The Latest

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  Tracking packaging mergers and acquisitions in 2026

  Gravis acquired Procon Pacific, Technimark acquired Rage Custom Plastics, and TriMas completed the $1.45 billion divestiture of its aerospace business to focus on packaging.

  Updated March 19, 2026

  Materials

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  13 North American packaging manufacturers announce expansions

  Cascades, ePac, International Paper, Lindenmeyr Monroe and Rand-Whitney were among the packaging companies that announced expansions.

  Manufacturing

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  Spring surprise? Containerboard prices reverse course in March.

  For the second consecutive month, some observers reported surprise at a containerboard pricing index’s movement. The March increase reinforces expectations that producers will target another price hike this year.

  Materials

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  CAA preparing for California EPR on compressed timeline

  SB 54 regulations are still yet to be finalized. Circular Action Alliance will submit its program plan by June 15. The PRO has received more than 2,000 producer reports, but notes some producers are holding out.

  Regulation

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  Deep Dive

  The Iran war is hitting packaging supply chains. Are the impacts temporary?

  Higher fuel and material costs, shipping disruptions and consumer spending are playing into industry impacts. Certain packaging substrates, such as plastics, bear a greater burden than others.

  Supply Chain

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  AI-powered platform aims to speed packaging chats and sales

  Matthew Wright, the founder of Specright, wants to create a new digital home for the packaging industry via Forest, an AI-powered platform that’s being designed to streamline new connections and transactions.

  Technology

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  International Paper to build $225M box plant in Mississippi

  The new build will replace a nearby aging facility. This aligns with IP’s plan for $1.9 billion in annual capital spending, especially to reconfigure its box plant network.

  Updated March 20, 2026

  Manufacturing

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  California’s recyclability labeling law under fire in new lawsuit

  The Flexible Packaging Association and the American Forest & Paper Association are among the plaintiffs seeking a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of SB 343 come October.

  Regulation

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  Prescription bottle recycling a real pill for the industry

  Not many pill bottles are getting recycled in the U.S. despite being made of commonly recyclable material. A new Closed Loop Partners report calls for collaboration across the value chain to increase pill bottle recycling rates.

  Sustainability

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  Aptar announces CEO transition

  A fellow 30-year veteran of the company, who leads the company’s fast-growing pharma business, will take over when Stephan Tanda retires later this year.

  Finance

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  Oregon EPR legal challenge

  Paper industry joins Oregon EPR lawsuit

  After the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors secured a preliminary injunction in February, the American Forest & Paper Association, plus groups representing grocers and other businesses, want in.

  Regulation

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  USITC advances 4 trade cases with implications for packaging

  Polypropylene corrugated boxes and PET films are among the products that saw determinations in Q1. PP corrugated box producer Inteplast explained why it submitted a request for review and what effect new duties would have.

  Regulation

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  Inside FedEx’s reusable shipper rollout

  Years in the making, Returnity collaborated with the logistics giant on a specialized design that’s meant to be durable, tamper-resistant, collapsible, automation-friendly, and easy to scan and unpack.

  Supply Chain

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  TriMas sells aerospace arm for $1.45B to focus on packaging

  CEO Thomas Snyder called the divestiture a “significant milestone in TriMas’ ongoing transformation.”

  Updated March 16, 2026

  Finance

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  ReMA advances HDPE beverage carrier spec following PakTech petition

  A comment period is open until April 8 regarding the proposal to add these rigid can and bottle carriers to the Recycled Materials Association’s ISRI specifications for inbound residential single and dual streams.

  Materials

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  Barcode changes are coming. SmartLabel wants grocers to be ready.

  The initiative that gives consumers detailed product information via QR codes is gearing up for a major shift in retail technology.

  CPG

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  Trump admin probes foreign manufacturing production, capacity

  Numerous sectors are plagued by excess capacity and production, including aluminum, glass, paper and plastics, according to a USTR filing.

  Manufacturing

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  As performance and growth avenues lag, companies pursue M&A

  Packaging companies are turning to multiple small-to-medium deals to achieve growth, according to a report from McKinsey & Co. More than 80% of executives surveyed expect M&A activity to increase in the coming years.

  Finance

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  4 major URB producers announce price increases

  Ox Industries, Greif and Sonoco announced price increases within the last week, citing higher input costs. This follows Cascades’ early February URB price hike announcement.

  Updated March 12, 2026

  Materials

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  Tennessee packaging EPR bill sidelined for 2026

  The bill faced pushback from groups like Ameripen and bottlers. Vowing to return stronger next year, state Sen. Heidi Campbell said she’s proud of how the bill has put EPR awareness on the map in the Southeast.

  Regulation

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  Craft beer’s push into cans is leveling off, Brewers Association says

  The conversion from glass bottles to cans may be reaching its ceiling, according to the trade group’s staff economist. Meanwhile, impacts from tariffs are still playing out.

  Updated March 11, 2026

  Materials

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  Paper-based flexibles could reduce pollution from small-format plastics: EMF

  Fiber-based flexibles do “not yet exist at the scale, cost, and performance needed” to solve the flexible plastic pollution problem, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s newly released guide.

  Sustainability

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  Manufacturers nix the USDA’s Paper and Packaging Board

  The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a final rule this week formally terminating the program.

  Updated March 10, 2026

  Materials

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  O-I Glass flags harsher-than-expected Q1

  The company disclosed challenges in Europe that are straining beginning-of-year performance. Looking ahead, glass innovations need to be better poised to capitalize on newer beverage trends, CFO John Haudrich said recently.

  Finance

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  ProAmpac completes TC Transcontinental flexible packaging acquisition

  The transaction, backed by Pritzker Private Capital, brings together two of North America’s largest flexible packaging companies.

  Finance

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