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.

O-I Glass shuttering Ohio innovation center, Illinois plant: reports

The company has teased multiple closures since Gordon Hardie took over as CEO but previously had shared few specifics on locations.

Kroger rolls out Avery Dennison RFID tech

The automation technology aims to provide more frequent and accurate inventory insight to prevent food waste and streamline in-store operations. 

5 questions for Sabert’s new chief sustainability officer

Richa Desai discusses what it’s like to lead sustainability strategy at a private food packaging company in a changing landscape.

PCA reports strong volume and price growth in Q3, previews major new plants in the coming years

Packaging Corporation of America set new quarterly records in containerboard production and other categories, backed by demand from existing customers. It also reported progress on at least 60 capital projects at existing box plants.

Fiber packaging pricing remains flat, Cascades’ 3rd increase doesn’t gain traction

Industry price increases appear to be finished for the year. Meanwhile, analysts point to continued improvement in volumes while the industry pulls up from the post-pandemic “cardboard box recession.”

Biden-Harris administration opens tariff exclusion process for some manufacturers

The deadline to submit exclusion requests to the USTR is March 31, 2025.

International Paper to close facilities in 4 states, lay off hundreds

The recently disclosed layoffs will occur in Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee in mid-December. These are in addition to 650 layoffs confirmed last week.

Updated Oct. 21, 2024

Beverage can trends in North America, Europe improved for Crown in Q3

However, customer promotional activity remains “lackluster,” which “may well be the new norm,” said CEO Tim Donahue.

Sprouts expands reusable packaging partnership with IFCO

The specialty grocer has piloted reusable containers for fresh produce items packed in high-humidity environments as a way to replace single-use corrugated and wax-corrugated boxes.

Sway scaling compostable seaweed-based polybags with fashion brands

Prana, Faherty and other brands will begin using the bags to package items like shirts and shorts. California-based material innovation startup Sway says the next applications it’s eyeing include mailers and multilayer packaging.

Updated Oct. 25, 2024

Reality check: AR, VR transforms training for packaging manufacturers

Augmented and virtual reality experiences at Greif, Papacks, Smurfit Westrock and Sonoco are working to boost employees’ skills and safety, pushing packaging manufacturing training into its “next era.”

Gem-Pack Berries ditches clamshell labels with Multisteps’ digital printing technology

Multisteps Industries expects its direct-to-packaging printing to improve recyclability for Gem-Pack’s PET clamshells for berries, starting this year.