in market research, have conducted a new study that reveals despite the global health crisis, shoppers still have their eye on the environment; with 85% of buyers wanting to buy products that use as little packaging as possible, and almost a third (29%) disclosing that they have stopped purchasing specific brands on the grounds that their packaging was not sustainable. Regarding consumer perceptions of sustainability, the research concludes that whilst habits may have changed, attitudes have not, and it is these attitudes which continue to evolve. Notably, we discuss the extent to which consumers continue to prioritize sustainable packaging, and the willingness to act in favour of sustainable packaging has marginally increased. Furthermore, we emphasise the commercial risk for both brands and e-commerce retailers, in the absence of sustainable packaging and just how difficult it has become to ‘intercept’ the shopper journey.

According to FANUC, an industrial robotics manufacturer, there are approximately 1.9 jobs per unemployed worker in the United States. Why? Well, e-commerce is still creating strong labor demand across all areas of the supply chain. To add to that, U.S. businesses are reshoring their sourcing to domestic suppliers in hopes of combating the long overseas lead times; all of which means the creation of even more job openings across North America. Pregis attended Automate in Detroit, MI last week, and returned with a wealth of innovation trends that are adding value within the fulfillment centers of so many industries – from third-party logistics to retail. Timely Takeaways from the Event: 1. Picking and packing goes autonomous: The days of workers wearing out the warehouse floor as they transport goods from inventory to the packing area are numbered. Robotics manufacturers, such as Fetch (now owned by Zebra technologies), are now offering automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and automated mobile robots (AMRs) that autonomously transport goods from storage to pack stations. 2. Machine vision & artificial intelligence: Software and hardware capabilities within the optics space are beginning to reach sci-fi levels. 3. [Insert technology] as a service: Software-as-a-service (SaaS) has been around for a while, but now, technology companies are leveraging this business model for varying forms of technology – one of which is robotics. 4. The rise of integration: As businesses increasingly adopt autonomous equipment, internet-of-things (IoT), and warehouse management systems (WMS), integrators are emerging as key partners.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released its May 2022 Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly report. According to the report, total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in May increased 1 percent compared to May 2021. They were up 1 percent when compared to the same 5 months of 2021. The operating rate was 88 percent, essentially flat (+0.2 pts.) from May 2021 and up 1.1 points year-to-date. Mill inventories at the end of April decreased 6,000 short tons from the previous month, and were down 8,000 short tons compared to April 2021.

FEFCO announces that three scientific studies break the stereotypes on reusable packaging. “It is now scientifically proven that reuse should be considered on a case-by-case basis as it is not always the best environmental option. A peer-reviewed study shows that reusable packaging has a stronger impact on climate than recyclable corrugated. EU policies place a strong emphasis on the role of packaging in the circular economy and its design to be recycled and/or reused. Packaging exists for a reason; therefore, it is vital to consider packaging functionality, sustainability, and overall performance from a life-cycle perspective. The three studies released by FEFCO were conducted by an independent consultancy (Ramboll) and a research institute (VTT). The studies evaluate the impact of recyclable corrugated board packaging compared to reusable plastic packaging and revealed a series of important conclusions. These are available here on the dedicated FEFCO webpage.

How people consume is undergoing rapid change. As consumer demands and regulatory requirements intensify, the packaging industry needs to find new ways to protect food safely in more sustainable ways. Eric Le Lay, President, Fiber and Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania at Huhtamaki believes that there is a game-changing technology that can facilitate this transformation: High precision technology to create smooth molded fiber packaging. At Huhtamaki we want to do more. Our aim is to be a pioneer of sustainable packaging solutions. We take a material positive approach, ensuring that the best material is used for the right product. For us, fiber can and will play an important role. Fiber has been used in packaging for decades. Today, Huhtamaki is able to tap into its full potential by applying high-precision technology expertise to take this renewable material to surprising new levels. This innovation, combined with a high-level food-grade barrier, produces smooth molded fiber (SMF) sustainable packaging that offers superior functionality, keeps food safe, maintains its quality and eliminates the need for aluminum resulting in aluminum-zero solutions.

Metsä Board has, once again, been awarded the Platinum level rating by EcoVadis for the company’s sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Having improved the score to a record level 87/100 Metsä Board is among the highest 1% of companies assessed in the manufacture of corrugated paper and paperboard and containers of paper and paperboard. EcoVadis assesses companies covering four themes. Metsä Board was in the top 1% of companies for Environment, Labour & Human Rights and Sustainable Procurement and in the top 7% for Ethics. For the first time Metsä Board scored the full 100/100 in the Environment section. “At Metsä Board, sustainability is an integral part of our strategy and daily operations – now and in the future. Reaching the full 100 score in the Environment section and the Leader status in carbon management assessment acknowledges our journey towards fossil free production and products by the end of 2030,” says Mika Joukio, CEO at Metsä Board.

ProMach, a worldwide leader in packaging machinery solutions, announced today it has acquired Reepack. Reepack is a leading manufacturer of high-quality flexible packaging machinery known for their vacuum chambers, thermoformers, tray sealers, and flow wrappers. The addition of Reepack helps ProMach continue expansion in the food packaging space and solidifies their status as a single-source supplier for protein-packaging automation. Reepack joins six other best-in-class product brands under ProMach's Flexibles & Trays business line. With the acquisition of Reepack, ProMach gains a key application technology in flow wrapping, adding to their overall flexible packaging capabilities, and also expands their existing capabilities in horizontal thermoforming.

The revolutionary 3D-formable BillerudKorsnäs FibreForm® paper offers a low-carbon packaging alternative to plastic and an exciting opportunity for inspiring designs. The creative FibreForm® is cold-formable and available in both white and brown paper. The unique FibreForm® material helps brand owners on their journey towards sustainable packaging. Firstly, the paper’s high strength enables packaging, such as carrier bags, to be reused multiple times. The paper is cold-formable and, therefore, requires less energy than plastic packaging during converting. Furthermore, it is 100% renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable.

At approximately 19.40 BST yesterday evening a fire broke out in an adjacent premises to the Smurfit Kappa SSK Paper Mill in Birmingham. High winds carried the fire which reached the mill’s recovered fibre yard. Smurfit Kappa would like to thank both West Midlands Fire Service staff and the SSK team for their swift and professional response in controlling the fire within a few hours and ensuring the safety of all. The paper mill itself is unaffected and we do not expect any material impact on production.

Spadel and DS Smith launch a new 5 litre package that has been innovatively designed to ensure it’s not only practical, but sustainable too. The respective market leaders, who specialize in natural mineral water and sustainable packaging solutions, joined forces to create the Eco Pack. The octagonal box comprises of cardboard and a flexible inside plastic bag that has room for 5 litres of liquid. Its efficient use of materials enables a 65% reduction in plastic* while also extending the waters shelf life. The octagonal 5L Eco Pack is the latest innovation flowing from Spadel and DS Smith’s partnership over the last decade. As a B-Corp certified company, Spadel consistently seeks new ways to reduce its environmental footprint. DS Smith helped Spadel find and tailor its ideal packaging solution using their PackRight approach. This is a collaborative, four-step development process: starting with gaining insights, then moving on to pack development, testing and implementation. DS Smith’s Supply Cycle Thinking guided Spadel every step of the way to identify specific needs and optimize their 5L SPA® Reine Eco Pack.

American Packaging Corporation has announced that it's opening a new 275,000-square-foot Center of Excellence manufacturing facility in Cedar City, Utah. The new operation will add over 135 high-paying jobs to Iron County. APC purchased the land in October 2021 and officially broke ground on February 8, 2022, during a groundbreaking ceremony with civic leaders and company officials. The new facility is expected to open and be fully operational in June 2023, and will include flexographic printing presses, laminating, preformed pouching and finishing equipment. APC will hire 75 new APC team members as part of phase one, with career opportunities in manufacturing, production, engineering and administration.

Josh Curtis from Ravensbourne University in London triumphed in the UK Packaging Design Impact Award (PIDA) and earned this year’s Gold Award. His entry “Ritini” impressed the jury with its shape, branding, and versatility. “Ritini” is an eye-catching package, a branding tool and a clever dispenser all rolled into one. The word Ritini is Greek for resin and the tear-shaped package design is inspired by the drops of resin that are the key ingredient of the vegan chewing gum. “They are the Tears of Chios,” says Josh Curtis. “The package is designed with a colour palette that is typical of Greece. It’s user friendly, easy to dispense the gum and fits perfectly in your hand.” At PIDA, design students from universities and colleges from seven countries compete with their creative packaging designs. The competition is organized as five separate events: the USA, Sweden, France/Belgium, the UK, China*, and Germany/Austria. The winners of the Gold Award at each event will meet in a Grand Finale at Luxe Pack Monaco in October.

The “sustainable watch packaging” project between the two independent, family-owned companies Koehler Paper and Mühle-Glashütte focuses on developing high-quality yet sustainable packaging for a luxury watch — two characteristics that it has previously been difficult to combine in communication with customers. Koehler Paper came up with the idea of producing environmentally friendly, luxury packaging made from 100% recycled paper and designed to contain a high-quality watch. Family company Mühle-Glashütte, known for its nautical instruments and high-quality mechanical wristwatches, was taken on as a collaboration partner. Sustainability and recyclability are the main requirements for the packaging that Koehler developed together with Mühle-Glashütte and other project participants. Thilo Mühle, Managing Director at Mühle-Glashütte, stresses: “The collaboration project with Koehler Paper makes it clear that luxury no longer needs to be a guilty pleasure. What’s more, the craftsmanship of two family companies steeped in tradition is brought together here. This is reflected in the results.”

Amcor unveiled a product rebrand designed to give customers a clearer, holistic view of its growing portfolio of more sustainable packaging solutions. This significant marketing effort provides customers with greater visibility and transparency of Amcor’s extensive product portfolio that has grown over the years through innovation and strategic acquisitions. The redesign of Amcor’s innovative product portfolio highlights three key differentiating benefits for customers: the most advanced solutions in more sustainable packaging; product functionality and differentiated solutions for high growth market segments such as healthcare, dairy and protein; and performance characteristics across a wide range of material options.

International beauty packaging manufacturer and provider Quadpack and Aptar Beauty + Home, worldwide leader in the design and manufacturing of beauty dispensing solutions, have jointly developed a refillable lipstick which pushes the boundaries of sustainability and sensory appeal in makeup packaging. In a spirit of collaborative innovation, the two companies have blended their respective expertise in wood and stick mechanisms to create a product that delivers a great consumer experience: the Iconic Woodacity® Lipstick. Jeremy Garrard, Quadpack’s Director of Market Development, said, “This has been a project firmly based on shared value. Aptar is a respected partner with whom we have a strong history of collaboration. Now, we are leveraging each other’s complementary technologies, market positioning and customer base, to create a refillable makeup solution that really makes a difference.” Sergi Berthet, Vice-President, General Manager Beauty EMEA at Aptar, said, “This solution combines Aptar’s expertise in mechanisms for prestige lipsticks, with Quadpack’s know-how in high-end wood solutions. Our partnership has led to an innovative and premium refillable lipstick, which illustrates our common goal of a sustainable future for packaging”.

CANPACK commemorated the completion of the steel framing for the new 862,000-square-foot aluminum beverage can manufacturing plant during a Topping Off ceremony with Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and local community officials and leaders. The future plant will be home to approximately 345 well-paying, local jobs. The beam marks a significant construction milestone for the property since its groundbreaking in September 2021. Officials expect construction to be completed in time for plant operations to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022. “It’s an exciting time to be in Muncie to celebrate the construction milestone of CANPACK’s second US-based, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility,” said Peter Giorgi. “We appreciate the warm welcome and look forward to becoming an integral part of the Muncie-Delaware County community and contributing to the remarkable business environment that exists throughout the state.”

Smurfit Kappa has invested USD23.5 million to upgrade its Nuevo Laredo sheet plant in Mexico to become a fully integrated corrugated plant. The investment includes a state-of-the-art corrugator and extension of the building. The new machine, which began operating last week, will have the two-pronged benefits of reducing CO2 emissions by up to 40% and doubling production capacity. The Nuevo Laredo plant is located in the Tamaulipas region in Northeastern Mexico where Smurfit Kappa has strong partnerships in the industrial, electrical appliances and electronics sectors. The region represents 3.3% of the country’s GDP and is home to over 200 companies which manufacture products for the US. The increased capacity will streamline Smurfit Kappa’s operations in San Antonio, Texas where a fast-growing appetite for sustainable packaging is demanding larger production volumes.

Huhtamaki, a key global advanced manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions, announced plans to expand its molded fiber product manufacturing unit in the city of Hammond, Indiana, as part of its investment in Fiber Solutions. The investment, which is expected to start ramping up towards the end of 2023, will enable Huhtamaki to better serve existing and new customers in North America with a broad range of sustainable, fully recyclable and compostable, fiber-based packaging solutions, manufactured from 100% recycled North American raw material. “The investment in this new manufacturing capacity, adjacent to our existing site in Hammond represents our strong belief in the future development of the region and in the continued success of our customers – both current and new. The expansion will introduce new sustainable fiber-based products such as egg cartons and cup carriers – manufactured on state-of-the-art machinery developed by Huhtamaki – to our portfolio in the region and drive production efficiency. Our know-how in key packaging technologies and our strong track record in sustainability make us extremely well positioned to support our customers and deliver on their sustainability agendas and goals with innovative solutions”, says Charles Héaulmé, President and CEO of Huhtamaki. Amounting to a total investment of almost USD 100 million, the expanded facility covers circa 23,000 square meters and will be built adjacent to Huhtamaki’s existing Hammond manufacturing unit. Huhtamaki has operated in Hammond, Indiana, since 1948 and currently has approximately 140 employees. It expects to employ a further 100 new employees when fully operational.

A conscious golfer's eco-feat is to buy golf balls in packaging that has a new life as an insect hotel once the packaging has been used. This innovative idea and packaging solution has recently received the most public votes in the spring 2022 New Wood project competition. It is a concrete example of circular economy, where a product, after its primary use, has another function before it ends up in the recycling. The Finnish Golf Coat Ltd wanted to create a packaging solution for its best-selling product that supported biodiversity and promoted the circular economy. Golf Coat's brand is based on eco-friendliness and biodegradability of products, so the use of a reusable box was particularly suited to the company's values and mindset. "Our aim was to create a simple, smart and cost-effective structure that would be easy to assemble and fill with, for example, leaves, saw dust or dry grass after its primary use as a golf ball box. Metsä Board and its partners developed an insightful packaging that provides an artificial nesting structure and shelter for insects and pollinators," says Aki Kuivaniemi, CEO of Golf Coat Oy.

Hilex®, a Novolex® brand, announced the introduction of the ProWAVE® Tote, a new recyclable, reusable tote bag that makes e-commerce even more convenient for supermarkets, restaurants and retailers — as well as their customers. The innovative new bag, made with 20% recycled content, is designed for curbside pickup, home delivery or carryout use. The bag features folded handles and a double-ply top that provides stiffness so the bag stays open, making loading easier and more convenient. The rectangular bottom optimizes the use of storage in a vehicle’s trunk or back seating area. The reusable bag is ideal for hot, frozen or refrigerated items. “The ProWAVE Tote is carefully designed to meet the needs of e-commerce retailers and customers alike,” said Frank Lawson, Vice President of Sales for Novolex. “It makes life easier and more convenient for everyone.”

Metsä Spring, Metsä Group’s innovation company, has launched a new 3D fibre product called Muoto®. Muoto has been produced at Metsä Group’s and Valmet’s demo plant in Äänekoski since May 2022, and is made of Metsä Group’s wood fibres. Muoto is a significant initiative in the packaging market. It is user-friendly, sustainable and scalable and features advanced technology. Using brand new technology, the products are pressed into their final form and their properties can be tailored during the production process according to the intended purpose. The raw material of Muoto grows in northern, sustainably managed forests and is fully traceable. Both renewable and recyclable, Muoto is a good alternative to fossil plastic, for example, in food packaging, including serving dishes or containers of various sizes and shapes. Packaging that is produced to meet a specific need is ideal for reducing food waste.

ePac Flexible Packaging, the industry leader in quick turn, short and medium run-length flexible packaging, has announced it will be adding a third location in Canada. Adding to operations in Vancouver and Toronto, ePac Montreal will serve CPG brands of all sizes throughout Quebec province, and its combined 3 Canadian locations will serve all of Canada. According to George Boustani, Managing Director of ePac’s Canadian operations: “Since opening ePac Vancouver in 2019 and Toronto in 2021, demand for our services has grown rapidly. To keep pace, we’ve decided to add a new sales and marketing location – ePac Montreal. In fact we are now accepting orders in Quebec, and fulfilling them from our other Canadian operations.”

Hilex®, a Novolex® brand, today announced the launch of RollStar EZ Open Produce Bags that solve a vexing problem for shoppers: how to open a produce bag with sides that “stick” together. RollStar EZ Open Produce Bags come in different gauges and sizes for fruits and vegetables. Also available are RollStar bags designed for meat, fresh seafood and bakery items. The RollStar compact dispenser makes it simple for shoppers to take one bag at a time, reducing waste by ensuring they take only the bags they need. In addition to being easier to open, the new bags offer a number of other key features: *The Star Seal bottom bags are leak-proof and stronger than conventional flat seal bags; *The universal dispenser is narrow, fits in a variety of spaces and is compatible with most roll bags; *Custom fixtures and custom prints are available; *The bags are made at multiple manufacturing facilities, ensuring business continuity for single-source customers.

Stora Enso’s new 100% virgin fiber-based kraftliner, AvantForte WhiteTop, is now commercially available. The white top kraftliner targets demanding premium segments, such as fresh food, e-commerce, and shelf-ready packaging. AvantForte WhiteTop kraftliner is engineered to meet brand owners’ need for safe, high-performing, and plastic-free packaging. The new product will serve end-uses that require exceptional strength, purity, and visual appearance. Through Stora Enso’s patent-pending technology, Tri-Ply™, the product is equipped with three fiber layers to maximize its strength and help converters and brand owners use less material than with traditional kraftliners.

Our commitment to strengthening the Circular Economy is illustrated by several goals in our Twentyby30 sustainability program, including increasing metal recycling rates in all our major markets. Ambitious targets have been set, from a 70% recycling rate in the U.S. by 2030, to 80% in EMEA in the same timeframe. We are collaborating with industry associations and other partners around the globe to achieve our goals. For example, together with other canmakers and aluminum suppliers, we are working closely with Every Can Counts (ECC) – an initiative to promote recyclability of metal containers among consumers.

Greif has launched a lightweight, high-performance jerrycan in Brazil suitable for packaging agrochemicals, chemicals, flavors, fragrances, and beverages. The JCR20L is almost 20 percent lighter than the standard 20-liter jerrycan. The reduced weight accommodates up to seven percent more jerrycans per pallet and 6.7 percent greater warehouse storage capacity. In addition, the lighter weight means lower collection costs for recycling. Internal analysis indicates that the combination of these factors amounts to a 25 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the standard 20-liter jerrycan.

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has collaborated with Austrian mechanical engineering company EW Technology to launch a new machine for paper pallet wrapping that is more efficient and sustainable on small-to-medium production lines. The two companies worked together to design the innovative machine, which fills a gap Mondi identified in the pallet wrapping market. Offering two settings, the machine can be fully automated to wrap up to 60 pallets every hour or semi-automated to wrap 10-15 pallets per hour. The machine takes a full reel of Mondi’s Advantage StretchWrap paper, allowing customers to replace the multi-layer plastic which is currently the industry standard for pallet wrapping. Advantage StretchWrap is 100% virgin paper, created with renewable materials and fully recyclable in existing paper waste streams across Europe. It contains no plastic or coating, but still ensures excellent strength and tension absorption.

The Better with Less – Design Challenge 2022 is now open for submissions. The competition invites designers around the world to create the zero-waste packaging of the future and is open for submissions from 1 June to 1 December, 2022. A world-class jury of renowned package design experts will be looking for lighter, smarter, and circular solutions for some of the most common consumer packages. The competition is organized by a leading European paperboard producer Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group. “In the future, circular economy will guide all consumption. The need for packaging keeps growing, and we must use design in more innovative ways to respect the resources of our planet,” says the Better with Less – Design Challenge jury chairman Ilkka Harju, Packaging Services Director, EMEA and APAC at Metsä Board. “We are asking competition entrants to acknowledge the package’s entire lifecycle from efficient design to easy recycling and purposeful reuse – producing zero waste. It is huge responsibility, but also a brilliant playground for innovation,” he adds.

Ahead of the United Nations World Food Safety Day Tetra Pak announced its new set of research collaborations and programmes to further accelerate efforts to address challenges facing food systems worldwide. The initiative is part of the company’s drive to nurture an innovation ecosystem to open new opportunities in the areas of food availability, safety and sustainability. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation UN FAO, the world is in a very different place compared to six years ago, when it committed to the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition by 2030. The current reality is that we have not been progressing fast enough towards ensuring access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food for all people. As an example, over 2 billion people did not have access to enough safe and nutritious food in 2020.

To gain insight into brand-owner and converter perspectives on over-the-counter pharmaceutical and wellness product packaging, we recently conducted a study with key stakeholders in the field. Through these conversations, we discovered some confusion exists surrounding the sustainability of packaging materials. In this article, we will share some of our findings and help clarify some of the benefits and challenges of over-the-counter packaging sustainability. We will also cover results from an LCA study we recently conducted on fiber-based pharmaceutical packaging. For over-the-counter (OTC) product brand-owners, packaging is critical: high standards for quality and safety mean strict attention to protecting the product inside. On crowded shelves, it’s important to differentiate with packaging that attracts interest, reflects such high standards, and communicates vital information about the product. Furthermore, today’s over-the-counter brands and their retailers seek to improve the sustainability of their packaging and adapt to increasing e-commerce.

For the First Quarter of Fiscal 2022 *Net sales increased 21.0% to $2.3 billion compared to $1.9 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 due to the favorable impact of fewer COVID-19 restrictions compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2021. *Comparable sales (sales for stores open at least 14 months and e-commerce sales) increased 18.0%, driven by a 10.0% increase in transactions and an 7.3% increase in average ticket. *Gross profit increased to $941.0 million compared to $753.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit increased to 40.1% compared to 38.9% in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, primarily due to leverage in fixed costs, strong growth in other revenue, and favorable channel mix shifts, partially offset by lower merchandise margin. *Operating income increased to $437.7 million, or 18.7% of net sales, compared to $305.3 million, or 15.8% of net sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. *Net income increased to $331.4 million compared to $230.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

Paddock Enterprises a wholly owned subsidiary of O-I Glass, Inc. , announced that an order confirming its Plan of Reorganization was entered by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, paving way to the implementation of the Plan and the final stage in the Chapter 11 process. “We are pleased to have achieved this significant milestone resolving Paddock’s legacy liabilities in a manner that is fair and equitable, and provides finality for the company moving forward,” said Andres Lopez, CEO of O-I Glass. “The broad support for the Plan among Claimants is indicative of the positive outcome it delivers to all parties. We look forward to implementing the final steps in the Chapter 11 process following this confirmation by the Bankruptcy Court.”

ProAmpac, a leader in flexible packaging and material science, announced that it has acquired Specialty Packaging, Inc., a family-owned manufacturer of specialty paper, film and foil packaging products for the fast food and food services industries. The addition of Specialty Packaging’s complementary product portfolio and manufacturing capabilities extends ProAmpac’s reach with food service customers and expands its footprint to the southwestern United States.Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Specialty Packaging is a leading provider of paper, film, foil bags, sandwich wraps, basket liners and other custom products for longtime blue-chip fast food and food service brands. The company produces custom and stock paper, film and foil products from its state-of-the-art 100,000 square-foot facility. With this acquisition, ProAmpac broadens its portfolio of highly customized, recyclable food packaging solutions and increases its paper bag converting capacity.

The United Group (TUG) National Conference, held in Orlando, FL, awarded Stretch Films the Supplier Industrial Gold Award on April 29. Marketing Manager Ronald Casalino on behalf of the AmTopp Division business unit. The TUG supplier award arrived only a few weeks before the June startup of AmTopp new stretch film lines at its Remington, IN plant, which is a replicate of its sister facility in Phoenix. The capacity of the plant is about 50 million pounds per year. “On the eve of starting up our new Remington plant’s extrusion lines, this award reinforces our confidence as we continuously expand the stretch film business. In turn, the new capacity in Indiana will help us better serve our distributor partners,” said Hsieh.

Klabin, Brazil’s largest producer and exporter of packaging paper, and the leader in the corrugated board packaging and industrial bags segments, takes another important step in its business strategy with the announcement of EkoFlex, its first paper for flexible packaging. The solution is targeted at diverse segments, such as food, hygiene, cleaning and pharmaceuticals, and helps to significantly reduce the use of plastic across the consumption chain. EkoFlex is produced from softwood (pine), resulting in an extensible paper with lower grammage, which offers better performance and greater resistance, with application in diverse market segments, especially in flexible packaging options such pillow bags, flow packs, stand up pouches and box pouches. EkoFlex is produced from Klabin paper, with feedstock from renewable sources derived from planted and certified forests. It is a repulpable and recyclable solution that is also certified for contact with food. The product is already available for sale in both the Brazilian market and for exports.

The operations at Metsä Group’s and Valmet’s 3D fibre product demo plant in Äänekoski has begun. At the end of 2020, Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring and Valmet announced they would be investing a total of approximately 20 million euros in the demo plant. The demo plant is part of Metsä Group’s integrated mill site in Äänekoski, and it produces finished 3D fibre packaging products directly from wet pulp without intermediate phases. The moulded fibre-based packaging can replace plastic for example in food packaging. The demo plant currently employs approximately ten people. “Our fibre-based packaging products are a significant new initiative in the global packaging market. The novelty in our products include their layered structure, which, in turn, allows their production in a raw material and energy efficient manner applying a highly automated production process. The layered structure also allows the products to be easily modified for different purposes. The customers’ reception of the new product has been very positive. We know we’re on the right path,” says Metsä Group’s project lead, VP, Jarkko Tuominen.

Smurfit Kappa, one of the world's largest paper-based packaging companies, has announced the construction of a new packaging plant in Morocco, its first corrugated plant in the country. Located in Rabat and covering an area of 25,000 m2, it will enable Smurfit Kappa to supply innovative and sustainable packaging solutions quickly and efficiently to its local customer base. The plant will create packaging for sectors including industrial, agriculture, FMCG, automotive, pharma and ceramics and serve both local customers and multinationals based in Morocco. In a market where the demand for corrugated packaging currently exceeds supply, the new plant will play an important and strategic role.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released its April 2022 Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Monthly report. According to the report, total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in April decreased two percent compared to April 2021. They were up one percent when compared to the same four months of 2021. The operating rate in April 2022 was 94.0 percent, up 1.4 points from April 2021 and up 1.3 points year-to-date. Mill inventories at the end of April decreased 6,000 short tons from the previous month, and were down 8,000 short tons compared to April 2021.

A paper bag that is strong, food safe, recyclable, compostable and both offset and flexo printable. Due to a unique synergy in the value chain, five partners have created this sustainable and innovative solution. The icing on the cake: winning two prizes at the EUROSAC Grand Prix 2022: Bronze and Public Choice Award! Crown Van Gelder is constantly exploring ways to produce paper more sustainably. One of the methods to do this is to replace wood fiber by alternative fiber, such as sugar beet pulp - a result of Cosun Beet Company’s sugar production. Together, Cosun Beet Company, Novidon (also a Cosun company) and Crown Van Gelder developed the sustainable Crown Native sugar beet paper, which was then printed and made into bags by Fiorini and used by DLF. For this unique effort, the collaboration was awarded with the EUROSAC Grand Prix 2022. Grass seed producer and brand owner DLF was looking for a more sustainable, paper-based alternative for its 15 KG bag to reduce the company’s environmental impact, the search led them to Crown Van Gelder. Together with DLF’s bag producer Fiorini, Cosun Beet Company and Novidon developed an open mouth bag consisting of three layers of Crown Native paper and using paper sack glue Novinexx CPB from Novidon.

Following the successful completion of a 15-month commercial technology validation of a polymer-based barrier replacing the aluminium layer, Tetra Pak is now moving to the next level of development - testing a fibre-based barrier that is a first within food carton packages distributed under ambient conditions. This step marks yet another breakthrough in the company’s long-term roadmap towards developing an aseptic package that is fully renewable, fully recyclable and carbon-neutral. The aluminium layer currently used in food carton packages plays a critical role in ensuring food safety; and even though it is thinner than a human hair, it contributes to a third of the green-house gas emissions linked to base materials used by Tetra Pak.

Emily Frieden from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York triumphed in USA Packaging Design Impact Award (PIDA) and earned this year’s Gold Award. Her entry “Lavash” impressed the jury most with its “attention to detail in every aspect of the brand, design, and execution.” Lavash is a volcano-shaped package for a shower set. The design features all stages of volcanic activity – dormant, active, and extinct. Even the typography mimics volcanic eruptions. “When I was researching different elements of nature I was really inspired by the juxtaposition of the restorative parts of volcanoes,” says Emily Frieden. “It’ s just cool, fun, nature. I thought there’ s a lot I can do there, how I can bring that experience to packaging. It was a lot of fun.” At PIDA, design students from universities and colleges from seven countries compete with their creative packaging designs. The competition is organized as five separate events: the USA, Sweden, France/Belgium, the UK, China*, and Germany/Austria. The winners of the Gold Award at each event will meet in a Grand Finale at Luxe Pack Monaco in October.