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California’s extended producer responsibility for packaging requirements under SB 54 are becoming a closer reality. One of the upcoming milestones will be a producer responsibility organization-wide target for reducing overall weight and number of plastic components by 10% come Jan. 1, 2027. Producers’ individual source reduction plans based on 2023 data were due to producer responsibility organization Circular Action Alliance in early August, outlining a path forward via some combination of eliminating material, implementing reuse and refill, lightweighting, substituting materials or incorporating PCR.

Recent linerboard price increases have heightened questions among corrugated packaging buyers and suppliers about how well existing contract adjustment mechanisms reflect the cost of producing a finished box. They have also reinforced the need for reliable alternatives for parties that want to structure their agreements utilizing a more complete methodology. Corrugated contracts in the U.S. have historically often used linerboard indices as the basis for price adjustments. While this may make economic sense previously, the industry is now much more integrated with several players approaching 100% during parts of the cycle. Moreover, we hear from both customers and buyers that they desire an alternative index to provide choice in the marketplace, and options to develop creative and efficient ways to do business. Read more for details on this subject.

Asahi invests in localizing the brewing of its fast-growing Super Dry lager by acquiring Octopi Brewing in Wisconsin and installing a brand new 20,000 bpm bottling line. Asahi invests in localizing the brewing of its fast-growing Super Dry lager by acquiring Octopi Brewing in Wisconsin and installing a brand new 20,000 bpm bottling line.

Packaging design increasingly tied to compliance. For converters — and the material suppliers that support them — EPR is extending compliance considerations further into the design process. California’s SB 54 establishes an EPR program for packaging and single-use plastic food service ware. By 2032, plastic covered material must be reduced by 25% from the 2023 baseline, covered material must be recyclable or eligible to be labelled compostable, and plastic covered material must achieve a 65% recycling rate. California’s regulations also provide for eco-modulated producer fees, creating a mechanism through which packaging characteristics and end-of-life performance can influence producer costs. For converters, that increases the importance of understanding how substrates, labels, adhesives, inks and other packaging components may affect recyclability.

It’s not just about drawing eyes; it’s about getting attention for the right reason. Walk into any supermarket and you will see hundreds of packages competing within a few feet of one another. For years, the industry has treated this as an attention problem. Make the logo bigger. Use a brighter color. Break the category codes. Create something unexpected. The logic seems obvious. If people do not notice you, they cannot choose you. But neuroscience suggests we may be starting with the wrong problem. A fascinating take on packaging design read more at this link- The Packaging Industry is Obsessed with the Wrong ThingIt’s not just about drawing eyes; it’s about getting attention for the right reason. Walk into any supermarket and you will see hundreds of packages competing within a few feet of one another. For years, the industry has treated this as an attention problem. Make the logo bigger. Use a brighter color. Break the category codes. Create something unexpected. The logic seems obvious. If people do not notice you, they cannot choose you. But neuroscience suggests we may be starting with the wrong problem. A fascinating take on packaging design read more at this link- The Packaging Industry is Obsessed with the Wrong Thing

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) today shared a new report on consumers’ comprehension of and response to recycling and disposal labels. The survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers found that disposal decisions are often driven by habits, but bold on-pack instructions can prompt more deliberate action. With 84% of consumers recognizing at least one label in the How2Recycle® labeling suite, North America’s most widely recognized recyclability labeling system offers a strong foundation for helping consumers dispose of packaging correctly. SPC research on How2Recycle labels comes at a pivotal moment for producers across the U.S. As California’s SB 343 “Truth in Labeling” law is set to come into effect on October 4, 2026, and new reports show a decrease in recycling capture rates across the country, the report gives producers clear context on how labeling and on-pack communications can help consumers get materials into the right stream.