The new UPM ProCycle portfolio of recycling-compatible label solutions combines adhesive technologies and circular products to help converters and brand owners make optimal sustainable choices.

New data released at METPACK 2026, running in Essen this week, points to continued growth for metal packaging, driven by beverage cans, recycling performance and renewed industry investment.

Smurfit Westrock has introduced ActiBlu, a prototype designed to remove the need for traditional gluelines in paper-based packaging, using a water-activated adhesive solution applied during production.

Dry moulded fibre specialist PulPac's global IP portfolio has surpassed 500 national patent grants, as the technology evolves from emerging status to an established industrial manufacturing method.

Henkel Adhesive Technologies is expanding its portfolio of water-based barrier and heat seal coatings for paper-based packaging, aimed at improving functionality while supporting recycling compatibility.

Amcor received a Silver Flexible Packaging Achievement Award in the Sustainability category for its Earth Sense Pro Recycled Content Stretch Hand Film at the FPA 2026 Annual Meeting.

Fibre-based packaging emerged as a leading material category at the 2026 WorldStar Awards, signalling a decisive shift in global innovation focus.

Parkside has added three materials to its accredited compostable flexible packaging range, designed to combine home compostability with barrier performance traditionally found in multilayer plastics.

Henkel has developed a cold seal coating for barrier-coated paper packaging aimed at supporting recyclable paper structures. Loctite Liofol CS 7106 RE is designed for use in paper-based packaging applications.

Amcor and DCM have introduced a recycle-ready, mono PE film for DCM’s fertiliser portfolio in Europe, replacing the company’s previous multi-material packaging.

Ball & Doggett's new cartonboard swatch kits aim to help Australian printers, designers and brand owners assess board performance through real-world packaging applications.

Label adhesives remain a barrier to closed-loop recycling of PET bottles, so material suppliers like Henkel are working on dispersible hot-melt formulations designed to separate cleanly during recycling.

Tata Steel Nederland has opened a new Trivalent Chromium Coating Technology (TCCT) line in IJmuiden, which the company says will support compliance with upcoming European REACH legislation for packaging steel.

ExxonMobil Signature Polymers, Hosokawa Alpine and BW Converting have worked together to create a 25-micron mono-material PE bread bag designed for recyclability.

Renaissance BioScience and Biome Bioplastics are working together on a two-year Canada–UK project to develop renewable bioplastic building blocks aimed at packaging and consumer goods.

UPM Adhesive Materials – formerly UPM Raflatac – will return to Labelexpo Asia 2025 in Shanghai from 2–5 December with its latest adhesive technologies and label material innovations.