All Featured Stories articles
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ArticleNew sorting facility to process approximately 80% of Norway’s plastic packaging waste by 2030
Områ - Norway’s new national facility for sorting plastic packaging waste - has officially opened today, jointly owned by TOMRA and Plastretur and expected to process approximately 80% of Norway’s packaging waste by 2030.
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ArticleCircular concept features refillable jar, grape-based design, and NFC chip
As part of an ongoing pilot project, Lumson, Krill Design, and researchers from the Politecnico di Milano have revealed a refillable jar made from recycled glass, design packaging made from grape residues, and an NFC chip for digital branding.
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ArticleMcDonald’s Japan scraps paper straws
McDonald’s Japan has replaced its controversial paper straws with ‘strawless’ lids made from recycled PET, but consumers are still divided on the new solution’s practicality. Tim Sykes reflects on this demand for convenience, sometimes at the expense of sustainable progress, and what we can learn from getting the balance wrong.
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ArticleWest Pharmaceutical Services reveals pre-fillable syringe platform
West Pharmaceutical Services (West) has unveiled its West Synchrony Prefillable Syringe (PFS) System at CPHI Worldwide in Frankfurt, Germany, offering a ‘fully verified’ platform from a single supplier.
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ArticleMcDonald’s Japan ditches paper straws for ‘strawless’ rPET lids – and more
McDonald’s Japan will replace its paper straws with ‘strawless’ rPET lids, transport food in 95% biomass plastic, and pack its Happy Meal toys in FSC-certified paper bags, all in hopes of avoiding 6,600 tons of virgin plastic annually.
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PodcastSustainability Perspectives: Fit for future packaging with inks and coatings
Ahead of Packaging Europe’s Sustainable Packaging Summit in Utrecht, Siegwerk’s team of experts, Disha, Strategy and Program Manager - Circular Economy; Sarah Mah, Senior Global Sustainability Manager; Gilles Le Moigne, Head of BU CE Coatings; and Belal Habib, Head of Global Brand Owner Collaboration, explore how packaging can meet growing sustainability ambitions, transparency requirements and evolving market demands and the role inks and coatings can play in this process.
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ArticleHenkel launches RecycLab in China to evaluate adhesive solutions for recycling
Henkel has announced the opening of its Packaging RecycLab in Shanghai, China, designed to evaluate how adhesive solutions can ‘drive innovation in packaging recycling and accelerate the transition to a circular economy’.
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ArticleSquare-shaped bottle developed by Sidel for nitrogen-dosed water
Sidel has revealed Nitro Square, a square-shaped, rPET-compatible bottle for still water with liquid nitrogen dosing – apparently reaching an hourly output of 2,600 bottles per mould on Sidel machinery.
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ArticleGreiner and Air Up present refillable bottle that flavours water with scents
Greiner Packaging and Air Up’s leak-proof, refillable Click Bottle uses scent-based pods to add flavour to plain water without sugar, additives or calories. It is hoped to promote healthy hydration and complement active lifestyles.
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ArticleRoyal Unibrew and Faerch’s recyclable cups achieve 97% return rate at Danish festival
Royal Unibrew and Faerch have collaborated on cups made from recycled PET, processed back into food-grade material after use and said to have achieved a 97% return rate at Smukfest 2025 in Denmark.
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ArticleEurostat data reveals over 79 million tonnes of packaging waste generated in EU
Eurostat has published data revealing that 79.7 million tonnes of packaging waste were generated in the EU in 2023, equivalent to 177.8 kg per inhabitant. While this is a reduction of 8.7 kg per capita compared with 2022, the figure remains 21.2 kg higher than in 2013.
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ArticleReusable cups at large venues claim to avoid 20 million single-use plastics
Reusable packaging provider r.World claims its reverse logistics and sanitizing solutions have kept 20 million single-use cups and foodware items out of landfills and avoided the production of over 110 tons of plastics.
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ArticlePushing what’s possible in mechanical recycling: A conversation with P&G’s Lee Ellen Drechsler
At K 2025, P&G unveiled an innovation in mechanical recycling developed in collaboration with Lindner - Flexloop. The new process uses a solvent-based extraction process to remove impurities, odours, adhesives and printing inks from used plastic packs. Packaging Europe’s Elisabeth Skoda sat down with Lee Ellen Drechsler, Senior Vice President for Research and Development at P&G to discuss the recent launch, developments in mechanical recycling especially in the area of flexibles and the company’s sustainability pledges.
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ArticleAmcor launches new APET-based thermoformed trays and rollstock
Amcor has announced the launch of AmSecure thermoformed trays and rollstock, a new part of its HealthCare portfolio.
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ArticlePathways to lower emissions and full circularity in aluminium packaging
At drinktec 2025, Ball showcased circular aluminium packaging solutions from cans to bottles as well as focusing on consumer experience, design and personalization. At the event, Elisabeth Skoda spoke to Dr Mandy Glew, President, Beverage Packaging EMEA, discussing carbon emissions, sourcing, circularity, regulation, innovation perspectives for packaging and more.
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ArticleRecyclable label, sleeve, pouch and lid portfolio for dairy packs revealed
CCL Label has unveiled a portfolio of labels, sleeves, pouches, and lids for dairy packaging, collectively designed for existing recycling streams with the aim of Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) compliance.
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ArticlePapkot claims to cut fibre costs by 20% with new processing aids
Papkot has unveiled its new Papkot PA category of mineral-based Processing Aids, said to enable up to 20% reduction in material usage while achieving performance equivalent to traditional fibre-based containers.
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ArticleDS Smith and Queen Flowers utilize fibre-based packaging for retail outlet bouquets
DS Smith and Queen Flowers have collaborated to create a recyclable bouquet box to sit alongside the brand’s traditional packaging in retail stores and outlets.
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ArticleMondi develops lightweight banana box through value chain collaboration
Mondi has developed an innovative banana box packaging solution that it says is 10% lighter than a previous solution, while being made with roughly 40% recycled fibre.
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ArticleAmcor provides mono-polypropylene refill stick for Cut By Fred’s shampoo
Cut By Fred’s Detox Stick Shampoo is now packaged in Amcor’s refillable, mono-polypropylene Exclusive stick; the partners aim for a straightforward, hygienic, and mess-free refill process, as well as recyclability at end-of-life.