Cost, legislation/regulation and consumer preference will have the greatest impact on packaging during the next five years as end users and OEMs strive to balance sustainability with functionality.

End users rank cost first, followed by legislation/regulation, while OEMs place legislation/regulation before cost, according to The New Material World: Packaging’s Path Toward Sustainability, a report from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. However, compliance with legislation/regulation is especially challenging. In the absence of federal guidance, state mandates and retailer requirements, which can vary widely, exert the greatest impact on buying decisions.

The study, an update of PMMI’s 2023 Packaging Compass Report, surveyed 302 participants, including 222 end users from 201 consumer packaged goods companies and 80 OEMs. As respondents discussed sustainable material options, obstacles and strategies for adoption, end users and OEMs agreed that trade-offs are inevitable and that collaboration is essential. Trade-offs can include higher costs, as well as a reduction in packaging performance and equipment efficiency. 

To move forward, both groups must work together. For end users, rising costs complicate the selection of sustainable packaging materials. Yet, material choices are evolving. Recyclable materials remain the top priority, while interest in compostable materials has waned due to cost and infrastructure limitations. The emphasis on recyclability favors paperboard, corrugated and clear glass packaging. It also makes polystyrene, foams and polyvinyl chloride the prime targets for replacement. 

Meanwhile, OEMs must modify or redesign equipment to handle new and emerging materials without compromising machine performance or production efficiency. Through partnerships, OEMs and end users can move beyond reactive adaptation to become leaders in building a more sustainable and resilient packaging future.

Sustainability strategies will be among the most critical topics covered at packaging and processing show Pack Expo East 2026, set for Feb. 17–19 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, with 8,000 attendees, 500 exhibitors, 125,000 square feet of exhibit space, free educational sessions and many networking opportunities.

Source: PMMI