In numbers

2bn

Lidl has pledged to eliminate 2bn pieces of plastic from its UK stores by the end of next year as part of the multiple retailer's initiative to remove plastic waste.

90.38%

Mondi has purchased 90.38% of Turkish corrugated packaging company Olmuksan. The move delivers on the UK-based packaging company’s announcement earlier this year that it intended to acquire the shares from International Paper for US$80.6m.

US$0.96

Jersey's parliament, The States Assembly, has approved a ban on certain types of single-use plastic and paper bags to reduce waste. The new law will see traders charge a fee of at least GBP0.70 (US$0.96) to their customers for a 'bag for life'.

75,000 tonnes

Tetra Pak and Stora Enso are investing a combined EUR29.1m (US$34.2m) in upping recycling capacity in the latter’s home country. A new carton repulping line will triple the capacity for used beverage cartons in Poland from the current 25,000 tonnes per year to 75,000 tonnes.

US$59m

UK-based sustainable packaging company DS Smith is set to offload its De Hoop paper mill in the Netherlands to corrugated packaging supplier De Jong Packaging for GBP43m (US$59m).

In brief

Ball sees three-month sales leap 25%
US-based Ball has reported an increase in sales to $3.5bn in the second quarter of the year, compared to $2.8bn in the same period last year. The conglomerate’s beverage packaging business saw sales in ‘North & Central America’ rise 15% to $1.5bn, while ‘EMEA’ operations were up just under 30% at $906m. The ‘South America’ beverage packaging division was up equally strongly, by 37.4% at $452m.

Ardagh Metal Packaging merges with Gores Holdings V
Investment firm The Gores Group has bought into Ardagh Metal Packaging. Through its Gores Holdings V unit, the group has entered into a “business combination” that sees AMP become a standalone listed company. The beverage can producer is now around 82%-owned by its parent, Ardagh Group, which acquired the business five years ago.

DRDO unveils biodegradable packaging
Indian governmental agency the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed plant-based packaging as an alternative to single-use plastics. Produced using natural food-grade materials, two types of bags have been developed - soluble and insoluble. Both can degrade within three months and “cause no harm to the environment whatsoever”.

Hong Kong holds consultation on plastic tableware regulations
Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department has launched a two-month public consultation on banning a raft of plastic utensils. Among the items the department is considering banning are expanded polystyrene tableware, straws, stirrers and plates. The consultation runs until 8 September.

In pictures

Mondi to launch corrugated grocery packaging solutions in Central Europe

Mondi is set to launch a seven-strong range of corrugated packaging solutions for online grocery markets in Central Europe.

Delivery Hero to provide fully plant-based packaging for restaurants

Food delivery platform Delivery Hero has partnered with Eco-Products and Bio-Lutions to offer fully plant-based and perfluoroalkoxy-alkanes-free alternatives to plastic packaging to restaurants in its home market of Germany.

Honest Beauty switches to sustainable paper packaging

The Honest Co has readied a sustainable packaging initiative for Honest Beauty. The skincare and make-up brand’s products will be sold in fully recyclable cartons that use tree-free paper made from upcycled sugarcane by-product.

Procter & Gamble launches first paper Lenor bottle with Paboco

Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble has collaborated with Paboco to create the first paper bottle for its Lenor fabric softener brand. The pack will trial in Western Europe next year.