Packaging industry news this week split three ways: fiber formats moved into commercial production, tariffs kept hitting Canadian mills and plants, and California’s packaging laws faced more pressure in court. In this roundup of packaging industry news, we cover Pulpex’s first paper bottle factory, a new legal attack on SB 54, cutbacks at Rayonier Advanced Materials and O-I, and NielsenIQ data on why smaller packs are selling. Below are 14 stories every packaging buyer, brand owner and converter should know about.
Materials & Sustainability
Pulpex Opens First Commercial Paper Bottle Plant in Glasgow
Pulpex has opened its first commercial facility for fiber-based bottles at the Westway Industrial Estate in Glasgow, Scotland. It starts with capacity for 40 million units a year. The wood-pulp bottles run on existing filling lines and are recyclable in household paper and card streams. Launch customers Purely Scottish and cleaning brand smol have already committed more than 90% of this year’s capacity, according to Packaging Europe. The plant will serve as the reference site for licensing partners in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Germany, India and the Gulf region.
Kneipp Trials Sonoco’s GreenCan for Bath Crystals
Kneipp has launched a limited-edition “Lieblingsmensch” bath crystal product in Sonoco’s GreenCan. The can is up to 98% paper, and 69% of that is recycled content. Bath salts are moisture-sensitive, which makes this a useful test of fiber barriers in personal care. Kneipp plans customer surveys and stability testing before deciding whether to expand the format.
ACG Unveils Recyclable High-Barrier PP Pharma Blister
ACG Packaging Materials introduced RecycloPod PP Ultra, a polypropylene blister with a water vapor transmission rate below 0.60 g/m² per day that ACG says meets EU recyclability requirements. Pharma has been one of the hardest categories to move away from PVC and aluminum laminates. Brands working on barrier performance can compare it with the multilayer films in our coffee bag packaging materials guide.
Huskee’s IoT Smart Bin Targets Reuse Returns
BioPak’s Huskee brand has developed an IoT-enabled Smart Bin for its Borrow reusable cup and container system. It offers QR access, real-time vessel tracking and a dashboard for operators. Consumers pay a $3 deposit and have 14 days to return the vessel. The bin won an Australian Good Design Award, a sign that the return step, not the container, is where reuse programs now compete.
Industry & Supply Chain
Rayonier Advanced Materials Idles Quebec Paperboard Mill
Rayonier Advanced Materials has suspended its Témiscaming, Quebec, paperboard mill, affecting more than 400 employees, about 300 of them represented by Unifor. CEO Daniel Krawczyk said roughly 75% of the mill’s paperboard ships to the U.S., which left it badly exposed to tariffs, Packaging Dive reports.
Supremex Cuts 6% of Workforce Over Tariffs
Montreal-based Supremex expects $10-12 million a year in costs from U.S.-Canada tariffs and is eliminating 60 positions, or 6% of its workforce. The plan consolidates envelope sites, moves folding carton production between Quebec plants and speeds up back-office automation. Supremex targets $5.7 million in annualized savings.
O-I Shuts Two Lines at Montreal Glass Plant
O-I is closing two of the six production lines at its Montreal plant after tariffs cost it contracts, including one with Anheuser-Busch. The plant ships 60-70% of its bottles to the U.S. The first layoffs took effect October 6, and a second round will bring cuts to about 20% of the 340-person workforce, per Glass International. Taken together, this week’s tariff-related packaging industry news shows how fragile cross-border paper, board and glass supply has become.
NielsenIQ: Grocery Shoppers Want Smaller Packs
A NielsenIQ report says shrinking households, price sensitivity and GLP-1 medications are shifting demand toward smaller pack sizes. About 21% of U.S. households include a GLP-1 user. Smaller packs are already growing faster than multiserve formats in soft drinks, ready-to-eat cereal and salty snacks. Converters should plan for more SKUs and shorter runs. Our packaging RFQ template can help brands quote new pack sizes accurately.
Südpack Upgrades Flexo Printing in Poland
Südpack has installed new flexographic printing equipment at its Kłobuck, Poland, site. Robots handle fully automated job changeovers, and the line adds RFID identification and Industry 4.0 connectivity. The goal is shorter lead times on both long and short runs, which fits the growing number of SKUs NielsenIQ describes.
Regulations & Design
Packaging Groups Say SB 54 Violates Free Speech
The American Forest & Paper Association, the Flexible Packaging Association and other groups representing more than 20 organizations filed an amended complaint against California’s SB 54 EPR law. They argue the law redefines “recyclable,” sets unclear requirements and restricts how fees can be communicated to consumers. A hearing is set for November 9 in federal court in San Diego.
SB 343 Takes Effect, But Enforcement Is in Limbo
California’s SB 343 truth-in-labeling law now applies to packaging made after October 4, 2026. It restricts the chasing arrows unless a material is collected in programs serving 60% of Californians. A July preliminary injunction largely blocks enforcement, yet How2Recycle reports label requests up 29% year over year. Our guide to which plastic recycling numbers are food-safe explains how resin codes differ from recyclability claims.
SB 54 Source Reduction: “A Team Sport”
At SPC Advance, the Circular Action Alliance, CalRecycle and producers discussed SB 54’s first source reduction milestone: a 10% cut in plastic packaging by January 1, 2027. Speakers stressed that producers are measured collectively, a point that is easy to miss in day-to-day packaging industry news. Perpetual’s Ellie Moss pointed to back-of-house foodservice containers, such as bulk pickle buckets, as easy reuse wins. The 2032 goal is a 25% reduction, with 10% from reuse and refill.
Minnesota Drafts EPR Needs Assessment
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is taking comments through November 13 on its draft EPR needs assessment, Packaging Dive reports. It recommends “responsible end market” standards aligned with a national framework being built by the Circular Action Alliance. Brands registering in several jurisdictions can compare it with our UK packaging EPR registration guide for US brands.
Europe Debates EPR Under the Circular Economy Act
Packaging Europe published the industry’s vision for how EPR should work under the EU’s upcoming Circular Economy Act. The core question is the same one U.S. states face: how to harmonize producer fees and reporting across jurisdictions. That ties together this week’s packaging industry news on both continents. For last week’s headlines, see our October 6 Packaura Weekly.
Sources
- Packaging Europe — Pulpex opens first commercial facility for paper bottle manufacturing
- Packaging Dive — AF&PA, FPA and others allege SB 54 violates free speech
- Packaging Dive — Supremex blames tariffs as it plans to cut 6% of workforce
- Packaging Dive — Grocery consumption shifts require smaller packages, NielsenIQ reports
- Packaging Dive — Chasing clarity: SB 343 uncertainty influencing labeling, packaging choices
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the biggest packaging industry news this week?
Pulpex opened its first commercial paper bottle plant in Glasgow with capacity for 40 million units a year. In the U.S., packaging trade groups widened their legal challenge to California’s SB 54 EPR law.
Is California’s SB 343 labeling law in effect?
Yes, for packaging manufactured after October 4, 2026. However, a July preliminary injunction largely blocks state enforcement while litigation continues.
Why are packaging companies in Canada cutting jobs?
U.S.-Canada tariffs. Rayonier Advanced Materials idled its Témiscaming mill, Supremex is cutting 6% of its workforce, and O-I is shutting two lines at its Montreal glass plant.
Why are smaller grocery packages gaining share?
NielsenIQ points to smaller households, price-conscious shoppers and GLP-1 medication use, which now affects about 21% of U.S. households.
What is SB 54’s first source reduction target?
Producers must collectively cut plastic packaging by 10% by January 1, 2027. The target rises to 25% by 2032, with 10% coming from reuse and refill.