HomeSupplier news: Appointments, promotionsPlacon Corp. (Madison, WI): Jan Acker, COO.Mar 31st, 1999Companies in this articlePlaconHomeunPACKed with OEM Podcast: Packaging and Processing's Gender & Race Wealth GapListen to OEM Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Neil's discussion with Below the Line President Jill Miller about Miller's goal to level the playing field for women and people of color in packaging and processing.Secondary/end-of-lineAutomation drives Danone multi-packs in MexicoFesto and Hybernya Industrial develop an end-of-line automated packaging solution for multi-packs for Danone and Danup yogurts in Mexico.Materials & containersRetailers, Brands Ride the Wave of Ocean-Bound PlasticOcean-bound plastic is gaining small but significant traction within the packaging sector, particularly from those in the rPET market.SustainabilityPaperboard Fruit CarriersCanada’s Niagara Orchard & Vineyard Corp., located in Virgil, Ontario, just completed its first season-long trial of paperboard carriers in place of thermoformed PET containers for fresh fruit.PMMI newsA Farewell Lead OffThis column was my responsibility each month for many years.Take FiveViable Edible Packaging Applications: Rare but Real (and Thought-Provoking)Edible packaging may never be truly mainstream, but there are niche situations where it can be viable and effective. Recently, applications have leapt off the conceptual drawing board and into commercialized projects for beta testing.SustainabilityAvocado Cartons and Pet Food SIOC Among New Formats for E-Comm PackagingSee new trends in e-commerce packaging from ThePackHub’s November Packaging Innovation Briefing Report.WorkforceClemson Announces Fall 2021 Outstanding Packaging Science Senior Award WinnersFrom Clemson University comes news about two 2021 awards. Henry Lopez won the Robert Testin Outstanding Packaging Science Senior Award for Fall 2021, and Michaela Gibson received the Packaging World Outstanding Senior Award for Fall 2021.Package DesignFuture-Proof: Design Your Packaging with Robotic Automation in MindAs robot usage increases, package design should take into mind ease-of-use for this technology, in all points of a product’s life cycle.SustainabilityOwn Brand Proves Paper-Pack Concept for Store BrandsBuilt on selling into retail private label, Sofidel recently launched a consumer brand of its own, Nicky, to serve as a proof of concept and market testing brand for a unique paper-pack solution for bath tissue and paper towel packs.SustainabilityNew Packaging from Mars Petcare UK Cuts Plastic by 15M PiecesKeeping its comparisons aptly within the animal realm, Mars Petcare UK claims its switch from shrink film to paperboard for mixed-can pet food multipacks will eliminate 30 elephants’ worth of plastic.SustainabilityBig Boost for Compostable Molded Pulp?Transitioning away from single-use plastic packaging is now widely accepted as a global imperative, and that transition may have gotten a big boost thanks to a recently announced collaboration.SustainabilityL’Oréal Pioneers Bottle Made from Industrial EmissionsThe prototype HDPE package is the result of a partnership with LanzaTech and TotalEnergies that converts carbon waste from emissions from a steel mill into recycled polyethylene with the same properties as virgin plastic.Package DesignNew Absolut Bottle Design Pays Tribute to Brand’s CredentialsIn the biggest design refresh since 1979, Absolut Vodka’s new bottle graphics emphasize the brand’s Swedish provenance and showcase the community and culture driving the brand forward.SustainabilityPackaging as a Business Asset: Loop Case StudyLoop’s prefill reuse model of sustainability has evolved since its development in 2017, and it’s growing as more retailers sign on to owning their own refillable packaging.Take FiveReduced “Friction” & Pandemic Nudge Pave Way for Smart PackagingGone are the clunky apps and poor content experiences that hampered consumer engagement with Intelligent Packaging. As friction abated, the pandemic demonstrated the value of contactless communication, ushering in an Intelligent Packaging renaissance.Secondary/end-of-lineDTC Creates New Challenges for Secondary PackagingDirect-to-consumer models require more durable secondary packaging, and considerations such as security, click-and-pick, and branding, also come into play.SustainabilityGetting Noticed: KFC Changes its Colors and Asics Delivers Shoes in Blister PackSee four examples of sustainable and eye-catching packaging from ThePackHub’s November Packaging Innovation Briefing Report.Sustainability2020 PET Recycling Rate Drops, While Demand for rPET SurgesAnnual report shows that while the U.S. demand in 2020 for rPET was strong, the collection of PET bottles decreased by approximately 2.3% to a recycling rate of 26.6%.HomeEU Regulators, Recycling, and Healthcare PlasticsPackaging suppliers speak about the openness of regulators to understand the slower nature of life science manufacturers in adopting more sustainable packaging.
