The European Tube Manufacturers Association (etma) has named the winners of its Tube of the Year 2026 competition across aluminium, plastic, laminate, sustainability and prototype categories.

Amcor is introducing a recycle-ready polypropylene (PP) dip cup and lidding range for condiments, dressings and sauces, targeting foodservice applications and responding to changing sustainability regulations and consumer demand.

New cellulose-based films and coatings developed in Finland could help fibre-based packaging achieve high barrier performance without relying on plastic layers.

Elopak is using low-carbon aluminium made with renewable electricity in its European carton production, reducing the carbon footprint of its standard aluminium ambient cartons by eight per cent.

UPM has developed adhesives for specific end uses in label applications, with three product lines tailored to pharmaceutical, beverage and industrial environments.

A digitally printed PP-monomaterial pouch developed via a multi-company collaboration – Polifilm, Actega, Xeikon, and Gruber-Folien – shows high barrier performance without multi-material laminates.

The new UPM ProCycle portfolio of recycling-compatible label solutions combines adhesive technologies and circular products to help converters and brand owners make optimal sustainable choices.

New data released at METPACK 2026, running in Essen this week, points to continued growth for metal packaging, driven by beverage cans, recycling performance and renewed industry investment.

Smurfit Westrock has introduced ActiBlu, a prototype designed to remove the need for traditional gluelines in paper-based packaging, using a water-activated adhesive solution applied during production.

Dry moulded fibre specialist PulPac's global IP portfolio has surpassed 500 national patent grants, as the technology evolves from emerging status to an established industrial manufacturing method.

Henkel Adhesive Technologies is expanding its portfolio of water-based barrier and heat seal coatings for paper-based packaging, aimed at improving functionality while supporting recycling compatibility.

Amcor received a Silver Flexible Packaging Achievement Award in the Sustainability category for its Earth Sense Pro Recycled Content Stretch Hand Film at the FPA 2026 Annual Meeting.

Fibre-based packaging emerged as a leading material category at the 2026 WorldStar Awards, signalling a decisive shift in global innovation focus.

Parkside has added three materials to its accredited compostable flexible packaging range, designed to combine home compostability with barrier performance traditionally found in multilayer plastics.

Henkel has developed a cold seal coating for barrier-coated paper packaging aimed at supporting recyclable paper structures. Loctite Liofol CS 7106 RE is designed for use in paper-based packaging applications.

Amcor and DCM have introduced a recycle-ready, mono PE film for DCM’s fertiliser portfolio in Europe, replacing the company’s previous multi-material packaging.