UPM Raflatac’s Forest Film™ label material has received the 2020 Innovation in Responsible Sourcing Award from the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC). The announcement came on Wednesday, September 30, at the SPC Innovator Awards ceremony as part of this year’s SPC Advance virtual event. Forest Film is the world’s first polypropylene film label material derived entirely from wood-based sources based on mass balance approach and brings UPM Raflatac’s vision of “labeling a smarter future beyond fossils” to life. "Forest Film deserves attention for being a notable introduction of bio-based polypropylene with a well understood feedstock and an assurance mechanism for responsible sourcing,” says Adam Gendell, Associate Director of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. "It is a significant advancement in the field of bio-based plastics, and we feel it's earned its status as the winner of Innovation in Responsible Sourcing in the 2020 SPC Innovator Awards.”

Flint Group, a global leader in inks, coatings, digital printing equipment, and service solutions for packaging, announces its rebrand to Flint Group Packaging Solutions. This rebrand reflects an important step in the company’s strategic evolution, reinforcing its commitment to the growing and diverse packaging sector. Pepyn Dinandt, CEO Flint Group Packaging Solutions, said: “We are seeing a market evolution across substrates, packaging formats, and coatings to enhance recyclability while replacing complex structures. As a true platform supplier, we are committed to leading with innovation, sustainability, and service, delivering solutions that meet the needs of packaging printers and brand owners today and in the future.”

A new infographic from the Flexible Packaging Association highlights how flexible packaging can help keep food fresher and prevent food waste. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 40% of food is not consumed. The annual amount of food waste is 36 million tons, which is worth $162 billion.