Packaging Today Show

On this episode of Packaging Today, we’re digging into the delicious world of meal transport packaging — and how to do it without compromising presentation or sustainability. From elegant pie boxes that cradle your crust like couture, to clever inserts that keep your sauces, soups, and sides in check, we break down what it takes to ship food that actually arrives looking like food.Inspired by stunning concepts like this pie packaging, Evelio, Cory, and Adam discuss how designers can balance protection, presentation, and eco-friendly materials to elevate the entire unboxing experience — even for a lasagna.Whether you’re designing for meal kits, bakeries, or gourmet delivery, this episode will leave you hungry for better structure, better materials, and better ideas.🍽 Packaging for food that travels and delights? Let’s dig in.

ALDI UK just announced a switch from plastic rings to Snap Pack tech for their own-label beer a move that claims to reduce packaging waste by over 100 tonnes per year. But is this really a sustainable upgrade… or just a new version of the same problem?In this episode of Packaging Today, Evelio, Adam, and Cory break down:What Snap Pack packaging is and how it worksHow it stacks up against traditional plastic rings and paperboard toppersThe trade-offs in recyclability, energy use, and user experienceWhether this solution is scalable — or just a limited win for opticsWe’ll also debate what sustainable actually means in 2025 and challenge the idea that “less material” always equals better.Join us as we unpack the snap.

This week on Packaging Today, we’re serving up the packaging industry’s hottest developments—from adhesive trends to ocean cleanup efforts:🔥 Hot Melt Adhesives: Boon or Burden?With the global market now around $9–11 billion and growing at 4–5% CAGR, hot melts are booming across packaging for corrugated, e‑commerce, and more. But does “solvent-free” actually mean more plastic and more waste in your products?🔍 UV‑Tagged Plastic Packaging Hits ShelvesMarks & Spencer (and Aldi in Europe) are testing invisible UV tags on plastic bottles, enabling traceability and real-time recycling data . Could this finally fix contamination in the recycling stream? Or is it just another layer of complexity?🏝️ Bali’s Ban on Small Plastic ScrewsStarting 2026, Bali plans to ban sachets and small single-use plastics to reduce ocean pollution. Can local bans like this actually bend the curve on marine waste and are they replicable elsewhere?📉 Paper Packaging’s Rollercoaster RideU.S. packaging paper shipments are down up to 7% in some months year‑over‑year, despite a slight rebound in June (+5%) . What’s driving this volatility: e‑commerce slowdowns, tariffs, or a pivot to digital? And what does it mean for corrugated brands?Why This MattersAre hot melt adhesives really greener—or just hiding more plastics?Will UV tagging finally make recycling data transparent enough to act on?Can regional plastic bans like Bali’s scale into global policy?What do paper shipment trends signal for packaging design, supply chains, and sustainability strategies?#packaging #sustainability

In today’s episode of Packaging Today, we’re diving into the shiny, guilt-washed world of recycled beauty packaging and asking the tough question: is this actually sustainable, or just another PR pump & dump?We unpack MOB & Credo Beauty’s collaboration with the Pact Collective to create the first-ever lotion pump made from recycled cosmetics packaging, much like Method did years ago with ocean plastics. This is an impressive feat built on 232 tons of waste, hundreds of retail collection points, and a touch of ocean plastic from Malaysia.Cory Connors, Adam Peek, and Evelio Mattos debate:Are recycled stunts like this scalable… or just symbolic?Why most beauty packaging can’t be recycled, and never will be without massive infrastructure changes, or changes to packaging design like MOB.How these high-effort projects highlight the real investments we need: better recycling systems, simplified materials, and smarter regulations.Should designers aim to make packaging precious... or recyclable?We also share what packaging WE would actually keep, what we throw away, and why design for landfill is the default unless we flip the system.🔁 This episode is a must-listen for designers, brand managers, and packaging professionals trying to balance storytelling, sustainability, and real-world scalability.

This week on Packaging Today, it’s a vanilla face-off.In our Pack of the Week segment, we’re putting two pure vanilla extract brands head-to-head: Cook’s and Rodelle. One leans vintage apothecary with heritage typography and gold accents, while the other goes modern organic with crisp white space and botanical illustration.Which bottle tells a richer story?Which one whispers "premium" from the shelf without shouting?And—more importantly—what design cues are they using to justify your $12+ purchase?We break down materials, hierarchy, color theory, and whether or not we’d keep the bottle after the last drop.🎯 In this episode:Why label texture might be more powerful than colorHow Rodelle’s design plays the trust gameThe subconscious nostalgia baked into Cook’s🧠 Tune in for a sharp critique, honest rankings, and inspiration you can use in your next project.

we dive into a story that sounds like science fiction but is very real: scientists are using genetically modified E. coli bacteria to convert plastic waste into paracetamol (acetaminophen). Yep your headache might one day be cured by yesterday’s packaging.We’ll break down:What it could mean for the future of packaging wasteWhether this is just a PR stunt or a real step toward circularityPlus, we cover the latest packaging news, from regulatory shakeups to design trends you need to know. Whether you're an engineer, designer, or supply chain manager, this episode will give you a new lens on what packaging waste could become.Can science actually detox the plastic problem or is it just putting a Band-Aid on a landfill?

Evelio, Adam, and Cory take on your biggest packaging challenges. You send the questions, and we give you the solutions, unless we can’t, in which case... you win a free shirt.We’ll also break down the week’s most important (and weirdest) packaging news, from surprising innovations to eyebrow-raising policy moves.Expect:Real answers to real packaging problemsHot takes on the latest headlinesPackaging trivia, tangents, and occasional geniusWhether you’re a designer, buyer, or just trying to understand why your RFQ never gets answered on time, this one’s for you.

sit down with the founders of Casalú, the bold rum spritz brand making waves across the U.S. beverage scene. We go beyond the can—into the design, branding, and cultural storytelling behind one of the most exciting ready-to-drink (RTD) brands in the market today.Casalú is more than just a drink—it’s a statement. We’ll talk packaging innovation, sustainability choices, can design, and materials, plus the brand’s origins and the latino hustle behind building something fresh in America. Expect real talk, a few laughs, and even some Spanish as we cover:Why Casalú chose aluminum cans and how that impacts recyclability and shelf presenceThe design strategy behind their bold, minimal aestheticHow they’re breaking through in a saturated RTD marketWhat immigrant founders bring to the branding and business worldWhether you're here for packaging inspiration, brand-building insights, or to hear how bold immigrant voices are reshaping the beverage aisle—this is one story you won’t want to miss. ¡Vamos!

In this episode of Packaging Today, Cory Connors, Adam Peek, and Evelio Mattos unpack the popular (and slightly concerning) trend of people who refuse to throw away packaging, yes, even years later. Inspired by a recent VegOut article claiming that hoarders of boxes possess “unique traits,” we ask the real question: Should packaging be designed to be kept… or recycled?We break down:The kinds of packaging people actually keep (and why)Personal stories of packaging we still have (and can’t justify)Whether designers should engineer for attachment or optimize for sustainabilityWhy “collector-worthy” packaging might be sabotaging circularityThis episode is part therapy, part teardown, and fully focused on helping packaging professionals think deeper about how emotional design intersects with environmental responsibility.If you’ve ever saved a box just in case… or want to understand why your customers do... Join us.

In this episode of Packaging Today, we unpack the implications of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” and how it could reshape the U.S. packaging industry—and ripple out globally. From tariffs and deregulation to reshoring and policy shifts, we break down what’s real, what’s hype, and what every packaging buyer, designer, and supplier should be watching.🇺🇸 The Pros:Boost for domestic manufacturing?Potential acceleration of automation and AI in U.S.-based production linesFavorable tax incentives for U.S. packaging operations💥 The Cons:Increased costs for imported raw materials (yes, including paper and board)Uncertainty for global luxury brands producing in Mexico, China, or Eastern EuropeEnvironmental backpedaling on sustainability regulations📦 Whether you're a packaging designer in New York or a factory operator in Jakarta, this bill could change how, and where you produce. Tune in for the facts, the future, and a few hot takes.