Data from CPI, Fed and cardboard box sales may signal slowing economy

A broadening “cardboard box recession” could be a harbinger of a wider global recession. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated June 15, 2023

Destocking is out, higher-priced ‘urgent orders’ are in, Greif CEO says

Although the company’s numbers were down year over year, executives reiterated that this Q2 was the second-strongest in company history. They also discussed initial results from recent acquisitions.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 14, 2023

Avery Dennison announces new CEO and current leader’s retirement

Deon Stander, currently president and chief operating officer, will take over as CEO later this year.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 24, 2023

Packaging manufacturing investments and expansions in 2023

Amid an industry theme of pullbacks in production, companies including Smurfit Kappa, PulPac and Berry Global have all recently shared expansion updates.

By Maria Rachal • May 16, 2023

US inflation again eased in April

The plastics manufacturing workforce saw a little growth last month, while paper manufacturing’s workforce declined.

By Maria Rachal • May 12, 2023

Amazon, Yum Brands, Kroger face upcoming shareholder votes on circular packaging

Yum Brands — the fast-food corporation behind KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell — is set to consider a proposal Thursday on single-use packaging, with meetings at Amazon and Restaurant Brands International to follow next week.

By Maria Rachal • May 10, 2023

Pactiv Evergreen gives updates on restructuring and shifting consumer spending

CEO Michael King said the company is adapting to tighter consumer spending and gave an estimated June date for previously announced facility closures in Arkansas and North Carolina.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 10, 2023

Destocking effects linger for packaging manufacturers

Q1 and April inventory trends — and what they might mean for the second half of the year —  were discussed by paper, glass, metal and plastic packaging executives in recent earnings calls.

By Katie Pyzyk , Maria Rachal • May 9, 2023

Berry execs talk consolidation, shifting priority sectors

The company is “rationalizing” 15 facilities across the world — and more could be affected — to boost efficiencies and productivity.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 8, 2023

Ball’s beverage can shipments decline amid weaker consumer spending

Executives said Ball will continue to take downtime at facilities in Q2, and it’s moving forward to close a plant in Wallkill, New York. The coming summer months and new products offer some reasons for optimism, though.

By Maria Rachal • May 5, 2023

WestRock sees ‘unprecedented drop in volumes,’ will continue closing inefficient facilities

Streamlining measures are helping to “successfully navigate this slower demand environment,” said CEO David Sewell.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 4, 2023

Sealed Air rebrands as SEE, emphasizing automation and digital solutions

The announcement came as the global packaging company reported results from a “tough quarter” but outlined 2027 growth plans on multiple fronts, including through its recently finalized Liquibox acquisition.

By Maria Rachal • May 4, 2023

Federal Reserve hikes main rate while ‘highly attentive to inflation risks’

It raised the main interest rate by a quarter percentage point and suggested that in the future it may pause its most aggressive monetary policy in four decades, depending on incoming data on inflation and other factors.

By Jim Tyson • May 4, 2023

Amcor plans further labor cuts as weak demand and destocking persist

The company lacks optimism that market challenges will abate in the near term. Executives foresee volume weakness during what is typically the seasonally strongest quarter for the North American beverage business.

By Maria Rachal • May 3, 2023

Graphic Packaging touts diverse end market portfolio, launches Chick-fil-A insulated fiber cups

Executives lauded gains in the face of challenging Q1 fiber demand, while announcing a new partnership for insulated, double-walled fiber cups to displace plastic foam.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 2, 2023

Sonoco reports food packaging sales helped balance weak quarter for aerosols

“We are cautiously optimistic about the remainder of the year,” CFO Rob Dillard said on a Tuesday earnings call, as the company raised aspects of its full-year guidance.

By Maria Rachal • May 2, 2023

How packaging manufacturers fared in Q1

Follow what top companies said in quarterly earnings reports about consolidation efforts, consumer demand and projections for the rest of 2023.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Updated May 10, 2023

International Paper earnings down as March brought ‘surprise’ demand dropoff

The longer and deeper period of inventory destocking has taken a toll, but April has shown a notable uptick in box sales.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 28, 2023

Consumer confidence sinks, implying downturn to come

Weakening optimism among consumers, as measured by the Conference Board, coincides with a decline in credit.

By Jim Tyson • April 27, 2023

O-I Glass sees lower volumes in Q1 but raises 2023 earnings guidance

Higher selling prices helped overcome year-over-year sales volume declines, which O-I attributed in part to disruptive events, customer destocking and softer consumer demand in some areas.

By Maria Rachal • April 27, 2023

Crown reports sales growth in Americas Beverage, hopes for carbonated soft drinks uptick

Can volumes were down 2.5% amid inflation’s impact on consumers and economic slowdowns in some international markets, said CEO Tim Donahue. The company anticipates summer trends could boost drink sales soon.

By Maria Rachal • April 26, 2023

PCA misses earnings targets due to box demand ‘well below our expectations’

Despite indicators becoming “more negative as the months went on” related to containerboard demand, executives from Packaging Corporation of America said they’ve seen volumes turn around in April.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 25, 2023

Tracking packaging mergers and acquisitions in 2025

Alpla acquired KM Packaging, giving it six additional sites with 500 employees to manufacture closures for tubes, bottles and jars. Meanwhile, TerraSafe Materials and DisSolves are merging.

By Maria Rachal , Katie Pyzyk , Cole Rosengren • Updated June 25, 2025

Early earnings indicators point to wrinkles in the wrappers

Bank of America and Zacks are among the firms that have noted Q1 challenges due to cost pressures, destocking and more. One big question is whether the slump will turn around this year or if it’s a harbinger of a recession.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 24, 2023

Colgate-Palmolive, Keurig Dr Pepper enhancing reuse efforts

While companies have worked on packaging reuse systems, some investors think more robust reporting could build momentum for action across the industry.

By Maria Rachal • April 17, 2023