On 5 June, the European Commission published a Commission Notice providing further clarity about the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation in practice. We take a closer look at the document to understand its requirements in detail, including the current status of PFAS restrictions, the…
In this Innovation Spotlight, Dow outlines how its extrusion coating portfolio aims to support recyclability requirements and regulatory readiness, and how its collaboration with RDM Group demonstrates how lightweight polymer coatings can extend the use of fibre-based packaging into applications…
In recent years, dissolvable packaging has been emerging across multiple industries including food, retail and personal care. In this edition of The Brief, we take a closer look at its current uses, some of the benefits and challenges involved and consider its potential future applications.
Is stigma around periods fueling the rise in menstrual product packaging waste? Are we over-packaging single-use solutions? Could a transition into reusable products help, or is the answer more complicated? We answer all these questions in this edition of the Brief.
Packaging design has never operated in isolation, but in 2025 the pressure to get it right is sharper than ever. Sustainability targets are tightening, budgets are under scrutiny, and consumers are better informed. So, how can companies get it right? Smurfit Westrock’s Lisa Cain tells us…
Have researchers from the University of Tartu, Riga Technical University, and the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry discovered the secret to successful plastic bag restrictions: retailers? In this edition of the Brief, we consult their breakdown of plastic policies in twelve global…
At the end of 2022, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) began an initiative titled the ‘Reuse Roadmap 2030 for Supermarkets’ involving various supermarkets and organisations. In this edition of The Brief, we outline the main pathways identified by the participants and…
After 40% of General Mills shareholders voted in favour of a sustainable packaging progress report, only for the move to be written off as ‘unnecessary’, we ask the question: how far can investors really influence a company’s sustainable packaging practices? We weigh up the options and their…
In this edition of The Brief, we investigate what ‘shrinkflation’ means, why it happens, and how it affects the packaging industry. Shrinkflation is generally defined as when the size or quantity of a product is reduced, but the price remains the same. We’ll look at why businesses might make these…
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is now in force, but does it address your biggest concerns? In this edition of the Brief, we break down the official text to discover how well it aligns with industry feedback – and what it means for you in the coming years.
Since the PPWR was finalised last year, we’ve received a number of questions from our audience on its implications. We put your questions on exemptions, specificity of language, recyclate, reuse, and more to Marius Tent – a leading PPWR expert and the founder of ViaPackaging UG and 360PackMastery.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently published a report setting out its strategies and policy recommendations for industrial electrification in Europe. In this edition of the Brief, we take a look at the proposed strategies and policies and the key challenges that could potentially impede the…
On the heels of our previous investigation into fast-fashion packaging, we turn our attention to online marketplaces. What is the outlook on sustainable packaging in consumer-to-consumer sales, and can it ever be fully enforced? If so, who is responsible – the sellers or the platforms? We ask all…
Plastic production in Africa has surged from 15 million tonnes to 350+ million tonnes in the past 50 years – most of which ends up in landfills and dumpsites. In this report, we take a look at how tackling packaging waste in African countries could help to improve living and environmental standards.
