PIRA Market Study: A recent market study by PIRA in the UK stated that there have been significant gains in consumer awareness and commitment to living more sustainable lives. It also indicated that people are prepared to consider the environmental impact of their food purchases and how it impacts the future for their families.

Pretty in Pink: Beauty Packaging: Demographics are changing the face of beauty packaging. When creating a new beauty product, things such as safety and texture are just a couple things to keep in mind, but now packaging and demographics are playing a big part in product marketing and sales. As the population changes from “Baby Boomers” to “Gen Zers”, and beauty packaging is struggling to stay relevant, manufacturers need to adapt and pay attention to specific age groups. It seems that “age-specific” packaging will become more common in the beauty and personal care industry as the demographics change and the “Gen Zers” are more concerned with “eco-friendly” packaging, such as, biodegradable casing and materials.

Cascades Forma-Pak, Inc: Cascades and partner have “kicked-off” constructions of a new paper mill in Niagara Falls, NY USA called the Greenpac Mill LLC.

Sweden Pulp Mill: The SORDA CELL MONSTERASpulp mill in Sweden has announced the Vaahto Group will rebuild their dryer section at an estimated cost of 5 to 7 mm Euros to provide output of 950 tons operation.

Pack Expo 2011: The International Molded Fiber Association (IMFA) would like to invite you to visit our renewable molded fiber packaging products display, with samples from worldwide sources, at the Pack Expo in Las Vegas,  NV on September 26-27-28, 2011. IMFA’s booth, C-384, is located in the central hall.

Huhtamaki, Inc.: Clay Dunn, president, IMFA member company, Huhtamaki, has announced the acquisition of US companies, Paris Packaging in Texas, and specialty folding carton manufacturers in Hopkinsville, KY and Andalusia, AL. These acquisitions will expand Huhtamaki’s converting capabilities for food services products.

SPC: The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) has revised its definition of “Sustainable Packaging” which addresses, in more detail, the conditions of the life cycle of packaging material.

Foxconn International: Foxconn International, the world’s largest contract manufacturer of electronic products showed its employee costs are up by 33% year on year. Hon Hai Precision Industry of Taiwan, Foxconn’s primary stock holder, indicated the increased costs were equivalent to almost double gross profit.