Articles by Brad Addington

The big news for 2025 is the focus of the Product Innovation awards on producers of packaging—one of the hottest areas of sustainability innovation today—and an area we cover in great detail here at Packaging Strategies.

Vendors of snack food packaging are developing recyclable, biodegradable and reusable products to expand their customer base. KYSU – whose products include freeze-dried fruits and chocolates – has unveiled packaging made entirely from recycled materials, and Bad Monkey Popcorn has created compostable packaging for one of the world’s most popular snack foods.

Steve Fairfield’s outstanding contributions to the flexible packaging industry are being celebrated through this new award presented in his honor. The deadline to nominate flexible packaging innovators for the award is drawing near.

Sustainable packaging was a major theme in 2024. Plus, Kellogg Company’s transformation in 2023 into Kellanova – and Mars’ plans to acquire Kellanova – were exemplary of the business re-arrangements and M&A that have continued at a steady clip in the packaging sector.

One analyst argues that – for brands large and small – there’s a benefit to being able to do business with a separate Kroger and a separate Albertsons for reasons involving distribution, sales promotion and marketing.

Company is focused on ensuring that its primary packaging is recyclable. Coca-Cola says it will also continue to focus on increased advocacy for well-designed collection systems for the recycling of beverage packaging.

Transaction enables Dow to further focus on core, high-value downstream markets. Proceeds will be used to support Dow's capital allocation priorities, including value-creating growth investments.

Ecommerce revenue in the U.S. is expected to grow by 51% from 2024 to 2029, reaching $1.8 trillion, driving demand for innovative packaging solutions. Companies like R.R. Donnelley & Sons are enhancing label production, Packsize is focusing on on-demand sustainable boxes, and MCS Inc. is exploring high-speed inkjet systems to replace adhesive labels with direct printing on packaging materials.

In a just-released report, Capstone Partners notes that portfolio realignment fueled a significant portion of deal activity in early 2024. Global sustainability initiatives represent another significant factor driving mergers and acquisitions.

Combination is touted as bringing together two highly complementary businesses to create a global leader in consumer packaging solutions, with a broader flexible film and converted film offering, a scaled containers and closures business, and a unique global healthcare portfolio.