Through the Line: Packaging and Processing

How can food processors lower their utility costs? Many utilities can be optimized from the plant floor through simple actions, procedural changes, and improved visibility. Listen to this episode to hear strategies for reducing compressed air, water, and energy use, often without spending a dime on new equipment. This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World .

How are CPGS pushing digitization strategies in 2026? Editors Sean Riley and Matt Reynolds sit down to discuss how brands and CPG s are building digital foundations through data, connectivity, and traceability. Speed and uptime drive adoption, while cost and integration remain key hurdles. AI and smart packaging are emerging next steps. Read the full annual outlook report on Packaging World .

What are some of the current trends for end users and manufactures in the pharmaceutical industry? Editors Liz Cuneo and Bri Guntz sit down with Rebecca Marquez, Director of Custom Research at PMMI. They discuss the Business Intelligence Team's latest report covering increasing connectivity, e-commerce, and regulatory challenges.

What did a nutraceutical company do to keep up with increasing demand for its health and wellness supplements?  A&Z Pharmaceutical replaced traditional V-cone blending on the new line with rotary batch mixing—cutting blending times by more than 90% while maintaining strict uniformity and GMP requirements. This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World .

How does r. World prove that reuse at scale works? Senior Editor, Anne Marie Mohan, sits down with Michael Martin, founder and CEO of r. World. They discuss how durable, reusable serveware, local wash hubs, and a data-driven system enable r. World to provide closed-loop environments with an eco-friendly and operationally efficient reusable foodservice packaging program. Read the full featured arti...

What does a risk-based path forward for healthcare packaging look like? This podcast episode shares insights from the SPMC (Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council) on a risk-based sustainability assessment model grounded in regulatory compliance and patient safety. This is an AI-generated epiosde. Read the full featured article on Healthcare Packaging .

Is water recycling in food and dairy plants viable? Options for dairy and food plants include water reuse solutions through reverse osmosis and membrane bioreactors or monitoring offtake to water/wastewater facilities. Sustainability programs may have driven the first wave of these projects, but food producers are now leaning on data analytics tools to get more approvals. This is an AI-generated e...

How are CPGS shifting recruitment strategies and training investments in 2026? Editors Sean Riley and Casey Flanagan sit down to discus why hiring remains difficult, with most CPGs noting hiring challenges across skill levels. They talk about how these CPGs are changing their approach, shifting toward network-based recruitment options, investing more in leadership training, and relying on temporar...

What is causing the rapid expansion of the U.S. IV bag market? The U.S. IV bags market is projected to double in value by 2033 due to a rise in chronic diseases and the popularity of wellness hydration spas. This growth is accompanied by a critical industry shift toward non-PVC materials as healthcare providers seek to eliminate risks associated with Phthalates and microplastics. Despite optimisti...

What does real world applications of AI in food and beverage applications look like? To better understand the current role, limitations, and outlook of AI in food inspection, ProFood World reached out to inspection system suppliers Eagle Product Inspection, METTLER TOLEDO, and ProSpection Solutions. This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World .

What is really driving the gap between available recycled resin supply and actual market demand? Senior Editor Anne Marie Mohan sits down with Andrea Bassetti, Americas Team Lead - Plastics Recycling at ICIS at the 2026 Plastics Recycling Conference. They discuss the complexities of recycled resin supply and demand, and how legislation like EPR could stabilize future demand for post-consumer recyc...

Will integrated packaging data be enough to overcome drug traceability vulnerabilities?  This episode explore the technological landscape of the pharmaceutical supply chain following the full implementation of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on Healthcare Packaging .

What are the biggest FDA compliance challenges facing food and beverage manufacturers today? Editor-in-Chief Derrick Teal sits down with David Lennarz, President of Registrar Corp, to discuss why understanding evolving regulations is critical. Ensuring proper supplier verification programs is essential. Even staying ahead of potential changes to ingredient approvals and food safety rules can signi...

How are CPGS approaching automation in 2026? Editors Sean Riley and Casey Flanagan sit down to discuss why companies are turning to automation to solve labor constraints and throughput demands while simultaneously grappling with higher costs and internal alignment challenges. Read the full annual outlook report on Packaging World .

Packaging World Editors Anne Marie Mohan and Matt Reynolds discuss the upcoming Packaging Recycling Summit. They talk about brands currently doing the work: from navigating EPR, what to expect with film recyclability, and PCR mandates.  Exclusive Podcast Listener Discount: $100 Off Click here for an exclusive $100 off Packaging Recycling Summit registra tion. Bringing your team? Save even more: 2-...

What’s in store for pharmaceutical manufacturers in 2026 and beyond? Editors Liz Cuneo and Joseph Derr sit down to discuss key findings from the Healthcare Annual Outlook Report. They  provide insight into how packaging innovations, regulatory pressures, and market dynamics are shaping the future of healthcare delivery. Download the 2026 Annual Outlook Report on Packaging World .

What are the best ways food and beverage manufacturers can improve workforce engagement on the frontlines? Prioritizing recruitment and onboarding are paramount when it comes to workforce engagement. Closing the skills gaps is important. Providing the right training programs are necessary. Even implementing emerging technologies like AI can make an impact. This is an AI-generated episode. Read the...

How does Danone balance sustainability goals with operational needs like food safety, shelf life, and manufacturing performance? Paul Jenkins, Managing Director of ThePackHub, and Kory Nook, VP of Packaging Innovation and R&D at Danone, sit down to discuss how Danone is balancing recyclability, product performance, and consumer experience. Read the featured article on Packaging World .

How are pharmaceutical logistics evolving to meet ultra-low and cryogenic temperature demands? Advanced and personalized therapies are pushing the industry beyond traditional cold chain methods toward safer phase change materials and direct-to-consumer capabilities. To ensure sustainability, transparency, and patient safety, companies are adopting recyclable packaging, reusable shipping solutions,...

What makes data useful? Smart data use isn’t about having the biggest system—it’s about having a mindset that prioritizes relevance, actionability, and consistency. And in today’s climate of tighter budgets and leaner teams, that mindset is more valuable than ever. This is an AI-generated episode. Read the full featured article on ProFood World .

How has CPG's tone on sustainability shifted in 2026? Editors Anne Marie Mohan and Matt Reynolds sit down to discuss how paper continued to dominate, the rapid rise of recyclable monomaterial plastics, and how expanding extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks are redefining packaging strategies in 2026. Read the full annual outlook report on Packaging World .

How are cell therapy manufacturers navigating pharmaceutical labeling? As therapies become increasingly personalized and global regulatory requirements evolve, the role of packaging and labeling teams has expanded far beyond simple content placement. For cell therapy manufacturers such as Kite Pharma, where every product is made for a single patient, labeling becomes a critical safety and traceabi...

What does the process of modernization from bare structure to an advanced and flexible prepared-protein plant look like? Editors Derrick Teal and Casey Flanagan sit down to discuss a recent visit to Stampede's New Mexico plant. Teal talks about how the facility was engineered for both food safety and operational efficiency. The team began by dividing the plant into separate raw and cooked zon...

How can brands help advance circularity for film and flexible packaging? Senior Editor, Anne Marie Mohan, sits down with U.S. Plastics Pact Interim Executive Director Crystal Bayliss at the 2026 Plastics Recycling Conference. They discuss how the Pact’s new framework aims to align design, collection, and end-market demand and why brand action will be critical to scaling flexible film circularity....

How does package design correlate to consistency in consumption of supplements? Biologica, a women’s health company, has launched with a suite of stage-specific daily essentials packed in recyclable tins. Each tin is designed to be displayed, featuring a unique Greco/Roman-inspired relief for each hormonal stage. Inside the artistic tins are 30 single-serve powder sachets, which are made from paper...