This marks a major milestone for environmental sustainability and recycling in Portugal as the country officially launches its long-anticipated deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drink containers. Portugal is the 19th European country to implement such a system and the first sizeable market in Southern Europe to adopt a DRS.

Family-owned Bacardi has signed a new global agreement with ecoSPIRITS, deepening the companies’ collaboration on circular packaging and broadening the access of Bacardi brands to the ecoSPIRITS’ technology platform. The agreement builds on a successful collaboration that began in August 2023, when Bacardi became the first spirits company to introduce circular packaging in the cruise industry.

TOPPAN Holdings has developed a new high-barrier packaging material designed to improve food preservation while supporting sustainability goals. The solution combines advanced barrier performance with improved recyclability, helping food manufacturers reduce waste and extend product shelf life without compromising packaging functionality. 

n a move that blends sports, nostalgia and innovative packaging, Coca-Cola has partnered with Panini, the iconic football sticker brand, to launch a limited-edition promotional campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The collaboration transforms Coca-Cola bottles into collectible experiences by hiding exclusive football stickers beneath peel-back labels, giving fans a new way to celebrate the world's biggest sporting event. 

Norway is celebrating its official opening of Områ, its new national facility for sorting all types of plastic packaging waste. This includes plastic, which previously had no other option but incineration. Jointly owned by TOMRA (65%) and Plastretur (35%), the facility can process 90,000 tonnes of plastic per year, transforming plastic packaging waste into uniform polymer fractions ready for recycling.

Områ will utilise advanced sensor-based technology to sort mixed plastic waste into ten separate mono-fractions, including: