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. Also Tuesday, Berry disclosed its Q4 and fiscal 2024 results.

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

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 6, 2024

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 5, 2024

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.”

By Maria Rachal , Cole Rosengren • Updated Nov. 5, 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.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 4, 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.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Updated Nov. 12, 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.

By Maria Rachal • 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.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 31, 2024

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.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 31, 2024

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 30, 2024

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.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 30, 2024

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 29, 2024

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 28, 2024

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.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 28, 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.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 25, 2024

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.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 24, 2024

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Oct. 25, 2024

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.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 23, 2024

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.”

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 22, 2024

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.

By Katie Pyzyk • 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.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 21, 2024