Packaging Today Show

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

Today, we reveal the Label King of Utah, the behind-the-scenes powerhouse who's printing labels. But here's the real question:Is a label considered packaging?Evelio and Adam dig deep into the wild world of labels:Why they’re often overlooked in packaging strategyWhen a label is packaging… and when it’s just decorationThe sustainability questions brands should be asking label printersAnd how this Utah-based king of stick-ons built a label empireThis episode peels back the layers (literally) to reveal the sticky truth about what gets counted in EPR reporting, supply chain compliance, and circular design — and what doesn’t.👑 Come for the crown. Stay for the stickers/labels.Labels just got interesting.💬 Drop a comment: Is a label packaging or not? Let’s settle this.

Today on Packaging Today, Evelio Mattos and Adam Peek are joined by Matthew Wright, the founder of Specright, to uncover a critical but overlooked tool in EPR compliance: specifications management.As states roll out Extended Producer Responsibility laws, brands need accurate reporting and traceability more than ever. Overly complex packaging, multiple tiers of material, and diverse supply chains make data collection a nightmare—unless you're using a platform built for it.In this episode, we’ll explore:What EPR means for suppliers and brands and how confusion around packaging specifications can drive up fees.How centralized spec management platforms (like Specright) help streamline BOM reporting, automatically tracking materials, weights, and flows.Real-world examples of teams avoiding duplicate paperwork, pinpointing problematic materials, and filing returns before deadlines.Why spec data from adhesives and handles to marcom labels and flexible films is foundational to EPR success.Whether you’re a designer, supplier, CPG exec, or sustainability lead, this is the episode you need to watch to ensure your packaging future is built on solid data not guesses.Learn more at www.Specright.com#EPR #packaging

3 packs enter, 1 pack leaves.This isn’t your usual polite packaging panel — this is an all-out brawl. Each host enters the ring with their contender for best packaging of the week. From genius sustainability plays to outrageous luxury flexes, only one design will be crowned victorious.👊 Evelio. Cory. Adam.Each brings one pack.We debate. We defend. We dissect.And at the end — only one survives the chaos to claim the crown.If you love clever design, bold branding, and a little bit of packaging smack talk, you’re in the right place.It’s packaging. But make it war.💥 Watch till the end to see who gets knocked out and who reigns as PACK OF THE WEEK.Want to vote for next week’s winner? Drop your pick in the comments.#PackagingDesign #PackoftheWeek

Did you register your company with CAA for EPR?EPR is not a one-and-done conversation so we’re back with round two.This week on Packaging Today, Evelio Mattos, Adam Peek, and Cory Connors continue the deep dive into Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) with guest Paul Kearns, who helps us dig deeper into the realities brands are facing as reporting deadlines approach and questions keep piling up.We’re expanding the conversation to explore:When does a manufacturer become the producer?How do Incoterms shift responsibility?What packaging really counts under EPR?How should you manage reporting across states with conflicting rules?This isn’t a compliance checklist it’s a survival guide for brands, designers, suppliers, and anyone with their name on a box.Join us as we keep the EPR series going with new questions, clearer answers, and the conversations no one else is having.

Today we’re joined by Liz Morris from Anthesis Group, one of the world’s leading sustainability consultancies, to break down Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) what it is, where it’s going, and what your brand needs to do to stay ahead.With deadlines approaching fast in the US, UK, and EU, and states like Colorado requiring producer data now, brands can’t afford to stay in the dark.We cover:What exactly EPR laws are requiringHow they affect packaging material choicesHow fees will be calculatedHow to prepare your supply chain, design teams, and reporting systemsAnd audience questions from brands who are already deep in itWhether you're in packaging, procurement, sustainability, or compliance this is your must-watch EPR crash course.And yes, bring your questions, because we're playing Can We Solve it!

Aluminum is being called the champion of recyclable packaging but is it the right choice for your brand?In this episode of Packaging Today, Evelio Mattos, Cory Connors, and Adam Peek debate whether aluminum is the future of sustainable packaging or just another overhyped material swap. From infinite recyclability and lower transport emissions to high production energy and bad consumer UX, we dive into the facts, myths, and use cases that matter in 2025.We cover:Where aluminum works (and why)Where it fails (hard)Why consumers still associate glass with luxuryAnd why aluminum might disrupt the wine aisle, but not the moisturizer shelf.This episode was inspired by the BBC’s reporting on Meadow, Ball, and Vinca’s shift into aluminum formats for everything from wine to shampoo. We break it all down, and give our hot takes.

Today on Packaging Today, Evelio Mattos, Cory Connors, and Adam Peek break down Colorado’s looming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) reporting deadline—and why brands selling packaging, paper products, or foodware into the state need to act now.We’ll unpack:What the Circular Action Alliance (CAA) actually does.Why this July 31st deadline matters beyond Colorado.How your packaging data will be used to calculate next year’s Producer Fee Rate Schedule.And why reporting isn’t just a legal checkbox—it’s your ticket to shaping how recycling systems work in the future.Plus, we discuss what this means for brands navigating multiple EPR laws across the U.S., and what you can do today to stay ahead of compliance chaos.If you thought the EPR storm was still on the horizon… it’s already here.

Brad Pitt’s skincare line Le Domaine just dropped new “sustainable” packaging and we’ve got questions.In this episode of Packaging Today, we break down the design decisions behind the reimagined bottles and jars: real wood caps, reduced glass weight, and a brand story steeped in French vineyards and circular luxury.But does luxury wood mean true sustainability?We ask:Is using real oak for a packaging lid actually better for the environment?What bin does a wooden cap go in, and what about the hidden plastic insert that makes it functional?Are these kinds of material choices improving sustainability… or just greenwishing with a celebrity face?Join Adam, Cory, and Evelio as they uncork the truth about Brad Pitt’s Le Domaine packaging one biodegradable cap at a time.

A challenge based on the following items I found together at the side of the road this morning on my walk: 1) A smashed Dunkin'​ plastic cup marked "Drive Thru" and with a label indicating the order was no ice, original coffee, black, two additional espresso shots 2) An empty pack of sugar-free Trident gum3) An empty box of over-the-the counter anti-diarrhealWhat scenario would explain these three items being simultaneously thrown out a car window on a remote dirt road?

This week on Packaging Today, Evelio Mattos, Adam Peek, and Cory Connors crack open the craziest packaging in the industry — starting with none other than Ozzy Osbourne. That’s right, we’re diving into the Prince of Darkness’s most iconic (and absurd?) packaging moments. Is it genius? Is it gothic glam? Or just a hot mess with foil stamping?Then we shift gears into our fan-favorite segment: Can We Solve It? — the fast-paced game show where your wildest packaging questions get tackled live. If we can't solve it, you win a free T-shirt, thanks to our sponsor Smartsolve.com.It's part packaging design breakdown, part game show chaos, and 100% must-watch.Bring your packaging problems and your devil horns. 🤘