Paper, metal, plastics sectors raise alarm over North America tariffs

The Plastics Industry Association said in a statement it was “deeply concerned” about the levies, citing $74.2 billion in exports and $73.3 billion in imports for plastics in 2023.

By Maria Rachal • Updated March 5, 2025

Manufacturing is on the rebound, but tariffs threaten growth: PMI

Production and demand rose in February as customers rushed to put in new orders ahead of the Trump administration’s levies. Commodity spot prices also rose 20%, including on steel and aluminum.

By Kate Magill • March 3, 2025

Canada and Mexico tariffs will take effect March 4, Trump confirms

The president will also impose an additional 10% import tax on China next week and hinted at plans to soon levy 25% duties on the European Union.

By Philip Neuffer • Feb. 27, 2025

Caps, pumps, pods: Preventing small packaging from slipping through recycling systems

Tens of thousands of tons of small-format packaging could be captured each year with technological upgrades, according to a Closed Loop Partners report.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 24, 2025

Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council continues exploring chemical recycling

The industry consortium has a new executive director. One focus this year is to expand efforts to more clinical settings, such as dental offices, to increase regional volumes collected for recycling.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 21, 2025

Trump orders reciprocal tariffs on all countries

“In other words, they charge us a tax or tariff, and we charge them the exact same tax,” President Donald Trump said Thursday.

By Philip Neuffer • Feb. 13, 2025

Metal packaging manufacturers raise red flags over new tariffs

Both packaging and “consumer prices will go up” as manufacturers pass down increased costs, said Can Manufacturers Institute President Robert Budway.

By Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 11, 2025

Packaging execs share how tariffs could hurt or boost business

CEOs addressed potential impacts, following President Donald Trump’s proposals for Canada, Mexico and China.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 7, 2025

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs to impact paper, plastic packaging

U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive orders on tariffs against multiple countries are drawing pricing and supply chain concerns from the Plastics Industry Association, American Forest & Paper Association and others.

By Maria Rachal , Katie Pyzyk • Feb. 3, 2025

The packaging industry outlook for 2025

The evolution of packaging EPR, potential for more industry-reshaping megadeals, shifting attitudes on plastics and sustainability goals, and Trump’s mark on trade and federal funding are dynamic areas to watch.

By Packaging Dive Staff • Jan. 31, 2025

9 stats about US packaging recycling

A recent pair of reports from the U.S. EPA, released in the prior administration, estimated it could take upward of $28 billion to modernize recycling systems and divert more packaging materials from disposal.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 24, 2025

Packaging materials didn’t cause Walmart broth recall, says TreeHouse Foods

Tetra Pak makes the cartons for the recalled broth and said it is not aware of procedural issues on its end. This recall comes as food and cosmetics recalls more broadly are on the rise, according to FDA data.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Jan. 23, 2025

E-commerce packaging shows why it’s hip to be square

Squared-off designs often are better for densification, or waging the “war on air,” according to sources from Smurfit Westrock, Paccurate and others. Geometry grows more important as robots and SIOC proliferate.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 9, 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

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

2025 containerboard outlook: Price increases, index exits and tariff threats

Trends such as price hikes are expected to carry over into the new year, along with the addition of new hot topics like tariffs, say analysts from RaboResearch and Bloomberg Intelligence.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 17, 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

Trump calls for 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico

The president-elect also called for additional 10% tariffs on imports from China as part of his Day 1 White House plans. 

By Philip Neuffer • Nov. 26, 2024

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 Maria Rachal • Nov. 25, 2024

DHL ramps up automation, sustainability efforts in changing packaging marketplace

Alicemarie Geoffrion, president of packaging at DHL Supply Chain, North America, discusses assisting customers with packaging customization and reusables. Plus, she gives an outlook for the holiday shipping season.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 20, 2024

Trump’s tariffs: How manufacturers can prepare

Front-loading commodity imports could be a temporary solution, but diversified sourcing will be critical for the long term, experts say.

By Kate Magill • Nov. 14, 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

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

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 in October to more than 1,500. A potential sale of the broader GCF business is now under consideration.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 31, 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