A new Australian research centre has been launched at Monash University to lead a five-year, $11m initiative developing fibre-based alternatives to single-use plastics and addressing the material performance, manufacturing and recycling challenges involved in commercial adoption.

Pirate Life’s Nitro Draught Stout uses Ball’s fixed-widget cans for a tap-style pour with a creamy head. The cans are imported exclusively by Orora Cans and digitally decorated on its Helio printing line.

Opal has sold its Australian and New Zealand bag manufacturing business to an affiliate of The Magan Group, with no production interruptions expected during the transition.

Pope Packaging has completed the largest single project in its 70-year history, doubling printing capacity and increasing converting capacity at its South Australian paper sacks facility.

Element Logic has entered a strategic global partnership with Ranpak to integrate packaging automation, including box forming, right sizing and paper-based protection, into its warehouse solutions.

Peacock Group will bring its Peacock Bros. and insignia operations together at a purpose-built Dandenong South facility, increasing the two businesses’ combined warehouse and production footprint.

Amcor’s FY26 annual report sets out how the expanded group plans to use its flexible and rigid packaging portfolio to pursue growth across markets and product categories.

Former Tetra Pak Oceania MD Andrew Pooch has joined C4C Packaging as a non-executive director, bringing more than three decades of food and beverage sector experience to the table.

The September edition of The Packaging Innovation Edit, presented by PKN in collaboration with ThePackHub, spans materials science, circularity and consumer experience, showing how innovation can occur at very different points in the packaging lifecycle.

New European rules on generic environmental claims have prompted the Australasian Bioplastics Association to warn that packaging carrying poorly substantiated claims could be marketed in Australia.

Australia's environment ministers have declared packaging reform urgent and named soft plastics as an initial priority, but offered no firm timetable or regulatory commitments. SPSA has welcomed the soft plastics focus, while Boomerang Alliance and WMRR have raised concerns about the lack of concrete action.

Economic analysis commissioned by SPSA estimates national recycling reforms could deliver up to $278m in net productivity gains and stimulate up to $2.6b in capital investment each year.

A cross-sector open letter is urging national leaders to agree on a pathway for regulated producer responsibility schemes at the September Environment Ministers Meeting.

Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble and Unilever are the founding members of the PaperFlex Consortium, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Australian headquartered packaging supplier Detpak has officially opened its manufacturing facility in South Carolina, to produce paper-based packaging for QSR customers in the United States.

Following the voluntary administration of Recycling Plastics Australia and confirmation that no Commonwealth packaging scheme will be introduced this term, voices from across the packaging and recycling value chain have delivered a blunt assessment of what is at stake.