Packaging Today Show

In this episode, we delve into Texas Senate Bill 25—a groundbreaking piece of legislation that could redefine food labeling across the United States. If enacted, this law would mandate warning labels on popular processed foods like Doritos, Twinkies, and Gatorade, stating they are "not recommended for human consumption" due to certain ingredients banned in countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, and the EU.Join us as we unpack the implications of SB 25 on the food industry, consumer health, and packaging design. We'll explore the list of targeted additives, the potential nationwide ripple effects, and the controversy surrounding the bill. Whether you're a packaging professional, a health-conscious consumer, or just curious about the future of food labeling, this episode offers valuable insights.Topics Covered:

• Overview of Texas Senate Bill 25
• List of ingredients triggering the warning label
• Potential impact on national food labeling standards
• Industry response and opposition
• Implications for packaging design and consumer perception

🔔 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on the latest in packaging and food industry news.MTHA the "Make Texas Healthy Again" bill, aims to enhance transparency in food labeling by requiring warning labels on packaged foods containing certain additives. These additives, totaling over 40, include synthetic dyes (like Red 40 and Yellow 6), bleached flour, and preservatives such as BHA and BHT. While these ingredients are legal in the U.S., they have been banned or restricted in countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, and the EU due to health concerns .Governor Abbott has until June 22 to sign or veto the bill. If he takes no action, the bill will automatically become law.

Welcome to the very first episode of Viewer Pack Review!In this premiere, Adam, Cory, and Evelio dig into a spicy little number—a Hot Honey brand clearly sweet on a certain public domain bear. 🐻🍯🔥We’re talking about a packaging design that mixes chili heat with childhood nostalgia, complete with a plaid-shirted bear swinging a honey dipper like a branding weapon. But does the packaging hit the right notes—or just cling to an expired copyright?In this episode, the guys break down:Where this pack wins Where it might be crossing legal and taste linesWhat it really communicatesAnd how to improve it Got a pack you want reviewed? Submit it to the show—we just might break it down next.Comment "Review my package"

Learn the Packaging Design Process for Small Businesses | Three Tree Tarot Packaging BreakdownIn this episode of Packaging Today, we break down the real-world packaging of Three Tree Tarot, a UK-based small business shipping eco-friendly tarot decks around the world. 🎴🌍From sustainable packaging materials to tertiary packaging choices, we dive into the details every small business owner and creative needs to hear when designing packaging from scratch. You’ll learn:✅ How to design packaging that aligns with your brand✅ Which materials offer the best balance of sustainability and performance✅ Why recyclable packaging may be better than compostable for your supply chain✅ Where to save money without compromising on quality✅ What updates could improve the unboxing experience for your customersWhether you’re working on new package design, exploring small business branding, or looking for packaging ideas that elevate your product, this episode shows you how to approach packaging like a pro—even if you’re just getting started.This is more than just pretty packaging design illustration—it’s a crash course in function, form, and the future of product packaging design for small business.

the audience asks is their new recyclable packaging better than their olfactory compostable packaging, what are the newest states with EPR laws, how EPR laws impact your business, an EPR masterclass on Oregon, Colorado, and what questions you should be asking of your packaging.

Plus, get insights into the new packaging segment called Can We Solve It, where you ask questions and if you stump us you get a shirt. Join us and play every Wednesday for your chance to win a shirt that you stumped us.

Let’s clear up one of the most misunderstood concepts in packaging purchasing: margin vs. mark-up. They're not interchangeable, and if you’re not fluent in the difference, you’re probably leaving money or sustainability on the table.In this episode, we break down:The real difference between margin and mark-up (yes, math is involved, but we keep it human).How this impacts your packaging costs, supply chain negotiations, and perceived value.Why understanding both is essential if you want to squeeze every drop of value from your packaging budget without squeezing your suppliers too hard.And how better financial fluency can lead to more sustainable, smarter packaging decisions.Whether you're in procurement, design, or just trying to justify that gilded foil to your CFO this episode gives you the language (and leverage) to sound like a packaging profit pro.Less confusion. More clarity.

Is this can saving the ocean… or just muddying the truth?In this episode of Packaging Today Show, we crack open the controversy around a beverage claiming to “remove 2x plastic bottles from our oceans.” Is it bold environmental action—or greenwashing dressed in aluminum?We bring the receipts from both camps:🟢 Supporters say: • The brand partners with Seven Clean Seas, a legit cleanup org. • They ditch plastic for aluminum and glass—real change, not lip service. • Every can funds plastic removal. That’s action, not apathy.🔴 Critics fire back: • “The math isn’t mathing.” • Plastic credits ≠ plastic pulled from the ocean. • Spinning vague claims is why consumers don’t trust sustainability. • Over-indexing on eco won’t sell soda. Taste still matters.From #Sustainabaloney memes to real data about ocean-bound waste and DRS (Deposit Return Systems), we’re diving deep. Are clever words enough to fool the consumer? Or are they just the first step toward a better industry?📌 Plus: What should responsible sustainability marketing sound like? What lessons can every brand learn from this PR firestorm?🎙 Hosted by Evelio Mattos, with insights from beverage brands, designers, and environmentalists. Subscribe to join the debate.👇 Sound off in the comments: Greenwashing or Game-Changer?

the five biggest sustainability misfires still lurking on retail shelves. In today’s Packaging Today Show, Cory Connors, Adam Peek, and Evelio Mattos rip open real‑world examples of packaging done wrong—then map out smarter moves you can steal.The Line‑Up of Least‑Sustainable OffendersPringles® composite can – triple‑layer mash‑up of paperboard, metal, and plastic that wrecks most recycling lines.K‑Cup® single‑serve coffee pods – tiny PP capsules fused with aluminum lids and paper filters: convenience that compounds waste.PVC blister packs for toys & tech – chlorine‑based plastic that releases toxins when produced or incinerated and almost never gets recycled.Black carbon‑pigmented meat trays – optical sorters can’t “see” them, so they march straight to landfill despite being PET or PP.EPS foam take‑out clamshells – bulky, brittle polystyrene that crumbles into microplastics and is banned in more cities every year.Tune in for the unfiltered teardown—plus quick wins to swap these materials for recyclable, mono‑material, or refillable solutions without nuking shelf appeal or margins.

Evelio, Cory, and Adam breakdown the latest Brooklyn Beer x CopenHell Metal Fest collab beer packaging. DEsign, production, materials, and the enefits of limited edition packaging to boost your brand in new audiences.Join us every weekday Live on Youtube and LinkedIn at 7:30am PST to discuss the latest in Packaging.

KIND just scrapped the see-through wrapper that built its empire. Is swapping plastic windows for paper genius sustainability—or a fatal blow to shelf appeal? Let’s unwrap the truth.If you’re a packaging designer, structural engineer, brand manager, or sustainability lead looking to level-up your sustainable packaging design game, this episode is a masterclass in real-world decision-making:Material science deep-dive—from multi-layer OPP/PE films to fiber-rich, curb-side-recyclable paper laminates with water-based barrier coatings.Lifecycle assessment (LCA) math that compares carbon footprints, food-waste risk, and circularity outcomes.Manufacturing & scale-up realities—line speeds, sealing jaws, puncture resistance around sharp almond edges, and the true cost delta of paper vs. flex-film.Consumer psychology & retail merchandising—how losing the “ingredients you can see” window may alter purchase intent, portion perception, and shelf impact.Actionable takeaways on sustainable development goals (SDGs), packaging waste reduction, and pathways to closed-loop, recyclable, or compostable solutions without sacrificing product integrity.

Walk the exact sort line that decides whether your package becomes a recycling hero—or an EPR headache—captured live during SPC Impact 2025, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s flagship spring event (Apr 28 – May 1, Seattle) dedicated to “advancing sustainability in packaging to make a positive impact on climate change.”​

In this Packaging Today Show episode, host Evelio Mattos teams up with Cory Connors, fresh off 2 days of SPC sessions on circular-economy strategy, material innovation and policy, to give you an on-the-ground tour of a Seattle MRF and the design takeaways you can apply tomorrow.​

What we cover
► Why mono-material flexibles, rigid PET, and uncoated fiber fly through optical sorters—while multilayers and metallized films crash the party

► Fast fixes that slash Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees: adhesives, labels, inks, and glues that don’t contaminate the bale
► Design-for-disassembly hacks to hit upcoming state recyclability mandates

► Myth-busting the “everything with a triangle is recyclable” misconception—straight from the MRF operators

Guests
• Cory Connors — Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors podcast
• Evelio Mattos — Packaging Unboxd podcast, IDPdirect

👇 Drop your toughest recycling design question in the comments—we’ll tackle it in the next episode.