High Demand for Packaging Machines Drives Record Production in 2023

High Demand for Packaging Machines Drives Record Production in 2023

In 2023, the production value of food processing and packaging machinery hit a record-high of € 16.5 billion, marking a 5 % increase from the previous year. This notable achievement was highlighted in a press release by the VDMA (Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association), establishing the sector as the fifth-largest in the mechanical engineering…

Woman holding garbage bags frustrated - French and German Consumers Against Imported Plastic Waste

French and German Consumers Against Imported Plastic Waste

A significant majority of German and French adults are against using imported waste in recycled plastic products, according to a survey by Stagwell’s The Harris Poll, which was commissioned by Eastman, a global specialty materials company. The survey was conducted online, in February of 2024 and included over 1,000 participants from each country.   Key…

Challenges of Packaging Professionals SPC Impact 2024 Survey - conference room

Challenges of Packaging Professionals: SPC Impact 2024 Survey

Findings of a recent survey conducted by Aura, a packaging consultancy organization in the UK, provide significant insights into the current state of sustainability efforts among packaging professionals and their overall understanding of current packaging regulations.   The Survey The survey, which was conducted at the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) Impact 2024 conference in New…

E-Commerce Returns - person ordering online

E-Commerce Returns: A Growing Environmental Concern

E-commerce has revolutionized the way we buy our products, offering convenience and accessibility with a few clicks. However, behind this seamless experience, exists a significant environmental cost, particularly when it comes to the return of e-commerce products. A recent report from CleanHub sheds light on the alarming environmental impact of online shopping returns, revealing staggering…

pfas in food contact - graphic of man pulling risk meter down

PFASs in Food Contact: Health Risks and Current Legislation

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been extensively utilized across various industrial and consumer sectors since the 1950s, due to their useful properties, including low surface energy and durable water- and oil-repellency, and finding application in a number of products, ranging from food packaging to firefighting foams. By taking into account a recent study, published…

EU Plastics Recycling Rate

EU Plastics Recycling Growth Rate Takes a Dive

The latest figures of PRE’s report reveal that Europe’s plastics recycling capacity reached 12.5 million tonnes in 2022, marking a significant milestone in EU’s commitment to sustainability. However, the recycling growth rate of plastics took a relative dive, dropping year-on-year due to market disruptions and raising concerns about the future of the plastics recycling industry.…

cover photo for article challenges of European plastic producers

Plastics Europe: Challenges for European Plastic Producers

According to a recent report, Plastics Europe has shared some interesting facts about recyclability and circularity of plastics in both European and global scale. More specifically, the production growth of circular plastics worldwide is studied and also the challenges that European plastic producers face, as well as the consequences these might have on the future…

photo of hands with hand with plastic pa/pe earth

New Research on Recyclability of PA/PE films

Despite several studies on PA/PE films, recycling guidelines of various organizations still classify polyamide (PA)-containing packaging as non-recyclable. The independent institute “Cyclos-HTP”, along with “BASF”, have conducted further extensive research into recyclability of multilayer films that contain polyamide 6 (PA6) and ethyl vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer, with promising results in a standard polyethylene (PE) stream.…