The Latest
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Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images
Tracking packaging mergers and acquisitions in 2025
Pixelle is selling a Wisconsin mill; Inovar acquired ModTek; Novolex acquired Pactiv Evergreen; Mondi acquired Schumacher Packaging’s Western Europe assets; Toppan acquired Sonoco assets and more.
Updated April 4, 2025 -
Permission granted by Graphic Packaging International
Graphic Packaging International to close Ohio plant, affecting 130 employees
The Ohio closure had been anticipated as part of the company’s effort to consolidate its mill system and focus on new facilities in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Waco, Texas, but it comes months ahead of schedule.
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Permission granted by Novolex
Novolex completes $6.7B acquisition of Pactiv Evergreen
Pactiv Evergreen has transitioned from a publicly traded to privately held company as it is absorbed under Novolex. The combined company becomes one of largest food packaging producers.
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Toppan buys Sonoco’s thermoformed and flexibles business for $1.8B
The transaction advances Sonoco’s portfolio simplification plans and will help it reduce debt leverage. Toppan first expanded into the U.S. from Japan in 2016 with a film production facility in Georgia.
Updated April 1, 2025 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Manufacturing economy stalls amid tariff confusion: PMI
Purchasing managers’ index data showed a contraction in March. The industry is bracing for the impact of the Trump administration's upcoming "Liberation Day," on April 2, set to bring a slew of tariffs.
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Verallia, Saverglass part of anticompetition investigation in France
The country’s Competition Authority carried out unannounced visits on Thursday and Friday as part of its probe into companies’ practices for manufacturing and marketing glass packaging.
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Hitting a plateau: Circular packaging designers face flexibles hurdle
Many companies have targets to make 100% of their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Now, as they face the hardest categories to transform, some are weighing whether it’s feasible.
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Courtesy of Amcor
Amcor extends open call for novel barrier coatings
The company aims to work with innovators and startups on compostable and recyclable coatings for flexible packaging. Chosen projects could receive up to $500,000 in funding.
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Makary confirmed by Senate as FDA commissioner
The Johns Hopkins surgeon will helm the agency as layoffs loom and important decisions on treatments for rare and infectious diseases await.
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US states renew push for tethered bottle caps to help recycling
Since last July, companies selling single-use plastic beverage containers in the EU have had to tether caps or lids. California legislators advanced a similar regulation that beverage makers oppose.
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Courtesy of Screenshot: International Paper
International Paper outlines 2027 vision, DS Smith integration plans
“We think we can transform this company,” said CEO Andy Silvernail during an investor day. IP previewed more cost-cutting ahead, plus an estimated $1.9 billion in capital expenditures per year through 2027.
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Courtesy of Seagram's Escapes
Packaging innovations: Seagram’s slims down, J. Lohr puts cab in a keg
Plus, Wimbée and Koehler Paper cap off a fiber packaging project and Contempo Specialty Packaging keeps plastics and kids out of its cannabis packaging.
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Retrieved from Sonoco on March 21, 2025
URB producers to increase prices as tariffs affect fiber demand
Greif, Sonoco, Cascades and Ox Industries are leading the price increases for uncoated recycled paperboard. Meanwhile, analysts flag that tariff uncertainty has prompted fiber demand shifts.
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AtlasStudio via Getty Images
AI-enabled MRF technology aids food-grade polypropylene recovery: report
A study led by Closed Loop Partners, in collaboration with Greyparrot, analyzed more than 650 tons of material from four U.S. MRFs.
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The image by Jimmy Emerson, DVM is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
California packaging EPR implementation moves ahead amid regulatory redo
State officials shared updates in the first SB 54 advisory board meeting since Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a regulatory restart. CalRecycle said it will continue working on multiple other statutory requirements in the meantime.
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Courtesy of Ball Corp.
Ball sells majority stake in aluminum cups business, forming joint venture
Ball believes the joint venture, Oasis Venture Holdings, will grow its underperforming metal cups business, and it anticipates a $25 million year-over-year improvement following the asset sale.
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Getty Images via Getty Images
Packaging groups back bipartisan recycling bill in Congress
Companies including Ball, Kraft Heinz and SC Johnson registered their support. This adds to other packaging-related bills in the 119th Congress, including the Steward Act and the Farewell to Foam Act.
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Natalie Behring via Getty Images
Days away from Oregon EPR reporting deadline, cue the ‘compliance anxiety’
In a U.S. first, producers of packaging, paper and food service ware have until the end of the month to report 2024 supply data through Circular Action Alliance’s portal. Oregon plans to start the program in July.
Updated March 21, 2025 -
Courtesy of Republic Services
Republic opens Indianapolis plastics complex to meet recycled content demand
The location has the company’s second polymer center and a Blue Polymers facility. Together, they’re expected to process 175,000 pounds of recycled plastic annually and in part offer resin for food-grade packaging.
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dmf87 via Getty Images
Q&AFPI president touts resilience amid industry changes
The COVID-19 pandemic and EPR laws are among the forces driving the food service packaging sector to adapt and increase collaboration, said Foodservice Packaging Institute President Natha Dempsey.
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Retrieved from Plastic Ingenuity on March 19, 2025
PET thermoform recycling is rising, but still not matching PCR demand
Only 54% of U.S. residents with recycling programs have access to thermoform recycling. That must increase to meet growing postconsumer recycled content demand, according to NAPCOR.
Updated March 20, 2025 -
Courtesy of Henkel
Henkel boosts recycled content in plastic packaging
The German consumer goods company’s newly released sustainability report also cited the supplier engagement program it launched last year as being instrumental in reducing emissions.
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Solnuha via Getty Images
EPR for packaging laws: Dates to know
CAA is working with producers on Oregon’s March 31 reporting deadline. Meanwhile, CalRecycle is trying to start a new formal rulemaking process for SB 54, and Maryland’s EPR advisors shared policy recommendations.
Updated March 21, 2025 -
Photo illustration by Shaun Lucas/Packaging Dive; photograph by Vudhikul Ocharoen via Getty Images
TrackerPackaging manufacturers set big sustainability goals. How are they doing?
PCR exceeded 5% of Berry Global’s resin purchases, according to its newly released 2024 sustainability report.
Updated March 19, 2025 -
Screenshot: New York Stock Exchange/YouTube
O-I seeks to compete better with cans in North America
As part of an investor day, the glass company shared updates on an ongoing business strategy, including financial targets, cost-cutting efforts, portfolio transformation and growth opportunities.
