As costs decline for implementing automation, even small to medium sized consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs) are beginning to see the value in taking steps toward automating operations, according to the 2017 Evolution of Automation industry research report by PMMI.
With the majority of global consumers already recycling, demand for environmentally friendly packaging will increase further in response to heightened publicity around plastics ending up in the ocean, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Stand-up pouches(SUPs) is now one of the fastest growing flexible packaging formats with global demand expected to pass 90 billion units in 2017, according to a report from AMI. The favorable development of the total supply chain cost of stand-up pouches and their stronger proposition to promote sustainability compared with rigid packaging alternatives will continue to be the key drivers of demand.
New innovations in reusable transport packaging such as pallets, bins, containers and totes will be on display in the Reusable Packaging Pavilion at PACK EXPO East (April 16-18; Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia). The pavilion is a result of the partnership between the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) and PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.
People will soon see the How2Recycle label on Colgate-Palmolive products in stores across the U.S., as part of the company’s goals to make packaging more recyclable and incorporate recycled content. The company will be introducing the label first on packaging for Suavitel fabric conditioner, Softsoap Earth Blends hand soap and bodywash, Hill’s Pet Nutrition treats, Murphy Oil Soap cleaner and Ajax dish liquid.
Lamb Weston announces the result of a successful partnership with Graphic Packaging International Inc.—Environmentally-friendly packaging which is recyclable in the established Old Corrugated Container (OCC) and mixed paper recycling streams. Fry bags have been identified as a primary target for reducing waste going to landfills.
Attendees gained insight on flexible packaging sustainability, brand success stories and more through nearly two days’ worth of education and networking at the event. From the opening keynote to a special panel discussion on materials for standup pouches, sustainability and the future of flexible packaging recyclability were two topics discussed to at least some extent in nearly every presentation.
The Kroger Co. has joined the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), a membership-based collaborative of like-minded companies striving to advance sustainable packaging. Kroger joins more than 130 brands, manufacturers, government officials, academics and organizations in the SPC. Kroger’s membership reinforces its commitment to driving improvements in the sustainability of packaging across its Our Brands private-label products.
Global chocolate and confectionery machinery demand is projected to advance 7.1 percent per year to nearly $4 billion in 2021. Once considered luxury products in some developing nations, chocolate and other sweets have become more easily attainable as living standards increase in these countries, thus driving growth for this machinery.
The recent staging of swop 2017 (Shanghai World of Packaging) attracted 600 international and domestic exhibitors and 20,053 visitors. The visitors traveled from nearly 80 countries and regions including China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, the U.S. and Vietnam to the SNIEC fairgrounds to see latest innovations for this sector. The four-day exhibition was jointly organized by Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (MDS) and Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.