Research
A quiet table for paper packaging at Pack Expo 2025
This year’s Pack Expo saw the big, established paper packaging players out in full force, but there were noticeably fewer smaller, disruptive newcomers than in previous years. What's the role for paper packaging in this space?
This year’s Pack Expo saw the big, established paper packaging players out in full force, but there were noticeably fewer smaller, disruptive newcomers than in previous years. All this while in an industry facing cost pressures, regulatory shifts, and sustainability demands, playing it safe might be the biggest gamble of all.While the paper packaging category feels cautious today, regulatory shifts and cost dynamics could spark a new wave of innovation.
In this article, we highlight our observations from Pack Expo 2025 – in particular in molded fiber and paperboard, in plastic substitution throughout the sector, and we look at how producers are navigating recent trade policy changes.