Featured discussions

Anne Marie MohanSenior Editor

Sep 3rd, 2009

What’s the difference between biodegradable and compostable?
“Kittw04,” Designer

Please explain the difference between biodegradable and compostable materials. I have read through several definitions but am still not quite clear on it. Both seem to end up with CO2, H2O, and biomass, while biodegradable will be degraded by microorganisms. But some compostable material might be involved with microorganisms as well. Is this right? Please share some examples of materials in these groups. Many thanks! Read 12 responses to this question: greenerpackage.com/node/1405

PVC vs. PET
“Jwill,” Vice President of Operations, Chef’s Requested Foods, Packager

Can someone tell me which is a more sustainable package? PVC or PET? Read 7 responses to this question: greenerpackage.com/node/1265

What package upcycling are you doing?
“EcoArtist,” Art Director and EcoArtist

I think package design is a great opportunity to see beyond the first life for the initial product and create a second life after use to upcycle it into something else. I have been upcycling packaging into art and now realize the potential of packaging. It doesn’t have to be an addition to the landfill or recycle plant. What is your company doing to upcycle your packaging? Respond to this question: greenerpackage.com/node/1447

Greener Corp.

The Steeped Coffee Method requires only hot water to prepare a single serving of coffee.

Tea Bag-Style Coffee Pack is ‘Steeped’ in Sustainability

Premium coffee producer Mr. Espresso enters the single-serve market with a tea bag-style product from Steeped that uses plant-based, compostable materials for the bag and outer film sachet.

Dr. R. Andrew Hurley

Taking the Fifth (Panel): Create an Invitation to Engage

Using a fifth-panel carton allows for more space to educate consumers on your product and provides an interactive, sensory experience that can send a powerful message about your brand.

Matt 6:11 Pw Title

Cybersecurity Risks Mount While Bag-in-Box Gives Brewers “Cider Security”

In this two-part Take Five, we first take a look at mounting risks around cybersecurity, then switch gears to look at a rising bag-in-box trend among intentionally flat beers and ciders.

Ball Aluminum Cup™ Expands Rollout to Retailers in 50 States

Ball Aluminum Cup™ Expands Rollout to Retailers in 50 States

After debuting the first-of-its-kind aluminum cup at major sports and entertainment venues, Ball recently expanded availability of the 100% recyclable product nationwide.

Wyld Cannabis-Infused Gummies feature a clean botanical look with bright inner carton and child-resistant jar.

2021 Healthcare Packaging Design Gallery

This year’s gallery featured many calming and minimalist aesthetics, signifying a consumer looking for relief at home and work—outside of the clinical setting.

Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots

Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots

Looking for automation solutions for packaging and palletizing? This is your destination for all things cobot. Whether it’s webinars, video case studies or product information, you’ll find it all in this one spot.

PepsiCo develops ecommerce-only packages, such as this Doritos 3D variety pack, for some products.

PepsiCo's E-commerce Investments Pay Off in Wake of COVID-19

PepsiCo’s head of global ecommerce shares how its earlier investments in ecommerce helped the CPG giant handle a surge in orders across online channels as consumers shifted to online shopping because of the pandemic.

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Beverage Suppliers Facing Post-COVID Challenges and Opportunities

Consumer demand is pushing SKU expansion and innovative new product opportunities for beverage manufacturers, but supply chain disruption has also created challenges.

At MWC, Fanuc robots are used to place the packaged 40-lb blocks of cheese onto pallets before they go through a stretch wrapper and are taken to the warehouse.

MWC’s Robot Configurations Provide Flexibility

Robotics come into play in the cheesemaker's palletizing operations. But for the most part, that level of complexity isn't needed in a facility producing such consistent product types and sizes. What's needed more is simplified automation.

There are some common challenges when launching a new food or beverage product.

Accelerating Speed to Market for New Food and Beverage Product Ideas

There are some common challenges when moving a new food or beverage product from idea to reality, and some considerations such as packaging and sustainability that are an integral part of the process.

Branding Lessons from Vital Farms’ Fantastic Egg Carton

Packaging is your product’s greatest salesperson. On today's Take Five video, see how ethical food company Vital Farms uses attention-grabbing graphics, sustainable packaging materials, and clever consumer communication tools to elevate its egg packaging.

Unique FlipGuard™ dispensing closure delivers branding and safety

Unique FlipGuard™ dispensing closure delivers branding and safety

Consumers want secure, convenient and smooth dispensing for sauces, dressings and condiments. Berry's new FlipGuard flip-top dispenser's unique design includes a tamper-evident strip and more.

Most beverage sales are coming from Asia Pacific, North America, and Western Europe.

Beverage Trends Driving Change in 2021

Changing consumer demands mean beverage manufacturers have to adjust their offerings to satisfy the desire for functional, healthy beverages, while also offering sustainable or convenience packaging.

The Honey Almond bar hits shelves in a paper-based flow wrap packaged on Syntegon’s HRM horizontal form-fill-seal machine.

Mars Wrigley Develops, Tests Paper-based Packaging for Balisto Chocolate Bar

As brands eye fast-approaching, self-imposed sustainability deadlines, watch for interesting pilot projects to roll out. This European paper-based flow pack from Mars Wrigley's Balisto brand of snacks was developed with Syntegon.

Budweiser’s three new limited-edition cans celebrate American freedom, featuring a red, white, and blue design emblazoned with stars and stripes.

Budweiser Busts out Patriotic Cans for ‘Historic Summer’

Beer giant kicks off the summer season with three limited-edition can designs that celebrate American freedom, with a portion of sales being donated to non-profit Folds of Honor.

The Massman Automation compact cheese block case packer packages 40-lb. blocks in protective cases for safe shipment and handling.

New Case Packer, Robotic Palletizer, Let Wisconsin Cheesemaker Efficiently Offer Multiple Output Options

With a new automated case packer and palletizer, Wisconsin Whey Protein’s cheesemaking operation can now offer its customers bulk cheese in barrels or in blocks.

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Is Your Supply Chain a Key Part of Your Brand Sustainability Plan?

According to speakers at Natural Products Expo West, one of the most powerful tools a company has to reduce their climate impact is to engage their supply chain.

The new lid has a snap feature that holds it tightly in place because a robotic arm grabs the tubs by the lid at the vaccine filling plant.

Rapid-Response Packaging Development Aids Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines and Test Kits

Trays, inserts, tubs, and lids were developed in mere days, compared to the traditional weeks or months. The companies had to navigate shortages in resin supply due to COVID-19 and Texas storms.

Pharma Packaging Spotlight: Mechanical Testing for Passive Thermal Coolers

In this Take Five report on ISTA’s TempPack, Healthcare Packaging editor Keren Sookne discusses damage and acceptance criteria guidance, payload selection, actual product versus placebo, testing multiple product configurations, and more.

Beginning in June, Beiersdorf’s Nivea Naturally Good face care product range will be on the shelves in about 30 countries around the world in packaging made from this renewable polypropylene.

New Nivea Jars are Made from Bio-based Forestry Byproduct

Beiersdorf debuts polypropylene jars for its Nivea face cream that are made from tall oil—a byproduct of the forestry industry—to create petroleum-free, certified renewable plastic packaging.

More in Home

The electron beam coating and laminating system is one of several strategic investments in machines, methods, and materials that AccuFlex opted for as a way of scoring sustainable packaging points.

Digital Printing, E-beam Coating, and More

Now nearing the end of its first year in business, AccuFlex is leveraging digital printing, e-beam coating, Color-Logic software, and both films and zippers that are compostable

Jason Blake, Chief Sustainability Officer for PepsiCo Beverages North America

PepsiCo’s Jason Blake Drives Sustainability Agenda

Jason Blake, Chief Sustainability Officer for PepsiCo Beverages North America, shares how the company is incorporating sustainability in every area, with a focus on innovations in packaging that will help the company reach its carbon reduction goals.

IoPP Announces Winners of the 2021 Packaging Education Scholarship Fund

Each year, the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) awards over $10,000 in scholarships to students studying packaging or a related field.

E-comm Brands Adopt Durable Bottles with Subscription-Based Refill Format

In effort to improve sustainability profiles and avoid the no-no of ‘shipping water,’ many new D2C brands are adopting a durable pack starter kit format that is then replenished by light or concentrated replenishment. Learn more in this Take Five video.

On the Rocks Product Line

Business is Booming for On the Rocks Ready-to-Drink Cocktail Brand

Spirits-based is one of the fastest growing segments of the US ready-to-drink market, and the OTR premium RTD brand doubled its sales in the first half of 2020.

The stand-cap pouch format clearly differentiates this new honey package.

Stand-cap Pouch Makes 16-oz Honey Pack Stand Out

Nature Nate’s raw and unfiltered honey is now available in a 16-oz no-drip, no-mess, stand-cap pouch, offering consumers an easy-to-squeeze way to enjoy every drop of honey in the container.

The Peach Body Care refill system comes in plastic-free, refillable body lotion and body balm stick formats that utilize clean and vegan formulas with 100% natural fragrances.

Plastic-Free Deodorant & Body Care Refill System Launched

A reusable aluminum case from Grove Collaborative is refilled with deodorant and body care balm sticks, also packaged in aluminum.

A material change allows for a 20% reduction in material usage for HDPE Advil bottles while maintaining all critical performance characteristics of the bottle.

GSK’s Head of Sustainability on Advil Bottles’ 20% Plastic Reduction

The new material will reduce the amount of plastic in the environment by nearly 500,000 pounds. Sarah McDonald: “It was about seven years of work behind the scenes together with our partners on the materials side and on the manufacturing molding side.”

Join us to watch this panel discussion on Sustainable Packaging, recorded live from last week’s digital Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network Leaders in Sustainability Conference.

Plant-based Food Companies Weigh In on Sustainable Packaging, New Materials, and Carbon Footprint

With sustainability a top concern for their consumers, these plant-based food leaders take packaging innovation seriously. Mike Loquercio, a VP at Greenleaf Foods, and Kailey Donewald, founder of Sacred Serve gelato, join PW's Matt Reynolds to discuss.

Two finished jar formations are gripped by an F2 robot and placed into cases.

Robotic Case Packers Improve Output by 20%

German food producer Kühne realizes increased OEE for eight glass packaging formats through new case packers’ faster machine changeover and digital data gathering and networking capabilities.

Unilever will share the technology behind its recyclable toothpaste tube.

Unilever Will Launch Recyclable Toothpaste Tube

The Pet Sustainability Coalition(PSC), recently saw initial success with its Flex Forward pilot and is now entering a second phase.

Flex Forward Offers Pet Food Industry Recycling Solutions for Flexible Packaging

A “Return to Retail” pilot for pet food flexible packaging had an unexpected benefit for store owners.