8 US packaging manufacturing developments to know in the new year

Nelipak, TerraSafe and Global Packaging Solutions all expanded in North Carolina. Catch up on growth news in Florida, Illinois, Maine, Pennsylvania and Texas.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 15, 2025

PCA to close Georgia corrugated plant, affecting 103 people

Packaging Corporation of America determined it could better serve customers by moving the Atlanta-area full-line plant’s capacity to other locations, according to a spokesperson.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 13, 2025

Huhtamaki names new CEO

Ralf Wunderlich will take over the position this month. He has decades of experience at packaging companies.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 8, 2025

5 packaging industry trends to watch in 2025

Donald Trump’s return to the White House, evolving conditions for M&A, more mature state policy negotiations and a reckoning around 2025 plastics reduction targets are some of the factors poised to affect the industry.

By Maria Rachal , Katie Pyzyk , Cole Rosengren • Jan. 8, 2025

International Paper agrees to European concessions for DS Smith deal

IP’s limited footprint overlap with DS Smith previously led analysts to anticipate few or no antitrust concerns. But recent deals might have prompted regulators to alter their views of market concentration, according to The Freedonia Group.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 6, 2025

Sonoco shakes up finance leadership amid business reorganization

CFO Rob Dillard and VP of Investor Relations Lisa Weeks are leaving the company. Also on Monday, CEO Howard Coker described Sonoco’s decision to combine its converted paper products and paper businesses in North America.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 6, 2025

2024 packaging trends by the numbers

These are some of the stats illustrating key storylines this year in policy and regulation, M&A activity, manufacturing, pricing, recycling, sustainability goals and more.

By Katie Pyzyk , Maria Rachal • Dec. 20, 2024

Toppan to buy Sonoco’s thermoformed and flexibles business for $1.8B

The transaction accelerates Sonoco’s portfolio simplification during a year of change for the company. Toppan first expanded into the U.S. from Japan with a film production facility in Georgia.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 18, 2024

Greif details cost reduction strategy, value in business unit restructuring

Executives made good on their promise to provide details about the $100 million cost-reduction plan announced on last week’s earnings call. Plus, they further explained the decision to invest more in the plastics sector.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 12, 2024

Packaging M&A appears to be ramping up again with range of deals

Following megadeals like Amcor’s move to acquire Berry Global and Novolex’s play for Pactiv Evergreen, as well as other activity, sources see packaging M&A ticking up again after a lower-volume period for deals.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 11, 2024

The packaging workforce grew for a decade. Labor shortages and COVID-19 changed that.

The top 12 publicly traded U.S. packaging manufacturers by revenue collectively have more employees than they did a decade ago. Mergers and acquisitions heavily influenced the numbers, but that’s not the only factor.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 11, 2024

Flexible Packaging Association’s new CEO talks flexibles growth, recyclability, tariffs

Dan Felton detailed misunderstandings about flexibles that he hopes to dispel. He also discussed risks and opportunities that FPA members face as extended producer responsibility for packaging laws emerge.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 10, 2024

Novolex to acquire Pactiv Evergreen in $6.7B deal

The North American companies expect to finalize the all-cash deal in 2025, which would take Pactiv Evergreen private.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 9, 2024

Greif leans into polymers following business segment shuffle

After creating four material-based business segments, Greif’s executives signaled the polymers space holds the greatest growth potential. Executives also announced a $100 million cost-cutting plan.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 6, 2024

Dow names new packaging segment president

Keith Cleason immediately takes over the packaging and specialty plastics unit, following Karen Carter’s promotion to chief operating officer.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 4, 2024

Sonoco completes $3.8B acquisition of Eviosys

The Switzerland-based metal packaging business will transition to Sonoco’s branding in the coming months, bringing its 6,300 employees and 44 facilities.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 4, 2024

Glass, EPS manufacturing hit in November layoff announcements

Orora Packaging Solutions, Ardagh Glass, Anchor Glass and International Paper were some of the companies that made downsizing and closure announcements across Washington, Florida, California, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Dec. 3, 2024

Berry selling specialty tapes business to private equity for $540M

This adds to a string of divestitures this year under CEO Kevin Kwilinski. It comes a week after Amcor announced plans to acquire Berry.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 26, 2024

Constantia Flexibles taps former Ardagh leader to be next CEO

David Spratt will assume his position at the Vienna-based company with nearly 10,000 employees in the new year.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 22, 2024

PCA’s new fiber price hike spurs questions for 2025

Amid a general oversupply of fiber, analysts are waiting to see if markets will recognize Packaging Corporation of America’s planned price increase and if competitors will follow suit.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 21, 2024

Amcor acquiring Berry in $8.4B deal to create global plastics and healthcare packaging giant

The companies anticipate having “greater reach than any other packaging company in the world” and are targeting a mid-2025 close. 

By Maria Rachal • Updated Nov. 19, 2024

The dual case for reusable transport packaging

Adopting reusables across the supply chain presents not just sustainability benefits, but also cost savings, according to speakers at Pack Expo International.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 14, 2024

Ardagh permanently closing Seattle wine bottle facility, citing unfavorable ITC decision

The closure of the previously halted glass facility impacts 245 workers. Curtailments can positively affect GHG emissions metrics, the company noted in a new sustainability road map on Thursday.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 14, 2024

Mill divestiture ‘marks an important milestone’ for Pactiv Evergreen

The Pine Bluff, Arkansas, mill encountered operational challenges during its final month as a Pactiv asset. But its sale, and that of a North Carolina mill, “marks an important milestone,” according to CEO Mike King.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 12, 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.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 8, 2024