Regulation


  • marty makary FDA
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    Noam Galai via Getty Images
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    Who is Marty Makary, Trumpā€™s pick to head the FDA?

    If confirmed as commissioner, Makary would join the agency amidst a massive reorganization of its food division, which included bringing functions from the regulatory affairs and food safety offices into one program.

    By Chris Casey • Nov. 25, 2024
  • plastic pollution on a coastline
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    ArtMarie via Getty Images
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    Packaging converters, brands support EPR as global plastic pollution negotiations near finish line

    “These outcomes will have significant downstream impacts on plastic packaging producers and brands,” potentially driving new regulations and investments, said U.S. Plastics Pact CEO Jonathan Quinn.

    By Nov. 25, 2024
  • Two senators speak behind a dais
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    Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Packaging trade groups urge US House to pass recycling infrastructure, data bills

    Industry groups and multiple individual packaging companies and CPGs are giving a final push to the bills as one of the lead co-sponsors, Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, prepares to retire. Both bills have already passed the Senate.

    By Jacob Wallace • Nov. 20, 2024
  • A hand reaches for a plastic water bottle from a shelf
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    Thai Liang Lim via Getty Images
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    Sourcing challenges, producer registration present some initial hurdles for recycled content laws

    Washington state recently began enforcing certain recycled plastic requirements for brands’ containers. While many producers have cleared early thresholds, regulators say there’s more work to do.

    By Nov. 18, 2024
  • Donald Trump and Lee Zeldin seated at a Delaware County, Pennsylvania, campaign stop in front of a backdrop that says "America's Future Tour."
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Packaging materials, waste groups react to Trump tapping Zeldin to lead EPA

    While in Congress, former Rep. Lee Zeldin voted in support of some PFAS regulations but largely voted against other environmental bills. ACC, AF&PA, former EPA staff and other groups weighed in on this week’s pick.

    By Megan Quinn , Nov. 15, 2024
  • Stacks of reusable plastic transport totes sit on plastic pallets in a warehouse.
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    luchunyu via Getty Images
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    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 Nov. 14, 2024
  • Closeup of a plastic cup containing muffin liners bears a How2Recycle instructional label, next to a paper box containing tea bags that also bears a How2Recycle instructional label
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    Maria Rachal/Packaging Dive
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    3 insights for navigating the ā€˜messy middleā€™ of labeling policy

    During an Ameripen event, representatives of SmartLabel, How2Recycle and BPI Certification discussed where legislation could offer clarity as brands consider on-pack labeling amid evolving state and federal guidance.

    By Nov. 13, 2024
  • Hundreds of people in a convention center
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Stories from Pack Expo International 2024

    At the largest Pack Expo event ever held, Packaging Dive connected with manufacturers, brands and trade groups for insight on the latest industry trends.

    By Packaging Dive Staff • Updated Nov. 14, 2024
  • Ameripen Program Director Kyla Fisher (left) moderates a discussion with Michael Okoroafor (center), chief sustainability officer at McCormick & Co., and Neil Menezes (right), packaging sustainability policy manager at General Mills, about how suppliers can help brands complying with packaging EPR programs at Pack Expo International in Chicago on Nov. 5, 2024.
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    Permission granted by Ameripen
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    How supplier collaboration, investing in data can help brandsā€™ 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.

    By Updated Nov. 7, 2024
  • An array of metal tins with peel-back metal lids.
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    Courtesy of Eviosys
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    Sonocoā€™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 Oct. 25, 2024
  • President Joe Biden delivers a speech at a podium while Vice President Kamala Harris stands in the background.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Biden-Harris administration opens tariff exclusion process for some manufacturers

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

    By Kate Magill • Oct. 24, 2024
  • Former President Donald Trump, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris, right, stand behind podiums at a debate.
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    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?

    By , , Oct. 23, 2024
  • Clear plastic bottles
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    golubovy via Getty Images
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    Washington state fines 35 companies violating recycled plastic law

    Clorox, Ocean Spray and Albertsons are among the companies facing the highest penalties. Under the law, plastic beverage containers had to use at least 15% recycled content in 2023 and plastic trash bags had to contain 10%.

    By Oct. 7, 2024
  • Four speakers seated on a stage at the SPC Advance conference in Chicago on Oct. 1, 2024.
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    Maria Rachal/Packaging Dive
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    Paying their fair share:Ā CAA and states detail approach to EPR enforcement

    The new CEO of Circular Action Alliance and state producer responsibility leads shared how they’ll collaborate on compliance and enforcement. A Colorado deadline this week brought a surge of producer registrations.

    By Oct. 3, 2024
  • Close-up shot of a food container with film that says recyclable.
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    K Neville via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Hush-hush: Is greenwashing pushback prompting pivot to ā€˜greenhushingā€™?

    Companies must focus on data to back their sustainability claims instead of resorting to silence, or exaggerations, said sources from groups such as the U.S. Plastics Pact, Glass Packaging Institute and McCormick & Co.

    By Oct. 3, 2024
  • Piles of organic material in the composting process, managed by a piece of heavy equipment
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    Mary Catherine O'Connor/Packaging Dive
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    BPI Summit highlights ongoing compostable packaging debate ahead of USDA decision

    World Centric, the California Compost Coalition, Athens Services, Dirt Hugger, A1 Organics, Moonshot Compost and others weighed in with their thoughts about this growing category of packaging.

    By Mary Catherine O'Connor • Oct. 2, 2024
  • A view of vendor displays on the show floor at Pack Expo East at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia on March 20, 2024.
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    Maria Rachal/Packaging Dive
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    Packaging trade shows to watch in 2025

    Mark your calendar: These U.S. conferences and events will cover timely trends in sustainable packaging design, recycling technologies, regional market trends, substrate evolutions, automation and more.

    By Packaging Dive Staff • Oct. 1, 2024
  • A jar of pasta sauce sits next to boxes of pasta and cereal, with their date labels facing out, on a kitchen counter
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    Cole Rosengren/Packaging Dive
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    California Gov. Newsom signs food date label law, updates PCR reporting rules

    This marks the first state law requiring products to include standardized “best by” and “use by” language in an effort to reduce food waste. Newsom also acted on two microplastics-related bills.

    By Sept. 30, 2024
  • A lineup of plastic cleaning product containers without labels
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    tarasov_vl via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Whatā€™s next for product certification amid concerns about PFAS and toxics in plastic

    Lagging regulation and a potential “toxic treadmill” with recycled content are viewed as just some of today’s pressing challenges. Clean Production Action Executive Director Mark Rossi reflects on two decades of change in the field.

    By Sept. 30, 2024
  • A person speaks on a stage in front of a green background that says Packaging Recycling Summit.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Dan Felton to leave Ameripen, become Flexible Packaging Associationā€™s CEO

    Felton will continue to advocate on behalf of packaging stakeholders, having worked through what he called “seismic shifts to the industry in terms of new laws and regulations” since 2020.

    By Sept. 24, 2024
  • Equipment at ExxonMobil's advanced recycling facility in Baytown, Texas
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    Courtesy of ExxonMobil
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    Lawsuits from California AG and others take aim at ExxonMobilā€™s chemical recycling claims

    Coordinated lawsuits target the company’s role in pollution and describe the limitations of mechanical and advanced recycling to manage waste. Packaging companies have partnered with ExxonMobil to source recycled plastics.

    By Sept. 24, 2024
  • Two paper bags full of groceries sitting on a kitchen counter
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    fstop123 via Getty Images
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    California closes reusable plastic carryout bag loophole

    Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1053, a law that will eliminate plastic bags as an option at store checkouts. Retailers will still be allowed to sell certain recycled paper bags.

    By Sept. 23, 2024
  • A man exits the front of the U.S. Capitol at dawn.
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Recycling bill in Congress calls for 30% recycled content in plastic packaging

    Berry Global CEO Kevin Kwilinski said in a statement the bill could “significantly increase use of recycled material in new products.” The legislation would also task EPA with setting certain national plastic recycling standards.

    By Megan Quinn , Sept. 20, 2024
  • One person stands behind a podium on a stage next to five other people sitting in chairs.
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    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
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    Want to know what packaging EPR will look like in the US? So does everyone else.

    The industry’s perception of EPR has changed the last two years, according to a speaker at the Packaging Recycling Summit. But stakeholders are still seeking answers related to data collection, ecomodulation and more.

    By Sept. 19, 2024
  • a hand sticks a fork in a salad in a disposable cup
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    Giuseppe Lombardo via Getty Images
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    EPA recommends BPI, GreenScreen, other ecolabelsĀ in food service ware procurement

    It’s the first time in nearly 10 years the agency is evaluating new recommendations of standards for sustainable federal purchasing. EPA said it would accept comments on the proposed updates for 30 days.

    By Sept. 11, 2024