September 2025

Packaging World September 2025

Prestige Skincare Revamped with Refillable Systems, PCR

Nu Skin updates its ageLOC Tru Face line with refillable systems and PCR materials, eliminating 515,000 lb of packaging waste and cutting 1,636 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.

August 6, 2025

AI-Driven Robotics Help Cafe Spice Leap Over Labor and Line Hurdles

To meet soaring demand and labor challenges, Cafe Spice turned to AI-powered robotics. The result? Higher throughput, reduced giveaway, and smart insights—without sacrificing quality or presentation.

August 6, 2025

Cafe Spice production line featuring Chef Robotics’ AI-enabled arms depositing rice into dual-compartment trays. Robots work in tandem with line staff, ensuring precise placement and maintaining packaging presentation standards critical to retail-ready meals.

Big Boost in E-Comm Packaging

This footwear company automated labeling, upgraded shrink wrapping, and tied it all together with smooth-running conveyor systems to increase throughput by 556%.

August 5, 2025

Boxes of footwear are conveyed on friction-top belting down a controlled 30’ decline before entering a 180-deg curve that uses side-flexing chain to stabilize boxes during the turning process.

Legal Things Everywhere, All at Once

While the administration is overhauling federal requirements, a flurry of new laws and proposals from individual states is creating a complex and often contradictory legal landscape that significantly impacts packagers.

August 4, 2025

Eric F. Greenberg

Aldi Adopts ‘World’s First’ Aluminum-free Full Barrier Aseptic Cartons

Aldi adopts SIG’s Terra Alu-free carton packs for its Rio d’oro juice line, aiming to cut carbon emissions by 29% with the world’s first aluminum-free full-barrier aseptic carton made from over 80% paper.

July 24, 2025

Aldi’s Rio d’oro grape juice debuts in SIG’s aluminum-free Terra packaging—made of over 80% paper—to help cut carbon and boost recyclability, while maintaining full barrier protection.

Absolut Vodka Adds Glow Effect for Festival-Themed Bottles

The Swedish vodka company is collaborating with a European music festival for a limited-edition bottle design.

July 24, 2025

Absolut says it worked with Tomorrowland's main stage design team to develop a new theme.

Kind Leans on Familiar Elements in New Brand Design

Healthy snack brand Kind has reworked its logo and package design to boost shelf appeal, while retaining iconic assets like its four-color bars.

June 30, 2025

Live at GS1: Coca-Cola’s Topo Chico Shows Packaging’s Frontline Role in 2D Barcode Ascendency

At GS1 Connect, Coca-Cola’s Ryan Vann and Schnucks’ Mike Wait shared lessons from piloting 2D barcodes on Topo Chico, revealing why the shift from 1D to 2D is a careful evolution—not a quick flip—for even the biggest brands.

June 13, 2025

Coca-Cola’s Topo Chico Sabores Passionfruit can serves as a real-world example of a dual-function 2D barcode: embedded with GS1 Digital Link standards for retail scanning and SmartLabel access, and positioned 50 mm from the 1D UPC to avoid double scans.

Live at GS1: Walmart, Brands Leverage Variable Label Data for FSMA 204

At GS1 Connect, leaders from Walmart, Conagra, and The Fishin’ Co. explored how FSMA 204 is reshaping traceability—and why packaging lines, labelers, and data systems must evolve to meet new retailer and regulatory demands.

June 11, 2025

Walmart associate handling fresh food.

Live at GS1: RFID-Tagged Corrugated Gains Momentum in Recycling, EPR Compliance

Using RFID can divert from corrugated from landfill, improve PCR stock, and help with EPR complaince, according to John Dwyer, Smurfit WestRock, and Curt Schacker, Track Vision AI, at GS1 Connect 2025 in Nashville.

June 11, 2025

RFID tracks and authenticates corrugated cases, and the tags are removed during the recycling process--fiber is recovered for repulping and reuse. Attribution data is delivered to brands using GS1 standards.

Live at GS1: Why Sunrise 2027, 2D Barcodes, Won't be Optional for Brands

At GS1 Connect, Dillard’s CTO Chuck Lasley intimated that Sunrise 2027 and the move to 2D barcodes won't be optional for brand. Even though they don't sell in Dillard's, brands like Unilever and P&G know the time to rethink on-pack data strategy—for compliance with retail mandates and competitive edge—is now. Dillard's won't be the only retailer asking for this; Walmart and Wegmans are likely to, as well.

June 11, 2025

As demonstrated in garment tags, but applicable to on-pack or on-label messaging, this transition is a likely path for 2D barcodes adoption as part of Sunrise 2027.

Interview: Biffa's Roger Wright on Designing Packaging for Recyclability

Today at Rethink Materials, we sat down with Roger Wright. He has valuable advice for brands on their design for recyclability projects, given he's the Waste Strategy & Packaging manager at Biffa, the UK's largest Waste Management company.

May 14, 2025

Biffa has over 100 facilities all over the UK to support the sustainable processing of waste through recycling.

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