Did we reduce packaging waste or just change the math?
Today on Packaging Today, we’re peeling back the headlines and digging into what's really happening in the packaging world:🧾 Packaging Tax Pain in the UK: UK food firms say the new packaging tax—part of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme—is pushing up prices. For example, one brand reported £153,000 in extra costs this year just from this levy. We’ll talk: which packaging formats are hardest hit? Will brands shift to less‑sustainable materials just to avoid the fees?📉 Waste Declining, But Can We Trust It?: According to the Eurostat data, plastic packaging waste in the EU fell by 1.0 kg per person in 2023 (to 35.3 kg each). European Commission But we’ll ask: is this real progress—or clever accounting? What’s the catch behind “less waste per person”?🏆 Award‑Winning Packaging: Innovation or Same Old?: We’ll look at a recent gold‑winning design in the packaging awards world and ask the hard question: are we really innovating—or just dressing up the same ideas in shine and polish?Join us as we break down:Why packaging taxes are already changing brand material strategyHow “waste reductions” may hide new problemsWhether “award‑winning design” still moves us forward—or keeps us spinningIf you’re in packaging design, sourcing, supply‑chain or brand strategy, this episode is your mid‑week wake‑up.Don’t forget to subscribe, share the show, and drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep the packaging conversation real.It's also Wednesday so it's time for CAN WE SOLVE IT! brought to you by Smartsolve.com soluble packaging solutions to actually reduce packaging waste.
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Is Molded Pulp Actually Better?
Today on Packaging Today, we’re covering the biggest packaging news you need to know—including regulatory shake‑ups, major plant closures, and breakthrough materials.What’s lined up:Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): U.S. states are moving fast with packaging‑specific obligations that could force brands to rethink material choices and supply chains. FoodPrintPlant Closures Alarming the Industry: Packaging Corporation of America is shuttering multiple sites by year‑end, impacting 160+ jobs and signaling serious pressure on the corrugated and containerboard segment. Paper AdvanceSustainable Materials Stepping Up: From paper innovations to bio‑based replacements, new developments are forcing us to ask: are these the future or just green noise? Whether you’re a designer, buyer, sustainability lead or production manager, this episode gives you the context and urgency to act now not just listen later.Tune in for the headlines, the implications, and what they mean for your next packaging move.
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This week in Packaging & Can We Solve It?
In this episode, Evelio Mattos, Adam Peek, and Cory Connors hit the mic fresh from the floors of Pack Expo Las Vegas and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition event. We’re diving into:🔍 What we saw, who we met, and which booths actually blew our minds.🌍 The new sustainability trends that are more than just buzzwords (yes, there were some real standouts).🥇 The emerging materials, packaging formats, and innovations redefining what’s possible in retail packaging.💬 Honest conversations from the show floor—what packaging professionals are really excited about… and what’s missing.🎯 How these events are influencing the future of packaging design, sourcing, and storytelling.From walking the show floor to walking the sustainability talk, we’re unpacking everything that matters—and roasting a few trends that maybe don’t.Bring your biggest packaging questions to *Can We Solve It?Stump us and win a limited-edition shirt, courtesy of https://smartsolve.comWatch live on LinkedIn + YouTube every Monday & Wednesday @ 7:30am PST👉 Subscribe to the show & be part of the future of packaging.Want packaging that dissolves? check out www.Smartsolve.comNeed to manage your packaging specs for EPR regulation? go to www.Specright.comWork with guys:Evelio - https://www.IDPdirect.comCory - https://www.atlanticpkg.comAdam - http://www.TheLabelKing.com
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Live from the Pack Expo & SPC Summit
In this episode, Evelio Mattos, Adam Peek, and Cory Connors hit the mic fresh from the floors of Pack Expo Las Vegas and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition event. We’re diving into: What we saw, who we met, and which booths actually blew our minds.The new sustainability trends that are more than just buzzwords (yes, there were some real standouts).The emerging materials, packaging formats, and innovations redefining what’s possible in retail packaging.Honest conversations from the show floor—what packaging professionals are really excited about… and what’s missing.How these events are influencing the future of packaging design, sourcing, and storytelling.From walking the show floor to walking the sustainability talk, we’re unpacking everything that matters—and roasting a few trends that maybe don’t.
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Aldi Packaging Redesign & Play Can We Solve It!
It’s Wednesday — which means Can We Solve It is back! Tonight, Evelio, Adam, and Cory tackle your toughest packaging riddles. Send us the questions — if we can’t crack them live, you win a T‑shirt (thanks, SmartSolve).But first — we dig into the week’s most provocative headlines:🏷 Aldi’s Private Label Rebrand: Aldi is finally putting its name front and center on nearly all its private-label products. What does this mean for trust, shelf presence, and the future of store brands? Axios+1🍽 Does Packaging Change Flavor?: A new deep dive into how the food packaging itself—not just the food—can shape how we perceive taste.🚭 Plain Packaging for Vapes in the UK: New research shows that standardized, logo‑free vape packaging reduces its appeal to teens while having minimal effect on adult users. University College London+2EurekAlert!+2Whether you’re here for game‑show chaos or serious packaging debates, tonight’s packed with insights, laughs, and maybe a little humility when we get stumped.
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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