Home fragrance brand NEST New York has partnered with Balsam Hill LLC to scent the artificial Christmas tree company’s float at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28.
Renowned for its classic Christmas décor complete with a spinning carousel centerpiece and more than 300 feet of garland, the Balsam Hill float’s festive spirit will be further elevated by the addition of NEST’s iconic Holiday fragrance. Spectators will experience notes of pomegranate, pine, and clove as the float travels along the parade route from Central Park West to Macy’s Herald Square. The collaboration marks the first-ever scented float in the parade’s history, according to NEST.
Further spreading the scent of the holidays this season, NEST has partnered with The Grove in Los Angeles and The Fifth Avenue Association in New York City to create a magical mood for shoppers.
In L.A., NEST is scenting the Grove’s 100-foot white fir Christmas tree and surrounding area in The Park with Holiday. The seasonal fragrance will remain in the air through December 27. According to the company, this is the first time a fragrance brand has scented The Grove’s iconic Christmas tree. NEST also teamed up with Nordstrom for a pop-up shop at the retailer’s store at The Grove.
For the second year in a row, NEST is again scenting the famous stretch of Fifth Avenue between 47th and 59th Streets in New York City with Holiday. On the 7th floor of Bergdorf Goodman, shoppers can explore NEST’s collection.
PAM Cooking Spray, from Conagra Brands, Inc., has introduced a new formula specifically designed for one of the U.S.’s most popular kitchen appliances: the air fryer. According to the company, PAM Air Fryer Non-Stick Spray was developed to address a concern consumers have with using traditional cooking sprays on an air fryer’s wire tray or basket.
PAM Air Fryer Spray was specifically formulated to reduce residue and build-up on the wire basket or tray, which can lead to wear and tear.
“Our team developed a new PAM Cooking Spray that ensures your air fried foods come out great, while leaving minimal mess behind,” said Audrey Ingersoll, VP/GM, Conagra Brands.
With a 450° smoke point—higher than a traditional cooking spray—PAM Air Fryer is formulated to withstand the high temperatures used in air frying.
The ingredients in PAM Air Fryer Spray won’t brown or smoke easily, and the spray can be applied directly to an air fryer’s wire tray or basket. Made with no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors, PAM Air Fryer Spray can also be applied directly to uncooked food to promote browning and crisping of wings, tenders and fries.
Paris Packaging Week announced that its 2025 edition will host the Pentawards Festival. Building on the success of the 2024 edition held at the Science Museum in London, UK, this partnership will position design at the center of debates and innovations. The event will bring together speakers from major International brands such as Carrefour, Microsoft, Nestlé, Coca-Cola and Unilever, who will share their vision, expertise and key trends in the sector.
A meeting point for marketing leaders, brands, designers, manufacturers and suppliers, this collaboration will offer an opportunity to discover the latest advances in packaging and design. It will also provide an opportunity to exchange with International thought leaders while exploring the future of innovation and trends in the packaging sector.
Design with Impact
The Pentawards Festival 2025 will put design at the heart of the discussions with its central theme, “Design with Impact.” The event will analyze how design choices influence consumer behavior and strengthen brand identity, highlighting the role of packaging as a powerful communication tool.
Participants will discover new perspectives on future topics such as sustainability, artificial intelligence, inclusivity and committed design, to imagine a more responsible and human future.
Adam Ryan, Head of Pentawards, said the partnership is a major milestone for both events.
“It will bring together the most creative minds in the industry to celebrate the innovation and design of tomorrow,” Ryan said.
“Paris Packaging Week will be the perfect launch for our new competition, and this in the heart of one of the world’s greatest design capitals: Paris.”
Confirmed speakers include Ximena O’Reilly, Global Head of Design at Nestlé; Mayra Messora, Head of Design South America at Nestlé; Macarena Castillo Olmos, Senior Brand Design Manager EU at Colgate-Palmolive; and Marc Powell, Global Accessibility Centre of Excellence Lead at Unilever & Paralympian.
Design agencies in the spotlight
The festival will also feature a Design Hub, showcasing innovative packaging creations by eight renowned agencies and brands, including:
The Pentawards will also feature a selection of the winning packaging from the previous year’s competition, judged by more than 50 experts from prestigious brands such as Estée Lauder, Microsoft, Pentagram and PUMA. With more than 100 award-winning designs, this will be the largest exhibition ever held at a trade show, showcasing the most innovative and visually impactful packaging on a global scale.
Josh Brooks, Co-Director of Paris Packaging Week, shared, “Hosting the Pentawards Festival at Paris Packaging Week is a real added value for our visitors.
“This partnership brings new creative energy and unique know-how in packaging design, providing a rare opportunity to meet industry leaders and discover the latest innovations.”
Paris Packaging Week will be held Jan. 28-29 at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, with four major trade shows: ADF for aerosol solutions; PCD for the cosmetics and perfume sectors; PLD for premium and luxury beverages; and Premiere packaging for luxury goods (including fashion, watches, jewelery and delicatessen0.
Admission for visitors is free by registering on parispackagingweek.com.
Revlon will relocate its New Jersey-based science and innovation (R&D) lab to the Northeast Science & Technology (NEST) Center, a 100+ acre campus dedicated to research and development innovations in Kenilworth, NJ.
The NEST Center
Lise Jorgensen, Revlon’s Chief Scientific Officer, said, “Revlon selected NEST for its existing lab infrastructure, which will help us further amplify our innovation capabilities and provide a state-of-the-art setting to meet our specific R&D needs.”
Revlon’s research labs, pilot manufacturing and office functions will be centralized within a 62,00 sq ft space within the building that until recently served as Merck’s global research headquarters.
“Revlon’s decision to join NEST is an exciting step towards our vision of a dynamic, collaborative, innovation ecosystem,” said Matthew Flath, Onyx Equities’ Senior VP Asset Management, who oversees the NEST campus.
“With their decades-long legacy in beauty and personal care, Revlon complements the forward-thinking research environment at NEST and is helping to establish a community where leading science and technology companies unite to innovate, thrive and elevate industry standards,” he added.
Amcor plc and Berry Global Group, Inc. announced that the two packaging companies will combine in an all-stock transaction worth an estimated $8.4 billion.
Berry shareholders will receive 7.25 Amcor shares for each Berry share held upon closing, resulting in Amcor shareholders owning approximately 63% of the combined company and Berry shareholders owning 37%.
Speaking on the complimentary businesses, Amcor CEO Peter Konieczny said “We will have a more complete and more sustainable product offering, supported by stronger innovation capabilities, global scale and supply chain flexibility.”
Berry CEO Kevin Kwilinski added, “Over the past year, Berry has undergone a significant transformation, completing the spin-off of our HHNF business, enhancing our product mix and optimizing our portfolio. Our combination with Amcor is a logical next step in our company’s evolution.”
The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both Amcor and Berry. Closing is targeted in the middle of calendar year 2025. Amcor’s Konieczny will lead the combined company as CEO and Graeme Liebelt will serve as Chairman, while Berry’s Stephen Sterrett will serve as Deputy Chairman.
The combined entity will be named Amcor plc. The global head office will remain in Zurich, Switzerland, and the combined company expects to maintain a significant presence in Evansville, IN, where Berry is headquartered.
Coster Group announced that it has successfully achieved the prestigious Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL) certificate. This accomplishment follows a rigorous audit conducted by Intertek, which confirmed the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible resource management.
By implementing a comprehensive waste management system and adopting innovative practices, Coster Group has achieved a 99.995% waste diversion rate from landfill, surpassing the minimum requirements of the ZWL certification.
This achievement applies to each of the eight Coster Group’s production sites in Trentino, Italy, including the company’s Coster Tecnologie Speciali S.p.A., CosterPlast and TecnoCoster, demonstrating the Group’s dedication to minimizing its environmental footprint on a global scale. While this initial phase focused on Italian sites, the Group’s ambitious program extends beyond national borders. By 2025, it aims to achieve landfill-free certification across all its sites in Europe and by 2026 worldwide.
From June 2023 to June 2024, the eight sites disposed of up to 1860 tonnes of waste as follows (the Diversion Rate of waste from landfill and incineration amounts to 99.995%):
• Waste to Landfill Rate = 0 %
• Waste to Incineration Rate = 0,005%
• Waste to Recover/Recycle Rate = 98,407%
• Waste to Energy Rate = 1,588%
The certification attests Coster Group’s investments in advanced technologies for waste treatment and recovery, its commitment to engaging all employees in the waste reduction process through comprehensive training programs and the strategic partnerships with qualified recycling companies as well. By implementing these initiatives, the company aims to ensure maximum transparency on the management of the waste and its life cycle after disposal.
“Achieving the Zero Waste to Landfill certificate is a significant milestone for our Group,” said Andrea Raineri, Coster Chief Innovation & Sustainability Officer.
“While we are proud of this result, we recognize that our journey towards a more sustainable future is ongoing. We are actively working to further optimize our processes, explore emerging technologies, and collaborate with partners to achieve the ambitious goals set in our Sustainability Roadmap.
“Our aim is to minimize the landfill disposal of waste we generate in our factories, warehouses and offices to less than 1% at Group level by 2026, maximizing resource recovery and contributing to the circular economy,” Raineri concluded.
In honor of the International Day for Tolerance, and in response to the alarming 600% rise in hate-based graffiti, the Chicago-based non-profit Life After Hate has launched HateEraser—an aerosol-gel based formula designed to quickly eradicate hate speech from most surfaces.
Life After Hate is partnering with police stations across the U.S. to distribute HateEraser as part of a new program in which first-time offenders are required to use it during court-mandated community service. This initiative is based on the belief that educating offenders on the damage their actions cause can help prevent them from continuing a life of hate.
“We know that hate-based speech and hate-based graffiti are the first steps to hate-based violence,” remarked Life After Hate Director Pat Riccards.
“HateEraser works to change the futures of people motivated by hate and extremist ideologies through education, community service, and helping people alter their path away from a life of continued radical hate,” Riccards continued.
The HateEraser formula contains acetone, xylene and multiple varieties of alcohol and hydrocarbons.
“This combination of active ingredients removes hateful markings as quickly as they were made,” noted Savannah Technical College Chemistry Professor Ujjvala Bagal.
The HateEraser cans were designed by street artists from across the country wanting to distance themselves from hate-based graffiti and help inspire change in their communities.
Every can design tells a different story of acceptance, anti-hate and empathy.
“The hope is that through the HateEraser program, education, action and strengthening hate crime laws, we can help foster a safe and more accepting community,” said Dina Peck, Chief Creative Officer of The Purpose Group.
“Hate has no place in our art,” said Jax, one of the artists on the project.
“I’m proud to be a part of something that makes real change in my community.”
Learn more at HateEraser.org.
According to a report in The News-Gazette, Full-Fill Industries, Henning, IL, was acquired by Conagra Foods on July 1.
Full-Fill had been owned by the local Clapp family and started in 1999. The company fills aerosol cooking spray, including canola, oil and butter, for retail and food service markets, as well as for private label brands sold in grocery chains nationally and internationally.
Full-Fill expanded its aerosol manufacturing plant to accommodate increased volume with an exclusive agreement to manufacture Conagra Food’s cooking sprays after Conagra’s Rossville, IL, plant closed.
Cosmetic Industry Buyers & Suppliers (CIBS) introduced its new President, Boris Schaefer of TNT Global Manufacturing), as well as its new Board, at its Members Only Luncheon in NYC on Nov. 7.
SCHAEFER
Nestle‘s Coffee mate brand is going beyond the brew with its new line of cold foam offerings.
Coffee mate Cold Foam will be available beginning in January 2025 in three flavors inspired by fan-favorite Coffee mate creamers:
With a proprietary mess-free dispensing tip for light and fluffy foam every time, Coffee mate Cold Foam has 25% less sugar than some other cold foam creamers and 25% more servings than competitors, according to the company.
To celebrate their biggest innovation yet, Coffee mate is spreading the love of foam with its first-ever Big Game ad during Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
“We’ve been leveling up modern coffee drinkers’ cups for decades with our broad selection of coffee creamers, and now we’re pioneering fun, flavor and texture with our newest innovation, Coffee mate Cold Foam,” said Daniel Jhung, President of Nestlé USA’s Beverage Division.
“With one in five coffee drinkers craving whipped topping on their beverages, and cold coffee on the rise, we couldn’t think of a better way to introduce our most experimental product yet,” added Jhung.
