3 insights for navigating the ‘messy middle’ 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 Maria Rachal • Nov. 13, 2024

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

How supplier collaboration, investing in data can help brands’ 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 Maria Rachal • Updated Nov. 7, 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

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

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 Maria Rachal , Katie Pyzyk , Cole Rosengren • Oct. 23, 2024

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 Maria Rachal • Oct. 7, 2024

Paying their fair share: 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 Maria Rachal • Oct. 3, 2024

Hush-hush: Is greenwashing pushback prompting pivot to ‘greenhushing’?

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 Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 3, 2024

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

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 • Updated May 9, 2025

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 Cole Rosengren • Sept. 30, 2024

What’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 Cole Rosengren • Sept. 30, 2024

Dan Felton to leave Ameripen, become Flexible Packaging Association’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 Maria Rachal • Sept. 24, 2024

Lawsuits from California AG and others take aim at ExxonMobil’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 Maria Rachal • Sept. 24, 2024

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 Maria Rachal • Sept. 23, 2024

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 , Maria Rachal • Sept. 20, 2024

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 Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 19, 2024

EPA recommends BPI, GreenScreen, other ecolabels in food service ware procurement

The agency finalized additions to its recommendations this month, including ones related to reusable, certified commercially compostable, and certified recyclable options.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Dec. 11, 2024

Keurig Dr Pepper to pay $1.5M to settle charges about K-Cup recyclability

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says the beverage company omitted from filed documents some important information about testing the curbside recyclability of its K-Cup coffee pods. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 10, 2024

Packaging updates anticipated in Biden administration’s waning months

Some of these updates have been a long time coming, including next steps for the Green Guides and the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 9, 2024

California lawmakers send bills on grocery bags, date labels, microplastics to governor

Meanwhile, bills that could have restricted PFAS in plastic packaging and updated the state’s packaging EPR law stalled prior to the end of the legislative session.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 3, 2024

Illinois adopts laws eliminating small bottles at hotels, requiring recycling at events

Hotels will soon be blocked from offering mini shampoos and the like, while large event venues including convention centers will be required to compost and recycle materials like aluminum cans and plastic beverage bottles.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 26, 2024

White House backs reduced plastic production, criteria for chemical and product lists, in UN treaty

The Biden administration’s new approach, confirmed by Packaging Dive, is a major development ahead of the final negotiating session this fall. That could include discussions about criteria for lists to limit some chemicals and products.

By Cole Rosengren • Aug. 16, 2024

Circular Action Alliance names its first CEO

Jeff Fielkow, currently CEO of ID Images, has decades of recycling and packaging experience at Tetra Pak and elsewhere. The producer responsibility organization is ramping up work in Colorado, Oregon and California.

By Megan Quinn • Aug. 13, 2024