Inside the global shift toward smarter, greener packaging

High-profile studies reporting the presence of microplastics throughout the human body have been thrown into doubt by scientists who say the discoveries are probably the result of contamination and false positives. One chemist called the concerns “a bombshell”. Studies claiming to have revealed micro and nanoplastics in the brain, testes, placentas, arteries and elsewhere were reported by media across the world, including the Guardian. There is no doubt that plastic pollution of the natural world is ubiquitous, and present in the food and drink we consume and the air we breathe. But the health damage potentially caused by microplastics and the chemicals they contain is unclear, and an explosion of research has taken off in this area in recent years.

Article by Beauty Packaging 

Kiehl’s Since 1851 says it has long dedicated its products to healthy-looking skin and a healthier planet. It has prioritized “responsible practices” that reduce environmental impact and encourage consumers to make sustainable choices. In its latest adherence to this mission, the L’Oréal-owned beauty brand says it “is committed to ensuring all of its products and packaging are reusable or recyclable by 2030.” In addition, 97% of Kiehl’s products are made in facilities that are powered by over 99% renewable energy. They are also harnessing green science with a focus on plant-based ingredients. 

SuperPod enables blister cavities to become dramatically smaller – by up to 39% in some cases while maintaining full barrier performance and seamless machine runnability. According to ACG, this cold-form innovation results in a significantly reduced packaging footprint, lower material and resource usage per dosage across the lifecycle, and consequently, reduced costs and carbon emissions. Traditional cold-form aluminium blister cavities are large because they cannot be drawn deeply without the risk of aluminium rupture. Larger cavities increase the size of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging, leading to higher material consumption, warehouse space requirements, and logistics costs.

Article by Packaging Insights

We speak with Naama Nicotra, CEO and co-founder at NakedPak, an edible packaging company, about its technology amid growing efforts to curb single-use plastic pollution. The discussion explores the science behind NakedPak’s development, along with scalability and consumer demand.

Article by People

Babybel is giving its classic red packaging a sustainability-focused update. According to a press release from the brand's parent company, Bel Group, the cheese company will implement a global rollout that will gradually replace Babybel’s outer cellophane wrap with recyclable paper packaging. By 2027, 100% of Babybel cheese products manufactured across five facilities and sold in 50 countries will use "responsibly sourced paper," marking a major step toward the company’s goal of making all of its packaging recycling-ready or compostable at home by 2030.