Print Business has an interesting feature on the packvertising concept, where brands make better use of their packaging to communicate marketing messages. The trend plays directly to the strengths of digital printing, and could help boost take-up for packaging. It’s a well-researched story with explanations from a number of experts.

Staying in the UK, FlexoTech writes that the Greencore Group, which makes convenience foods, has teamed up with the Co-op and Sainsbury’s supermarkets to trial plastic-free recyclable sandwich packaging. The packaging has been developed with ProAmpac and should allow for the same shelf-life as for current solutions.

From the US, Ink World reports that Amcor is planning to invest $10 million into the Michigan State University’s School of Packaging to help fund the next generation of responsible packaging experts. This includes creating an Endowed Chair of Packaging Sustainability to further research and innovation in this area.

From South Africa, the Gapp magazine reports that the ALPLA Group, which manufactures and recycles plastic packaging, has acquired Durban-based Verigreen Packaging, which specialises in bottles and canisters for lubricants such as engine oils. This strengthens ALPLA’s footprint in the region, having already acquired PET manufacturer Boxmore Packaging back in 2017.

Labels and Labelling writes that German manufacturer Herma has developed an interesting label stock, HermaSilphie, that uses fibres from the Silphium perfoliatum plant, commonly known as a cup plant, which make up roughly 35 percent of the label stock but could be up to half of the raw material in the future.

Labels and Labelling also covers the Polish company Prime Label Group having acquired LabelPrint, an Estonian label printing company, as part of its continuing plans to expand across Europe. Prime Label is controlled by the private equity fund from the Innova Capital group and currently runs three label printing facilities.

The Italian magazine Converter has a story on Mavigrafica, a family run flexo repro house near Salerno that has been using the Kodak - now Miraclon - Flexcel NX system since 2008 and currently operates three Flexcel NX Wide 5080 systems. The company attributes its success to this system

ME Printer carries a report from the Exporting Council of Printing and Packaging in Egypt on an increase to $436.5 million in the sector’s exports, a 39 percent rise from the same period last year. Nearly half of this - 48.5 percent - went to just six countries, including Sudan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, the US and Britain.

Print 21 continues to chart Australia’s struggles with the pandemic, writing that Victoria has reinstated its lockdown, while the lockdown continues in Sydney and SE Queensland. The story notes there are still concerns over vaccine hesitancy and outlines various conditions and support for businesses, including printers, to continue to operate.

Indian Printer and Publisher notes that the Printpack India show, which was originally schedule for February 2021 and then delayed to December this year, has now been postponed again due to the second wave of Covid-19. New dates will be announced only once the pandemic has eased.

Elsewhere, Indian Printer and Publisher reports that the Editors Guild of India has filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court of India regarding the hacking of journalists’ phones with the NSO Pegasus software. The Guild is looking for direction in setting up an independent special investigation team, and for guidelines on safeguarding journalists.