PKN’s next issue for 2021 is bursting with stories of how the packaging industry is making positive changes with active and intelligent packaging; track and trace technology; and with robotics and automation.

A coalition of companies with a shared vision to close the loop on soft plastics have produced the country’s first ever soft plastic food wrapper made with recycled content for the KitKat brand.

Unilever cuts the word ‘normal’ from its beauty and personal care brands’ packaging and advertising for its new Positive Beauty campaign.

Marking the biggest acquisition in its history, Labelmakers Group has agreed to purchase Melbourne-based label printer, Rapid Labels, with April 2021 set as the implementation date.

Jamestrong celebrated 30 years and a 2.7 billion aerosol can production milestone at its Taree site last week. CEO Alex Commins says the company remains committed to manufacturing in regional towns.

The Australian government has launched its long-awaited National Plastics Plan, laying out strategies and clear (but not mandatory) targets to attack the issue of single-use plastics from all sides over the next decade.

BREAKING: Labelmakers Group has secured the rights for the worldwide patented RecuLiner technology for the ANZ region, creating a local circular solution for recycling glassine liner from pressure-sensitive labels that would otherwise go to landfill.

Pro-Pac saw its profit before tax rise by 0.9 per cent, on sales that fell by 6.6 per cent in the half year to December, although underlying profit before tax rose by a third to $11.7m.

Visy has pledged it will invest a further $2bn in Australian manufacturing over the next ten years, focusing on circular recycling solutions, which will bring its total investment in Australia to $11bn.

Australia’s first industry insight reports for the Save Food Packaging Design project as part of the Fight Food Waste CRC have been released by the Australian Institute of Packaging, in partnership with RMIT.

Orora achieved increased underlying earnings before interest and tax in all its businesses in the first half, on sales that rose 3 per cent in constant currency terms, with Australasia the best performer.

Profits at Pact Group rose strongly, on sales that were up a smidgeon, in its first half results, with the company attributing the rise to solid organic growth and higher margins.

The Australian federal government has announced a review of the Australian Packaging Covenant and National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (NEPM).

Foodmach director and well-known packaging industry identity Peter Marks has died, aged 66, from cancer. The Foodmach team pays tribute to his fellowship, leadership, ingenuity and expertise.

Pact Group has acquired New Zealand’s Flight Plastics, a provider of packaging for the fresh food segment and the country’s only manufacturer with integrated PET recycling capabilities.

Skyrocketing shipping costs are impacting board and paper prices, with the nation’s major printable materials suppliers forced to introduce price rises from next month, which will range from three to nine per cent.