Packaging World celebrates 25 years

Packaging World magazine's quarter century milestone offers an opportunity to look back at the pivotal events that brought us to the current day.

Jan 2nd, 2019

Packaging World has been producing information for packaging professionals, bringing together solution providers and end-users and facilitating connectivity throughout the supply chain since 1994. See how PW and parent company, PMMI Media Group, have evolved over the years via the timeline below. Or, if you prefer, download our Infographic here »

Packaging technology and package designs have changed so much in 25 years; here's a sample of how far we've come:

Then and now: Loop’s reusable packaging vision began a decade ago »

Then and now: 25 years of juice bottle–and handle–evolution »

Then and now: E-commerce's infancy ... Remember when Amazon only sold books and music? »

Then and now: Precursor to craft beer's can-labeling trend »

Then and now: Familiar face pioneered servos »

Then and now: Handled PET containers remain an area of interest »

Then and now: Pallet pattern optimization software emerges »

Then and now: Caps and closures get smart »

Cartons are stacked in a branded, standalone corrugated POS display positioned near the cooler.

Reusable Egg Carton in Pilot

Humane egg brand Pete and Gerry’s Organics offers durable PP egg cartons that consumers can fill with loose eggs in a pilot for a reusable packaging scheme.

EXPO PACK México Canceled Amid COVID-19 Concerns

EXPO PACK México Canceled Amid COVID-19 Concerns

The CVP Impack, formerly the CVP-500, can create custom-fit boxes for single or multiple-item orders at a rate of one box per every seven seconds.

E-Tailer Reduces Packaging with Fit-to-Size Auto-Boxer

Outdoor lifestyle brand IFG enhances order packing efficiency with two new automatic box-making machines that reduce corrugated by 39,000 cu ft/year and increase packing speeds 15-fold.

UnPACKED with PMMI podcast: CPGs need to face fears over remote monitoring.

OEM COVID-19 #6: Overcoming Hesitations Around Remote Access

UnPACKED with PMMI podcast shines a light on the safe use of remote monitoring

COVID-19 Survey: Production Demand Is Up, But Processors Lack PPE

Despite current media coverage, most plant floor workers are not getting hazard pay; many feel frightened.

Market Snapshot: Frozen Food

Growth of frozen food market declined overall, but trends towards plant-based ice cream and healthy options for pizza and frozen entrees are leading growth areas, while flexible packaging gains ground as a packaging format.

Supermarket retail shelves could barely remain in stock in the first days of the crisis. Meanwhile, bulk product for foodservice, bars, and restaurants has suffered.

COVID-19 Survey: Foodservice/Retail Imbalance Roils CPG Industry

Some CPG and food/bev manufacturer respondents to PW's survey on COVID-19 can barely keep up with demand. Others lost huge customers overnight. Meanwhile, everyone shares workforce safety and labor concerns.

The 'humanization' of our pets (seeking the fresh and natural ingredients you want for yourself) is a trend driving new product and packaging formats.

Pet Food Manufacturers Look to OEMs and Contract Packagers to Stay Competitive

A new report from PMMI Business Intelligence tracks drivers in pet food market. Dog and cat food manufacturers require more versatile machinery and scalability to meet future demand, as well as co-packers and manufacturers to control capital expenditures.

Mark O'Malley, President, CPA -- The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers

CPA in 2020: ‘Dynamic and Active’

CPA President Mark O’Malley shares news on the association’s recent Annual Meeting as well as on upcoming initiatives and opportunities for members.

The Delkor Cabrio Case&circledR;, used here for Trolli candy, provides reliable product protection in transit and converts to a shelf-ready display without ragged edges.

5 Drivers of the Retail-Ready Packaging Market

Among them, advantages of RRP for retail, suitability for use in c-stores and discount stores, and brand interactivity.

Recreational and medical cannabis deemed essential to cope with 'stay-at-home' orders.

Cannabis and the Coronavirus

Medical and recreational cannabis growers and retailers deemed essential services to help Americans cope with “stay-at-home” orders.

Near the end of the new canning line sits a tray packer that receives six-count cartons from an upstream cartoner and packs them into corrugated trays four per tray.

Texas Brewer Upgrades Bottling and Adds Cans

Installation of a canning line became a top priority as Altstadt Brewery opened new markets in Houston and Dallas. Also getting some serious upgrades was an existing bottling line.

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Without Wholesale Venues, Brands Reaching Out to Consumer

Social media, e-commerce and donations to those in need are various ways brands are trying to directly reach consumers in light of COVID-19 cancellations and closures.

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COVID-19 Survey: Early Results Reflect CPGs' Current Resolve, Future Uncertainty

Responses indicate that companies producing packaged goods tend to be “So far, so good, all things considered” as one phrased it, and supply chains remain intact. But when asked to forecast into the future, there's far less consensus.

Each package of 15 compostable bags costs $4.95.

Compostable Steam Bags

UK-based Planit Products, owner of the Toasta bags brand, has added renewable and compostable film to its portfolio for its new microwavable steam bags, sold in retail outlets in the UK.

Concerns over the long-term impact of the coronavirus outbreak on key European recycling markets sharply escalated last week following the adoption of further containment measures across the continent.

European Recycling Markets Reel from Coronavirus

Changes in consumer behavior, the reduced cost of virgin materials, logistics disruptions and other trends driven by COVID-19 may have a lasting effect on the European recycling industry.

Anne Marie Mohan, Editor, Contract Packaging magazine

CBD: Cooperation to Outdo Competition

At the CPA 2020 Annual Meeting, Bruce Bernstein, President of UBIX Processing, talks about the opportunities for CPGs and contract packagers in the growing CBD market.

An Appeal to Support Our Essential Services and Critical Infrastructure Workers

The COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be a tremendous global challenge that we must work together to defeat. Now, our essential and critical workers are being relied upon to provide the services we expect every day and we must do everything to support them.

PACK EXPO Rewind: Risk Assessment

Hear PMMI’s Bruce Main, Safety Expert and Technical Advisor, and Sean Riley, Senior Director of Media & Industry Communications discussion of risk assessment at PACK EXPO East earlier this month.

According to PMMI Business Intelligence, a move to smaller dogs is driving a change to smaller packaging formats.

Pet Food Market Shows Solid Growth through 2025

The U.S. leads the world in pet food sales, says a new study from PMMI Business Intelligence, as pet owners around the world seek fresher, healthier and ethically produced ingredients—the same as they expect for themselves.

More in Home

HR Pharmaceuticals won an FPA silver award for EcoVue by Glenroy. It is a flexible package for ultrasound gel featuring custom film requiring less energy to manufacture and transport.

Ultrasound Gel Pouch Gets Ergonomic Design, Reduces Waste

Designed to be easy to hold and evacuate more product, this multilayer spouted pouch replaces the traditional bottle while requiring less energy to manufacture and transport.

Skye Clarke (front) and Sam Epperson (back) of Cardinal Spirits fill bottles of hand sanitizer that are headed to a senior living community.

Distilleries Refit to Fill Hand-Sanitizer Gap

During World War II, Ford made tanks instead of cars and Maytag made plane parts instead of washing machines. With hand sanitizer being the small-arms munitions of today’s pandemic crisis, cosmetics and distilleries are joining the war effort.

Master motivator Dan Clark provided the keynote for the 2020 CPA Annual Meeting.

CPA’s 2020 Annual Meeting a Huge Success

CPA – The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers shares news on its recent Annual Meeting, the PACK EXPO East Sourcing Center, and upcoming events.

COVID-19’s Impact on the Canadian Market

OEM COVID-19 #5: BellatRx & Mpac Langen

UnPACKED with PMMI podcast with Canadian OEMs highlights communication early and often.

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Why Women are Under-Represented in the C-Suite

If companies with more women in leadership roles have greater innovation, increased productivity, higher employee satisfaction, and higher employee retention, why are there so few in the C suite?

Alison Keane, President, FPA at the 2020 CPA Annual Meeting

Fighting Back Against Anti-Plastics Legislation

At the CPA Annual Meeting, FPA President Alison Keane shares how the organization is working to help shape legislation around plastic packaging, rather than just react to it.

Cornell Creates Detailed Covid 19 Website For Food Industry

Cornell Creates COVID-19 Website for Food Industry

Helps food processors determine what’s necessary to protect the public and employees, while helping to maintain safe U.S. food supply

Opinion: Packaging Industry Begins COVID-19 Response

Rapid response to crisis seen industry wide, inspiring hope and reflecting resilience in the time of a crisis.

Automatic full-pallet infeed capability ahead of the empty-can depalletizer is a recent addition to the range of equipment made by Ska Fabricating. Allagash was the first to install it.

‘Quality Conscious’ Canning

This Portland, Maine, brewery decided to “dip our toes in the can market” by installing a small filler/seamer. It quickly became clear that a 300 cans/minute line was going to be required.

CPGs: Build Relationships for Contract Packaging Success

Robby Martin of Bush Brothers shares those factors that go into building great relationships between Consumer Packaged Goods companies and contract packagers/contract manufacturers.

Flexible Packaging for Infinite CBD Gummies

Popularity of Cannabis Formats Evolving, Packaging Follows Suit

Dried flower is giving way to creams, gels, dried teas/powders and inhalers, products that doubled in growth in two years’ time. Packaging for cannabis is expanding to meet this growth.

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Opinion: COVID-19 Swings “Reusable” from Good to Bad