COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Jul. 07, 2026 — Oterra has announced the launch of two naturally-sourced liquid versions of its popular Jungle Blue and Arctic Blue natural colors.

The two products, previously available as powders, give food and beverage producers a choice of formats to achieve natural bright blues, and a palette of greens and purples when blended.

“Liquids have many properties that make them a powerful addition to applications in food and beverage,” said Phil Cook, Head of Strategic Marketing. “They disperse immediately to create a uniform color without the need for pre-mixing. They are also easier to handle as they are pumpable and don’t create dust when processing.”

The two liquid blues are a further development of two of Oterra’s most recent innovations in creating blue colors from natural sources: Jungle Blue, extracted from sustainable Colombian Jagua fruit, and Arctic Blue, made using spirulina in a carbon-neutral indoor production facility.

Blue is one of the fastest growing colors in 2025, over 10,000* food and beverage products were launched containing a blue color, up from around 6,000 in 2021.

“Traditionally, much of the blue that we see in food and beverages has come from artificial sources,” added Phil Cook. “The regulatory** and consumer landscape is changing and the demand for naturally derived blues is increasing. To meet this demand, having multiple blues in different formats is important for manufacturers.”

ColorFruit® Blue 901 WS Jungle Blue fills an important gap in naturally sourced blues. Many natural blues struggle with low pH, heat, regulatory limits, or high cost. Jungle Blue offers a stable, reliable alternative that also blends beautifully to create vivid jewel‑tone purples and greens.

FruitMax® Blue 1512 WS Arctic Blue is spirulina from Iceland using an innovative high-tech cultivation process that creates a vivid, natural blue color with an impressively low carbon footprint. Located next to a geothermal power plant that provides 100% clean energy, waste heat and carbon dioxide, bioreactors grow spirulina 24 hours a day.

*Source: Innova new products database

**Check national legislation to ensure compliance

Herndon, Va; July 6, 2026 — PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, has released a new report, The Ripple Effect: CPG Sustainability and the New OEM Spec Sheet. The report reveals how sustainability initiatives are fundamentally changing the relationship between consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The report finds that sustainability is no longer a future consideration — it is actively influencing equipment design, material selection, operational requirements, and supplier expectations throughout the packaging and processing supply chain.

Based on research conducted among CPG companies, co-packers, OEMs, and component suppliers, the study found that 82% of end users are actively engaged in sustainability initiatives, while 64% of OEMs say sustainability directly influences equipment design decisions. Additionally, more than half of end users report that limitations in packaging machinery are preventing them from achieving their sustainability goals.

The report highlights growing demand for equipment capable of handling lightweighted packaging, post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, smaller pack sizes, elimination of secondary packaging, and handling other sustainable formats. It also underscores the increasing importance of energy efficiency, waste reduction, sustainability reporting, and compliance with evolving regulations such as Extended Producer Responsibility programs.

“The sustainability conversation has moved well beyond packaging materials,” says Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development, PMMI. “Today, sustainability is influencing equipment specifications, production processes, reporting requirements, and supplier relationships. Companies that want to successfully navigate these changes need access to the latest technologies, expertise, and industry insights. PACK EXPO International 2026 brings all of those resources together in one place, making it an essential destination for organizations looking to advance their sustainability goals.”

Taking place Oct. 18–21, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago, PACK EXPO International 2026 will provide attendees with direct access to thousands of packaging and processing solutions designed to help companies address sustainability challenges and opportunities.

Attendees seeking sustainable solutions will find a wide range of resources throughout the show floor, including:

· Sustainability Central, presented by Packaging World, sponsored by EFP Engineered Foam Packaging, a dedicated destination where attendees can connect with experts, explore emerging trends, and gain practical guidance on sustainability strategies and technologies.

· The Sustainability Solutions Finder, an online planning tool that helps attendees quickly identify exhibitors offering equipment, materials, and services that support sustainability objectives, making it easier to build a customized show-floor experience focused on specific environmental goals.

· The Reusable Packaging Pavilion, sponsored by the Reusable Packaging Association, showcases the latest innovations in reusable transport packaging, reusable containers, tracking technologies, and circular economy solutions designed to reduce waste and improve supply chain efficiency.

· Sustainability-focused education on the show floor, featuring expert-led sessions on regulatory developments, sustainable materials, circular economy initiatives, package design trends, energy efficiency, and best practices for sustainability programs. These sessions and sustainable solutions can be identified by the PACK EXPO Green logo.

· The Showcase of Packaging Innovations®, sponsored by Smurfit Westrock, where attendees can explore examples of groundbreaking package designs and sustainable packaging solutions from around the world, providing inspiration and insight into the latest market trends and consumer-focused innovations.

Beyond these featured destinations, attendees will discover machinery and technologies engineered to run recyclable, compostable, paper-based, mono-material, and PCR packaging formats; reduce material usage through lightweighting initiatives; improve energy efficiency; minimize operational waste; and generate the data needed to support sustainability reporting and compliance efforts.

According to PMMI's research, both OEMs and end users agree that greater collaboration, earlier engagement, and improved communication will be critical to meeting future sustainability goals. PACK EXPO International 2026 provides a unique environment where brand owners, manufacturers, suppliers, and technology providers can come together to address these challenges, evaluate new solutions, and accelerate progress toward a more sustainable future.

PACK EXPO International 2026 will bring together North America’s largest showcase of packaging and processing innovation. Featuring 2,600 exhibitors across 1.3 million net square feet, the event gives 48,000 attendees from 40+ vertical markets direct access to live machinery, emerging technologies, and industry-leading solutions. Held only once every two years, PACK EXPO International is the premier destination to evaluate equipment, discover trends, and make smarter investment decisions – all in one place.

Visit packexpointernational.com to learn more and register.

Givaudan, a global leader in Taste & Wellbeing, today celebrated the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art production facility in Cikarang, Indonesia. By expanding manufacturing capacity and accelerating innovation, the new facility will strengthen the Company’s ability to meet rising consumer demand for memorable food experiences in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest growing markets.

The new site in Cikarang will initially create approximately 60 jobs with potential for further expansion. Spanning 24,000 square metres on a 50,000 square metre site, the facility will produce savoury, sweet, and snack flavour powders for various applications.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Givaudan’s CEO Christian Stammkoetter said: “We are delighted to open this new facility in Cikarang, the latest example of Givaudan’s long-term commitment to Indonesia. This significant investment is aligned with our 2030 strategy of increasing our presence in strategic high growth markets, enabling us to extend our customer reach, capturing new growth opportunities while strengthening our contribution to the local economy.”

Aligned with Givaudan’s sustainability agenda, the site incorporates advanced technologies such as solar energy systems, rainwater harvesting, green electricity partnerships, and energy-efficient lighting and water management, reducing its environmental footprint while enhancing operational resilience.

“The food and beverage industry in Southeast Asia is a rapidly growing, diverse ecosystem driven by abundant regional flavours and an increasingly technology-enabled landscape. By expanding our capabilities, we aim to support our customers in delivering differentiated food experiences and innovations that consumers love,” said Antoine Khalil, President Taste & Wellbeing.

Givaudan has significantly invested in people and facilities in the country. In addition to the new production site, the Company manufactures liquids, powder blends, spray dry flavours and fragrance liquid compounds in Cimmangis (Province of West Java) and collaborates with food and beverage customers at its creation and innovation centre in Jakarta. The Company currently employs a total of approximately 380 people in Indonesia.

The grand opening ceremony was attended by senior representatives from the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Investment and Downstream Industry, the Swiss Embassy, and Givaudan’s senior leadership team.

(UPM, Helsinki, June 30, 2026 at 12:30 EEST) – A new study from UPM Specialty Materials and global consultancy Smithers points to changing dynamics in the food packaging landscape, with fibre-based materials taking the leading share by 2045, recycling rates climbing toward 37%, and a regulatory landscape where sustainability becomes a strict government mandate.

Fibre-based food packaging is on course to become the leading sustainable material by 2045, driven by breakthrough barrier coating technologies, tightening global regulation, and a decisive consumer shift away from single-use plastics. These are among the key findings of the new global study published today by UPM Specialty Materials and Smithers.

More than 230 global packaging professionals from across the value chain contributed to a collective assessment of the key trends projected to drive sustainability in food packaging by 2045.

According to the survey, respondents see strong interest in fibre-based packaging, with its share of the global food packaging market is expected to rise from 37% today to 42% by 2045. 71% of respondents expect fibre-based packaging to be perceived as the most sustainable solution, citing advances in barrier coatings set to unlock food applications that were previously the exclusive domain of plastics.

“We’re encouraged to see strong momentum behind fibre-based packaging, driven by regulation, consumer demand, and ongoing innovation in barrier technologies. Our role is to support customers in this transition with high-performance, sustainable solutions that do not compromise on functionality.” says Janne Varvemaa, Director, Products and Technology, UPM Specialty Materials.

The study outlines a future in which sustainability becomes a strict government mandate, not a brand differentiator: 71% of those surveyed believe this is likely, and 88% expect it to fundamentally reshape packaging choices. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and eco-modulation fees are projected to become a primary driver of material selection, rewarding recyclable, high-performance solutions and penalizing hard-to-recycle alternatives.

Recycling rates are forecast to climb from 31% in 2030 to 37% by 2045. Yet challenges remain, with respondents expecting that landfilling and incineration will persist. Outcomes vary significantly by region, with Europe leading in recycling while the US and Asia-Pacific face distinct infrastructure and regulatory hurdles. Overall, the findings underscore the urgency of accelerating innovation and development globally.

“The evidence is clear that the industry will continue to focus on improving recycling rates and regulations, particularly EPR and eco-modulation are directly influencing material choices. Ongoing innovation in barrier technologies is also opening up new applications for fibre-based packaging to compete with plastic alternatives.” says Ciaran Little, VP, Global Consulting Information Division, Smithers.

Download the full Sustainable Food Packaging to 2045 report to explore the complete findings, expert commentary and data at Link.

*The trends presented above and, in the report, reflect survey-based insights and do not necessarily reflect UPM's views.