Mar 17, 2026
SB 343: An Intro to California’s New “Truth in Labeling” Law
DISCLAIMER: This document is designed as an introduction to California’s Truth in Labeling law and contains summary information. The information provided in this document does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of […]
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Mar 09, 2026
An Introduction to California’s Packaging EPR Law SB 54
DISCLAIMER: This document is designed as an introduction to California EPR laws and contains summary information. The information provided in this document does not constitute legal advice and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this document is expressly […]
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Feb 06, 2026
Chemical vs. Mechanical Recycling Explained
At a Glance Chemical vs. mechanical recycling is a growing point of confusion in food packaging, with major differences in cost, performance, and how materials are processed back into usable forms. Mechanical recycling is established and more affordable, but material quality degrades with each cycle, often requiring design or material adjustments. Chemical recycling can return plastics to near-virgin […]
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Feb 06, 2026
EPR Fees and Food Packaging: What You Need to Know Before Costs Jump
At a Glance EPR fees are unavoidable: If you sell food in packaging, you’ll help fund recycling systems — and costs change based on material type, weight, and recyclability. Packaging choices affect the bill: Single-material, recyclable packaging and recycled content can lower fees; mixed or hard-to-recycle materials raise them. This is a planning issue, not just […]
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Jan 30, 2026
rPET Food Packaging: What Food Businesses Need to Know Beyond the Sustainability Hype
At a Glance rPET in food packaging is in high demand, but supply can’t keep up — creating cost premiums, regulatory considerations, and sourcing challenges for food businesses. U.S. collection rates remain low for recyclable plastics, driving shortages and limiting how much recycled content brands can realistically use. Although rPET costs more than virgin PET, it can meet FDA food-grade safety standards when properly […]
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Jan 16, 2026
How Did the U.S. Plastics Pact’s Roadmap to 2025 Fare?
At a Glance The U.S. Plastics Pact set ambitious 2025 goals, but many depended on recycling infrastructure and end markets that simply weren’t ready, creating a gap between commitments and reality. Recycling rates and access to food-grade recycled content proved to be the biggest obstacles, not a lack of intent from participating companies. Some brands stepped back […]
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Jan 09, 2026
Black Plastic Food Packaging: Premium or Problematic?
At a Glance: Black plastic food packaging looks premium and hides things like excess sauces or grease, but it’s nearly invisible to recycling scanners. The carbon-black pigment absorbs light, sending recyclable PET trays straight to the waste stream. If black plastic happens to be sorted, there aren’t many end markets for it because it can only become other black plastic products — limiting the number of different applications. Detectable pigments and new scanners exist, but high costs slow adoption. Brands […]
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Dec 30, 2025
Why The STEWARD Act Matters for Food Businesses
At a Glance The STEWARD Act: A bipartisan bill aimed passed in the Senate is aimed at improving America’s collection and recycling systems by bettering infrastructure and creating standardized, reliable data. Creates a new EPA grant program (Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Program) that funds $500K–$15M projects to expand recycling access in underserved communities. Sets national […]
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Dec 23, 2025
Why We Need to Talk About Closed-Loop Recycling
At a Glance Closed-loop recycling keeps materials in use — a PET clamshell becomes another clamshell, not carpet fiber. The main issue isn’t tech, it’s collection — recyclers lack a clean, consistent material supply. Local systems and smart design (APR guidelines, no black or mixed materials) can keep recycling truly circular. Real progress needs access, economics, and behavior […]
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Dec 17, 2025
The Risk of Betting It All on One Shiny New Product
At a Glance Chasing every new product innovation in food packaging can be risky — flashy features don’t always mean long-term reliability. The biggest danger in concentrating all your supply with a single new partner isn’t the product itself — it’s the uncertainty around their capacity to scale and deliver with consistency. Food pros know […]
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