Emerging brands’ on-pack messaging reshapes retail

Small brands "had a breakout year" for new launches, and the messaging on their packaging is forcing the marketplace to evolve, according to speakers from Smurfit Westrock at Pack Expo International last week.

How supplier collaboration, investing in data can help brands’ EPR transition

At Pack Expo International, key voices involved in EPR scale-up, representing Ameripen, Circular Action Alliance and major brands, sought to educate big crowds about what brands need to know and how suppliers can help.

Updated Nov. 7, 2024

Sealed Air CEO Kivits reorganizes verticals, embraces fiber

Through talking to customers and investors, “it became clear that reorganizing into two verticals, food and protective, was a critical foundational step,” said new CEO Patrick Kivits, a WestRock alum, on Sealed Air’s Q3 earnings call.

Automation, labor shortage discussions permeate largest-ever Pack Expo

Sustainability also sat among the top themes at Pack Expo International in Chicago this week, including a focus on reusable and flexible packaging. PMMI says the event broke records for attendance and the number of exhibitors.

Packaging innovations at Pack Expo 2024: Pactiv Evergreen cartons go dry, Packsize melts emissions

Plus, Accredo Packaging sweetens the pouch space with a 100% biobased bag, Greif shows off a recycled fiber food container with a water-based coating and Georgia-Pacific’s mailers get gusseted up.

Clearwater Paper details transition to paperboard focus amid sales jump

Despite a $5 million negative impact from Hurricane Helene in Q3, the company’s recent mill acquisition — and the sale of its tissue business — are expected to provide longer term support for the paperboard-focused company.

Packaging suppliers and CPGs increasingly zip up flexible packaging

Experts from Fresh-Lock, the U.S. Plastics Pact and Clemson University say that functionality testing covering closure durability and accessibility is critical among a range of consumers. 

Layoffs tick up in October, led by International Paper and O-I Glass

Companies such as Dart Container, PPC Flexible Packaging, Sonoco and Metsä Board also disclosed upcoming layoffs in multiple areas.

Berry completes spin-off of health division to form new company Magnera

Berry spun off its health and hygiene business to merge with Glatfelter, allowing it to focus on consumer packaging. The newly formed Magnera is now “the largest nonwovens company in the world.”

Updated Nov. 5, 2024

Packaging manufacturers share insights from Q3

Recent earnings calls revealed some notable changes at packaging manufacturers. Follow the latest from Pactiv Evergreen, Clearwater Paper, Sonoco, Amcor, International Paper, Smurfit Westrock and more.

Updated Nov. 12, 2024

Sonoco discloses pending $419M divestiture in China amid period of major change

CEO Howard Coker said the pending purchase of Eviosys and two more possible divestitures would create a company primarily focused on metal and fiber products. It also disclosed notable hurricane effects in Florida.

Election 2024: The outlook for packaging and manufacturing policy

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump differ on environmental regulations, manufacturing, energy and ESG policies. What could a Trump or Harris presidency mean for the packaging industry?

PepsiCo gets New York plastic pollution lawsuit dismissed

The development comes on the heels of Los Angeles County filing its own complaint against PepsiCo and Coca-Cola focused on public nuisance and alleged violations of unfair competition and false advertising law.

Updated Nov. 4, 2024

Amcor to exit longstanding closures joint venture in $122M deal

Amcor noted the deal during its first fiscal 2025 earnings call, in which new CEO Peter Konieczny also discussed the destocking trend in healthcare, plus a focus on higher-margin businesses like meat, pet care and premium coffee.

Clearwater closes $1B sale of tissue business to Sofidel

Washington-based Clearwater is narrowing its focus on paperboard, removing four U.S. tissue production facilities from its footprint after purchasing a bleached paperboard manufacturing plant in Georgia.

Updated Nov. 1, 2024

DS Smith deal close pushed to 2025 as IP touts early results from its own turnaround plan

CEO Andy Silvernail provided numerous updates on a company rethink that has involved site closures, a large corporate restructuring and operational changes. He also previewed the potential for new box plant investments.

International Paper cuts 674 jobs amid strategic review of global cellulose fibers

The news of a South Carolina pulp mill closure brings IP’s announced layoffs this month to more than 1,500. A potential sale of the broader GCF business is now under consideration.

Smurfit Westrock cuts 800 positions, eyes footprint optimization and investments

CEO Tony Smurfit touted “excellent” results for the combined company’s first earnings report but noted a desire to further optimize assets and reduce costs. He also addressed questions about the solid bleached sulfate business.

O-I considers cutting 7% of capacity by mid-2025

The company reported a net loss in Q3 after curtailing an estimated 18% of production amid destocking trends. It also reported the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Kentucky, its first in decades.

Graphic Packaging to ditch third-party pricing indexes in 2025

The move to develop a new pricing index follows an industrywide controversy throughout 2024. Plus, GPI disclosed on its earnings call a partnership with McDonald’s on a food service packaging innovation.

Southwest Airlines brings bamboo on board for new cups

The airline recently stirred up change when it began stocking the bamboo-based cold beverage cups and wooden stir sticks, following a yearlong R&D process stemming from plastic reduction goals. 

Is the fiber packaging M&A surge done? Probably not.

M&A activity is expected to influence companies’ commercial approaches for the next five to 10 years, according to conference speakers from Wells Fargo, Bloomberg and Hudson Windsor.

Suzano begins operating 2 US mills, talks bolt-on M&A

Suzano executives shared more details about the ramp-up in Arkansas and North Carolina, and the Brazilian company’s broader aspirations for growth in the U.S., during an earnings call on Friday.

10 of the latest packaging facility expansions in North America

Elopak, Georgia-Pacific, Graham Packaging and RediBagUSA are among the companies that recently made investments in new facilities or upgrades.

Updated Oct. 25, 2024

Sonoco’s acquisition of Eviosys under review in UK

U.K. regulators are expected to report back by Dec. 19 on a deal that Sonoco has projected will close in the fourth quarter. Separately, the European Commission recently approved the acquisition.