Current news reports show two sides of our industry: Technically, visible progress is being made with mono-materials, active packaging, and digital solutions. At the same time, demand, costs, and regulation remain a burden. What is particularly interesting is that sustainability is increasingly shifting from individual material issues toward processes, data, and economic feasibility.
Mono-PE spouted pouch: Bel combines material switch and weight reduction
Bel is switching to a spouted pouch with mono-PE film and a new snap closure for Pom’Potes and GoGo squeeZ. According to company information, the cap is 40 percent lighter than the previous screw cap. Processing the PE structure required adjusting web tension, unwinding, and sealing parameters, among other things.
My take: For me, it’s not just the mono-PE film that is exciting. The project demonstrates nicely that “recyclable” does not simply result from a material change. Closure, film, pouch manufacturing, and the filling process must be rethought together. It is precisely this industrial implementation that determines whether mono-material will actually succeed in the market.
ProAmpac integrates active functionality directly into the film
With Shelf Protect, ProAmpac has introduced an active food contact film for meat, sausage, fish, and cheese. Developed jointly with Copperprotek, the technology is designed to reduce microbial growth and thus extend shelf life. ProAmpac reports positive manufacturer and laboratory tests, but emphasizes itself that individual trials are required for each product.
My take: I find active packaging fundamentally exciting because it combines sustainability with product protection. When less food spoils, the ecological benefit can be significantly greater than pure material savings. Nevertheless, we need to take a close look: migration, regulatory approval, recyclability, and subsequent consumer communication must imperatively form part of the evaluation.
A Digital platform designed to make the sourcing of recycled materials more reliable
Finnish company Ambio has raised 5.1 million euros in seed funding for a digital procurement platform for plastic recyclates. Materials are to be qualified based on samples, documentation, and quality reports. An AI-supported database is designed to combine material properties, suppliers, prices, and processing results.
My take: This addresses a real pain point. Recyclates are often only conclusively evaluated on the production line – and by then, it can already be expensive. If the suitability of a material can be predicted more reliably, it could reduce trials, scrap, and complaints. The crucial factor will be whether enough robust production data is gathered and whether the platform actually detects real quality fluctuations.
Nespresso discontinues paper-based capsule
Nestlé is removing the paper-based Nespresso capsule from its product range. It consisted of 82 percent paper fibers and featured a thin, compostable biopolymer barrier. The company cited customer feedback and what it considers to be the aluminium capsule’s superior flavour retention as the reasons. According to Nestlé, both variants were virtually neck-and-neck in an initial life cycle assessment.
My take: I like this news item because it challenges the simple narrative that “paper is automatically more sustainable.” Packaging must first protect the product and be accepted by consumers. If the barrier, usability, or disposal are not convincing, a more sustainable material image is not enough. Therefore, even failed or discontinued projects provide valuable insights for the entire industry.
Sensor data to combat unplanned machine downtime
Waites has presented a monitoring system that continuously measures vibrations and temperatures on bearings, rollers, and gears. The data is intended to be used to detect emerging damage early and plan maintenance measures. The cited savings and predictive capabilities are so far based on company statements.
My take: Predictive maintenance is not new for packaging lines, but it is gaining importance due to new materials. Thinner films and narrower sealing windows are more sensitive to process variations. Sensor technology can therefore not only prevent breakdowns, but also help process new material structures more stably. However, the benefit depends on whether concrete and timely actions result from the data.
International Paper explores sale of European packaging business
International Paper is in talks regarding a potential sale of its EMEA packaging division. In parallel, preparation for the previously announced spin-off continues. The European business also includes activities of DS Smith, which International Paper acquired only last year. A decision on a sale or spin-off has not yet been made.
My take: Even though the focus here is not exclusively on flexible packaging, the news is relevant to the market. Major transactions alter supply chains, investment decisions, and bargaining power with customers. They also show how intense the pressure on returns and consolidation in the European packaging industry has become.
PPWR drives up demand for EPR consulting
Compliance service provider Lappa reports a 166 percent increase in its packaging EPR contracts from the second to the third quarter of 2026. The company cites regulatory requirements, monitoring by online marketplaces, and additional verification in supply chains as drivers. For 46 percent of the advised companies, the actual fee liability was lower than initially expected or waived entirely.
My take: The figures originate from a single provider and do not represent Europe-wide market statistics. Nevertheless, they demonstrate how quickly EPR is turning from a sustainability topic into an operational task. Anyone selling in multiple European countries must clearly clarify responsibilities, volumes, and national registrations. At the same time, a careful review is worthwhile before assuming costs or obligations across the board.
EU Commission details EPR relief for small producers
The European Commission has published guidance for companies placing less than ten tonnes of packaging on the market per calendar year. Member states and producer responsibility schemes are urged to avoid disproportionate burdens. Possibilities include reduced administrative fees, flat-rate contributions, simplified procedures, and reduced documentation obligations. National registration requirements generally remain in place.
My take: The direction is right. Small manufacturers must not be burdened with the same administrative structures as international corporations. At the same time, implementation needs to be uniform across Europe. If every country defines its own relief measures, portals, and documentation, the fundamental problem remains – even if individual fees are reduced.
IPV reports declining sales once again
According to estimates by the Industry Association for Paper and Film Packaging (IPV), revenue of German flexible packaging manufacturers fell by 0.7 percent in 2025 to around 2.045 billion euros. In the first half of 2026, sales volumes remained at a low level. The association cited weak demand, high material, energy, and labor costs, as well as increasing regulatory requirements as burdens.
My take: A 0.7 percent decline may seem manageable at first glance. Combined with low volumes, high costs, and the absence of a turnaround, however, it is a clear warning sign. The industry is expected to simultaneously invest in new materials, equipment, data, and PPWR compliance. To do so, it needs reliable rules and, above all, an economic environment in which these investments can actually pay off.
Conclusion
This week makes it particularly clear that sustainable packaging does not depend on a single material decision. Mono-PE must be viable for industrial processing. Active films must align product protection, regulatory approval, and recycling. Recyclates require reliable data, and PPWR requirements must remain economically feasible as well.
Technically, a lot is happening. At the same time, pressure is growing on companies to invest faster, document more thoroughly, and introduce new solutions under difficult market conditions. The successful concepts will therefore be those that not only convince in the laboratory or on the data sheet, but also work on the line, in the market, and in the respective waste management system.
In Innoform’s FlexPack newsletter, we regularly summarise the latest developments from the world of flexible packaging.
