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Allpax, a ProMach brand, recently delivered a new high-speed automated pouch loading and unloading system to a customer to feed an existing bank of Allpax retorts.

Lightweight, compact, and heat-resistant retort pouches are ideal for preserving food products like baby food, ready-to-eat meals, and pet food through retort sterilization, ensuring longer shelf lives. However, there are limited recyclable options for retort pouches in the market.

Check out how new advancements are making retort equipment more efficient and packaging more eco-friendly. But let's first take a step back and take a wider look at the retort packaging scene.

The heat resistance, aesthetics and barrier properties of recycled resins can differ from traditional films and laminates. NOVA Chemicals works with converters and brands on how to employ these new recyclable materials.

Businesses are seeking innovative ways to reduce their environmental impact and invest in sustainability. A Gartner survey found that 87% of business leaders plan to increase their sustainability investment in the next two years. There is pressure from investors, supply chains, and consumers to make more sustainable decisions.

Flexible packaging's recyclability was discussed at the FPA Annual Meeting. Alison Keane highlighted labeling challenges due to varying state guidelines. National legislation may be required. Dan Felton echoed this in a column for Packaging Strategies.

As part of our 2024 “State of Converting” outreach to the industry, The Packaging Group from BNP Media sought input from leading converters to gain perspective on the current EPR legislative climate.

For brands looking to craft memorable experiences for their customers, interactive packaging is a key strategy that businesses of all sizes can employ to drive deeper connections. Here are some formats that might make sense to apply to your own packaging design in 2024.

In 2023, the flexible packaging industry saw positive developments despite challenges for some firms. Sonoco achieved record profits, TC Transcontinental maintained stable revenues and increased earnings, and Winpak benefited from lower raw material prices, improving profit margins. The industry's consolidation trend was also evident in the Top 25 converters list for the year.

Last year, I highlighted Brazilians' dedication to recycling aluminum cans, and extended the discussion to include aluminum recycling efforts in New Orleans, known for Mardi Gras. Recent headlines and conversations with industry leaders confirm that the commitment to recycling remains strong in both New Orleans and Latin America.