The packaging stories and trends to follow in 2025
The Packaging Europe editorial team kicks off the New Year with its predictions for the packaging industry in 2025, from business trends and legislation to popular materials and technological advancements.
Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions dominated headlines in 2024 – can we expect more of the same in 2025?
Reusable packaging
When we surveyed our Sustainability Awards jurors about what areas across the packaging industry were in most urgent need of innovation, reuseable and refillable packaging came out on top with 53%.
The shift to paper continues
The introduction of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is expected to further accelerate the ongoing paperization trend, as it places strong restrictions on single-use plastics but not paper, and exempts paper-based materials from the new minimum recycled content requirements that will come into force in 2030.
Underpinning sustainability targets
In the last decade, a number of multinational corporate players have shared ambitious sustainability targets, a commendable response towards addressing our shared global issue.
A Global Plastics Treaty
High hopes for a completed and ambitious Global Plastics Treaty were dashed in Busan as, between 25th November and 1st December 2024, INC-5 resulted in no clear agreement. Now negotiations will carry over into 2025.
Integration of AI
The integration of AI in 2024 mainly focused on applications in logistics and waste management, with some utilization in packaging design.
Sustainable Packaging Summit 2025
At the Sustainable Packaging Summit just gone, we took note of attendees’ thoughts and concerns on the packaging industry as it stood last year.
To read the full article, please visit The packaging stories and trends to follow in 2025 | Article | Packaging Europe. Published on January 3, 2025.