The Packaging School

In August 2024, Andrew Hurley, PhD—our Founder—took center stage at a TEDxClemsonU event to discuss the findings of a study he conducted with Clemson alumn Rachel Hall, M.S.

The study compared consumer perceptions (n=1,027 US consumers) of the sustainability performance of different meal bar packaging formats with the results of a life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted using Trayak’s EcoImpact COMPASS, revealing how consumer perceptions are often at odds with packaging LCA results.

When asked the following question before seeing the LCA results:

“Given products and prices are identical, which wrapper is the most environmentally-friendly to you?”

The 1,027 respondents answered:

🍫 Compostable Plastic Wrapper: 59.8%
🍫 Compostable Paper & Aluminum Coated Film Wrapper: 22.0%
🍫 Store Drop-Off Recyclable Plastic Wrapper: 17.3%
🍫 Non-Recyclable Plastic Wrapper: 0.9%

Explore how consumer responses shifted before and after participants were exposed to the LCA results for the four packaging formats: https://packagingschool.com/lessons/tedxclemsonu-life-cycle-assessment-lca-of-meal-bar-packaging

TEDxClemsonU: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Meal Bar Packa… Our founder—Dr. Andrew Hurley—took center stage at a TEDxClemsonU event in August 2024 discussing the results of a meal bar packaging life cycle assessmen…

In June of last year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bipartisan bill—SB 25—that is expected to have ripple effects across food ingredients, packaging, and labeling practices around the globe.

Section 9 of SB 25 creates a mandatory labeling requirement for food manufacturers who use one or more of 44 identified ingredients and additives—including Red 40 and Bleached Flour (see article for full list).

If the identified ingredients or additives are used, the label must read:
“WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.”

While the future of SB 25 is currently in limbo due to a preliminary injunction ruling in February 2026, it is essential for packaging and food professionals to become familiar with Section 9. Because Texas is the world’s 8th largest economy, the outcome of SB 25 will likely influence the formulas and labels used by food manufacturers around the world.

Our new guide breaks down:
📃The Basics of SB 25
🚫The 44 Ingredients / Additives
🌏 Potential National & Worldwide Impacts
💡Three Tips for Packaging & Compliance Teams

Dive into SB 25 here: https://packagingschool.com/lessons/texas-food-packaging-labeling-law-sb-25-a-packaging-professionals-guide-to-compliance

Texas' Food Packaging Labeling Law (SB 25): A Packaging Pro… On June 22, 2025, the Governor of Texas signed SB 25 into state law. The bipartisan bill requires warning labels on food packaging and other products if t…

In coffee packaging news, Packaging Dive reports that Lavazza—an Italian coffee manufacturer—is releasing a packaging-free single-serve coffee pod product to the US market this August ☕🇮🇹

Dubbed "Tablì," the single-use coffee pods allow for “cafe-quality espresso” with no setup, grinding, or packaging. Packaging Dive reports that Tablì is used alongside a special Lavazza device, resulting from five years of R&D and 15+ patents.

Daniele Foti—VP of Marketing for Lavazza NA—was quoted in the article:
“Tablì eliminates the trade-offs between quality and convenience entirely—it’s a true multisensory experience: coffee you can smell, feel, and see before it ever brews.”

While Lavazza and Tablì have steep competition in the US market with Keurig and Nestlé, Tablì’s packaging-free pod design makes it a truly unique and sustainable option for coffee lovers.

Read more on Lavazza’s packaging-free coffee pods: https://www.packagingdive.com/news/lavazza-coffee-pods-no-packaging-tabli/822377/

Lavazza launches single-serve coffee pods without packaging The company is bringing its Tablì single-serve coffee tabs to the U.S., which don’t contain individual wrappings or coatings.

Have you ever heard of Z1RO?

They are a France-based packaging and material innovation company spearheading the "next generation of molded packaging.”

Z1RO was founded by Ukrainian entrepreneur Alexander Sobolenko, who previously founded Releaf Paper—a paper and packaging company that pioneered the process of making bags and paper from fallen leaves 🍂

Sobolenko is using Z1RO to expand into other non-wood biomass materials, including:

🌽 Agricultural residue
🎍 European bamboo
🍁 H**p hurd
🍁 Fallen leaves

According to Packaging Europe:

“Z1RO’s technology is based on biomass engineering processes and designed to preserve part of the natural lignin found in plant fibers. Using lignin as a natural binding component, it is expected to reduce processing intensity while remaining compatible with existing infrastructure for moulding fiber manufacturing.”

Sobolenko was quoted in the article stating:

“The next generation of packaging materials will not emerge solely from petrochemicals or traditional pulp production. I believe it will be created at the intersection of material science, local biomass resources, industrial design and new manufacturing models.”

Do you agree with Sobolenko? Comment below!

Read more on Z1RO’s approach to molded fiber packaging from alternative materials: https://packagingeurope.com/news/moulded-fibre-packaging-manufactured-from-non-wood-biomass-like-fallen-leaves/14372.article

Moulded fibre packaging manufactured from non-wood biomass like fallen leaves Z1RO is converting fallen leaves, h**p hurds and other non-wood biomass into moulded fibre packaging - aiming to combine functional performance with a 'premium' tactile experience.

Today is the day! The kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup ⚽

While the team at The Packaging School is excited for the 100+ game tournament, we are equally excited about some of the limited-edition packaging designs and brand partnerships that are already underway.

In our latest article, we explore three limited-edition packaging designs that aim to celebrate the US Men’s National Soccer Team team throughout the summer, including:

🇺🇸 Ritz
🍻 Michelob Ultra
🌟 Sour Patch Kids

Read more on these limited-edition packaging designs here: https://packagingschool.com/lessons/fifa-world-cup-2026-limited-edition-packaging-ritz-sour-patch-kids-michelob-ultras-designs

Did you know that Packaging Dive has a 2026 packaging industry mergers and acquisitions tracker on their website?

A number of deals have taken place in May 2026 and June 2026 alone, including:

🇨🇦 CCL Industries acquiring Sleever for $151 million CAD

⛵ Jamestown Container Companies acquiring Syracuse Corrugated Box Corp

🧭 SupplyOne, Inc. acquiring Compass Packaging Solutions in a PE-backed deal

🧼 COSMOGEN acquiring Asquan Group

🌲International Paper acquiring Delmarva Corrugated Packaging

📦 UFP Packaging acquiring Berry Pallets, Inc and John Rock (certain locations)

🚛 Veritiv acquiring Quick Pak, Inc. and Stickel Packaging Supply

Stay up to date with other key M&A deals in the packaging industry: https://www.packagingdive.com/news/tracking-packaging-mergers-acquisitions-deals/648221/

Tracking packaging mergers and acquisitions in 2026 SupplyOne acquired a New England protective packaging supplier and CCL completed its purchase of Sleever. Catch up on other recent deals from Jamestown Container, Novvia and International Paper.

We’re honored to share that Trellis (Formerly GreenBiz) included our online Certificate of Sustainable Packaging (CSP) program in their 99 SustainabilityCertifications for 2026! 🌟

The CSP was included under the “Circular economy, product, and packaging certifications” section.

Read more about our CSP and the other 98 sustainability-related certifications: https://trellis.net/article/99-sustainability-certifications-for-2026/

99 sustainability certifications for 2026 Build credibility with skill- and knowledge-building across key areas of your profession.