As a dynamic year for the packaging industry comes to an end, we look back at the biggest events and highlights of 2024. While the UN Global Plastic Treaty negotiations resulted in an extra round of discussions to be held next year, the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) final text was approved in Parliament in November. Meanwhile, WestRock and Smurfit Kappa merged and Mondi confirmed a merger with DS Smith as industry giants consolidated their positions.

January
New year, new DRS: Hungary begins recycling single-use drink containers with Tomra and Envipco machinery
Hungary ushered in 2024 by implementing its deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drink containers, becoming the 15th European country to adopt this “transformative approach” to beverage container recycling. With Tomra, Envipco and the central system administrator for the DRS MOHU, Hungary aims to recycle 90% of plastic, glass bottles and metal beverage cans within three years in alignment with the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive.

Metal coatings makeover: Inside AkzoNobel’s €32M investment for a bisphenol-free packaging market
Dutch coatings company AkzoNobel invested €32 million (US$35 million) in a new plant at its Vilafranca site in Spain to produce bisphenol-free coatings for the EMEA’s metal packaging industry. The company said the facility will use advanced automation and is designed according to high eco-efficiency standards — enabling a “step-change in energy and material efficiency.” We spoke to Christopher Bradford, marketing director of AkzoNobel’s Industrial Coatings business, to learn more.Green paint on white bottle.
The EP approved a new directive banning greenwashing and deceptive product information to protect consumers.

China introduces stringent regulations for parcel delivery sector as e-commerce booms
China’s Ministry of Transport announced new stringent regulations for the country’s burgeoning parcel delivery sector to boost environmental sustainability and consumer protection. The measures took effect on March 1. The new amendment replaced the 2013 rules, mirroring the sector’s expansion. Central to the regulation is the push toward eco-friendly packaging. The updated rules encourage companies to adopt sustainable materials, countering the industry’s ecological footprint, which includes over 9 million tons of paper and 1.8 million tons of plastic annually.

German plastic tax delay sparks mixed reactions among industry associations
The German plastic tax was postponed until 2025. Plastics industry associations reacted with mixed responses, supporting the delay to refine tax details and condemning it due to the continued lack of addressing overproduction and pollution. Ingemar Bühler, managing director at Plastics Europe Germany, the association of plastics producers, told us more.

“Companies can no longer trick people”: European Parliament adopts directive cracking down on greenwashing
The European Parliament (EP)approved a new directive banning greenwashing and deceptive product information to protect consumers from misleading marketing practices and promote sustainable choices. The directive, adopted with overwhelming support — 593 votes in favor, 21 against and 14 abstentions — aims to overhaul product labeling and restrict misleading environmental claims.

February
Oxo-degradables on trial: European Court issues judgment on legality of PAC plastics
The European Court issued a long-awaited judgment on a case against the European Commission (EC) over the legality of so-called oxo-degradable plastics. UK company Symphony Environmental filed the suit in 2021, claiming compensation could reach £82 million (US$103 million) for loss of profits and reputational damage. Oxo-degradables are a type of pro-oxidant additive-containing (PAC) material, which companies like Symphony claim catalyze plastic degradation harmlessly without creating microplastics.Landfilled waste.
Oxo-degradables are used in some countries in the belief the additives can replace waste management infrastructure.

Mondi confirms possible €11.7B merger with DS Smith as shares spike
Mondi confirmed it is considering a possible merger with DS Smith, which estimates show would create a company with a combined value of €11.7 billion (US$12.6 billion). However, while Mondi said the combination is an “exciting opportunity,” a DS Smith announcement emphasized the idea is “highly preliminary” and that no concrete proposal has yet been made. The deal, if realized, would create Europe’s biggest containerboard manufacturer. In 2021, Mondi was rumored to be making inroads toward a possible ~US$7 billion deal with its smaller rival, which was never achieved. Mondi had until March 7 to make another formal deal or abandon the idea.

Top Packaging Trends 2024: “Digitalized Circularity” to transform industry waste management
Innova Market Insights announced its Top Packaging Trends 2024, with “Digitalized Circularity” taking the top spot. Incoming regulations, notably the UN’s Global Plastics Treaty and the EU’s PPWR revision, will intensify demand for responsible waste management. According to market researchers, the packaging industry will increasingly turn to digital tech for scalable circular economy solutions.

Europe’s new packaging waste regulation: Are special rules for plastic illegal?
The EU’s proposed PPWR special rules for plastic packaging and exemptions for other materials, such as coated paper, may violate EU law by discriminating against plastic packaging, according to a legal assessment. The plastics packaging industry urged lawmakers to remove material-specific rules to prevent environmental harm and ensure legal and planning certainty for companies, but environmentalists argued that plastic packaging has enjoyed favorable regulation to date while pollution has continuously increased.

Packaging Innovations 2024: Barrier coatings, compostability and foodservice trends
At this year’s Packaging Innovations trade show in Birmingham, UK (February 21–22), industry experts highlighted the latest material developments aimed at bolstering the circular economy. Ridding packaging of plastic through new barrier coatings and advancing compostability, particularly for the foodservice sector, were major themes.

March
“Ill-informed?”: UK government backs Ineos with €700M as Project One struggles, sparking EU backlash
Environmental law organization Client Earth criticized the UK government for providing €700 million (US$760 million) in backing to Ineos for a gas-fed plastics facility in Belgium, highlighting a clash between economic interests and climate commitments in the UK and EU. The challenge also raises concerns over human and environmental health, regardless of the project’s other legal requirements.Ineos plant.
Client Earth criticized the UK government for backing Ineos’ plastics facility despite concerns over human and environmental health.

“Packaging lobbyists have won,” says EPN after EU Parliament and Council revamp PPWR agreement
After months of negotiations and lobbying, the European Council presidency and representatives from the EP reached a provisional political agreement on revising the PPWR. While hailed as a step forward in promoting a circular economy, the deal has also sparked controversy regarding its impact on paper-based packaging.

“A massive competitive advantage”: EU member states formally agree to new PPWR despite concerns
EU member states agreed to the new PPWR, ending speculation that the preliminary agreement could be blocked or stalled by the EC. Rumors surfaced late last week that the EC’s Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade) was attempting to reopen negotiations.

Majority of PFAS used in F&B packaging unregulated and untested for health hazards, reveals study
New research revealed that 90% of the PFAS chemicals in food packaging are not included in any regulatory or industry inventories used during chemical manufacturing. The findings also showed that hazard data is available for only 57% of the PFASs detected in F&B packaging.

Anuga FoodTec 2024 review: Food processing machinery and aseptic filling take center stage
Anuga FoodTec took place in Cologne, Germany (19-22 March), highlighting technology-enabled food quality improvements. The latest machinery enables optimized processing, slicing and aseptic filling, while food packaging providers strive for sustainability. We spoke to Multivac, Syntegon and KHS on the show floor.

April
US decarbonization: Century Aluminum doubles primary aluminum industry with government financing
The US Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations chose Century Aluminum Company to begin award negotiations for up to USIP $500 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funding to build a new aluminum smelter as part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program.Unilever building.
Unilever axed its environmental sustainability pledges, in what the corporation said was needed given current geopolitical issues.

International Paper secures full acquisition of DS Smith for £5.8B
International Paper (IP) announced an agreement for an all-share takeover of DS Smith following weeks of speculation. The US-based packaging giant acquired the entire company for £5.8 billion (US$7.2 billion) and delivered at least US$514 million in pre-tax cash synergies. The terms of the combination value each DS Smith share at 415 pence per share and was said to result in IP issuing 0.1285 shares for each DS Smith share, resulting in pro forma ownership of 66.3% for IP shareholders and 33.7% for DS Smith shareholders.

Unilever axes plastic sustainability pledges as calls for tougher legislation grow
Unilever announced it would ax a range of its environmental sustainability pledges, in what the corporation says is a needed and realistic update given current geopolitical issues and the financial pressures put on consumers. In a release, Hein Schumacher, Unilever’s CEO, announced a “new era,” in which shorter-term sustainability goals will be prioritized and increased advocacy made to address issues outside the company’s control. Schumacher revealed that the previous commitment to halve Unilever’s use of virgin plastics by 2025 will be cut to one-third by 2026 — a difference of 100,000 tons of fresh plastic annually.

European Parliament endorses PPWR: F&B industry expresses fears over a “web of red tape”
The EP officially endorsed the provisional agreement on the PPWR, drawing a mix of concerns and support from the industry. The legislation includes reduction targets, a ban on PFAS, restrictions on excessive packaging, and further single-use product bans. Reduction targets are set at 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040. Restrictions on unnecessary packaging will be imposed, with a maximum empty space ratio of 50% grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging. Manufacturers and importers will also have to ensure that the weight and volume of packaging are minimized.

UK DRS officially delayed to October 2027, glass remains an “outstanding issue”
The UK announced October 2027 as the new launch date for its DRS, putting an end to months of speculation. The scheme will encompass PET bottles and steel and aluminum cans but exclude glass bottles. The policy paper delineated the scope of the DRS from 150 mL to 3 L, with containers outside this range falling under EPR. This aligns with the Republic of Ireland’s DRS, enhancing compatibility across the UK and Ireland. Glass drink containers will also be in the scope of the EPR, and producers will be charged fees for its management once it becomes waste from April 2025.

May
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