Smithers Insights Podcast

Despite geopolitical disruption, inflation and high energy costs, the global wipes market is still growing at two to three times the rate of GDP. In this episode of the Smithers Insight Podcast, Eve De Clerk talks to Phil Mango, author of Smithers’ nonwovens reports, about why wipes are holding up so well and where the market is heading next.

Phil explains how shifting demographics are reshaping demand, why a single European regulation became the biggest driver of product development worldwide, and how industry, wastewater groups and consumers are finally converging on what ‘flushable’ really means.

In this episode

• Why consumers treat wipes as a necessity, even when budgets are tight
• How falling birth rates are pushing baby wipes aside in favour of specialty wipes in North America and Western Europe
• Why Asia remains a growth market for baby wipes
• How the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive turned plastic-free into a global priority
• What’s driving plastic-free wipes in North America and Asia, even without equivalent regulation
• How flushable wipes evolved from ‘flushable by size’ to truly dispersible products
• Why the industry is moving towards a commonly agreed flushability standard.

About the guest
Phil Mango is the author of Smithers’ nonwovens market reports, covering wipes, materials and end-use trends worldwide. His new report The Future of Global Wipes to 2031 is available now.

Banknote production is rising even as cash use declines in many parts of the world. In this episode, Dr James Wojtyk, author of the new Smithers report The Future of Banknotes to 2031, explains how the two fit together and what that means for the global banknote industry.

We discuss:

• Why the world is splitting into two distinct cash economies
• The rise of India as a major banknote producer
• How security features are moving towards integrated, high-tech designs, including polymer and machine-readable authentication
• Why mergers and acquisitions are expected among the industry’s main players
• Why cash remains a strategic asset for resilience, privacy and security

Essential listening for security printers, central banks, substrate and ink suppliers, and anyone in the cash value chain. Find out more about The Future of Banknotes to 2031 at smithers.com/market-reports.

 The PPWR becomes legally enforceable on 12 August 2026, but for many brands and converters, the practical questions are only just starting. In this episode, we sit down with Smithers packaging specialist Rob Outram to unpack what the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation actually means in practice, and how businesses across the value chain can get ahead of it.

Rob draws on 30 years of consulting experience across chemicals, materials and packaging to break down:

• The difference between PPWR and EPR, and why brands need to understand both
• Which packaging formats (polystyrene, laminates, flexible plastics) are falling out of favour with recyclers, and why
• Why mono-materials are becoming the 'holy grail' of recyclable packaging
• How Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) vary by territory; and why that matters for fees and strategy
• The real story behind the shift to paper-based packaging, and its limits
• Where genuine regulatory grey areas remain.

Whether you're a brand owner managing multi-market compliance or a converter rethinking your material mix, this episode offers a grounded, practical view of where packaging regulation is heading next.

What does the future of e-commerce packaging actually look like? Industry expert Dr Windsor Holden joins host Adam Page to break down the trends, data, and regulatory shifts shaping the global market – and what they mean for businesses operating in this space.

This episode covers:

• Which regions are set to see the fastest growth 
• The rise of flexible packaging 
• How fashion and social media are accelerating e-commerce demand
• The regulatory changes pushing businesses towards a fundamental redesign of their packaging systems. 

Dr Holden is one of the foremost authorities on digital commerce and payments, with over 25 years of experience advising leading research firms, industry bodies, and global organisations. He is the author of Smithers’ latest market report The Future of E-commerce Packaging to 2031.

Listen to the full conversation and subscribe to Smithers Insights Podcast for more expert analysis on the packaging industry.

In this episode we talk to paper and pulp expert Alexander Koukoulas about the outlook for moulded pulp, a market that will continue to grow steadily from 2025 to 2030.

We discuss how the implementation of PPWR in Europe, and growing EPR regulations globally, are driving the shift away from plastics to more sustainable materials such as moulded fibre. We also explore regional differences, especially in light of regulations; as well as key performance characteristics, innovations and barriers to adoption.

Alexander Koukoulas is a strategic advisor with 35+ years of experience across pulp & paper, nonwovens, advanced materials, biofuels, and biochemicals, with leadership roles spanning Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurial ventures, and national research centres.

New research published by Smithers, the authority on paper and packaging supply chains, forecasts a global growth rate of 4.1% CAGR to 2030. Its latest in-depth market report The Future of Moulded Pulp Packaging to 2030 identifies the biggest opportunities for growth in moulded pulp and provides insights into the unmet needs of the industry. Find out more at: https://www.smithers.com/services/market-reports/packaging/the-future-of-moulded-pulp-packaging-to-2030

Printing equipment is used to produce a vast array of products, from books, magazines, newspapers through packaging materials and several trends are impacting the demand for new printing equipment.  

In the latest episode of Smithers Insights Podcast we interview Jon Harper Smith on some of these trends, such as: 

• The drive to automation of print equipment over the next ten years
• Increasing sustainability efforts affecting manufacturing of print equipment
• Consumer demand, regulations and brand owners fuelling this move to sustinability

Listen to the podcast now to find out more on the latest trends in the print equipment market and their forecast shift over the next few years. 

In this episode of Smithers Insights Podcast we are in conversation with paper expert Scott McNutt, author of a new Smithers report, The Future of Specialty Papers to 2030.

Scott highlights the segments poised for growth, the impact of regulations, and the latest innovations in the specialty papers market.

Scott McNutt has over 43 years of experience in the paper industry, with expertise in papermaking, quality management, engineering, operations management, technical service, and product innovation. For the last 3 years, as the founder of Nextep Partners LLC Consulting, he has helped client companies develop and commercialise sustainable packaging.

The Future of Specialty Papers to 2030 is available now from Smithers. This report explores the key market trends, including sustainable packaging solutions and interrelated environmental regulations, new technology for papermaking, new materials for paper and coatings – including bio-based coatings and alternative fibres – and the trend for customisation and personalisation in packaging.

Smithers is your strategic partner for market insights into the paper and packaging industry.

In this episode we're talking to packaging expert Dr Sean Smyth about the forecast of digital printing for producing labels and packaging over the period 2020–2030, as more brands and retailers are taking advantage of the benefits of digital print production.

Sean chats about the manufacture of labels and packaging (corrugated, cartons, flexible packaging, rigid plastics and metal) that are printed using  either electrophotography or inkjet.

Sean Smyth has spent more than 25 years in senior technology and management positions for print businesses across the supply chain. Sean has extensive experience in digital printing. In his time with Smithers, Sean has authored many off-the-shelf market studies and has provided strategic consultancy services to a range of clients across the value chain.

The Future of Digital Print for Packaging to 2030 is available now from Smithers, your strategic partner for market insights into the packaging and printing industry.

Increasing environmental concerns and regulatory pressures are driving the demand for more sustainable packaging solutions as companies come under pressure to reduce their environmental impact. Brand owners are considering alternative solutions for difficult-to-recycle flexible plastic packaging; including fibre-based packaging and more recyclable mono-material flexible plastic packaging. 

In this instalment of Smithers Insights Podcast we discuss these changes in material with Jonathan Fowle, spotlighting the debate between paper and plastic. Alongside this battle of substrates and materials we chat more about changes in supply chain, the use of PCR and new and changing legislations.

Listen now to find out the latest on the flexible packaging market and read more in Smithers new report: The Future of Global Flexible Packaging to 2030

For more information on Smithers Market Reports head to www.smithers.com

In this episode we're talking to currency expert Dr James Wojtyk about market developments in banknotes - the subject of a new market report The Lifecycle of Banknotes to 2030.

Despite the growing dominance of contactless payments and digital wallets, banknotes remain indispensable for economic resilience, financial inclusion, cultural identity, and privacy. Towards 2030, the banknote lifecycle will be greatly influenced by the integration of advanced technology, evolving public needs, and a strong emphasis on security, sustainability, and accessibility.  

Listen now to hear Dr Wojtyk discuss the range of factors shaping the banknote market, including the impact of AI; anticounterfeiting measures; evolving public needs, and the prioritization of sustainability and accessibility.

For more information about The Lifecycle of Banknotes to 2030, please visit www.smithers.com