Packaging Today Show

Today on the Packaging Today Show, we’re diving into two massive shifts in the world of packaging—one corporate, one legislative—and what they signal for your next packaging move.🧰 Segment 1: IKEA’s Tiny Bag, Big ImpactYou’ve probably never thought twice about the little plastic baggie of bolts and screws in your IKEA furniture box—until now. IKEA is replacing those fitting bags with paper-based alternatives made from wood production waste. Sounds simple, right? But this change could cut 1,400 tons of virgin plastic annually and reshape how brands approach “invisible” packaging. We break down:Why this isn’t just a paper swapHow in-house bag production creates closed-loop potentialThe opportunity this opens up for your brand (yes, even if you're not IKEA)⚖️ Segment 2: Maine’s EPR Law Gets a RewriteMaine led the charge in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws back in 2021—but now it's rewriting the rules. Depending on who you ask, it's either a win for practical recycling or corporate sabotage. We unpack:What the new law actually changesWho’s for it, who’s fighting it, and whyWhat this “shared responsibility model” means for your packaging team📦 Bonus POVs:Why paper packaging isn’t a hero unless it’s actually recycledWhat brands should do today to future-proof against EPR legislationIf you're a packaging designer, sustainability lead, or supply chain manager, this episode is your cheat sheet to understanding where regulations and big-brand moves are pointing the industry next.

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for Pack of the Week on the Packaging Today Show. Today we crack open the wildly illustrative, brand-extending, and licensing-heavy coffee packaging from Bones Coffee Company.

From Star Wars to SpongeBob to mint-chocolate aliens, these packs are more than just loud—they're a masterclass in storytelling and shelf disruption. But is all this surface-level charm hiding some missed opportunities in material choices and sustainable decisions?

🎯 In this episode:

• How Bones Coffee uses licensing to dominate visual real estate

• The structural choices that make this pouch pop (or fall flat)

• Why overprinting and gloss vs matte finishing matter more than you think

• Whether the design aligns with the product—and who the real buyer is

We’re breaking down the full Bones experience: construction, print quality, storytelling, finish, and what other brands can learn (or leave behind).

In today’s episode of Packaging Today Show, we hit the aisle and the inbox.First, we’re breaking down real packaging pulled from the shelf—what nailed it, what failed it, and what we’d change to make it stand out. Then it’s time for everyone’s favorite packaging game show: Can We Solve It?Listeners submit their real-world packaging problems, and if we can’t crack it live on the show, they win the coveted “Packaging Is My Love Language” T-shirt. Spoiler: today’s question stumps us in the best way.You’ll get:Fast design critiques with real-world shelf impactSmart, bite-size design ideas you can steal (or avoid)One big challenge that might just break Adam, Cory's, or Evelio’s brain📦 Send us your design challenge for next week. Think you can stump us?

You won’t believe how much plastic you eat every single day—no, really. In this episode of Packaging Today, we break down two groundbreaking studies exposing the micro- and nanoplastics that contaminate your food through normal packaging use.From chopping boards to bottle caps, deli wraps to canned fish—plastic is shedding into our meals more than ever. But what’s really new here? And how does it compare to everything we’ve already feared?We’ll discuss:New research from the Food Packaging Forum and CNN Health revealing how simply opening packaging can release microplastics into food.How nanoplastics are found in your brain, blood, liver, and even placenta—yes, really.What foods could eliminate plastic packaging entirely (and what tradeoffs consumers would have to accept—like giving up canned convenience, embracing short shelf life, or risking a little botulism…).How ultra-processed foods increase exposure compared to whole foods.Why washing, heating, and reusing plastic makes it worse.💥 Highlight: One study found that just two plastic water bottles can contain over 240,000 plastic particles, 90% of which are nanoplastics. [CNN Health]💡 We'll also unpack the argument that no individual can avoid this alone—it’ll take systemic change and real government action.

In today’s episode of Packaging Today, we’re mixing a bit of news, innovation, and viewer-submitted design to give you a full spectrum of what’s hot—and what’s maybe not—in packaging.Breaking News — State-Level EPR Laws Are HereWe dig into the Food Safety Magazine article detailing the rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws across California, Maine, Washington, and beyond. These new rules could hit every link of the food and beverage supply chain, from brand owners to importers. But are these laws helping drive sustainable progress or just driving up packaging costs?A Plastic That Dissolves in Seawater?!Japan may have just dropped a mic in the fight against marine plastic waste. A new plastic that dissolves in seawater within an hour and biodegrades in soil in just over a week could be a game-changer. But is it ready for prime time—or are we still too addicted to durability?Viewer Submission – Trader Joe’s Fudge PackagingWe showcase and review a real-world example sent in by a viewer. This fudge box from Trader Joe’s gets a design breakdown from Evelio: what works, what could work harder, and why thoughtful coatings and layered storytelling turn this otherwise simple box into a rich experience (pun intended).Instagram Pack of the Week:We also spotlight one of the most culturally rich and visually powerful beer packaging designs in America—Vine Street Brewing’s cans by Whiskey Design. This isn’t just award-winning packaging, it's award-winning storytelling.From The Cookout to Jazzman, we unpack how this Black-owned Kansas City brewery collaborated with a design team that didn’t just decorate cans—they channeled culture, history, and joy into every inch of the brand.🎯 Tune in to hear:Why EPR laws might change how you design food packagingWhether the Japanese seawater-dissolving plastic is genius or greenwashedA live critique of layered storytelling in packaging via a sweet submission📩 Have a question or a brand you'd like us to feature? Drop it in the comments.📺 Subscribe on YouTube to watch us live.🤝 Connect with us on LinkedIn.

It’s Friday, and that means it’s time for Pack of the Week—where we break down the smartest, sharpest, and most surprising packaging on shelves right now.Today, we’re diving into the women-owned brand One Trick Pony and their brilliantly inverted peanut butter jars. This isn’t just cute packaging — it’s a functional redesign that solves a major consumer frustration: oil separation in natural nut butters.We break down:The design thinking behind the upside-down jar and leak-proof lidHow it improves consumer experience by eliminating stirring, mess, and resistance to buying natural peanut butterWhy this format helps grow the brand and positions it to compete with legacy players like Skippy and JifThe sustainability story: fewer unused jars, more brand loyalty, and smart material useIts exclusive launch at Whole Foods — and what that signals for challenger brandsHow the bold color blocking and cheeky tone (“One Trick Pony”) create instant shelf pop and memorabilitySpoiler: This is more than a gimmick. It’s a design-led revolution in a tired category.Drop your take in the comments: Is this the future of food packaging, or just a clever pony trick?

incredible Black-owned packaging companies shaping the future of our industry.From materials innovation to luxury brand packaging, these founders and creatives aren’t just breaking barriers — they’re building new standards. We highlight the businesses you need to know, the design leaders you should be following, and the real challenges Black entrepreneurs still face in this space — from funding to visibility to access to major retail accounts.In this episode, we’ll cover:The rise of Black-owned packaging manufacturers, designers, and suppliersHow Black entrepreneurs are leading in sustainability, storytelling, and styleWhy representation in packaging isn’t just good for culture — it’s good for businessWhat brands can do today to diversify their packaging supply chainHow the packaging industry can honor Juneteenth with more than a postJoin us as we celebrate, elevate, and educate — because true innovation doesn’t happen without inclusion.✊🏽 Submit your favorite Black-owned packaging companies in the comments so we can continue to feature and support them.

Today on The Packaging Today Show, we’re covering the stories, trends, and insights shaping the packaging world right now. From material innovations and legislation shake-ups to branding wins and design fails, we’re unpacking it all.We’ll cover:The latest industry headlines you actually need to knowDesign trends worth stealing (or avoiding)New materials making waves in sustainabilitySmart takes on dumb packagingYour questions and hot takes from the communityThis is your daily dose of packaging news, analysis, and entertainment — all in one place.Subscribe, share, and don’t forget: the conversation doesn’t end when the episode does.📩 Drop your comments, questions, and opinions — and let’s shape the future of packaging together.

Do consumers actually care about sustainable packaging? Or are we all just playing along while everyone shops by price?Today on The Packaging Today Show, we’re diving into real 2025 consumer data from McKinsey to unpack the uncomfortable truth about sustainability, design, and buying behavior.Here are the 3 surprising truths we’re covering:🧨 1. Price Always WinsOver 70% of U.S. consumers rank price and quality above environmental impact when making purchase decisions. For the lower and middle class, sustainability is a nice-to-have, not a need—especially when sustainable packaging drives up costs.🧼 2. Sustainability Is a Status SymbolWe’re calling it: for upper-middle class and wealthy consumers, sustainability isn’t about saving the planet. It’s about signal value—the “Tote Bag Effect.” Sustainable packaging is often more about aesthetics, branding, and virtue signaling than genuine demand.🔄 3. Recyclability Matters—But Only Because People Understand It77% of consumers say recyclability is the top indicator of sustainability—but bio-based or low CO₂ packaging? Not even close. If consumers don’t understand it, they won’t value it. If they don’t value it, they won’t pay for it.We’ll also cover:Whether brand owners or consumers feel responsible for sustainable packagingThe real reasons sustainable products often fail at shelfWhat packaging professionals can actually do to design smarter (and sell more)📩 Drop your hot take or question in the comments📺 Subscribe on YouTube to catch us live🔗 Connect on LinkedIn to keep the conversation goingThis episode challenges the echo chamber of green marketing—and forces us to rethink who we’re designing for.

Get into the gritty (and pulpy) world of molded fiber packaging — the material that’s everywhere from Apple boxes to takeout trays. It looks sustainable, it feels premium, but is it actually better for the planet and your bottom line?We break it all down:The Types of molded fiber:Dry-press / Hot-press: smooth, sharp edges, used in high-end consumer electronicsOne-sided tooling: cheaper, more industrial (think egg cartons)Thick-wall: durable, rough finish, often used in protective shippingTransfer molded: medium smoothness, common in food & drink carriersHybrid press-formed: newer, evolving method that blends benefitsThe Process: from slurry to mold to oven to trim — and the variables that impact cost and qualityDesign Requirements:Minimum draft anglesAvoiding undercutsVolume, thickness, and moisture considerationsHow mold cost differs from injection molding or die-cut toolingCost Comparison vs. plastic, corrugated, chipboard, and thermoformSustainability Check:Is it really recyclable or compostable at scale?What happens in landfill?Carbon footprint vs. alternativesWhen It’s Worth It — and when it’s just for the aestheticsWe’ll help you answer:📦 Should your next product launch include molded fiber?♻️ Is it truly sustainable — or just another green-tinted flex?💸 And what are you really paying for?