In this episode of Packaging Today, we unpack the implications of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” and how it could reshape the U.S. packaging industry—and ripple out globally. From tariffs and deregulation to reshoring and policy shifts, we break down what’s real, what’s hype, and what every packaging buyer, designer, and supplier should be watching.🇺🇸 The Pros:Boost for domestic manufacturing?Potential acceleration of automation and AI in U.S.-based production linesFavorable tax incentives for U.S. packaging operations💥 The Cons:Increased costs for imported raw materials (yes, including paper and board)Uncertainty for global luxury brands producing in Mexico, China, or Eastern EuropeEnvironmental backpedaling on sustainability regulations📦 Whether you're a packaging designer in New York or a factory operator in Jakarta, this bill could change how, and where you produce. Tune in for the facts, the future, and a few hot takes.
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25:46
IKEA Ditches Its Plastic Bags & Maine Changes EPR
Today on the Packaging Today Show, we’re diving into two massive shifts in the world of packaging—one corporate, one legislative—and what they signal for your next packaging move.🧰 Segment 1: IKEA’s Tiny Bag, Big ImpactYou’ve probably never thought twice about the little plastic baggie of bolts and screws in your IKEA furniture box—until now. IKEA is replacing those fitting bags with paper-based alternatives made from wood production waste. Sounds simple, right? But this change could cut 1,400 tons of virgin plastic annually and reshape how brands approach “invisible” packaging. We break down:Why this isn’t just a paper swapHow in-house bag production creates closed-loop potentialThe opportunity this opens up for your brand (yes, even if you're not IKEA)⚖️ Segment 2: Maine’s EPR Law Gets a RewriteMaine led the charge in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws back in 2021—but now it's rewriting the rules. Depending on who you ask, it's either a win for practical recycling or corporate sabotage. We unpack:What the new law actually changesWho’s for it, who’s fighting it, and whyWhat this “shared responsibility model” means for your packaging team📦 Bonus POVs:Why paper packaging isn’t a hero unless it’s actually recycledWhat brands should do today to future-proof against EPR legislationIf you're a packaging designer, sustainability lead, or supply chain manager, this episode is your cheat sheet to understanding where regulations and big-brand moves are pointing the industry next.
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Bones Coffee Company / Pack of the Week!
It’s Friday, which means it’s time for Pack of the Week on the Packaging Today Show. Today we crack open the wildly illustrative, brand-extending, and licensing-heavy coffee packaging from Bones Coffee Company.From Star Wars to SpongeBob to mint-chocolate aliens, these packs are more than just loud—they're a masterclass in storytelling and shelf disruption. But is all this surface-level charm hiding some missed opportunities in material choices and sustainable decisions?🎯 In this episode:How Bones Coffee uses licensing to dominate visual real estateThe structural choices that make this pouch pop (or fall flat)Why overprinting and gloss vs matte finishing matter more than you thinkWhether the design aligns with the product—and who the real buyer isWe’re breaking down the full Bones experience: construction, print quality, storytelling, finish, and what other brands can learn (or leave behind).
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20:49
Can We Solve It with SmartSolve
In today’s episode of Packaging Today Show, we hit the aisle and the inbox.First, we’re breaking down real packaging pulled from the shelf—what nailed it, what failed it, and what we’d change to make it stand out. Then it’s time for everyone’s favorite packaging game show: Can We Solve It?Listeners submit their real-world packaging problems, and if we can’t crack it live on the show, they win the coveted “Packaging Is My Love Language” T-shirt. Spoiler: today’s question stumps us in the best way.You’ll get:Fast design critiques with real-world shelf impactSmart, bite-size design ideas you can steal (or avoid)One big challenge that might just break Adam, Cory's, or Evelio’s brain📦 Send us your design challenge for next week. Think you can stump us?
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Microplastics - Real Talk
You won’t believe how much plastic you eat every single day—no, really. In this episode of Packaging Today, we break down two groundbreaking studies exposing the micro- and nanoplastics that contaminate your food through normal packaging use.From chopping boards to bottle caps, deli wraps to canned fish—plastic is shedding into our meals more than ever. But what’s really new here? And how does it compare to everything we’ve already feared?We’ll discuss:New research from the Food Packaging Forum and CNN Health revealing how simply opening packaging can release microplastics into food.How nanoplastics are found in your brain, blood, liver, and even placenta—yes, really.What foods could eliminate plastic packaging entirely (and what tradeoffs consumers would have to accept—like giving up canned convenience, embracing short shelf life, or risking a little botulism…).How ultra-processed foods increase exposure compared to whole foods.Why washing, heating, and reusing plastic makes it worse.💥 Highlight: One study found that just two plastic water bottles can contain over 240,000 plastic particles, 90% of which are nanoplastics. [CNN Health]💡 We'll also unpack the argument that no individual can avoid this alone—it’ll take systemic change and real government action.
Every week we dive deep into the latest packaging news and explain how it will impact your business. We make the boring task of hunting down the latest in packaging fun, and by "we" we mean:
Evelio Mattos, host of Packaging Unboxd
Adam Peek, host of People of Packaging
Cory Connors, host of Sustainable Packaging podcast
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