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Photo illustration: Shaun Lucas/Industry Dive; Getty Images
Tracking packaging mergers and acquisitions in 2025
Pixelle is selling a Wisconsin mill; Inovar acquired ModTek; Novolex acquired Pactiv Evergreen; Mondi acquired Schumacher Packaging’s Western Europe assets; Toppan acquired Sonoco assets and more.
Updated April 4, 2025 -
Courtesy of Smurfit WestRock
Smurfit Westrock to close corrugated plant in Oregon
Layoffs at the Portland facility will come in waves, with 72 employees affected in the first round. This closure is part of the packaging company's ongoing footprint optimization plan.
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aprott via Getty Images
Deep DiveWeighty issue: GLP-1 drugs are reshaping packaging demand
Soaring use of these medications for weight loss is shifting demand, including for packaging manufacturers that serve pharma and food customers. Analysts say the game-changer is an opportunity for innovative companies.
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Permission granted by Nefab
Morris Packaging, Karat Packaging, Nefab, Saica announce expansions
From warehouses to converting facilities, expansions cover a variety of plastic and fiber substrates. Paragon Films, Engineered Foam Packaging, Forming Technologies and Graphic Packaging are also among those growing.
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Retrieved from Liquid Death on April 09, 2025
Packaging innovations: Liquid Death’s ‘Kegs for Pregs,’ Crown has a Moment
Plus, brand and packaging company collaborations led to new or redesigned packaging from Dole, Henkel, Furminator, Bubbies Ice Cream, Happy Campers, Berlin Packaging, AeroFlexx, Earthcycle and Verde Bioresins.
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Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
Trump pauses most reciprocal tariffs, hikes China’s further
The U.S. will now charge a 125% duty on imports from China, while most other countries will be subject to a 10% rate for 90 days.
Updated April 10, 2025 -
Gumpanat via Getty Images
Packaging M&A highlights from Q1
Packaging Dive followed dozens of deals in the first quarter. Industry observers noted activity in the labels space.
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Permission granted by JBM Packaging
JBM Packaging brings training program to Ohio prison
Moving the machine adjuster training program to the London Correctional Institution in Ohio allowed the company to increase participants’ pay. JBM aims to start real-world envelope production at the site soon.
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Genevieve Isabelle via Getty Images
California confirms EPS food service ware ban
CalRecycle said that after a review, there’s not sufficient data showing covered materials meet a required 25% recycling rate. This clarifies what many had already considered a de facto ban under SB 54.
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Mark Wilson via Getty Images
Maryland EPR for packaging bill heads to governor’s desk
SB 901 calls for reimbursing key recycling collection, transportation and processing costs in the state, including for organics. Maryland would be the sixth state with packaging EPR if Gov. Wes Moore signs the bill.
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Permission granted by NOVA Chemicals
Closed loops may help boost US food-grade PCR supply
Industry groups and packaging companies support increasing the use of PCR in food-grade packaging, but progress remains incremental in many cases.
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Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Trump threatens 50% tariff on China if retaliatory duties stay
The president said Monday that China, which vowed to fight the action, had until Tuesday to back off from its plan for 34% tariffs on U.S. imports.
Updated April 8, 2025 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Shareholder advocacy targets flexible packaging, reusables and recycling labels
Proposals remain pending at Mondelēz, Amazon, Home Depot, Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo and Wendy’s. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola, Hyatt, Sealed Air, Starbucks and Wyndham recently reached agreements with shareholder advocates.
Updated April 7, 2025 -
Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
Mauser, Orbis, Pretium among March packaging company layoffs
Graphic Packaging International and RTS Packaging also are among the companies that announced facility closures in March.
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VCG via Getty Images
China readies 34% tariff on US imports starting April 10
The country's retaliation against President Donald Trump's trade policies builds upon previously announced duties.
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Gumpanat via Getty Images
Aluminum cans, beer imports subject to 25% tariffs
The duties are separate from President Trump’s baseline tariffs. The Aluminum Association supports the move, while the Consumer Brands Association joined others in asking the administration to “fine-tune their approach.”
Updated April 4, 2025 -
Megan Quinn/Packaging Dive
Ideas for easing recycled content woes through policy, packaging
Brand innovations, policy changes and better communication could help ease challenges associated with adding recycled content to packaging, said speakers at the Plastics Recycling Conference.
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Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Trump installs 10% baseline tariff, country-specific duties
The president said he will levy import taxes on China, Japan and others equal to half of what they charge the U.S. based on White House calculations.
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Courtesy of Tetra Pak
Crate idea: Transport packaging made from recycled Tetra Pak cartons
The polymer and aluminum material, polyAl, that gets separated from fiber during carton recycling is a key material for the new transport crates made by Schoeller Allibert.
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Permission granted by Graphic Packaging International
Graphic Packaging International to close Ohio plant, affecting 130 employees
The Ohio closure had been anticipated as part of the company’s effort to consolidate its mill system and focus on new facilities in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Waco, Texas, but it comes months ahead of schedule.
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Permission granted by Novolex
Novolex completes $6.7B acquisition of Pactiv Evergreen
Pactiv Evergreen has transitioned from a publicly traded to privately held company as it is absorbed under Novolex. The combined company becomes one of largest food packaging producers.
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Toppan buys Sonoco’s thermoformed and flexibles business for $1.8B
The transaction advances Sonoco’s portfolio simplification plans and will help it reduce debt leverage. Toppan first expanded into the U.S. from Japan in 2016 with a film production facility in Georgia.
Updated April 1, 2025 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Manufacturing economy stalls amid tariff confusion: PMI
Purchasing managers’ index data showed a contraction in March. The industry is bracing for the impact of the Trump administration's upcoming "Liberation Day," on April 2, set to bring a slew of tariffs.
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Ratchapon Supprasert via Getty Images
Verallia, Saverglass part of anticompetition investigation in France
The country’s Competition Authority carried out unannounced visits on Thursday and Friday as part of its probe into companies’ practices for manufacturing and marketing glass packaging.
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Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Hitting a plateau: Circular packaging designers face flexibles hurdle
Many companies have targets to make 100% of their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Now, as they face the hardest categories to transform, some are weighing whether it’s feasible.
