KHS Filling and packaging
August in review: INC-5.2 fails, electronic shelf label advantages, oxo-degradable limits identified
August in review: INC-5.2 fails, electronic shelf label advantages, oxo-degradable limits identified
Last month, the final round of negotiations (INC-5.2) for a UN Global Plastic Treaty concluded without an agreement. We spoke to industry associations and NGOs during and after the event. In research, electronic shelf labels in supermarkets were found to benefit consumers and scientists discovered oxo-degradable plastic breaks down poorly in open-air conditions, raising concerns for soil and plant health. We look back at the biggest stories in August. 
Interpack 2023: The packaging world of tomorrow
Interpack 2023: The packaging world of tomorrow

The packaging industry is gearing up for one of the world’s biggest events after a six-year break. Interpack 2023 in Düsseldorf, Germany, will tackle big subjects like the circular economy, resource management, digital tech and product safety.

Weekly Roundup: PepsiCo launches customer environmental support program, Amcor employs ExxonMobil’s Exxtend technology
Weekly Roundup: PepsiCo launches customer environmental support program, Amcor employs ExxonMobil’s Exxtend technology
14 Apr 2023 --- This week in industry news, PepsiCo launched pep+ Partners for Tomorrow, a platform to help its customers reach their environmental sustainability goals and Amcor placed the first commercial order of ExxonMobil’s Exxtend technology for the Australian and New Zealand markets. Meanwhile, Dow and Avery Dennison created a hotmelt label that keeps products’ recyclability intact. 
The biopolymer business evolution: How can packagers buy a market stronghold?
The biopolymer business evolution: How can packagers buy a market stronghold?

In the second of circularity consultant Paul Foulkes-Arellano’s Insider Views on the biomaterials market for packaging, he looks at how the industry will grow through acquisitions, investment in manufacturing, and big-ticket mergers and alliances. He also looks at why a reluctance to invest competitively is causing Europe to fall behind other global markets.

Rabobank urges packaging industry to prepare for big changes amid incoming EU waste regulation
Rabobank urges packaging industry to prepare for big changes amid incoming EU waste regulation
12 Oct 2023 --- The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is set to trigger “significant changes” in the packaging industry and require producers to revise their product portfolios and sourcing processes to comply, according to a new report from Rabobank. The PPWR, which is still in the proposal stage, aims to reduce packaging waste and support environmental sustainability. The regulation sets targets for recycling, reuse, refill and waste reduction, outlining design criteria for higher packaging recyclability, and mandates the establishment of DRS for beverage containers made of plastic and metal.

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Storage conditions affect BPA migration from PET yogurt packaging, study finds
A row of plastic cups with white liquid in them
A new study has investigated the migration of bisphenol A (BPA) from PET bottles into Iranian yogurt drink doogh under varying storage conditions and assessed the related health risks. The research aims to provide evidence for manufacturers, retailers, and consumers on dairy packaging safety and storage management.The researchers analyzed three commercial doogh brands stored for seven to 60 days under different temperatures and light exposures, including direct sunlight and shaded conditions. BPA concentrations were measured using solid-phase extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography.
Plastic Energy generates oil from plastic waste at Dutch recycling plant
Industrial site.
Plastic Energy has produced the first batch of pyrolysis oil, Tacoil, at its joint venture facility with Sabic in Geleen, the Netherlands. It serves as a replacement for conventional naphtha in existing petrochemical plants, enabling the manufacture of products, including food-contact packaging and medical-grade plastics. Tacoil is made from hard-to-recycle post-consumer plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or be incinerated. The company says this first batch marks a key milestone on the road to full commercial operations. Ian Temperton, CEO at Plastic Energy, says: “Producing our first Tacoil at Sabic Plastic Energy Advanced Recycling (SPEAR) is a major step forward for the plastic recycling industry. It underscores the capabilities of Plastic Energy’s technology, the robustness of our process, and the dedication of our excellent team.” 
Blue Bell recalls ice cream for undeclared ingredients due to packaging error
A box of ice cream
Blue Bell Creameries has recalled a limited quantity of ice creams falsely packaged in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cartons with Moo-llennium Crunch lids. The company warns that the packaging error poses health risks to consumers with allergies, who could suffer severe or life-threatening reactions after consumption. The affected product, produced at the company’s Brenham, US, plant, contains almonds, walnuts, and pecans. The company said no illnesses or adverse reactions have been reported so far.
PackExpo 2025: Südpack to present food packaging innovations
Several bags
Südpack is set to spotlight its portfolio of packaging solutions designed for the food industry at PackExpo 2025 in Las Vegas, US. Südpack will debut its CarbonLite product family, a line of recyclable mono-materials designed to replace conventional multilayer materials. CarbonLite can be used for different packaging concepts such as PE flowpacks for cheese or garlic baguettes, PP doypacks for snacks, PP or PE block-bottom pouches for coffee, and PP spouted pouches for fruit purées. 
Upcycling mixed PVC: Researchers develop scalable waste-into-fuel recycling...
A person wearing a yellow hard hat and a safety vest holding a bottle
An international research team has upcycled plastic packaging waste into fuels in a single-stage process. The scientists are turning discarded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into chlorine-free, fuel-range hydrocarbons and hydrogen chloride.Traditional waste-to-energy technologies, including incineration, pyrolysis, and most chemical upcycling methods for PVC utilization, rely on high-temperature dechlorination to avoid the release of toxic chlorinated compounds.
August in review: Chemical engineering, tariffs and major acquisitions
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Food Ingredients First

Last month, we spoke with Cargill about the growing role of chemical engineering in the F&B sector, US President Donald Trump imposed a fresh round of tariffs that sparked global concern, and Keurig Dr Pepper secured the acquisition of JDE Peet’s in a US$17.4 billion deal.  

Meanwhile, we spoke with ADM about its growth in the plant-based sector, and Arla Foods explained why it is lobbying the UK government to address dairy farm labor shortages. Here, we recap the most significant stories of the month to ensure you stay informed about key F&B industry developments and insights. 
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Packaging design bridges tradition and wellness in...
Creative agency BrandMe has introduced a new packaging design for Thompson’s collection of fruit and herbal teas. The redesign aims to unify the collection with Thompson’s core range of teas and capture the attention of health-conscious consumers across the UK and Ireland. We speak to Georgia Howell, senior designer at BrandMe, about the role of bright color in the updated design. We also discuss how design can adapt to tea flavors and reflect wellness features.
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Key interview
Tomra Recycling expert: X-ray sorting tech transforms wood...
Tomra Recycling has launched a new edition of its X-TRACT X-ray sorting unit, which can detect and separate wood waste from contaminants. Packaging Insights speaks to Jose Matas, head of Waste Emerging Segments at Tomra Recycling, about the implications of this advanced sorting technology for the packaging industry. 
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Regulatory News
INC-5.2 enters final stretch as Indo-Pacific seeks plastic...
The UN Environment Assembly’s final negotiating session (INC-5.2) on a global plastic treaty has released a new draft as the talks are coming to an end. The discussions aim to forge a coordinated international response to plastic pollution, which disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.Data from the UN Conference on Trade and Development shows that the legal trade in plastics, plastic products, and plastic waste has more than doubled since 2004, reaching nearly US$1.2 trillion in 2021. Single-use plastics are at the core of this profit-making.

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Climate-smart packagingJul2025

Innova Market Insights data indicates a 5% average annual growth in climate-smart packaging launches between April 2020 and March 2025. Europe led these launches. Flat pouch was the top packaging type...

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Circular economy: Refillables Aug 2025

As sustainability becomes a key driver of consumer choice, refillable packaging is gaining traction over single-use options in the F&B industry. According to survey data from Innova Market Insights, one in five consumers globally say they are willing to pay more for refillable packaging compared to conventional formats. This growing preference reflects rising demand for sustainable solutions that align with circular economy principles and help reduce single-use waste.

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Nutrition & Supplement DeliveryAug 2025

Innova Market Insights data indicates a 4% year-over-year growth in supplement launches between July 2023 and June 2025. Europe led the way with new launches. Around two-thirds of these launches were packaged in bottles, with plastic being the dominant material, used in over 80% of total launches. 

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Reedbut Group talks enhancing unboxing and recyclability in e-commerce packaging
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Smart Robotics founder: Regulations and rising costs drive automation in packaging
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