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Beyond Burger, Amazon UAE, and Colgate-Palmolive Design Recyclable Packaging

See a few examples of packaging designed for recyclability from Beyond Burger, Amazon UAE, and Colgate-Palmolive from ThePackHub’s Innovation Zone.

November 21, 2025

The updated packaging incorporates a tray composed of 35% recycled plastic and is designed to enhance recyclability.

USPP Clarifies Physical and Chemical Recycling’s Place in Circularity

The U.S. Plastics Pact defines where physical and chemical recycling fit and the safeguards needed to ensure it complements, rather than replaces, mechanical systems.

November 20, 2025

USPP’s new position paper outlines when physical or chemical recycling are appropriate, why mechanical recycling remains the priority, and what safeguards are needed to protect communities and support true circularity.

Digital Transformation

How These Two CPGs Boosted OEE and Speed With Digital Twins

A beverage line saw downtime drop 52% and OEE rise 14%. Another CPG cut NPI timelines by 32 weeks. Real-world case studies show digital twins are paying off fast for packaging teams.

November 20, 2025

A canned beverage manufacturer used a digital twin of its case and tray packing line to diagnose a persistent “yo-yo effect” fault. By testing virtually instead of on the live line, the team accelerated troubleshooting 10×, reduced downtime by 52%, and improved OEE by 14%.

Digital Transformation

Live from Automation Fair: What CPGs Should Ask OEMs About Digital Twins

More brands are writing digital twin requirements into RFQs. Here’s what they should be asking OEMs before the first design review.

November 19, 2025

Dwayne Negron, digital twin capability manager at Kalypso, a Rockwell business, noted that more end users are “bringing in digital twin requirements on first pass to their contracts.

Digital Transformation

Live from Automation Fair: Making the Case for Packaging Line Modernization

To win support for modernization, CPGs have to shift the conversation from replacing aging equipment to delivering measurable value in labor productivity, operational performance, sustainability, and future adaptability.

November 19, 2025

Jerry Plessing (left) digital solutions architect, and Lance Fountaine, CPG industry consultant (formerly with Cargill), presented Rockwell's vision for selling packaging line modernization up through your orgnaizaiton.

Sustainable Packaging

CPGs Reduce Packaging Weight by 5 MMt Since 2019, Report Finds

A joint industry report finds that companies are reducing packaging weight through lightweighting, redesigns, and material shifts while balancing recyclability goals and product protection.

November 14, 2025

Lightweighting continues to drive measurable progress in packaging reduction. Coca-Cola’s redesigned bottles, shown here across several brands, lower PET weight from 21 g to 18.5 g for key sizes, a 12% reduction expected to cut PET use by 3 megatons by 2025.

CPGs Experience Trade-offs in the Name of Sustainable Packaging

Higher production costs, diminished product quality, and lessened product production are some of the challenges CPGs say come with sustainable packaging shifts.

November 14, 2025

Screenshot 2025 11 14 At 12 00 02 Pm

Coca-Cola, Patrón, and Mondi Design Packaging with Reduced Materials

See a few examples of packaging designed with reduced materials from Coca-Cola, Patrón, and Mondi from ThePackHub’s Innovation Zone.

November 14, 2025

Instead of shrink film, the bottles are held together using strategically placed adhesive dots, paired with a recyclable cardboard handle for carrying.

Contract packaging

Paket Goes From Filling Shop to Full-Service CDMO

Family firm cites QC lab, adaptability in growth supporting personal care brands.

November 13, 2025

The CDMO can manufacture and package beauty, personal care, and other non-food products in sample packs, tubes, pouches, and other formats.

Column: With Recycling at an Inflection Point, CPGs to Shape What Comes Next

The Recycling Partnership

The Recycling Partnership founder Keefe Harrison says that as new EPR laws reshape recycling, CPGs stand at a crossroads. By designing for recyclability, demanding recycled content, and investing in infrastructure, brands can transform a fragmented system into one that works, and one that lasts.

November 13, 2025

Sortation on a belt at a material recovery facility (MRF).

Three Insights on Operator Training from CPG Leaders

Three CPG leaders shared about their efforts to upskill and empower operators, and how OEMs can better support that journey, at PMMI's Annual Meeting Tuesday.

November 13, 2025

CPG leaders offered their own strategies to empower operators at PMMI's Annual Meeting.

Contract packaging

What Are You Waiting For?

Remember who succeeded during COVID? Take advantage of your time during slowdowns to seize opportunities that others may also be taking.

November 13, 2025

Robby Martin Photo

Controls & Machine Components

Linear Transport System Syncs 120 Axes for Ultra-Fast Capping

A new cap applicator from Tetra Pak uses the Beckhoff XTS linear servo transport system to deliver 25,000 precisely sealed cartons per hour, tripling output over conventional portion-package cappers that run at 9,000/hour, while combining digital control with flexible, high-speed motion.

November 12, 2025

Tetra Pak® test packs with plastic caps glued on.

Bagging & Pouching

Wada Farms, Walmart Roll Out 30% PCR Potato Bag

This partnership between Walmart, Wada Farms, and Emerald Packaging places food-contact recycled film in the retail produce aisle.

November 11, 2025

Wada Farms’ new 30% post-consumer recycled potato bag for Walmart is the first known food-contact PCR film in the retail potato market.

Recycling Falters as Companies Retreat from Plastic-Waste Pledges

An article from Chemical & Engineering News reveals how weak markets for recycled plastic are undermining both corporate pledges and recycler viability.

November 11, 2025

As Chemical & Engineering News details, declining demand and fragile markets are threatening the economics of plastic recycling.

P&G, General Mills Step Up to Make Flexible Film Recycling Economically Viable

General Mills and P&G outline how brand owners are going beyond EPR compliance by subsidizing film recovery via USFFI and CalFFlex, investing in new technology, and collaborating with converters to build the infrastructure flexible packaging needs for true circularity.

November 10, 2025

(From left) David Love, EVP & chief strategy officer, Printpack (FPA member and moderator); Pat Keenan, packaging R&D, sustainability, General Mills; and Teo Medellin, director of corporate packaging sustainability, Procter & Gamble.

Henkel, Amcor, and a collaboration of German companies design recyclable packaging

See a few examples of recyclable packaging from Henkel, Amcor, and a collaboration of German companies from ThePackHub’s Innovation Zone.

November 10, 2025

The relaunch converts shower gel bottles and deodorant variants to include recycled materials.

EPR at the Intersection Between Brands and Flexible Packaging Converters

As extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws take hold across the U.S., the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) is helping producers navigate their new obligations. Converters, though not obligated as “producers” under these laws, play a crucial supporting role, providing the data and packaging intelligence brands need to comply and reduce fees.

November 7, 2025

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