Sealed Air, Pact Group, Plantic Australia and Woolworths have picked up medals in the 2020 WorldStar Packaging Special Awards, following their category wins in the main 2020 WorldStar awards and bringing the awards tally for the region to 21.

Dineamic, an Australian ready-to-eat meal provider, is moving from plastic to eco-cardboard packaging for its tray meals, to be sold at Coles and IGA, starting this week. PKN spoke to Dineamic CEO Michael Starke about this development.

Demand for packaging is expected to move through three phases during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report from consultancy McKinsey titled 'How the packaging industry can navigate the coronavirus pandemic'.

The Coronavirus pandemic is having an impact on the aluminium aerosol can industry, depressing some areas, and presenting opportunities in others, according to a statement from Aerobal.

Unilever ANZ has announced it’s donating more than $2 million worth of essential food, home and personal care products to Foodbank.

With supply chains under pressure, local packaging companies are stepping into the breach. PKN spoke to Impact International, Wellman Packaging and Caps & Closures about their response to the crisis and the growing need for Australia’s self-sufficiency.

Packaging development specialist Jason Fields has been voted in as president of the AIP, taking over the reins from Dr Carol Kilcullen-Lawrence. PKN spoke to both leaders on the eve of the announcement.

Bega Cheese has won the right to use the yellow lid and label for its peanut butter products, with the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia ruling in its favour.

In recent months, Australia has been ravaged by one disaster after another. Drought, fire, floods, and now a pandemic. And every time, without fail, the packaging industry has risen to the challenge of supporting the greater community and innovating in the face of crisis. PKN spoke to AIP members who represent different packaging sectors about their response to the current crisis.

Sidel is joining the fight against Covid-19, transforming its international centre of excellence for PET packaging development in France into a production centre to make bottles for hydro-alcoholic gel.

As the global coronavirus pandemic continues to run rampant, across the world packaged goods are in high demand. PKN asked World Packaging Organisation president Pierre Pienaar to share his views on the role of packaging in a pandemic.

Rent relief is now available for packaging business struggling under coronavirus, with the Commonwealth government announcing a mandatory code of conduct that allows commercial renters to pay reduced rent during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The NSW government has launched a registry portal for manufacturers who can help fill gaps in the supply of medical equipment and hygiene products.

Lactalis Australia has moved to 24/7 operations at its Lidcombe milk facility in Sydney’s west with a roll out of four automated guided vehicles (AGVs) from Dematic.

South Australian packaging manufacturer Detmold Group will produce 145 million surgical and respirator masks at its Adelaide factory to help with efforts against the coronavirus pandemic.

The PKN Pulse survey, conducted in partnership with Matthews Australasia, gives some insight into the current state of the Australian manufacturing and packaging industry.