More than ever consumers are concerned with supporting ethical businesses with environmentally conscious practices. They are growing increasingly aware of what they consume, the waste they create and the businesses that are aligned with this ethos.

A report by GlobalData reveals that two-thirds of consumers worldwide think that living an ethical or sustainable lifestyle is important to creating a feeling of well-being. This increased focus on environmental impact is creating new opportunities for sustainable packaging material producers.

Colbert Packaging Corp., announces that Chief Operating Officer John Lackner will succeed Jim Hamilton as the company’s president. Hamilton, who is stepping back from the day-to-day operations, has been named chairman of the board, a post previously held by Nancy Colbert MacDougall, daughter of founder Charles Colbert. MacDougall will retain a position on the board, while also taking on the role of CEO.

A survey released by sustainability specialists Empauer and BtoB communications firm, Adduco Communications, reveals how global packaging industry professionals feel about sustainability, and raises questions about the industry’s preparedness to both implement and measure sustainability practices now and in the future.

The initial phase of the first-ever industry effort designed to provide packaging manufacturers the ability to assess the sortability of their products in the waste stream was unveiled at the The Association of Plastic Recyclers’ (APR) Member Meeting earlier this month in Houston.

BillerudKorsnäs is encouraging action against ocean litter in a series of U.S. events, in theme with this year's World Oceans Day earlier this month. The Swedish company has a mission to challenge conventional packaging and bring more sustainable practices to the industry.

A new study conducted by Pregis and the University of Wisconsin (UW) in Madison shows that the value perception of e-commerce shipments is significantly impacted by the materials chosen to protect them. Even a small increase in packaging material expenditures—as little as 19 cents—can make a dramatic impact (as much as 45 percent) on the perceived value.

Consumers and the industry play vital parts in keeping waste out of oceans. The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is recognizing World Oceans Day today, June 8, by highlighting the industry’s reduction in plastic use, and educating consumers about ways they can help keep waste out of our oceans and litter off our shorelines.

Richard Cope, senior trend consultant at Mintel, was in Prague in April to give the keynote at Let’s Paper The World 2018, the first European shopping bag summit. In an interview with the Mondi Newsroom, Cope expanded on insights he shared with the summit’s participants.