Packaging Insights

Syntegon has supplied WuXi XDC with advanced filling line equipment and isolator technology for pharmaceutical packaging at its Singapore manufacturing site. WuXi XDC is a Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization focused on the global antibody-drug conjugate and broader bioconjugate market.

Despite strong infrastructure, technical expertise, and industry experience, Germany’s glass sector is facing weaker demand, says Christiane Nelles, director general of the Federal Association of the German Glass Industry (BV Glas). She argues this is due to overall lower demand in the glass packaging market and changing consumer behavior. Recently, major glass manufacturers in Europe have closed down some of their German production facilities, including Ardagh, BA Glass, and Verallia.

Mondi has optimized the packaging for Stiebel Eltron’s water heater range by using fewer types of corrugated board grades, achieving a reduction of more than 75%, while maintaining optimal product protection. The solution makes use of digital printing in white.

The Recycling Partnership’s latest report reveals that, as the US e-commerce industry continues to expand, companies are making packaging lighter to save on shipping costs. However, the increase in lighter, flexible packaging formats is creating challenges for residential recycling systems in many parts of the country.

Toppan Group and its Italy-based film manufacturing subsidiary Irplast have opened a production line for high-performance biaxially oriented PP (BOPP) films, estimated to produce up to 30,000 metric tons of BOPP films annually. “This deployment expands the Toppan’s production capabilities and enhances manufacturing efficiency, ensuring a stable, local supply to meet the surging demand for sustainable packaging in Europe and beyond,” says the company.

Futamura has collaborated with Netherlands-based label producer Bio4life on a certified at-home and industrially compostable pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) label, compliant with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation’s (PPWR) compostability requirements starting in 2028. The label is designed to help retailers and packagers remove conventional plastic stickers from fresh fruit and vegetables.

Snack packaging providers spotlight low environmental footprint as a notable consumer trend that is impacting how they approach design, including recyclability and the inclusion of recycled content. At the same time, snackers are looking for on-the-go products and appropriately packaged healthy treats.

KHS Group will demonstrate its future-proof turnkey plant engineering from a single source — from the initial concept and system planning to flexible line concepts and consistent life cycle support at BrauBeviale 2026 in Nürnberg, Germany (November 10–12).

The packaging industry is exploring many routes toward decarbonization. While some companies invest in renewable energy and others switch to bio-based materials, the goal remains the same: to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other GHGs released into the atmosphere due to human operations. The packaging sector is linked to CO2 and GHG emissions through raw material extraction, energy-intensive manufacturing, transportation, and waste management processes such as incineration.

Guala Closures has upgraded its aluminum-based Alusnap closures for premium spirits brands to include a tamper-evident feature responding to changing alcohol counterfeiting threats. The Italian closures provider says 25–40% of spirits consumed globally may be counterfeit or illicit, according to industry estimates. “Being a leader in security solutions for premium spirits is not just about having invented the technology in the first place.