March 2026 - Midland | Packaging, Paper, Performance

March 2026

U.S. retail sales up 2% to start 2026

Consumers are continuing to spend so far this year despite ongoing financial pressures. New data from Circana shows that total U.S. retail sales revenue, across discretionary general merchandise, retail food and beverage, and non-edible consumer packaged goods, is up 2% year over year for the first 10 weeks of 2026. Circana noted that the data shows consumers are changing their behaviors instead of cutting back spending all together.

The Future of the Printing Industry Depends on Making Our Voices Heard

ASI was just one of the printing industry partner organizations that joined forces with PRINTING United Alliance in Washington DC for the two-day 2026 Fly-In. Representatives from Book Manufacturers Institute Inc. (BMI) including MIDLAND'S Bill Rojak, Foil & Specialty Effects Association (FSEA), Flexographic Technical Association (FTA), Pharmaceutical Printed Literature Association (PPLA), Promotional Products Association International (PPAI), and Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI), came together with more than 60 participants from across the printing industry. The participants met with more than 60 congressional offices to discuss key issues affecting the industry, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), U.S. Postal Service, tariffs, and the “Patient’s Right to Know” legislation. A Collective Voice for Printing The Fly-In took place over the course of two days with the first day dedicated to prepping the attendees for what to expect during the congressional meetings. When the day on the Hill commenced, attendees joined small groups to meet with representatives from their home state or district. Attendees were given a statistics sheet intended to empower them to share the true power and magnitude of the printing industry as it is the No. 3 largest U.S. manufacturing industry by number of establishments; the No. 10 ranked by total employees nationwide; and when combined with the mailing industry is responsible for 7.9 million jobs and $1.9 trillion in annual revenue.

Canva-Our new solar farms go live: A major step toward our Net Zero goal

We're thrilled to share something years in the making: the solar farms we co-funded are now generating renewable electricity to match energy used in our Canva Print supply chain. Four solar farms are now live, each producing 4–5 MW of renewable energy. It's a milestone we're proud of, and one we couldn't have reached alone. Built in partnership with Watershed, a sustainability AI platform, these projects show what’s possible when we invest in climate solutions together, rather than asking individual suppliers to take on a global challenge by themselves. Print is one of the largest contributors to our carbon footprint, from the materials and manufacturing to the energy required to bring physical products to life. If we want to make meaningful progress, this is an impactful place to start. In 2024, we committed to funding a portfolio of community solar projects in Illinois, USA, helping add new power to the grid in regions where renewable power is still limited. Now, as these projects begin generating electricity, they’re supporting a shift toward lower-emissions Print production.

Clearwater Paper Launches Velora™ Lightweight Paperboard for Everyday Packaging

Clearwater Paper Corporation introduced Velora™, a new lightweight folding carton paperboard engineered to deliver dependable performance, higher yield and strong value for everyday packaging. Velora is designed for converters and brand owners seeking reliable packaging performance without moving into premium SBS grades. Made for folding carton and foodservice applications, the product combines strength, versatility and lower basis weights across the caliper range. Velora’s lighter fiber structure supports material reduction and helps customers manage sustainability commitments and regulatory costs. Made in the USA from domestic and imported materials, Velora also provides stable supply and consistent lead times.

Iran war costing Hapag-Lloyd $40-50 million per week: CEO

March 30, 2026
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Misc

The U.S.-led war in Iran is costing Hapag-Lloyd $40 million to $50 million per week, its chief executive said, as fuel, insurance and other costs skyrocket during the conflict. The world’s fifth-largest container line also has six ships trapped in the Persian Gulf as Iran chooses which vessels can safely transit the Strait of Hormuz. “Costs are increasing sharply. If we look at the impact that this has on us, then we talk easily about $40 million or $50 million per week that we are facing at this point in time,” said Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen, on an earnings call, “mainly related to bunker [fuel], but also insurance costs are up significantly and so are costs related to storage and in some cases also inland transportation.”

Smurfit Westrock named Worldwide Partner of the Ryder Cup in event’s return to Ireland

Smurfit Westrock, the world’s largest paper-based packaging company, announced a multi-year agreement to become a Worldwide Partner of the Ryder Cup. This marks a meaningful milestone for Dublin-headquartered Smurfit Westrock as it celebrates the return of the Ryder Cup to Ireland alongside golf fans, players and partners. “Smurfit Westrock has always had a strong connection to golf in Ireland,” said Tony Smurfit, President and Group CEO of Smurfit Westrock. “As our Company has grown globally, our Irish roots remain deeply important. I’m thrilled for Smurfit Westrock to be part of the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in the 100th year of the event, as we showcase Ireland, Smurfit Westrock and the game of golf at its very best. We are also proud to support JP McManus and his family in bringing the Ryder Cup back, as the event holds great significance for Irish sport and the broader economy.”

Packaging stocks among hardest hit by Iran war: Morningstar

Packaging is among the industries that have been hardest hit by the war in Iran and stocks are in a sell-off, according to a Thursday report from financial services firm Morningstar. As of Monday, the group’s global packaging and containers index showed a 14% decline in stock prices since Feb. 28, the first day of the conflict, putting the industry as the fourth-worst performing. Only metals and mining, mortgage finance and residential construction fared worse, based on Morningstar global indices. The firm’s overall U.S. market index was down 4.3% The Morningstar analysis aligns with data from other reports this week. Jefferies on Tuesday similarly reported a sell-off for packaging and a collective 14% decline in companies’ stock prices since the war began, noting the industry is “significantly underperforming” the S&P 500.

Activewear isn’t over. Everything’s just apparel now.

The lines between apparel, activewear and everything in between have only continued to blur. That isn’t a problem, except if the customer says it is. Apparel is changing. Vuori and Fabletics provided a microcosm of the shifts in the space with the simultaneous release of new denim collections earlier this year. It’s a trend that’s been on the rise: athleisure brands are expanding further beyond their core offerings. At the same time, traditional apparel companies are staking a claim in activewear. Brands want to go where the money is, and sometimes that means broadening the scope of what they sell.

AF&PA Raises Cost Concerns as EPR Expands in U.S. States

As more U.S. states consider extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, the American Forest & Paper Association warns the policy could raise the cost of everyday goods. EPR programs require manufacturers to finance the collection, recycling, and disposal of the packaging and products they place on the market. The approach aims to support recycling systems, which in the United States are largely managed by local governments and private waste operators. According to AF&PA, shifting these costs to producers could eventually affect prices for common consumer products. Paper and paper packaging are widely used in daily life—from shipping boxes and cereal cartons to pharmacy bags and tissue packaging—and industry groups say new regulatory fees can move through the supply chain and appear in retail prices. The association also notes that paper is already one of the most widely recycled materials in the United States, raising questions about whether EPR would significantly improve paper recycling.

Sweetwater donates $1M+ to music programs across the US in 2025

Sweetwater released its 2025 Impact Report, showing how the company supported employees, communities and the environment over the past year. The company ranked as a Top 10 North America Inspiring Workplace and received 13 national awards for its workplace culture. Sweetwater gave more than $1 million in funding, gear and volunteer support to communities in 2025. The company worked with Save the Music to expand music programs into 42 schools across the country.

Nordstrom to close 2 full-line stores despite top-line strength last year

Nordstrom is closing two full-line stores this spring, the company confirmed by email Wednesday. The anchor at the Galleria Dallas Mall in Texas will close May 16 and the anchor at the Christiana Mall in Delaware will close April 30. The closures come amid expansion of Nordstrom’s off-price business, with plans to open 23 Rack stores in 2026, after opening 22 last year, a spokesperson said by email. Nordstrom no longer releases earnings reports since going private last year. But on Wednesday the department store said 2025 total sales rose 7% year over year to nearly $16 billion, with the highest comps in over a decade.

Genpak to close Utah plant, affecting approximately 200 workers

Food service packaging manufacturer Genpak plans to close its manufacturing facility in Cedar City, Utah, by May 23, the company announced this week. The closure will affect approximately 200 employees, Genpak said. That plant produces a “large volume of polystyrene containers,” according to the company. It cited “rising legislative polystyrene bans in neighboring states” that prohibit the sale of single-use foam containers, table ware and cups as the reason for the shutdown. Nearby states with such bans include California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

Reducing food waste: a multi-purpose solution for climate and economic health

From the UN Environmental Program-March 28 marked the International Day of Zero Waste. Since its first observance three years ago, this UN Day, facilitated by UNEP and my friends at UN Habitat, has championed bold action on rethinking how we produce, consume and manage our resources. My thanks to Türkiye for their leadership on this day and on this issue. This year, we turn to an urgent and preventable crisis: food waste. In 2022 alone, one billion tonnes of food – almost 20 per cent of food available to retailers, food services and households – was thrown away. This above the 13 per cent of food lost before it reaches retailers. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of people faced hunger.

Lowe’s wants to roll out personalized website to all customers by end of 2026

The humble e-commerce site is getting a major upgrade at Lowe’s. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based home improvement retailer is expanding a feature that uses customer data — things like location, browsing behavior and past purchases — to personalize its website. The feature is now being rolled out to a percentage of customers — though Lowe’s declined to specify how many — with a broader launch planned by the end of the year. The personalization will show up through modular content blocks on Lowe’s website that can be swapped, reordered or customized based on customer behavior.

UPM/Sappi Europe Update

According to Fastmarkets reporting the European Commission is expected to complete the first phase of its review into the proposed graphic paper joint venture between UPM and Sappi before the end of April.

Georgia-Pacific Names David Duncan as President and Chief Executive Officer

Georgia-Pacific announced that effective immediately, David Duncan, Executive Vice President of Georgia-Pacific's consumer products group, has been named President and CEO. Mark Luetters, who currently serves as executive vice president of Koch, Inc., with responsibility overseeing several Koch companies, had temporarily served as President and CEO of Georgia-Pacific since 2025.

Can EPR & Single-Serve Beverage Packaging Coexist?

The single-serve package continues to grow in importance for the beverage industry, fueled by seemingly insatiable consumer demand for product trial, portability, affordability, and portion control. Sales of single-serve beverages 18 ounces or less grew by 2.7% for the year ending February 7, 2026, according to AlixPartners, with some segments, such as energy drinks particularly strong, up 10.8%. Beverage manufacturers, however, don’t have the luxury of ignoring environmental impacts of their packaging. In this second article in the series, we probe industry’s challenges to comply with current and coming sustainability regulations. “Sixty-five percent of total [beverage] ounces are sold in single-serve sizes today and four years ago it was 62%,” says Mike Bronstein, a director in the consumer products practice of AlixPartners who focuses on beverages and food. “So, we’re seeing a shift towards single serve, and single serve already has higher exposure to begin with. So, I think it really puts that in the spotlight.”

AAA Fuel Gauge Report

March 26, 2026
Midland Paper Clips
Misc

Key Currency Exchange Rates

March 26, 2026
Midland Paper Clips
Misc

NORPAC to exit newsprint market-May 1

NORPAC will cease production of newsprint at its Longview, WA mill effective May 1. After NORPAC stops making newsprint in May, there will be only one newsprint mill in operation in the US - Inland Empire’s Millwood mill, also in Washington state. There are nine newsprint mills in Canada: three owned by White Birch Paper, two owned by Domtar, two owned by Kruger, and one each owned by Alberta Newsprint and Kap Paper.

California’s new recycling laws could cripple unprepared businesses

California’s SB 54 (Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act) is among the most stringent Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies globally. While CalRecycle is still refining the final regulations, the statutory performance targets remain. By Jan. 1, 2028, plastic covered material must meet a 30% recycling rate, rising to 40% by 2030 and 65% by 2032. While by Jan. 1, 2032, 100% of single-use packaging and single-use plastic food service ware sold into California must be recyclable or compostable, as determined by CalRecycle.

Easter spending expected to hit a new record

After a particularly harsh winter in many parts of the country, shoppers are ramping up their Easter spending. Consumer spending on Easter is expected to reach a record total of $24.9 billion this year, according to the annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. The amount surpasses the previous record of $24 billion set in 2023. Candy is the leading shopping category for Easter, with 92% of consumers planning to purchase sweets. Other top categories include food (90%), gifts (64%), decorations (53%) and clothing (51%). Across these categories, food spending is expected to reach $7.5 billion, followed by gifts ($3.9 billion), clothing ($3.7 billion), candy ($3.5 billion) and flowers ($2.2 billion).

Sappi Europe Announces Additional Price Increase for Graphic Paper products effective 15 April 2026

Following Sappi’s recent price increase communications for Graphic Paper products (WFC/UWF/MC) effective 16 March 2026, today they are announcing necessary further pricing adjustments. To address the underlying margin gap, Sappi Europe will implement an additional price increase of €40 per ton on all Mechanical Coated Reels and €50 per ton on all Woodfree products for deliveries from 15 April 2026 onwards.

Voith delivers its 3,000th headbox – a milestone in papermaking technology

Voith has reached an important milestone with the delivery of its 3,000th headbox. Since the first Voith headbox was supplied in 1914, the company has continuously improved one of the most critical components of the paper machine. Today, Voith headboxes are installed in paper mills around the world and form the technological basis for stable production, consistent quality and high operational efficiency. Headboxes play a central role in papermaking. Their primary task is to ensure uniform basis‑weight profiles across paper webs that can reach widths of up to ten meters. Headboxes are not only essential for new paper machines, but also play a major role in rebuild projects, capacity increases and grade conversions.

Packaging Policy Roundup for March

The packaging policy across the country is shifting, as states adopt legislation spanning data reporting to label design. From Maine to California—and all the states in between—there’s a lot to keep track of in the world of packaging policy. Whether you’re an engineer, a designer, or just a fan of sustainable packaging, SPC’s Senior Project Manager and Packaging EPR Collaborative Lead Lucy Pierce is breaking down noteworthy policy updates every month.

The biggest myth in retail right now? That consumers are pulling back. They’re not. They’re just spending differently.

2026 is shaping up to be a year where consumer demand defies every economic headline and most brands aren't prepared for the split that's emerging across income tiers, categories, and generations. Here's what the data is telling us loud and clear: ✔️ Retail sales projected to grow 4.4% ✔️ Higher-income shoppers are accelerating luxury and premium buys ✔️ Gen Z +Millennials are shifting spend towards experiences, travel, and convenience ✔️ Larger tax refunds + steady wages are fueling momentum. For more on the subject from Cohere One click on the link below. #retailoutlook2026 #consumertrends #retailst

Amazon pressures Walmart, other retailers with one-hour delivery

Amazon is getting even faster, posing a competitive threat to Walmart as well as other big-box retailers and grocers that people turn to for quick purchases. One-hour delivery from Amazon is now available in hundreds of cities across the U.S., in addition to three-hour delivery in 2,000-plus cities and towns, the company announced last week. The selection is limited largely to products found “in a local supercenter,” including pantry items, cleaning supplies, health and beauty products, and over-the-counter medications, the e-commerce giant said. “Our customers are busier than ever and are looking for new ways to save time while keeping their households running,” Udit Madan, svp of worldwide operations at Amazon, said in a news release.

FedEx revenue growth leads to ‘most profitable yet’ Q3

FedEx Corp. revenue continued its upward trend in its fiscal Q3 2026, which ended Feb. 28. The carrier also increased its net income in the quarter. FedEx net income increased year over year to $1.35 billion in Q3 2026, from $1.29 billion the prior-year period. On an earnings call with analysts, CEO Rajesh Subramaniam called FedEx’s quarter the carrier’s “most profitable yet.” It was also FedEx’s sixth straight quarter of increasing its margins, he said. The carrier said its plan for FedEx Freight to become a new publicly traded company is on track for June 1, 2026.

Summer 2026 Retail Trends Every Cataloger Should Be Watching

Summer 2026 is arriving with a mix of economic caution, experiential spending, and a renewed appetite for tactile brand interactions. While digital channels continue to evolve, consumers are leaning into physical experiences like travel, outdoor living, home refreshes, and hands‑on shopping, creating a unique opportunity for catalogers to meet customers where they’re most inspired. For brands that rely on print to drive discovery and sales, this summer’s trends point to one clear takeaway: catalogs remain one of the most effective tools for capturing attention and guiding purchase decisions in a crowded retail landscape.

Why Limited-Edition Packages Often Fail to Impress Shoppers

Brands love the fantasy of the limited edition. A seasonal pack tied to Halloween, a sports final, a pop culture collaboration, or an anniversary gets launched with the quiet hope that shoppers will treat it like a keepsake. Sometimes that happens. Most of the time, especially in fast-moving grocery categories, it does not. In fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), a limited edition usually lives in a very different reality from the one imagined in the boardroom. If units are still sitting on shelf after the event has passed, the package stops signaling novelty and starts signaling age. To a shopper moving quickly through the aisle, that stale seasonal pack can read less like “special” and more like “this has been here a while.” The safer choice becomes the regular version, the one that still feels current, familiar, and easy.

Costco to open its first standalone gas stations — in these states

Costco Wholesale Club will unveil its first standalone gas station in June. The membership warehouse giant will open the 17,000-sq.-ft. station in Mission Viejo, Calif., reported USA Today, on the site of a former Bed Bath & Beyond store. The 40-pump station will be Costco’s first fuel station that is not co-located with one of its stores. Similar to the retailer’s other gas stations, it will be open only to Costco members. A second standalone Costco gas station is planned for Honolulu, the report said. It is slated to open in 2027. At a time of rising gas prices amid the Iran conflict, industry analysts have described Costco’s gas prices as its secret weapon, sending more customers to its locations. The company’s gas is, on average, 10 to 30 cents cheaper a gallon than at other gas stations, according to U.S. News Costco operated 747 gas stations globally at the end of fiscal 2025, which contributed 10% of its total net sales for the year, according to its annual report.

3M promised to phase out PFAS by the end of 2025. How has it turned out?

In December 2022, 3M shocked the chemicals world when it announced it would stop PFAS production. The company, which pioneered PFAS in the 1950s and now faces billion-dollar lawsuits over the resulting pollution, said it would stop making PFAS by the end of 2025. “3M completed its exit of PFAS manufacturing at the end of 2025,” says 3M’s annual report, published earlier this month. It means this huge multinational has taken an important step towards detoxifying its production. When it announced it would stop making PFAS, the company said it would also “work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025”. Indeed, we can see that 3M has removed PFAS from almost 7,000 products during the past three years – that’s about one-third.

Norske Skog Skogn Mill Preparing to Produce Book Paper on Upgraded PM1

Norske Skog said that work is nearing completion on PM1 at its mill in Skogn, Norway, that will give the machine the capability to produce high-quality book paper, along with its usual paper grade, newsprint. The new book paper will be marketed under the brand name "NOR Book." "The development represents an investment of NOK 40 million (EUR 3.5 million), giving us the flexibility to produce more than 140,000 tonnes annually," the company said. "NOR Book will be produced from 100% virgin fibre and is designed to deliver industry-leading low CO2 emissions.

Total U.S. Packaging Papers & Specialty Packaging Shipments Increased 4% in February 2026

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the February 2026 U.S. Packaging Papers Monthly report. According to the report, total packaging papers & specialty packaging shipments in February increased 4% compared to February 2025. They were up 1% when compared to the same two months of 2025.

Total U.S. Printing-Writing Paper Shipments Decreased 6% in February 2026

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) released the February 2026 Printing-Writing Monthly report. According to the report, total printing-writing paper shipments decreased 6% in February compared to February 2025. Across the 3 major printing-writing categories — uncoated free sheet (UFS), coated free sheet (CFS), and mechanical (MECH) — net imports declined 16% in January compared to the same month last year.

International Paper to Build $225 Million Greenfield Packaging Facility in Mississippi

International Paper today announced plans to construct a new 468,000-square-foot sustainable packaging facility in Rankin County, Mississippi. Following a comprehensive review of its manufacturing footprint, International Paper's Board of Directors approved both the exploration and advancement of this $225 million greenfield project. The facility is planned to be built on an 80-acre site in Brandon, Mississippi, less than 10 miles from the company's existing Richland (Jackson) box plant. Construction is expected to begin in June 2026, with operations anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2027.

It’s Showtime for Your Political Direct Mail

The other day, I saw an early sign of Spring: an election campaign commercial on TV. It was just a 30-second ad, but it did make me wonder how long it will be before more of them start showing up everywhere, even on streaming. With so many seats and offices at stake in this midterm election year, we’ll be bombarded with them. That’s why direct mail plays such a crucial role in modern campaigns. Mail has a built-in advantage. A well-designed piece consists of a strong headline, crisp, high-resolution images, and a focused message. It gets physically handled, read, and often saved. It doesn’t disappear with a click or get buried in an inbox.

Labor Agreement Ratified at Domtar’s U.S. Mills

Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) have ratified a new four-year collective agreement covering approximately 2,400 employees across several Domtar paper mills in the United States. The agreement, which runs through December 2029, includes significant wage increases and enhanced benefits. The negotiations took place under specific conditions. It was the first agreement reached since Domtar’s integration into Paper Excellence in 2021, followed by the acquisition of Resolute Forest Products in 2023. Talks also occurred against a backdrop of market slowdown and production downtime across the industry. Despite these challenges, the union points to meaningful gains. The contract provides for wage increases exceeding 12% over its term, along with a signing bonus, improved pension plans, and continued access to affordable health care.

Target goes big for return of K-pop sensation BTS

Fans of the South Korean boy band BTS are not the only ones celebrating their return. Target Corp. is putting out the red carpet for the launch of the band’s highly-anticipated new album, “Arirang,” and upcoming world tour, creating dedicated BTS shopping destinations in its stores nationwide, complete with themed displays and exclusive merchandise. The album is BTS’ first group project in nearly four years following their mandatory military service. In addition to being the only mass retailer to offer the album on vinyl, the retailer is offering seven limited-edition, Target-exclusive “Arirang” vinyls, each spotlighting a different BTS member with a unique color variant, a poster and lyric paper

AAA Fuel Gauge Report

March 19, 2026
Midland Paper Clips
Misc

Key Currency Exchange Rates

March 19, 2026
Midland Paper Clips
Misc

Apollo Capital Management Acquires European Paper Producer Lecta

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Lecta Paper Industries Intermediate Financing S.à r.l. ('Lecta') by Apollo Capital Management ('Apollo Funds'), a private equity firm based in New York. According to information on Lecta's website, the company has a production capacity of approximately 1.6 million tons of paper and about 2,700 employees.

Setting the record straight on Amazon’s USPS partnership

Recent press coverage has mischaracterized our relationship with the United States Postal Service (USPS). The truth is simple: we negotiated with them in good faith for more than a year to reach a deal that would bring them billions in revenue and believed we were heading toward an agreement. Our goal was to increase our volumes with USPS, not reduce them—until USPS abruptly walked away at the eleventh hour in December.

Nearly $1 stamps? Lawmakers contemplate how to avert USPS financial crisis

Postmaster General David Steiner warned that USPS could reach a financial cliff as soon as fall 2026. As a response, he floated reducing the postal agency’s mandate to deliver mail six days per week or raising stamp prices to 90 to 95 cents. Stamps currently are 78 cents, having been increased six times since 2021. “If you want the same number of delivery days and post offices, we can do that, but someone has to pay for it. If you want to have a discussion about reducing services, we can do that,” Steiner said. “But there's one thing we can't do, and that is the status quo, and we don't have a lot of time.” David Marroni, a senior official at the Government Accountability Office, testified that any fix to the USPS’ finances will likely require congressional action, calling the postal agency’s current business model "unsustainable."

The Iran war is hitting packaging supply chains. Are the impacts temporary?

Higher fuel and material costs, shipping disruptions and consumer spending are playing into industry impacts. Certain packaging substrates, such as plastics, bear a greater burden than others. Major publicly traded packaging companies’ most recent earnings calls largely occurred just before the war began, so executives did not address the topic at that time. But analysts have been sporadically divulging information about effects and adjusting their projections as information becomes available. “It’s not been pretty” for the publicly traded packaging companies within BofA Securities’ coverage, said analyst George Staphos in a March 13 note to investors. The average packaging company’s stock had dropped approximately 10% since Feb. 27, the day before the war started, he said Generally speaking, every $10 per barrel increase in oil prices translates to a few cents per pound increased costs for plastic packaging producers, according to Staphos.

HD Advanced Technologies and Ondas Autonomous Systems establish joint venture for drone defense in Europe

HD Advanced Technologies (HDAT), a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG), and Ondas Autonomous Systems (OAS), a subsidiary of US-based Ondas, Inc (Nasdaq: ONDS) (“ONDAS”) and a leading American-Israeli provider of autonomous defense and security systems, are joining forces by creating ONBERG Autonomous Systems (ONBERG), a joint venture (JV) for autonomous drone defense systems. The partners are thus implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2025. In the long term, ONBERG aims to close the existing market gap in the protection of critical infrastructure in Europe as a one-stop shop for autonomous drone defense systems. The solution portfolio is geared toward the highest requirements of national security, border protection, and the protection of critical infrastructure, and addresses military, civil, and industrial applications. It is based on OAS‘s battle-proven systems, which will be gradually supplemented with additional autonomous technologies as well as sensor and communication technologies. ONBERG will use HEIDELBERG’s existing infrastructure, particularly its site in Brandenburg an der Havel, which is being expanded into a leading center of excellence for drone defense and autonomous security systems.

California’s recyclability labeling law under fire in new lawsuit

The Flexible Packaging Association and the American Forest & Paper Association are among the plaintiffs seeking a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of SB 343 come October. The lawsuit comes just over six months out from an Oct. 4, 2026, go-live date for SB 343. The law will prohibit the use of chasing arrows or other recyclability symbols on products and packaging unless specific criteria are met, including that a product or packaging is accepted for collection by programs collectively serving at least 60% of the the state’s population.

Will Reusable Packaging Capitalize on Current Troubles with Compostable Packaging?

Recently, the USDA National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) decided to not recommend compostable packaging, ruling it does not meet organic standards. This seems a bit counter to what’s being written into some US state’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws. But it sounds like compostable packaging might be in for a tough period in the US despite research that projects a compound annual growth rate of more than 16%. If compostable packaging is in question, and there are only so many end-of-life options for packaging, when one goes down, something else must go up, right?

The real winners of March Madness? Brands that move fast on NIL deals

Consumer brands and retailers aren’t sitting on the sidelines this March Madness. Companies across sectors, from footwear to personal care, are racing to sign college basketball players and feature them in marketing materials as the NCAA tournament gets underway. Earlier this month, Jordan Brand announced it was working with University of Connecticut shooting guard Azzi Fudd, while NYX Professional Makeup said it was joining forces with UCLA center Lauren Betts. On March 16, Freddy’s, a custard and burger chain, announced deals with 10 collegiate athletes in Arizona, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Facebook parent company Meta signs 10-year lease for NYC flagship

Meta is turning a pop-up that it opened in New York City in November into a permanent retail location. The parent company of Facebook said it has signed a 10-year lease with Vornado Realty Trust to make its temporary Meta Lab outpost in Manhattan a permanent flagship location. Located at 697 Fifth Ave., the skateboarding-themed Meta Lab is designed as a hands-on experiential space where customers can check out the company’s latest retail offerings, including its lineup of AI glasses, and immerse themselves in virtual worlds with Meta Quest headsets.

Costco ties digital personalization to $470M in sales growth

Costco’s investment in online personalization is having a measurable impact on e-commerce sales, executives said on a Q2 2026 earnings call Thursday. The personalized product recommendation carousels drove more than $470 million in e-commerce sales during the quarter, according to EVP and CFO Gary Millerchip. Modernized product display pages are driving incremental traffic as well. “We have a clear road map for future digital enhancements and believe these will allow us to continue to grow digitally-enabled sales at a faster pace than overall sales,” Millerchip said on the call.

AF&PA: Oregon’s EPR Approach Misses the Mark for Recycling Success

Heidi Brock, President and CEO of AF&PA stated, "Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies continue to move in the wrong direction. In states like Oregon, EPR is poised to result in escalating fees, limited transparency, and added complexity while failing to recognize the existing, highly effective paper recycling system. "Our industry continuously invests to improve paper recycling. And we have a significant stake throughout the recycling value chain, including designing products to be recycled, expanding mill-based infrastructure that utilizes recycled paper, and operating over 100 materials recovery facilities (MRFs). "Rather than penalizing materials like paper and paper packaging that are already widely recycled, policymakers should prioritize approaches that build on existing success and deliver measurable improvements. Treating all materials the same, regardless of recycling performance, ignores decades of progress and distorts recycling markets.

Book Output Topped Four Million in 2025

The total number of books published in the U.S. in 2025 with ISBN numbers jumped 32.5% over 2024, to more than four million books, according to statistics compiled by Bowker. The increase was led by self-published works, for which the number of print and e-books (including those without BISAC codes) soared 38.7% to more than 3.5 million from 2.5 million in 2024.

Amazon overtakes US Postal Service as largest parcel carrier

Amazon passed the U.S. Postal Service as the largest domestic parcel carrier in 2025, anchoring a broader market shift away from traditional couriers, as it in-sourced a large amount of last-mile delivery work previously handled by UPS, according to data published Monday by ShipMatrix Inc. Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) handled 6.7 billion parcels last year, up 9.8% year over year, compared to an 8.3% decline for the U.S. Postal Service to 6.6 billion pieces. UPS (NYSE: UPS) also experienced an 8.3% volume decline at 4.4 billion deliveries. FedEx (NYSE: FDX) delivered 3.6 billion parcels in 2025, up 5.9%. Amazon’s parcel growth isn’t just fueled by its own online orders, but new contracts from third parties that don’t sell on the retailer’s platform.

Paper industry joins Oregon EPR lawsuit

After the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors secured a preliminary injunction in February, groups representing the paper industry, grocers and other businesses want in. The challenges to Oregon’s program come as Circular Action Alliance, the producer responsibility organization in the state, is already re-investing in recycling enhancements. Following NAW’s preliminary injunction, CAA had clarified that everything else was moving forward as planned. Oregon launched its first-in-the-nation packaging EPR program last year and CAA began collecting producer fees. According to a mid-February update from CAA, the organization had already contributed $19.5 million to support recycling facilities, distributed $3.1 million to communities for contamination reduction programs, and ordered more than 50,000 recycling carts and 14 trucks for communities that lacked access to recycling services, among other actions.

4 Risks of Delaying EPR Registration

Is EPR going away in the US? There’s a conversation happening in boardrooms and in c-suites right now. It goes something like this: "Did you hear about the EPR lawsuit in Oregon? If they win, we won’t have to do EPR, so we’re going to wait and see how that turns out before we sign up." It’s an understandable reaction. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations are complex, the compliance workload is real, and nobody wants to absorb fees and reporting burdens for a system that might get struck down. The companies positioning themselves best for whatever legal and regulatory outcome emerges aren’t sitting on their hands — they’re building capabilities that pay off regardless of how the courts rule. Here’s the prudent playbook: 1. Get Your Packaging Data Centralized — Now 2. Map Your State-by-State Exposure 3. Register on Current Timelines 4. Build Your Cross-Functional EPR Team Now 5. Model Your Fee Exposure — Even Roughly

FedEx Freight is poised to become North America’s largest independent LTL carrier

The June 1 spinoff is locked in. Here's what shippers, investors, and the LTL market need to know. On June 1, 2026, the freight industry’s competitive landscape will change permanently. FedEx Corporation will complete the spinoff of FedEx Freight into an independent, publicly traded company, establishing the largest standalone less-than-truckload carrier in North America. The new entity will trade on the NYSE under the ticker FDXF, generate nearly $9 billion in annual revenue, and operate with a 15.8% operating margin, a benchmark most LTL competitors aspire to achieve. FedEx’s decision to separate Freight reflects a broader strategic shift to prioritize focused operations and profitability over conglomerate scale. After the spinoff, FedEx will focus exclusively on parcel, ground, and express services. FedEx Freight will have full autonomy over pricing, network strategy, and capital allocation, tailored specifically to the LTL market without the constraints of a parcel-focused corporate structure.

Portillo’s names new development chief

A Chicago-based fast-casual chain has tapped a new executive to oversee its future store expansion. Portillo’s has named Jennifer Pecoraro-Striepling as its chief development officer. In this role, she will lead Portillo’s restaurant development strategy, including real estate and site selection, prototype design and construction, and will play a “key role” in advancing long-term expansion. A Chicago native, Pecoraro-Striepling most recently served as chief development officer for Miller’s Ale House for the past year, where she was responsible for driving the development and expansion strategies.

Inside FedEx’s reusable shipper rollout

It’s corrugated’s world, and alternative shipping formats are just living in it. But now, FedEx and Returnity have launched a reusable shipping offering for B2B customers that they say cracks the code on working in FedEx’s logistics network just as well as, if not better than, traditional single-use fiber-based boxes. “The entire logistics world has been built around corrugated for decades and decades,” said Mike Newman, CEO of reusable packaging manufacturer Returnity. “When everything is built for corrugated, it’s not actually that easy to integrate something other than corrugated.” There are multiple layers to the single-use vs. reusable container cost analysis, according to Newman. First is potential savings on materials like corrugated boxes and tape. There are also labor efficiencies: Newman said pilots showed that unpacking the reusable containers saves about 30 seconds of time compared with single-use containers. “They pop open, they collapse flat, you’re not cutting with box cutters,” he said, also noting that eliminating the box cutter reduces risk for damaging the products inside. Returnity and FedEx claim a 30% cost savings for some customers that opt for reusables over corrugated. There’s also better cost predictability with reusables, Newman said.

Sessions Announces Hearing on the Financial Future of the U.S. Postal Service-Tuesday Mar. 17@ 2:00 EDT

Subcommittee on Government Operations Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) today announced a hearing on “Oversight of the U.S. Postal Service: The Financial Future Under Postmaster General Steiner.” During the hearing, members will highlight the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) troubled financial situation after losing billions of dollars and will examine the initiatives Postmaster General David Steiner is taking to transform the agency and maximize revenue. Members will also assess whether USPS is reliable enough for Congress to allow it to borrow more money from the Department of the Treasury. WATCH: The hearing is open to the public and will be livestreamed-go to the link below to find the livestream link.

Ulta Beauty will be first beauty & wellness retailer on TIkTok Shop

Ulta Beauty is opening a storefront on TikTok’s e-commerce platform just in time for spring. Ulta Beauty is the first beauty and wellness retailer to join the platform. It will roll out with more than 15 brands spanning makeup, skincare, hair and fragrance, in addition to more than 25 exclusive bundles.

Costco sued by customer seeking tariff refunds

The proposed class action suit seeks to recoup IEEPA-tariff costs an Illinois customer alleges the retailer passed on to him and other consumers through higher prices. Costco is one of a number of companies, including the delivery company FedEx and the maker of Ray-Ban sunglasses Essilor Luxottica, to be hit by lawsuits filed in the wake of the Supreme Court decision by retail customers seeking to recoup the increased tariff-related charges they paid, according to the Associated Press. For CFOs, the litigation by consumers underscores another key issue in the complex path to obtaining tariff refunds that finance leaders must address. In addition to preserving their legal rights to any IEEPA duties paid, Luis “Lou” Abad, principal in the trade and customs group at KPMG, said importers who paid the tariffs on goods must carefully assess both their plans for using any refunds that they may receive along with any obligations or arrangements they may have for sharing the cost of the tariffs.

Quad at Shoptalk 2026: AI’s biggest retail opportunity is still in the store

Harris Poll research commissioned by Quad points to the importance of blending physical and digital in retail: Eighty-six percent of Gen Z and Millennials say touching and feeling products is essential to their purchase decisions, and 84% value brands that blend technology with physical experiences. With more than 80 percent of retail purchases happening in brick-and-mortar locations1, the in-store experience is still where buying decisions are made. Quad experts will share unique insights on these and other trends at the annual retail and e-commerce conference, whose theme is “Retail in the Age of AI .”

As performance and growth avenues lag, packaging companies pursue M&A

It’s no secret that the packaging industry has faced business challenges and has been overall sluggish since the pandemic-era boom ended. Amid sustained challenges, executives have sought alternative avenues for growth and returning value to shareholders. That’s where M&A comes in, according to a newly released report by McKinsey & Co. “There is renewed interest and excitement around what you can achieve through M&A as a lever,” Abhinav Goel, partner at McKinsey and co-author of the report, said in an interview. “M&A comes in as a lever to adjust your participation, double down on your markets, etc., so that you continue to maintain a good growth trajectory.” A recent example of the programmatic approach is ProAmpac, which on March 6 completed its acquisition of TC Transcontinental’s packaging business for 2.1 billion Canadian dollars ($1.5 billion). That company, owned by Pritzker Private Capital, has been built through dozens of acquisitions, including the 2025 purchases of e-commerce packaging specialist PAC Worldwide and International Paper’s bag converting operations.

Sappi North America President and CEO, Mike Haws, Named PaperAge’s 2026 Executive Papermaker of the Year

PaperAge is proud to announce that Mike Haws, President and CEO of Sappi North America, is the recipient of our 2026 "Executive Papermaker of the Year" award. PaperAge selects its…

Why Direct Mail is Winning Again in a Digital-Obsessed World

While some company leaders may underestimate direct mail's current market position, the channel represents about $40 billion or ~20% of all US offline channel spend. The growing focus on synchronizing digital and…

Whole Foods plans six new London stores

Whole Foods Market is expanding its presence across the pond. The Amazon-owned natural and organic grocer will open six new stores in the United Kingdom in the coming months, just one year after the company opened its first new store in the country in over a decade. With the six new stores in the London area (locations found later in article), Whole Foods’ U.K. store count will reach 12. The new locations will vary in size, spanning between 3,300 and 10,000 square feet. All stores will provide Whole Foods' a wide selection of organic items across its grocery, meat, seafood, cheese and prepared foods departments.

AAA Fuel Gauge Report

March 12, 2026
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Key Currency Exchange Rates

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AT&T and AWS Collaborate on Resilient, Scalable Last Mile Connectivity for Business-Grade AI Workloads

AT&T and Amazon Web Services are working together to extend 5G and fiber connectivity from business customers and locations directly into AWS environments, creating secure, resilient and reliable premises-to-cloud architectures for AI workloads. The solution is designed to reduce network complexity and latency while supporting real-time analytics, machine learning, and agentic AI use cases.

Sofidel Selects Its Inola, OK Facility for $775 Million Tissue Capacity Expansion in the U.S.

Sofidel has finalized the details of the tissue capacity expansion plan announced last October to further strengthen the company's production capacity in the United States. The expansion will take place at the company's integrated facility in Inola, Oklahoma. The plan includes the construction of a new building to house the previously announced 75,000 tonnes per year Valmet Through-Air-Drying (TAD) tissue machine, along with the installation of converting lines with matching capacity for the production of finished goods. The project also includes the expansion of the pulp and parent reel warehouse, and the construction of a fully automated finished goods warehouse — developed using E80 technology — with 100,000 pallet positions. The new buildings will cover a total area of approximately 1,000,000 square feet (90,000 square meters). The total investment amounts to $775 million.

HP Unveils Indigo 7K+ and AI-Driven Automation Strategy

At Dscoop Edge Rockies, HP unveiled new AI-driven software and press innovations designed to help commercial Print Service Providers (PSPs) unlock profitable growth through simplified operations, higher productivity and greater control across increasingly complex production environments. For HP, the future of work is anchored in enabling PSPs to generate profitable growth and fulfilment through technology, delivering innovation that empowers nonstop digital printing at scale. HP has strengthened its long-standing commitment to the A3 mid-range commercial print market with the launch of the HP Indigo 7K+ Digital Press. Built on the proven 7X00 platform, with more than 2,200 presses installed worldwide and a proven track record, the new press delivers enhanced cost efficiency, versatility and operational simplicity by aligning with HP’s broader vision for nonstop digital printing. “Our nonstop digital printing journey continues at full speed.

Packaging Sustainability Enters the Age of Accountability

Businesses that have postponed sustainability efforts are now facing significant consequences, including fines, restricted market access, and other critical business issues. If you were kicking the can down the road when it comes to extended producer responsibility (EPR) planning and implementation, here’s a rude awakening: You’ve run out of road, says Matthew Rogerson, principal at The Pack Scout. The packaging industry is entering a new era of sustainability, moving from aspiration to accountability. Rogerson explores this shift in a recent conversation, explaining that companies can no longer defer making sustainability decisions. Why? Because new regulations leave no room for hiding or delaying compliance, making it crucial for companies to act decisively and strategically. Non-compliance with regulations can result in fines that exceed profit margins, posing a serious threat to business viability.

Survey: Consumers trust brands with eco-friendly packaging

Sustainable packaging is still resonating with consumers. Nearly seven-in-10 (68%) Americans have changed how they shop to reduce plastic waste, and half (50%) of consumers choose the more sustainable-looking product when prices are equal, according to a recent survey from printing company Uprinting. More than three-quarters (77%) of respondents say they trust brands more when packaging appears eco-friendly, while nearly six-in-10 (57%) believe brands and manufacturers should take the lead in addressing the environmental impact of packaging.

Georgia-Pacific reaches 3B recyclable mailers

The milestone reflects growing demand for fiber-based packaging solutions in the e-commerce sector, where brands and retailers are increasingly seeking alternatives to plastic shipping envelopes. Georgia-Pacific previously reported producing two billion EarthKraft mailers in October 2024, indicating continued growth in the use of recyclable paper mailers for parcel shipments. The EarthKraft mailers are manufactured from 100% legally and responsibly sourced wood fiber and are labeled “widely recyclable” through the How2Recycle® program. The products also maintain SFI® certification for responsible forestry sourcing.

Paper-based flexibles could reduce pollution from small-format plastics.

Fiber-based flexibles do “not yet exist at the scale, cost, and performance needed” to solve the flexible plastic pollution problem, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is prominently known for its Global Commitment launched in 2018 to engage stakeholders across the plastic packaging value chain to reduce waste and pollution. Goals tied to 2025 included making plastic packaging recyclable, compostable or reusable; eliminating problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging; and increasing the amount of postconsumer recycled content used to manufacture plastic packaging. EMF noted in its new report that flexibles, especially small-format versions, are the fastest-growing type of plastic packaging globally. They make up 80% of the plastic packaging that ends up in oceans in countries that have low concentration of formal collection and recycling systems. Flexible plastic packaging waste and pollution is one of the three main barriers the group identified toward achieving a circular economy and curbing plastic pollution. While paper-based flexibles are not the sole solution, they are one that can be used alongside others, the report says.

ProAmpac Acquires TC Transcontinental Packaging

ProAmpac has completed its acquisition of TC Transcontinental Packaging (TCP) from TC Transcontinental, expanding its position in the global flexible packaging market. The transaction combines TCP’s manufacturing footprint and advanced coating capabilities with ProAmpac’s expertise in material science, sustainability and rapid product development. Together, the companies aim to develop new flexible and fiber-based packaging formats for global customers. “Today marks an exciting new chapter for ProAmpac, and we are proud to welcome TCP as an official member of the ProAmpac family,” said Greg Tucker, ProAmpac founder, vice chairman and chief executive officer. “Our organizations share a strong alignment in values, customer commitment and a culture rooted in innovation and operational excellence.” According to the company, integrating TCP’s technologies and workforce will accelerate the development of next-generation packaging formats, including barrier films, mono-material structures and fiber-based solutions designed for recyclable packaging applications.

How Women Leaders (Past & Present) Are Building a Sustainable Future for Print

As we celebrate Women’s History Month in 2026, the theme of “sustainability” — encompassing environmental, educational, and economic leadership — provides the perfect framework to recognize the remarkable women whose contributions have powered a viable printing industry while also championing women whose roles are currently shaping the future of print. Women in Print Alliance is honored to serve as the connective tissue to industry sustainability, bringing women from all roles, segments, and career levels together to network, develop and polish professional skills, and share dialogue on topics like business expertise, work-life balance, advocacy, and more.

How Costco is addressing tariff changes in early 2026

CEO Ron Vachris opened his address to investors on Costco’s fiscal Q2 earnings call by discussing tariff changes and potential refunds. “The future impact of tariffs remains extremely fluid as the recently eliminated IEEPA tariffs have now been replaced with new global tariffs for at least the next 150 days,” he said. “Our buyers continue to act with great agility and urgency, always with the goal of reducing the impact of tariff on prices for our members.” In its fiscal Q2, Costco lowered prices on what Vachris called “key items.” Those included eggs, cheese, coffee and some paper products as the retailer saw lower inflation on those commodities, he said. “We will continue to be a pricing authority and as some tariffs have been reduced, we are lowering prices on affected items such as certain textiles, bedding and cookware SKUs,” Vachris said.

Primark is retail’s ‘best kept secret.’ It’s ready to move beyond that.

The fashion retailer has a new CEO, is expanding in the U.S. and will soon open a flagship in New York City. It just wants you to know it exists. Primark is making moves. The fashion company last week appointed a CEO, Eoin Tonge, who had been acting as its interim for the past year. The Dublin-founded retailer also recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary in the U.S., has been expanding its nationwide presence with new locations in Texas, Illinois, Tennessee and Florida, and is eyeing a flagship store opening in New York City’s Herald Square this spring. Rene Federico, Primark’s U.S. head of marketing, is just ready for more people in this country to know about the company. “We talk about ourselves as the best kept secret in amazing retail,” she said in an interview with Retail Dive this fall. “We don’t want to be such a kept secret anymore.”

Early Bird Registration Ends Soon for Paper Meets LIVE! 2026

Early bird pricing for Paper Meets LIVE! 2026 ends March 13. This premier paper industry networking event focuses on programming and networking that will enhance and grow business relationships among our member business partners and facilitate important discussions on the unique challenges and opportunities of the U.S. paper products industry. Paper Meets LIVE! 2026, taking place May 12-14 at the Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida, is co-hosted by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and National Paper Trade Association (NPTA).

Import cargo volume falls year over year in January; trends down for H1

Imports at major U.S. container ports are expected to remain below prior year levels for the first half of 2026. U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.08 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) — one 20-foot container or its equivalent — in January 2026, although the ports of New York/New Jersey and Miami have not yet reported their data. That was up 3.8% from December 2025 but down 6.4% year over year. Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said it is too soon to gauge the impact of the conflict in Iran on import cargo volume. "The immediate impact on containerized traffic to the United States is not likely to be substantial since little U.S.-bound container cargo is sourced from the region," Hackett said. "While it is too early to measure in the monthly data, increasing oil and gasoline prices will inevitably drive structural inflation if the conflict persists. That, in turn, could squeeze consumer discretionary spending and U.S. manufacturing, and ultimately drive down import volumes in the longer term."

Spring’s the thing at the U.S.A.’s largest shopping center

The width and breadth of the 5 million-plus-square-foot Mall of America will ring with Spring Break promotions from the beginning of March through the middle of April. Breakers flow into MOA from Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin--as well as Minnesota—for six weeks. “Spring Break kicks off in the first week of March and extends to Easter because different towns celebrate the occasion on different weeks,” said Mall of America’s CMO Jill Renslow. “One unique thing is that the entire state of Iowa has the same week off, so we always note what week it is to be ready for the Iowans.”

Lumber and pulp markets show fragile stabilization

Recent results from forest products producers suggest that lumber and pulp markets remain under pressure but are beginning to show early signs of stabilization. North American lumber markets remained difficult through the final quarter of 2025. Elevated U.S. countervailing and anti-dumping duties continued to weigh on exports, while a 10% tariff introduced under Section 232 in October added further uncertainty for Canadian producers. Demand conditions also softened across offshore markets. China’s prolonged housing downturn continued to suppress lumber consumption, while Japan saw weaker demand linked to declining housing starts. In Europe, high log costs and constrained spruce supply limited purchasing activity despite seasonal inventory restocking. However, supply conditions began to tighten late in the quarter. Industry-wide sawmill curtailments announced in mid-December, combined with already low inventories, helped support modest gains in benchmark lumber prices as observed late in the fourth quarter. These improvements have carried into early 2026, although market participants remain cautious amid ongoing economic uncertainty and unresolved trade tensions between Canada and the United States. Pulp markets showed a similar pattern of weakness followed by tentative stabilization.

Foot Locker exec jumps to REI

Kim Waldmann is now chief commercial officer at the outdoor retailer, which also just brought on former Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario to its board. Last year was rough at REI, which axed its experiences business, announced store closures and lost a board vote to the REI Union. Eleven REI stores have unionized so far, and the retailer’s antiunion efforts have disappointed many customers. REI, like others in the space, is also grappling with sales declines and operating losses. This year, though, the company’s board seats were filled without controversy. In fact, REI’s board has welcomed a superstar to its ranks, with former Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario elected in February. In a statement posted to LinkedIn, Waldmann hailed REI for “its market leadership, trailblazing culture and member-first approach.” “I can’t wait to be a part of this exceptional and passionate team. Here is to helping all our members and more consumers find joy and adventure in the outdoors,” she said.

Adidas extends CEO’s contract amid record revenues

Bjørn Gulden has made “tremendous operational and financial progress,” according to the board. The retailer’s 2025 revenue reached 24.8 billion euros. On the back of strong Q4 and full-year earnings, Adidas has extended CEO Bjørn Gulden’s contract through the end of 2030. The vote of confidence comes three years after Gulden joined the retailer from rival Puma. “With his long-standing experience, his deep understanding of our industry, his strong leadership, and his clear focus on quality growth, Bjørn Gulden drove the successful turnaround of Adidas during the past three years”, Thomas Rabe, chairman of the supervisory board, said in a statement. “Under his leadership, Adidas has made tremendous operational and financial progress in a challenging environment, laying a strong foundation for further sustainable top- and bottom-line growth in the future.”

MIDLAND Features Exciting New Products at Dscoop Edge

See MIDLAND’s New Products in Action at Booth #776 in Aurora CO March 8-10, 2026 Innovative and sustainable, MIDLAND launches compelling new products which fulfill unmet needs in the market. MIDLAND’s booth #776 is a “must” on your list of companies to see at Dscoop Edge 2026. Stop by our booth and learn how these new products will give you a competitive advantage and boost your bottom line.

America’s second Sphere set to rise at National Harbor in the D.C. Metro

March 5, 2026
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A smaller-scale construction of the Sphere entertainment venue in Las Vegas may soon be taking shape across the Potomac River from the nation’s capital. Sphere Entertainment Co., the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County, and Peterson Companies recently announced their intent to develop a new Sphere venue at National Harbor, a premier destination in the Washington, D.C. Metro. It will be just the second Sphere in the U.S., and first to utilize a smaller-scale design model. It will hold 6,000 seats, making it about one-third the size of the Las Vegas Sphere.

Packaging Outlook 2026: Trends Driving Tomorrow’s Growth

Sustainability Reigns Supreme For Ryan Bennett, product manager at Minneapolis-based Meyers, a PRINTING United Alliance member company, sustainability is something customers are looking for. “It used to be, you stood out if you were a sustainability leader, but now it’s kind of the starting point,” Bennett says. “You have to start there and then innovate.” A Need for Speed Another trend shaping the packaging and label industry going into 2026 is the demand for shorter runs and quicker lead times. Bennett says more and more brands are adopting this mindset. “Industry standard for the printing industry is usually three weeks from PO, and people are doing anything to push that just to get to market quicker,” he says. “There’s a ton of stuff that drives that.” Managing the Supply Chain The supply chain has made headlines this year, with tariffs being threatened, levied, and reduced seemingly at random throughout 2025. But supply chain has been top of mind for converters for longer. Preparing for What’s to Come Looking forward, the biggest concern on Bennett’s mind is labor. “The one thing that we do see that is a challenge — not even next year, but going into the next decade — is the aging workforce,” he says. “The workforce for printing seems to be getting older and older.”

EU Circular Economy Act: Packaging organizations debate Single Market protection

Packaging industry groups call for the Circular Economy Act to strengthen the EU Single Market and harmonize circular packaging rules. The European Environmental Bureau warns that market priorities must not weaken national environmental measures or waste-reduction policies. Debate centers on recycling targets, prevention, reuse policies, and recycled-content rules as the EU shapes future circular economy legislation.

AAA Fuel Gauge Report

March 5, 2026
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Key Currency Exchange Rates

March 5, 2026
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Why ‘Always Be Closing’ Is Bad Advice

For years, sales advice has glorified the close. ABC. Always Be Closing. We’ve all seen the movie clip. And many leaders still ask for more closing techniques, better closing lines, stronger closing pressure. Here’s the problem: In complex print sales, closing is rarely the real issue. If your team isn’t winning as often as they should, the breakdown is almost always upstream. It’s in prospecting. It’s in discovery. And most often, it’s in qualification. When your team slows down and qualifies hard — around pain, budget, internal alignment, and decision structure — closing becomes the natural next step. It feels collaborative, not confrontational. Predictable, not pressured.

Abercrombie & Fitch has strong year; to open 30 new stores

Abercrombie & Fitch maintained its momentum in the fourth quarter fueled by another strong performance from Hollister, and marked its 13th consecutive quarter of growth. The apparel retailer hit a key milestone in 2025, surpassing the $5 billion sales mark for the first time. It also continued to expanding its footprint, growing square footage by 4% year over year. For 2026, Abercrombie expects sales gains of 3% to 5% operating margin in the range of 12% to 12.5%, and net income per share in the range of $10.20 to $11. The company ended the year with 829 stores, including 523 Hollister stores and 306 namesake stores.

Ross Q4 sales jump, cites ‘very strong start’ to spring season; to open 110 stores

Ross Stores Inc. ended its year on a high note with better-than-expected earnings and sales amid traffic gains, and provided an upbeat outlook. The off-price giant added 90 stores during fiscal 2025 (80 new Ross Dress for Less and 10 DD’s Discounts), including its first-ever locations in the New York Metro area and Puerto Rico. The retailer is picking up the pace slightly this year, with plans to open 110 new stores, including 85 Ross stores and 25 DD’s Discounts.

Done Deal: Levi Strauss completes sale of Dockers

Dockers is under new ownership. Levi Strauss & Co. said is has closed its sale of the Dockers brand to Authentic Brands Group. The $311 million deal was first announced in May 2025. “The completion of this transaction sharpens LS&Co.’s focus on the Levi’s brand and Beyond Yoga, simplifying the portfolio and strengthening the company’s structural profitability,” the denim giant stated. Under the terms of the agreement, Authentic Brands will own Dockers’ intellectual property. The company has signed a licensing agreement with its long-standing partner, Centric Brands, which will serve as the operating partner for Dockers across key categories in the U.S. and Canada.

New RoRo traffic in the port of Piteå reduces emissions-SCA

Starting on 1 October 2026, SCA will implement changes to its sea transport using RoRo vessels (Roll-on/Roll-off) by reducing speed, increasing vessel load factors, and adjusting how the ports in Umeå and Piteå are used. One effect of these changes is that emissions from the vessels will be reduced by approximately 40 percent. Today, the vessels operate three times per week – twice to Kiel and once to London and Rotterdam. Under the new structure, there will be two weekly departures: once per week to Kiel and once per week to London and Rotterdam. The change means that the vessels will operate at a slower speed of 11–12 knots, compared with the current approximately 15 knots. Furthermore, the vessels will have a significantly higher load factor for northbound cargo. Southbound cargo that does not fit will be transferred to other solutions.

Brands find a partner for reducing plastic, improving recyclability and strengthening climate performance – with MM Group.

Across the UK, regulatory frameworks, retailer expectations and science-based climate targets are motivating brands to view fossil-based materials in the rear-view mirror. Circularity – once a strategic ambition – has become a commercial and operational priority. MM Group is supporting this shift with recyclable monomaterial cartonboard solutions designed to function within established paper and board recycling systems. By reducing plastic content in complex laminates and barriers, these formats simplify material structures while maintaining required strength, stability and product protection. By increasing the percentage of recycled fibres in packaging’s material mix, designers further strengthens circular material flows, supporting responsible resource use at industrial scale.

Smurfit Westrock creates retail store made entirely from cardboard

Smurfit Westrock joined forces with Spanish fashion brand Ecoalf to create a store made from 100% paper and cardboard. Ecoalf specialises in turning materials such as plastic bottles, rejected industrial cotton and discarded fishing nets into clothing. The brand tasked Smurfit Westrock, which also has circularity at its core, to create a permanent retail store as inherently sustainable as the products on sale. The beautifully designed new shop, which is located in San Sebastián, Spain, features fully recyclable kraft paper walls and corrugated furniture produced in the Smurfit Westrock Sorpel and Cordovilla plants. It also runs on electricity from renewable energy sources. “We are very proud to open our first store built entirely from paper and cardboard. At Ecoalf, we work every day to minimize our impact on the planet, not only through the garments we design, but also through the spaces we create,” said Javier Goyeneche, Founder and President of Ecoalf.

Target sales fall as its ends ‘challenging’ year;’ new CEO cites ‘momentum’

Target Corp.’s sales slump continued in the fourth quarter amid falling revenue and store traffic even as its adjusted earnings easily topped forecasts. But the discounter, which is looking to turn things around new CEO Michael Fiddelke, gave an upbeat sales outlook and noted that its sales and traffic accelerated in the last two months of the quarter. Fiddelke, who took the reins of the company on Feb. 1, also struck a positive regarding the current quarter. “Target saw a healthy, positive sales increase in February, serving as an important milestone on our path back to growth this year, and reinforcing my confidence in the momentum we're building and the future we're creating together,” Fiddelke said.

Toyo Ink Europe launches low-migration UV inks for food packaging

Toyo Ink Europe, the European energy-curing inks division of Japan’s Artience Group, has introduced a complete lineup of UV curable inks consisting of low-migration and low-energy solutions designed for food-safe packaging. The solution was developed to meet migration limits as mandated under the German Printing Ink Ordinance (GIO). Toyo Ink aims to create innovations that exceed the key safety benchmarks in Europe before they become mandatory. “Toyo Ink Europe’s GIO-compliant inks combine low-migration chemistry with low-energy UV/LED curing to deliver strong, consistent color, excellent adhesion on flexible substrates, and low odour characteristics for food packaging,”

Retail brands want their tariff money back

Major apparel retailers are among those that have filed lawsuits specifically for refunds, with interest, related to IEEPA since the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments, per court filings reviewed by Retail Dive. Those companies include Kohls Inc., PacSun, J Crew Group, Uniqlo’s U.S. entity and Abercrombie and Fitch Trading Co.

Ahlstrom to Close Pulp Mill and Two Paper Machines at Former Consolidate Mill in Stevens Point Wisconsin

Ahlstrom on Feb. 27 filed a WARN letter with Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development stating that it plans to close the pulp mill and two paper machines — M2 and M3 — at its mill site located at 100 Main Street, Mosinee, Wisconsin. The closings will take place or begin starting on June 30, 2026. In the letter, Ahlstrom said, "We expect the closing of the Pulp Mill and the M2 and M3 paper machines to be permanent in nature. This closing will involve cessation of all operations and termination of the identified areas. The number of affected employees is approximately 21 salary and a significant number of hourly positions that will not be certain until after effects bargaining."

PCA CEO says $5.2B worth of investments will pay off in 2026

Packaging Corporation of America CEO Mark Kowlzan detailed the impact of investments over the last decade, where energy projects are set to occur, and his optimism for nearshoring. Packaging Corporation of America’s $5.2 billion worth of investments in its mills and box plants over the last decade — at a time when it says many competitors didn’t commit to such investments — is paying off now, said CEO Mark Kowlzan on Feb. 26 during the Bank of America Securities 2026 Global Agriculture and Materials Conference. “The industry hasn’t recapitalized at the rates that we have,” he said. Kowlzan said he predicted in 2018 that “if you were not prepared to take care of your own technical and engineering needs, your own capital spending needs, you would be out of business probably in 20 years,” he said. “That was, say, eight years ago. And look what’s happening to the industry.”

International Paper CEO pulls back the curtain on planned geographic split

International Paper wants to “liberate” its “two regional powerhouses” with the planned split into one North America and one Europe-focused company, CEO Andy Silvernail discussed Thursday morning at the Bank of America Securities 2026 Global Agriculture and Materials Conference. “When I joined the company, my goal was to turn this into exclusively a packaging business,” said Silvernail, who became CEO in 2024 following a background in private equity and other manufacturing and technology companies. IP accomplished that with the $1.5 billion sale last year of its global cellulose fibers business, he said. While IP has good positions in both the North America and EMEA markets, “they really don’t have anything to do with each other,” he said. “That really started my thinking around then they shouldn’t be together.”

Retail sales posted 3.7% growth in 2025

Holiday shopping and events such as Prime Day and Black Friday made up for lackluster spring and summer sales performance at retail, moving overall retail sales up by nearly 4%, according to a 2025 Recap Report from Colliers Retail Market Intelligence. Volume growth, however, softened meaningfully (often below 1%) due to increasingly cautious consumer behavior. Shopper reliance on promotions, credit card usage, and value channels “underscored a consumer who remained active — yet highly selective,” read the report. Consumers were guarding their pocketbooks last year. Foot traffic was highest at discount and dollars stores, with a 5% year-over-year rise to nearly 320 million visits.

How the Shelf Got Smarter and Our Jobs Got Easier

When you work in a Walmart store, you learn that every minute matters for customers wanting to get in and out quickly and for associates juggling dozens of tasks to keep things running smoothly. That’s why digital shelf labels, or DSLs, have been such a meaningful upgrade in our stores. Today, roughly 2,300 Walmart U.S. locations are already using digital shelf labels, and we expect this technology to be chain-wide within the next year. For our associates, that expansion can’t come soon enough.

Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia was proof that leadership might not always be something you choose

Even if you don’t sign up for the position, you still might have to take the leadership seat. The recent passing of Bob Weir, The Grateful Dead’s longtime rhythm guitarist and songwriter, sparked a conversation on leadership in a recent gathering. Although Weir held the band together for decades, his death inevitably turned the discussion to the shadow he often stood in—that of the band’s creative center, Jerry Garcia. Garcia was the band’s natural leader. However, he never wanted or took that seat. (A move I certainly can relate to, but that’s another column for another day.) A strong distaste for authority and decision-making meant leadership in a vacuum. That meant organizational dysfunction, financial chaos, a lack of direction, and other fundamental issues. This was all despite making music that has endured for decades and inspired future generations. Garcia’s problems aren’t unlike the problems many leaders today face. Leadership may be something you didn’t ask for. But sometimes, you have to face the music.

Direct Mail Elevation and the Art of Interruption

Have you ever had a piece of direct mail in your hands, maybe for a campaign that you did for a customer, or simply received at home, that really stopped you in your tracks? Maybe it made you notice it for some physical quality. Or a blazing headline across the front. Or even a clever use of marketing technology. That’s the power of interruption, that voice in your head that says, “Hold up, I’ll get my kid from soccer practice in a second. Let’s see what’s in this envelope.” Our routines and conversations, whether we have them with others or ourselves, can be interrupted by anything. A barking dog, a crying baby, a smoke alarm — or a well-crafted direct mail piece. The challenge is how to interrupt. Even in a less-crowded mailbox, it’s not enough to simply show up and hope to be noticed.

Sheridan Launches Digital Select™ — The Next Era of Flexible Short-Run Printing

Sheridan, a leading provider of print and publishing solutions, announced the launch of Digital Select™, its proprietary next-generation print-on-demand (POD) solution designed to give publishers greater flexibility in short-run and ultra-short-run production. Powered by Sheridan Select™, Sheridan’s proprietary automated central print management system, Digital Select™ enables publishers to print from 1 to 2,500 copies with expedited turnaround times, professional-grade quality, and dedicated service support. As publishers continue shifting toward zero-inventory and digital-first strategies, the need for flexible, reliable short-run production has grown. Digital Select addresses that need by allowing publishers to print exactly what they need, when they need it — reducing warehousing costs, minimizing forecasting risk, and keeping titles continuously available.

3D printing investment enhances Amcor’s global design capabilities

Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, has installed a state-of-the-art additive manufacturing system, also known as 3D printing, at its Innovation Center in Barcelona, Spain. Part of Amcor’s Rigid Packaging Division, the center will leverage this advanced technology to accelerate design and development. This latest investment means that all five of Amcor’s centers for rigid packaging solutions – which in addition to Barcelona are located in Muttenz, Switzerland, Evansville and Manchester in the USA, and Shanghai, China – now have 3D printing facilities. This will enable the centers to cooperate globally in the design and delivery of consumer- and patient-centric rigid packaging across a wide range of markets, including health, beauty and wellness, nutrition and food & drink. 3D printing allows creative concepts and subsequent CAD drawings to be quickly turned into physical models and prototypes from which important assessments can be made in areas such as aesthetics, functionality and ease of manufacture. Sample packs can also be produced for initial consumer research and feedback. This can greatly speed up the development process, enabling packs to be brought to market quickly and cost-effectively.

QUAD Postal, Paper & Logistics update: February 2026

In brief: Losses deepened at the U.S. Postal Service in the first quarter of FY 2026. Severe winter storms have tightened freight capacity across multiple U.S. states, and a threat to delay the opening of an important new bridge connecting Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, is injecting additional uncertainty into the logistics industry. Paper companies continue to raise prices amid production declines, while paper availability is also being affected by winter storms. Tariffs under the Trump administration continue to evolve following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision invalidating the administration’s emergency tariffs.