Industrial Project Manager - Capital Investments

Material Week Tokyo 2026 review: Japan's plastics policies drive innovation. Key takeaways. * Japan's packaging sector is responding to tighter plastics policies and international rules, such as the EU PPWR, with eco-friendly and PFAS-free solutions. * Toyota Tsusho and Oji Holdings highlighted alternatives to plastic packaging. * Sankei Giken Kogyo showcased a vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumbler designed to replace single-use cups. At Highly Functional Material Week Tokyo 2026, Japan, 1,016 exhibitors spanning corporations, industry organizations, and research institutions, presented packaging innovations across films, plastics, metals, ceramics, and sustainable materials to approximately 35,811 visitors. Driven by the expansion of the regional packaging market, businesses are aligning their strategies with Japan's accelerating plastics policies, as well as international regulations such as the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). "Japan's plastics policy has stepped up since the government formulated its Resource Circulation Strategy for Plastics in 2019. This was followed by the introduction of a charging scheme for plastic bags in 2020 and the Roadmap for Bioplastics Introduction in 2021," a spokesperson from Toyota Tsusho Corporation told Packaging Insights. "In 2022, Japan started implementing the Act on the Promotion of Resource Circulation for Plastics, which promotes measures such as reducing single-use packaging and cutlery and encouraging the use of recycled and bio-based materials. Looking ahead to 2030, Japan is targeting the introduction of around two million metric tons of additional bioplastics under its broader resource-circulation strategy." Advancing eco-friendly materials. According to data from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a national agency that supports technology development to address energy and global environmental problems, four million metric tons of plastic packaging are generated annually in Japan, with waste arising from households and businesses. On the show floor, Yoshii Hiroto, technical researcher for the Administrative Affairs Section under the Biotechnology and Materials Department at NEDO, told Upstreamsolutions: "In Japan, plastic packaging has a short useful life and is discarded in large quantities every year." "Food packaging, in particular, is difficult to recycle because it often consists of multiple materials and may contain food residues, additives, and other substances. Effective recycling can simultaneously reduce resource consumption, CO2 emissions, and waste generation." Toyota Tsusho is expanding bio-based PE in East Asia in collaboration with Braskem. In response, Toyota Tsusho has collaborated with South American chemicals manufacturer Braskem to sell its bio-based PE product to the East Asian market. "By using it as an alternative to petroleum-based PE, manufacturers can help reduce GHG emissions while maintaining comparable performance and processability. As it enables environmental benefits and consistent product quality, adoption is expanding across a wide range of applications, including shopping bags, food packaging, and household products," said Toyota Tsusho. At the tradeshow, Cargill Bioindustrial presented its Incroflo P50 additive for polymers. The 86% bio-based Incroflo P50 can be added to polymers for food-contact film packaging to aid processing. Avery Dennison showcased its Ecotach portfolio, which replaces virgin plastics with recycled materials, like recycled PET from recycled water bottles, and recycled PP from containers. Paper-based alternatives. Also at the show, Oji Holdings presented its paper-based solutions that aim to replace traditional plastic packaging. The company showcased Flatskin, a vacuum-sealed packaging solution using a high-barrier skin film to keep food fresh for longer. "This is a packaging that is separable into cardboard and film. Compared with conventional plastic packaging, plastic use can be reduced by up to 90%," a spokesperson at the company told Upstreamsolutions. "The solution features an easy-open peel tab. The vacuum packaging of meat and fish can suppress drip, and the printing on the cardboard offers an attractive presentation of foods." The EU's PPWR requires the packaging industry to demonstrate that the materials it uses do not exceed PFAS-related limits. To ensure compliance with the EU standard, Japanese packaging manufacturers are also turning to fluorine-free alternatives. Demonstrating this shift, Oji highlighted O-hajiki, its environmentally friendly non-fluorine greaseproof paper designed without PFAS.According to Oji, using highly rigid paper-based material prevents the board from warping when products are displayed on shelves. "O-hajiki can be used as packaging and lining paper for oil-containing food products. Used as a replacement for PE laminated paper, this product contributes to the elimination and reduction of plastic materials," said Oji. At the event, Upstreamsolutions also spoke to Oji Paper, a subsidiary of Oji Holdings, about its range of nonwoven fabric packaging materials. Metal boosts sensory quality. Sankei Giken Kogyo showcased Ginoe, a brand of heat- and cold-retention beverage packaging products, designed to replace single-use plastic cups in food services. The tumbler features a double-wall stainless steel structure. The product uses vacuum insulation technology, using a vacuum layer containing almost no air molecules to prevent heat transfer. Kenta Takaoka, researcher from the R&D department at Sankei Giken Kogyo, said: "Stainless steel is a practical, cost-effective material choice for the technology. Using two walls instead of one, and a vacuum layer instead of an air layer, improves the insulation effect." The company indicated that Ginoe can provide an alternative to plastic solutions while enhancing the drinking experience by maintaining the temperature. In this way, it can preserve aroma release and mouthfeel for the beverage. On the showfloor, Packaging Insights spoke to Hindalco Industries about its high-performance alumina products and ceramic solutions.

Palmer Holland creates four market-focused Industrial Specialties business teams. he business will be organized around four dedicated teams: Coatings; Adhesives, Sealants & Elastomers (ASE), Engineered Materials, and Lubricants. September 15, 2026 Editor, Coatings World, Coatings World Palmer Holland, Inc. announced a broadened market-focused structure for its Industrial Specialties business, effective immediately. The business will be organized around four dedicated teams: Coatings; Adhesives, Sealants & Elastomers (ASE), Engineered Materials, and Lubricants. The structure replaces the former CASE umbrella with distinct Coatings and ASE teams. Each team will have dedicated business leadership, technical support, and focused commercial strategies. The new structure will increase market specialization, strengthen principal partnerships, deepen technical expertise, enhance customer engagement, expand opportunities to connect customers with complementary solutions, better align investment with market opportunity, and accelerate organic growth. Tony Denton will serve as Senior Vice President - Industrial Specialties. The four businesses will be led by Dave Ruggieri, Business Director - Coatings; Alex Snyder, Business Director - Adhesives, Sealants & Elastomers; John Battaglia, Business Director - Engineered Materials; and Matt Miller, Business Director - Lubricants. Palmer Holland also announced two appointments designed to strengthen companywide growth and commercial capabilities. Following Palmer Holland's expansion into the Latin American market, John Outcalt will become VP of International Sales & Strategy, with responsibility for accelerating international growth and partnering across the organization on strategic growth initiatives. Ron Zmich, who has led Industrial Specialties for the past 3.5 years, will transition to the role of Director of Commercial Training and Development, applying his extensive technical, commercial, and leadership experience to the continued development of Palmer Holland's commercial organization. "Our markets are becoming more specialized, and our structure needs to keep pace," said Tim Skufca, Chief Executive Officer of Palmer Holland. "This new structure brings our leadership, commercial decisions, and sales execution closer to the markets we serve. By giving each market dedicated leadership, deeper expertise, and clearer accountability, we can respond faster, invest more intentionally, and create greater value for our partners. It also allows John and Ron to bring their experience to two areas that drive additional value for our partners: international growth and the continued development of our commercial team. As an employee-owned company, we are building this structure for the long term." "The goal is not to create four silos," said Denton. "It is to give each team the specialized focus to understand every aspect of its market, build stronger technical and commercial plans, and make faster decisions while still drawing on the full capabilities of Palmer Holland. Our principals and customers should experience clearer accountability, stronger market plans, and more opportunities to connect complementary solutions." Denton brings more than 30 years of industrial-sector experience, including procurement and commercial roles with Hitachi Automotive Products, GE Plastics, and Cabot. Ruggieri joined Palmer Holland after 12 years with Rubber Polymer Corporation, where he last served as executive vice president. Battaglia joined Palmer Holland in 2012 and has held sales and business leadership roles across multiple industrial markets. Miller joined the company in 2015 as an account manager and most recently served as National Sales Manager - Lubricants. Snyder joined Palmer Holland in 2018 after holding technical and commercial positions with Valspar and Braskem. Outcalt joined Palmer Holland as an account manager after working with Sherwin-Williams and later became a business director. Zmich joined Palmer Holland in 2006 and has spent his career in the chemical industry across supply chain, sales, sales management, and business leadership. Add us as a preferred source on Google. Get the latest Coatings World news, insights and analysis in your Google Search and AI experiences.

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