Sustainable Packaging

USPP Drops EPS Transport Packaging from Problematic Materials List

The U.S. Plastics Pact cites a 31% recycling rate for the format, and credits an EPS industry effort to build end-market demand alongside collection. The decision is the first removal in the list's history. It went through an abbreviated review that did not require an Activator vote.

August 19, 2026

E-commerce/D2C packaging

Logistics/Supply Chain

Pilot from Walmart, Hanes/Gildan Teaches Cartons to Talk via RFID, 2D

A GS1 US initiative nicknamed Operation Brilliance gave 30,000 apparel cartons a web address of their own. The eight-week pilot gave Walmart and Hanesbrands (now Gildan) their first true end-to-end view of what actually moves through the supply chain.

July 23, 2026

Robotics

Next Gen AMRs Adapt to Labor Constraints

The next generation of OMRON Robotics' flagship LD Series adds payload, speed, and 360-degree safety in a smaller footprint.

June 24, 2026

Package design

End of the Line Video Series: GS1 Connect Recap and a Look at PRS

Watch as some of the PMG editors sit down and talk about trends, insights, and the cool things that pass by our desks.

June 22, 2026

E-commerce/D2C packaging

Refine Packaging Launches Packaging Optimization Initiative to Help Ecommerce Brands Reduce Fulfillment Costs and Improve Customer Experience

Refine Packaging

Refine Packaging's expanded offerings combine packaging design, logistics optimization, and sustainability considerations to support long-term ecommerce growth.

June 18, 2026

E-commerce/D2C packaging

What Walmart, Amazon, and Google Know About the Future of Safe Package Transit

From automated distribution centers and e-commerce certification to AI-enabled shock and vibration analysis, some of the most influential supply chain players are redefining how packages should be designed, tested, and validated for the real world. At ISTA’s TransPack Forum, that future came into focus.

May 11, 2026

E-commerce

End of The Line Video Series: Amazon's Flywheel of Growth, Healthcare Recalls, and Mike Rowe's Insights into Worker Retention

Watch as some of the PMG editors sit down and talk about trends, insights, and the cool things that pass by our desks.

April 27, 2026

E-commerce

End of The Line Video Series: Sustained Horizontal Compression, UTI Kit Launch, and The Rise of Mutton

Watch as some of the PMG editors sit down and talk about trends, insights, and the cool things that pass by our desks.

April 20, 2026

E-commerce/D2C packaging

Column: E-commerce Forces a Packaging Reckoning

As online sales surge past critical mass, brands can no longer rely on retail-era packaging or costly workarounds to protect products, margins, and consumer trust. Former P&G executive Ken McGuire argues that e-comm has turned packaging from a back-end function into a strategic imperative.

April 21, 2026

E-commerce/D2C packaging

Amazon’s ISTA Approach Signals What It Expects from Brand Packaging

Amazon is leaning on ISTA testing to align suppliers and validate packaging performance, particularly for large and bulky items where damage risk is higher and returns are costlier. in fact, SIPP certification standards that apply to TVs today may be coming to large-format packaging and AMXL.

April 17, 2026

Logistics/Supply Chain

As Walmart DCs Automate, Pack Developers Face New Forces, Standards

The emergence of layer-by-layer robotic depalletizing in Walmart DCs is exposing a new failure mode, sustained horizontal (side-to-side) compression. This signals broader shifts in how cases and shelf-ready packaging must be designed, tested, and validated for automated distribution.

April 16, 2026

Digital Transformation

AI Turns Online Product Reviews into Packaging Design, Consumer Behavior Data

AI is turning online reviews into actionable packaging data. Michigan State research shows how brands can pinpoint failure points, quantify consumer frustration, and prioritize redesigns using real-world feedback.

April 15, 2026

E-commerce/D2C packaging

Survey: Digitalization Advances at Uneven Pace in Packaging

From data collection to AI, digital tools are spreading across packaging and beyond. Adoption is uneven, but most companies are laying the groundwork for more connected, data-driven operations.

March 19, 2026