Weekly News Roundup

AMERIPEN—American Institute for Packaging and the Environment will hold its final online session June 26, 2024, on preparing for extender producer responsibility (EPR) regulations, which will include insights from producer responsibility organizations (PROs). The webinar titled “Lessons Learned from Brands and PROs” is the fifth session in a series that started earlier this year and […]

Davis-Standard recently appointed Ching Gettman as president of the Davis-Standard Global Services (DS Global Services) team. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Gettman joins Davis-Standard from Caterpillar, where she served as vice president of product development, aftermarket, and strategy. She previously spent 12 years at John Deere, holding various key roles across multiple […]

PACK EXPO International, scheduled for November 3–6, 2024, at McCormick Place in Chicago, will offer several new features, including “Sustainability Central” that will take an expansive look into packaging sustainability and what it means to brands, according to the show’s producer. Speakers at the new forum will discuss “actionable sustainable solutions in manufacturing, materials, recovery, […]

France-based Arkema is planning to purchase Dow’s flexible packaging laminating adhesives business, which produces adhesives for the flexible packaging market, generating annual sales of around $250 million, according to a recent news release. “The proposed acquisition will significantly expand Arkema’s portfolio of solutions for flexible packaging, enabling the group to become a key player in […]

NOVA Chemicals, a sustainable polyethylene producer based in Canada, recently promoted two of its officials to help lead the company. Jim Worby, who has been with NOVA more than 25 years, was named vice president of polyethylene sales. He will lead NOVA’s sales team focused on the new capacity from the company’s second Advanced SCLAIRTECH™ […]

May 31, 2024, is the deadline for companies that want to participate in the Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA’s) summer internship program, where participating companies nationwide can help their interns acclimate to the industry. The program, run by FPA’s Emerging Leadership Council, is available only to FPA member companies and includes a speaker series and small […]

William “Bill” Jackson, Ph.D., chief technology officer of Amcor Flexibles, will continue as chair of the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) following an overall election of a new board of directors at FPA’s recent annual meeting. Russell Grissett, president of Sonoco Flexible Packaging, was elected as FPA executive vice chair. And David Love, senior vice president […]

The producers of NPE2024, the international plastics trade show, have named the keynote speakers for the event that will be held May 6–10, 2024, in Orlando, Florida. Michael Cicco, president and CEO of FANUC America Corporation, will present Unlocking the Potential: Robotics, AI and Automation in the New Tech Era on May 6. And Michael […]

The Emerging Leadership Council (ELC) for the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has launched a new video campaign to highlight flexible packaging’s benefits on the environment. The campaign, which coincides with Earth Day/Month in April, is the start of a yearlong effort to promote those benefits. Videos will be used along with social media posts, media […]

UP Paper, a producer of recycled kraft paper, has agreed to be sold to ProAmpac, a global producer of flexible packaging. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Lars Dannberg, UP Paper president and CEO, says in a statement that the companies will build a strong portfolio of paper products. UP Paper was established in […]

Ohio-based ProAmpac recently announced it is buying Gelpac, a producer of multiwall paper and poly-woven packaging products. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close over the next few weeks, were not disclosed. It is subject to customary approvals and closing conditions, according to a ProAmpac news release. Canada-based Gelpac, founded in 1956, will […]

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) is opposing a new extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiative in Tennessee as the proposal is currently written. The bill, TN Senate Bill (SB) 573, directs the state Department of Environment and Conservation to establish an EPR program, which FPA finds to be concerning for several reasons, including the overall costs […]

The boards of Mondi PLC and DS Smith PLC have agreed in principle on the key financial terms of a possible merger. “The combination is an exciting opportunity to create a pan-European industry leader in paper-based sustainable packaging solutions, with complementary geographic footprints, leading customer relationships, a strong balance sheet and cash flow profile, and […]

Brook + Whittle recently announced that it has bought PouchIt, a flexible packaging manufacturer based in Atlanta. PouchIt specializes in short-run stand-up pouches, lay-flat pouches, and rollstock film. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Brook + Whittle, which makes flexible packaging and other products, says in a statement that the deal expands its footprint […]

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has formed a political action committee (PAC) called FlexPAC™ that will hold its first event next month. The PAC’s inaugural event will take place Friday, March 22, in conjunction with FPA’s Annual Meeting, which is being held from March 20 to 22 in Tucson, Arizona. George Khalaf, president of Data […]

Berry Global Group Inc., based in Evansville, Indiana, has agreed to spin off and merge most of its health, hygiene, and specialties segment—to include its global nonwovens and films business—with Glatfelter based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The deal, which was approved unanimously by the boards of both companies, will create a new publicly traded company […]

Davis-Standard recently completed the previously announced acquisition of Extrusion Technology Group (ETG). Through the acquisition, three brands—battenfeld-cincinnati, Exelliq, and Simplas—officially become part of Davis-Standard, the company said in a news release. “This strategic acquisition reinforces our dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions and comprehensive support to our customers across various industries,” said Giovanni Spitale, CEO of […]

AMERIPEN—the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment will hold a series of webinars starting later this month called “Are You Prepared?” that will help participants navigate extender producer responsibility (EPR) regulations. “This webinar series will help prepare companies across the packaging value chain to engage in the final stages of state-specific program development and […]

AmerCareRoyal (ACR), a supplier of disposable food service supplies and other items, recently purchased Thermosource Tooling and Manufacturing (TTM) based in El Segundo, California. Founded in 2004, TTM supplies thermoformed and flexible packaging solutions for food service, food production, and grocery applications. ACR, which has offices in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas, provides packaging and […]

A shortage of skilled labor is leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to invest in warehouse automation, according to a report released this past month by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. The report—“Packaging and Automation in the Warehouses of the Future”—also says growing e-commerce activity and rising direct-to-consumer demands mean many CPG […]