02 November 2026

PaperFlex Consortium: accelerating paper-based flexible packaging innovation
Six global companies have come together to accelerate the development of paper-based alternatives to flexible plastic packaging. The PaperFlex Consortium, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, will focus on markets where flexible plastic packaging is widely used and where a lack of collection and recycling systems could increase their likelihood of ending up in the environment.

Nature inspires new way to make white, water-repellent materials
Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a foam-based technology that mimics nature’s ability to make brilliant white materials and control water repellency—without titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigments or PFAS.

Toward future-ready food packaging where materials meet AI
Packaging already tells us where food comes from, when it was made, what’s in it, and how many calories it contains. But researchers see a future where packaging can “see,” in real time, what is happening inside and translate that into information that producers and consumers can act on. A team from Kyushu University proposes a framework built around a closed loop of recognition, judgment, actuation and feedback.

Researchers design extra-sticky adhesives that degrade on command
One team developed a fully recyclable tape. Another team designed an adhesive stronger than duct tape that degrades on command. Working together, these Virginia Tech teams are now developing extra-sticky adhesives that can be broken down into their original components once they are no longer needed.

Recycled HDPE for safe hazardous materials containers
Fraunhofer LBF and the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) have launched the MultiCycCon project. They are investigating how repeated recycling affects the environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) of HDPE used in transport and hazardous materials containers.

New research rethinks plastic from the inside out
What if the key to making stronger, more sustainable plastics isn't changing their ingredients, but rearranging their molecules? Virginia Tech researchers have created degradable polymers with a new molecular architecture that combine properties that are often difficult to achieve in one material: strength, toughness, flexibility, and the ability to block oxygen.

Improving the durability of plant-based packaging with plasma technology
Researchers at NC State University have found a scalable way to improve the durability of plant-based packaging. They used plasma technology to apply layered, protective coatings to the surface of cellulosic nanofibril films, to reduce water absorption and improve moisture resistance.

Brightlands Circular Space opens for scaling up plastic innovations faster
Many circular plastics innovations show promising results in pilot projects. However, the transition to industrial implementation is often challenging. On 7 October, Brightlands Circular Space (BCS) opened to enable companies to take that next step faster. BCS is an initiative of Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Maastricht University and TNO.

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