In this festive episode of Packaging Today, Evelio Mattos, Cory Connors, and Adam Peek break down the latest holiday packaging trends and reveal which seasonal designs actually boost sales—and which are just expensive distractions.
We cover:
What design elements are trending this holiday season (and why)
How brands are using limited-edition packaging to drive urgency and shelf appeal
The power of sensory elements: sparkle, texture, scent, and sound
Real-world case studies of packaging that sold out during the holidays
Tips for procurement teams and designers working on next year’s seasonal launch
🎁 Whether you're a packaging buyer, brand manager, or designer, this episode delivers the insights you need to turn festive packaging into real revenue.
🔔 Subscribe and leave a comment with your favorite (or worst) holiday package of the year.
From QR codes and NFC chips to pop-ups, reveals, and boxes that move—interactive packaging is having a moment. But is it actually worth the cost, engineering, and complexity? Or is it just a flashy gimmick brands can’t stop chasing?In this episode of Packaging Today, we dive deep into interactive packaging that goes beyond tech. Think: lids that lift the product, drawers that slide out, compartments that spring open, and packaging that turns every unboxing into theater.What you’ll learn:The true ROI of interactive packagingWhen interactivity enhances user experience, and when it just adds costWhat structural elements consumers remember (and which they ignore)The difference between gimmick and strategy in luxury, beauty, and DTCHow interactive packaging impacts recyclability and sustainability claimsWhether you’re designing packaging for wow-factor, function, or both. This episode will help you think smarter about what interactivity actually means in 2025.
Connect with our hosts:Evelio Mattos: www.IDPdirect.comCory Conners: www.atlanticpkg.comAdam Peek: www.LabelKing.com
How do you design packaging that is the most sustainable for your brand?Let's ask the questions that get you to the results that matter.What does Sustainability mean to you?
Think your turkey is the only thing getting roasted this Thanksgiving? Think again.In this holiday episode of Packaging Today, we carve into the worst examples of Thanksgiving packaging—products that miss the mark, confuse the consumer, or straight-up kill the vibe at the dinner table. From tone-deaf graphics to frustrating form factors that turn gravy into a game of chance, we’re breaking down how bad seasonal packaging still makes it to shelf in 2025.Whether you’re a designer, marketer, or just someone trying to open cranberry sauce without a meltdown, this is the episode for you.🗂️ In This Episode:The seasonal packaging sins that haunt shelvesWhy “festive” doesn’t mean “cluttered”Functional fails that ruin the unboxing momentWhat good Thanksgiving packaging should actually do📦 Plus, we crown the Packaging Turkey of the Year—you’ll want to see this one.Connect with our hosts:Evelio Mattos: www.IDPdirect.comCory Conners: www.atlanticpkg.comAdam Peek: www.LabelKing.com
Ever wonder who designs the cereal box sitting on a sitcom kitchen counter—or how a 1980s soda can ends up looking perfectly era-correct in a Netflix period drama?In this episode of Packaging Today, we dive into the fascinating world of movie packaging design:How brands use product placement to steal scenesWhy fake brands (hello, Los Pollos Hermanos) sometimes hit harder than real onesWhat it takes to recreate authentic vintage packaging from decades pastAnd the surprising creative freedom (and legal minefields) that come with designing packaging for film and TVWe’ll talk about how packaging helps set tone, build character, and sell nostalgia—and whether these on-screen packages need to follow the same design rules as their retail counterparts.🎥 Whether you’re a packaging designer, film buff, or just a fan of the little details that make movies magic, this one’s for you.
This week on The Packaging Today Show, we’re tackling a seismic shift in the CPG world: skyrocketing metal‑packaging prices driven by U.S. tariffs — and how brands are scrambling to re‑engineer their grocery‑aisle packaging from steel and aluminum cans to stand‑up pouches, paper cartons, and other alternatives.We’ll dig into:How the doubling of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50% has forced metal‑packaging costs to spike in the U.S. by as much as 10–15%. Why can manufacturers and food brands are now eyeing materials like aseptic cartons, foil pouches, and flexible plastics — not just for sustainability, but for cost containment. The hidden downstream effects for packaging: retooling machinery, changing supply chains, and redesigning pack formats (which often means higher initial CAPEX).What this downtime actually means for packaging designers, engineers, and brand buyers — from format performance trade‑offs to consumer perception and shelf impact.Whether this shift is purely reactive to tariffs or genuinely heralding a longer‑term structural change in packaging material use.Tips for managing this transition: how to assess material alternatives, align packaging strategy with cost curves, and design for both brand and unit‑economics in this new era.If you’re in the packaging game — or advising brands facing packaging upheaval — this episode gives you a frontline seat to the change happening now. Subscribe, comment with your questions, and come ready to rethink what happens inside the grocery aisle.Work with guys:Evelio - https://www.IDPdirect.comCory - https://www.atlanticpkg.comAdam - http://www.TheLabelKing.comSupport those that support our show:Manage your packaging specs with www.specright.com Learn more about water soluble papers from www.Smartsolve.com
Today on Packaging Today, we’re peeling back the headlines and digging into what's really happening in the packaging world:🧾 Packaging Tax Pain in the UK: UK food firms say the new packaging tax—part of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme—is pushing up prices. For example, one brand reported £153,000 in extra costs this year just from this levy. We’ll talk: which packaging formats are hardest hit? Will brands shift to less‑sustainable materials just to avoid the fees?📉 Waste Declining, But Can We Trust It?: According to the Eurostat data, plastic packaging waste in the EU fell by 1.0 kg per person in 2023 (to 35.3 kg each). European Commission But we’ll ask: is this real progress—or clever accounting? What’s the catch behind “less waste per person”?🏆 Award‑Winning Packaging: Innovation or Same Old?: We’ll look at a recent gold‑winning design in the packaging awards world and ask the hard question: are we really innovating—or just dressing up the same ideas in shine and polish?Join us as we break down:Why packaging taxes are already changing brand material strategyHow “waste reductions” may hide new problemsWhether “award‑winning design” still moves us forward—or keeps us spinningIf you’re in packaging design, sourcing, supply‑chain or brand strategy, this episode is your mid‑week wake‑up.Don’t forget to subscribe, share the show, and drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s keep the packaging conversation real.It's also Wednesday so it's time for CAN WE SOLVE IT! brought to you by Smartsolve.com soluble packaging solutions to actually reduce packaging waste.
Today on Packaging Today, we’re covering the biggest packaging news you need to know—including regulatory shake‑ups, major plant closures, and breakthrough materials.What’s lined up:Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): U.S. states are moving fast with packaging‑specific obligations that could force brands to rethink material choices and supply chains. FoodPrintPlant Closures Alarming the Industry: Packaging Corporation of America is shuttering multiple sites by year‑end, impacting 160+ jobs and signaling serious pressure on the corrugated and containerboard segment. Paper AdvanceSustainable Materials Stepping Up: From paper innovations to bio‑based replacements, new developments are forcing us to ask: are these the future or just green noise? Whether you’re a designer, buyer, sustainability lead or production manager, this episode gives you the context and urgency to act now not just listen later.Tune in for the headlines, the implications, and what they mean for your next packaging move.
In this episode, Evelio Mattos, Adam Peek, and Cory Connors hit the mic fresh from the floors of Pack Expo Las Vegas and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition event. We’re diving into:🔍 What we saw, who we met, and which booths actually blew our minds.🌍 The new sustainability trends that are more than just buzzwords (yes, there were some real standouts).🥇 The emerging materials, packaging formats, and innovations redefining what’s possible in retail packaging.💬 Honest conversations from the show floor—what packaging professionals are really excited about… and what’s missing.🎯 How these events are influencing the future of packaging design, sourcing, and storytelling.From walking the show floor to walking the sustainability talk, we’re unpacking everything that matters—and roasting a few trends that maybe don’t.
Bring your biggest packaging questions to *Can We Solve It?Stump us and win a limited-edition shirt, courtesy of https://smartsolve.comWatch live on LinkedIn + YouTube every Monday & Wednesday @ 7:30am PST👉 Subscribe to the show & be part of the future of packaging.
Want packaging that dissolves? check out www.Smartsolve.comNeed to manage your packaging specs for EPR regulation? go to www.Specright.comWork with guys:Evelio - https://www.IDPdirect.comCory - https://www.atlanticpkg.comAdam - http://www.TheLabelKing.com
In this episode, Evelio Mattos, Adam Peek, and Cory Connors hit the mic fresh from the floors of Pack Expo Las Vegas and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition event. We’re diving into: What we saw, who we met, and which booths actually blew our minds.The new sustainability trends that are more than just buzzwords (yes, there were some real standouts).The emerging materials, packaging formats, and innovations redefining what’s possible in retail packaging.Honest conversations from the show floor—what packaging professionals are really excited about… and what’s missing.How these events are influencing the future of packaging design, sourcing, and storytelling.From walking the show floor to walking the sustainability talk, we’re unpacking everything that matters—and roasting a few trends that maybe don’t.
It’s Wednesday — which means Can We Solve It is back! Tonight, Evelio, Adam, and Cory tackle your toughest packaging riddles. Send us the questions — if we can’t crack them live, you win a T‑shirt (thanks, SmartSolve).But first — we dig into the week’s most provocative headlines:🏷 Aldi’s Private Label Rebrand: Aldi is finally putting its name front and center on nearly all its private-label products. What does this mean for trust, shelf presence, and the future of store brands? Axios+1🍽 Does Packaging Change Flavor?: A new deep dive into how the food packaging itself—not just the food—can shape how we perceive taste.🚭 Plain Packaging for Vapes in the UK: New research shows that standardized, logo‑free vape packaging reduces its appeal to teens while having minimal effect on adult users. University College London+2EurekAlert!+2Whether you’re here for game‑show chaos or serious packaging debates, tonight’s packed with insights, laughs, and maybe a little humility when we get stumped.
Recycling is collapsing in real time. In this episode, Evelio Mattos, Cory Connors, and Adam Peek break down the shocking closure of rPlanet Earth, California’s $100M vertically integrated PET recycler. Why are domestic recyclers shutting down while brands claim to be “sustainable”?We dive deep into the real economics of plastic recycling, the softening PET markets, and why chemical recycling isn’t living up to the hype. Then what everybody is asking: is paper packaging the only viable path forward?Don’t make 2025 packaging decisions based on yesterday’s news.
One wrong word on a bottle. One missing allergen warning. One incorrect dosage. That’s all it takes for a packaging error to turn into a fatal recall.In today’s episode of Packaging Today, Evelio, Cory, and Adam dive deep into the terrifying world of packaging-related recalls, where bad information, sloppy approvals, or rushed production can literally cost lives.We discuss:🧯 How packaging errors happen (and who’s responsible)⚖️ What the FDA and other global agencies expect from packaging and labels🧪 Why it's not just food and pharma at risk, cosmetics, supplements, and even candles can kill🧠 How small brands can build safer approval workflows without enterprise-level systems🛠️ How to fix a packaging error when it’s already on shelvesWe’re not fear-mongering, we’re giving you the toolkit to protect your brand, your customers, and your team from the costly (and sometimes deadly) fallout of packaging mistakes.The life this episode saves may be your own! ok, probably not saving anyone's life, but we've always wanted to say that.Work with the guys:Reach out to Evelio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eveliomattos/Contact Cory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/Ask Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adampeek/Support those that support our show:Manage your packaging specs with www.specright.comLearn more about water soluble papers from www.Smartsolve.com#packaging
Apple's iconic packaging is just about to change and it's due to regulations that are challenging all brands to rething their packaging.- What Apple’s “carbon neutral” mark looked like—and why it’s being phased out globally- How new EU regulations are tightening claims and pushing brands to rethink sustainability messaging- Why this matters beyond Apple—any brand calling itself eco-friendly needs to pay attention- What replaces the carbon neutral badge? Is transparency the new luxury?This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about trust, compliance, and the packaging of the future.Curious? Let’s peel back the layers and decode the shift.Work with guys:Evelio - https://www.IDPdirect.comCory - https://www.atlanticpkg.comAdam - http://www.labelkingcorp.comNeed to manage your packaging specs for EPR regulation? go to https://www.Specright.comCheck out https://www.Smartsolve.com Packaging Dissolve your waste, not your standards.
If flexible packaging isn’t recyclable today why do brands insist on calling it sustainable?Today on Packaging Today, K-Pack Demon Hunters Evelio, Cory, and Adam dive into a critical turning point for flexible packaging recycling in the U.S. with the launch of the U.S. Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI) a coalition of CPG giants like General Mills, PepsiCo, Nestlé, and more, aiming to finally make scalable recycling for flexible films a reality.We break down:What USFFI is actually doing and yes, they’re funding MRFs to get flexible packaging recycled. The biggest infrastructure gaps: Only ~2% of U.S. households can recycle flexible film curbside right now. The friction points consumers face: from tangling in sorting machines to multi-layer barriers that defy recycling. Why California is ground zero thanks to its aggressive EPR mandates and SB54 requirements for recycling rates. We’ll challenge the snack pouch assumptions, ask whether these programs are real solutions or just expensive PR and predict whether real recycling for flexible films can ever match consumer convenience.Work with guys:Evelio - https://www.IDPdirect.comCory - https://www.atlanticpkg.comAdam - http://www.labelkingcorp.comWant packaging that dissolves? check out https://www.Smartsolve.comNeed to manage your packaging specs for EPR regulation? go to https://www.Specright.com
Is the marketplace shrinking—or are boxmakers simply boxed in? This episode of Packaging Today dives deep with Bloomberg analyst Ryan Fox to decode the alarming year-over-year slide in cardboard packaging—and what it says about consumer behavior, the economy, and sustainability.What you’ll hear:Why cardboard shipments are the unconventional economic red flag everyone should be watchingHow tariffs and inventory freeze cycles are skewing demand—but not telling the full storyThe ripple effect: What a box shortage could mean for brands, designers, and your living roomWhy smarter packaging isn’t optional it’s survivalTune in as Evelio, Cory, and Adam push past headlines and ask Ryan: What are you missing?Work with guys:Evelio - https://www.IDPdirect.comCory - https://www.atlanticpkg.comAdam - http://www.labelkingcorp.comWant packaging that dissolves? check out https://www.Smartsolve.comNeed to manage your packaging spoecs for EPR regulation? go to https://www.Specright.com
Join hosts Evelio Mattos, Cory Connors, and Adam Peek as they break down the latest packaging news and share a step-by-step guide on how startups can design packaging that stands out in today’s market. Learn how to choose the right materials, create cost-effective designs, and build packaging that tells your brand story while meeting sustainability goals. Perfect for new business owners, entrepreneurs, and creators ready to launch with packaging that sells.
Discover the strange but lucrative world of flipping empty luxury packaging. From Loewe bags to Chanel boxes, people are reselling what most of us throw away for hundreds online. Learn why buyers pay top dollar for used packaging, how this resale economy works, and what designers and brands can take away from it to add value, boost sustainability, and create collectible packaging experiences.
Engine Organic Gin's packaging design is gassed up and ready to disrupt your bar cart. Today on Packaging Today, Evelio, Cory, and Adam break down the bold branding move that puts high-end gin in what looks like a motor oil can and why it works.We’ll dive into:Why Engine Gin’s packaging stands out in a saturated spirits shelfThe psychology behind unexpected formatsOther brands taking wild risks with form, function, and storytellingPlus: What lessons can luxury, beauty, and CPG brands steal from this petrol-powered bottle?It’s Pack of the Week, and Engine Gin just might run away with the win.
You’ve been lied to. That compostable bag? Not compostable. That “recyclable” pouch? Only in your dreams.In this episode of Packaging Today, Adam Peek and Evelio Mattos blow the lid off the biggest packaging myths brands and consumers still believe and expose the truth behind so-called “sustainable” materials.From fake eco claims to greenwashed innovation, we’re naming names and breaking down how to design smarter, legally compliant packaging that doesn’t destroy trust (or the planet).💥 Plus, we launch a new segment: Liar, Liar, Pack on Fire 🔥The game where we test 3 viral packs and vote: Sustainable solution or pure BS?🎯 What you'll learn:How to spot and fix greenwashing in your packagingThe myths hurting your brand’s reputationHow to ask your suppliers the right questionsThis isn’t about shame, it’s about getting real.#packaging