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When Bots Meet Boxes: The Future of Robotics in the Corrugated Industry

Since automation and AI issues took center stage at this year’s SuperCorrExpo© event, let’s take a look at what advanced robotics means—and doesn’t mean—for boxmakers.

Fedrigoni Invests in Papkot to Lead the Plastic-to-Fiber Transition in Sustainable Packaging

99.9% of Fedrigoni Special Fine Portfolio Certified as Recyclable

Over the past year, Fedrigoni Special Papers carried out a comprehensive assessment of the recyclability of its entire specialty papers portfolio using the Aticelca method. The company adopted this independent, third-party certification scheme to provide a robust and transparent evaluation.

Evaluating Your Paper Mill Operations: What’s Next?

The health check of your facility can be a vital tool that leads to better-informed, critical business decisions.

TAPPI’s 2025 Award Winners: Leadership in Action

Do YOU know an industry professional who deserves recognition through TAPPI’s prestigious National Awards? For many TAPPI Awards, nominations are open until August 1. Several association-level awards include generous honorariums funded by private donation. You do NOT need to be a member to nominate; however, most awards require TAPPI membership for consideration. Visit tappi.org and choose the "Get Involved" tab for more information on TAPPI Awards & Honors.

Member Spotlight: Tom Staal

Member Spotlight: Tom Staal Tom Staal Professional Member Holland, MI For Tom Staal, being nominated to appear in TAPPI’s Spotlight came as a surprise. “I’m just a boring part of a box making team,”

ABB’s New R&D Center: Perfect Location for the Transformation of the Pulp and Paper Industry

This multimillion-dollar investment is set to drive technology advances in efficiency, quality, and sustainability with a focus on using the latest in digital technology.

Paperboard Packaging Council Announces New President and Board Chair

TAPPICon 2025: Kicking Off in Ten Days – Are You Ready?

Physico-mechanical and ethylene scavenging properties of active packaging from Bambusa fibers modified with TiO2 /Cu2O composite, TAPPI Journal February 2026

ABSTRACT: The physico-mechanical and ethylene scavenging properties of active packaging consisting of paper prepared from bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) fibers loaded with varying concentrations of nano titanium dioxide/cuprous oxide (TiO2/Cu2O) composite was investigated for its ability to delay ripening of Philippine climacteric fruits. Tests of paper containing 1% to 5% TiO2/Cu2O showed no or limited negative impact on its physical, optical, and mechanical properties. Images from a field emission scanning electron microscope equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM-EDS) showed dispersion and agglomeration of TiO2/Cu2O nanoparticles on the paper surface. The percent weight of titanium and copper increased with increasing metal oxide composite concentration used in this study. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy indicated small shifts in band intensity at 3330 cm-1 and 1100 cm-1 in the hydroxyl (O-H) and C-O regions, respectively, suggesting possible chemical or physical interactions between the metal oxide and paper. Contact angle measurement suggest- ed that TiO2/Cu2O nanoparticles may have imparted paper hydrophobicity at 3% & 5% concentration, possibly through increased microscale roughness. The ethylene scavenging experiment indicated that there was a significant delay in the ripening process of mango and tomato when packed in paper doped with 3% and 5% TiO2/Cu2O. The fruits were greener with a firmer texture compared with untreated control after three days of storage under natural light and ambient condition. The preliminary results suggested that 3% &5% TiO2/Cu2O active packaging modification can remove ethylene from the fruit's storage environment, extending shelf life and maintain quality for three days. This simple technique could have potential economic benefits for the fruit industry by directly reducing post-harvest waste, and the delayed ripening could provide flexibility in supply chain management.