The Packaging industry briefing
The news and data you need to know about the packaging industry
In numbers
€47m
Finland-based pulp and paper manufacturer Stora Enso is set to invest a total of €47m ($56.2m) in two of its production sites in Finland and one in Sweden.
26.6%
The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup’s annual ‘Dirty Dozen’ report found that single-use food and beverage packaging accounted for 26.6% of all litter found on the country’s coasts last year, compared with 15.3% in 2019.
2023
The state government of Western Australia has announced plans to phase out single-use plastic coffee cups and lids by the end of next year. The new timeframe will see Western Australia fully implement its Plan for Plastics four years ahead of the original schedule.
€20m
Ireland-based packaging company Smurfit Kappa has invested €20m ($24m) in four of its manufacturing plants across the Czech Republic and Slovakia to strengthen their converting capacity
2025
KFC Canada has committed to making all its consumer-facing packaging home compostable by 2025. The commitment will allow the restaurant chain to remove almost 200 million pieces of packaging from Canadian landfills a year.
In brief
Huhtamaki acquires Chinese firm Jiangsu Hihio-Art Packaging’s assets for €27m
Finnish sustainable packaging solution provider Huhtamaki has finalised the acquisition of the assets of China-based food-contact paper product manufacturer Jiangsu Hihio-Art Packaging.
Dallas Plastics buys US film manufacturer Hi-De Liners
Dallas Plastics, a portfolio company of private equity firm Sole Source Capital, is expanding into the high-density polyethylene film market by acquiring Hi-De Liners. The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
ASEAN members launch action plan to curb marine plastic pollution
Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have launched a Regional Action Plan to jointly tackle marine plastic pollution in the region.
The launch of the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Member States (2021-2025) is aimed at providing a scalable, solution-focused joint strategy to tackle marine plastic debris during the period.
Novolex adds cup production line to Tennessee plan
US-based packaging company Novolex has added a manufacturing line to its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for producing compostable cold beverage cups.
The cups are manufactured using a plastics polymer polylactic acid developed from starch-based plants such as corn, sugarcane, and wheat straw.
In pictures
Mondi and Hazeleger develop PP packaging for Maaslander cheese
Mondi has developed a polypropylene (PP) mono-material packaging solution for Maaslander cheese slices with cheese packaging company Hazeleger Kaas.
WestRock introduces fibre-based produce packaging
US-based corrugated packaging company WestRock has launched the EverGrow Collection, a fibre-based produce packaging line made from sustainably sourced wood fibre.
Grove launches plastic-free deodorant and body care refill system
US-based personal care company Grove Collaborative has expanded its Peach product line with the introduction of a fully plastic-free deodorant and body care refill system. The system’s starter pack features either a deodorant, body lotion or balm stick as well as a reusable aluminium case. The launch is in line with the company’s Beyond Plastic initiative, in which it aims to become entirely plastic-free by 2025.
Burger King pilots sustainable packaging at Miami restaurants
Burger King is testing sustainable alternatives for eight of its most popular packaging items at 51 of its restaurants in Miami. The company will trial Frypods made from renewable unbleached virgin paperboard, cutlery made with plant-based crystallised polylactic acid, napkins made from fully recycled fibre, paper and plant-based straws and strawless lids, and two sustainable Whopper sandwich wraps.
