All Sustainability articles
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ArticleWhy do we still treat plastic like rubbish?
World Ocean Day is always an important day in my calendar. It is my why. No matter what else is going on in our industry, my deep gratitude for the ocean and my determination to protect it from plastic pollution is what ground me. It is useful to remember my core mission is not to make more euros, but to make more impact - although euros keep the lights on!
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ArticleSurvey casts light on consumer expectations and misconceptions of packaging
A survey led by the German Packaging Institute reveals widespread consumer expectations for recyclable packaging, the value they place on hygienic formats, and their misconceptions about material recycling rates and efficiencies.
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ArticlePPWR timeline: the key dates to know
The European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment (Europen) has published a timeline of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation requirements, including when they come into force, details of the Articles and recommendations for further guidance on provisions. We’ve taken a deep dive into the main points of the timeline, from requirements introduced in 2025 to those due to come into force in 2040.
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ArticleInnovia Films and PureCycle create 40% recycled white, cavitated BOPP film
Innovia Films has produced white, cavitated BOPP film using PureCycle’s recycled polypropylene resin, unlocking over 40% post-consumer recycled content for food-contact applications.
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ArticleSPAR and CRYOVAC’s new solution ‘reduces packaging by 70%’
SPAR Austria claims to have saved 14 tonnes of plastic annually by switching from a traditional tray-and-lid system for meat products to a flowpack solution developed by CRYOVAC that uses 70% less plastic by weight.
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ArticleA lawyer’s perspective on the PPWR
With the PPWR just a few months away from fully coming into force, organisations across the packaging value chain are working to understand how they can be compliant. We spoke with three partners at multinational law firm Eversheds Sutherland – Annamaria Tothova, Monika Zejden-Erdmann, and Dominique Strieder – to discuss potential areas of legal disputes, specific compliance issues, and how companies can deal with remaining uncertainty.
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ArticleMoulded fibre packaging manufactured from non-wood biomass like fallen leaves
Z1RO is converting fallen leaves, hemp hurds and other non-wood biomass into moulded fibre packaging – aiming to combine functional performance with a ‘premium’ tactile experience.
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ArticleVTT and LUT University wrap up cellulose-based film and coating project
LUT University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have completed a project to demonstrate the feasibility of recyclable, biodegradable films and coatings at pilot scale – intended to help reduce or replace fossil-based plastics.
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ArticleSecurikett launches security tapes made from recycled material
At interpack 2026, Securikett launched a new range of security tapes made from recycled materials.
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ArticleSwedish DRS certified by RecyClass for food-safe, traceable PET bottle sorting
Sweden’s Returpack/Pantamera has become the first deposit return system in Europe to receive RecyClass certification for its PET bottle sorting process, verifying that the recycled plastic is food-safe and meets EU traceability requirements.
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PodcastSustainability Perspectives: The role of water-based chemistry in packaging
Archroma Packaging Technologies’ Sameer Singla returns to the podcast to discuss advances in specialty chemicals and how they support sustainable packaging developments from paperization and recyclability to compostability.
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ArticleBarrier lining applied to lightweight plastic buckets, including PCR version
Cambrian Packaging’s range of barrier buckets for solvent- and water-based products, complete with a 100% post-consumer recycled liner, is said to improve storage efficiency and reduce emissions in transit.
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ArticleFIFA permits single-use bottles in World Cup stadiums after reuse ban backlash
After facing backlash for its ban on reusable bottles at World Cup stadiums, FIFA has amended its guidelines to allow one factory-sealed, single-use plastic bottle per spectator – sparking further concerns about fan safety and packaging waste.
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ArticleCould flexible plastics be replaced with paper?
Earlier this year the Ellen MacArthur Foundation released a report that recommended paper solutions as an alternative to flexible plastic packaging. In a recent conversation with Laura Smith, Programme Manager for Plastics and Packaging at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, we unpacked and examined the key findings of the report.
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ArticleMcKinsey recommends AI as a tool to tackle costs at pulp and paper mills
In its latest insights article, McKinsey & Company makes the case for using AI to stage cross-functional interventions and bring down the total cost baseline at pulp and paper packaging mills.
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ArticleSpotlighting PPWR, innovations and AI at Sustainable Packaging Summit 2026
The Sustainable Packaging Summit is returning to the Jaarbeurs Event & Exhibition Centre, Utrecht, on 10 – 12 November 2026 – complete with another jam-packed agenda covering all things sustainable packaging.
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ArticleLight-shielding paper pillow packs hide rare trading cards before opening
Toppan has designed its recyclable, paper-based pillow packaging to achieve a 98% light-shielding rate for trading card packets, preventing consumers from identifying rare cards before opening.
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ArticleDutch companies conclude compostable coffee capsule project
The Clean Cups project, aiming to develop a home-compostable coffee capsule for Nespresso systems, has officially been completed – but is not expected to be commercialized due to market and regulatory conditions.
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ArticleEU Commission withdraws detailed opinion on German packaging law
The European Commission has withdrawn its detailed opinion regarding Germany’s draft Packaging Law Implementation Act, allowing it to enter into force alongside the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
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ArticleHow the EU’s PET market fares through war, law, costs and more
Amidst geopolitical tensions, soaring prices and evolving legislation, what is the current outlook for the PET industry?