There are valuable lessons to be learned from the states that have adopted extended producer responsibility laws so far, including the importance of a thorough needs assessment, sufficient lead time for producer responsibility organizations to begin operations and consideration of how consumers will be affected. John Hewitt, senior vice president of packaging and sustainability at Consumer Brands, acknowledges the importance of contributing to a circular economy and reducing plastic waste, while also being cognizant of short- and long-term effects on consumers. "[G]ood programs take time to implement, and I think that's the biggest lesson that we have learned through the EPR process to date," said Hewitt.

Consumer Brands is pursuing a seven-figure ad buy to highlight the workers in the industry and the key role of consumer packaged goods in the economy. "From the farmers growing the crops, to the product safety and quality scientists testing products, to the truckers delivering them to retailers, the CPG industry plays a crucial role in communities and is embedded in the fabric of American life," said President and CEO Melissa Hockstad. The campaign will run in 12 state markets and Washington.

Philipp Navratil took over the CEO role at Nestle in September and has set his sights on gaining the trust of investors, employees and customers. Navratil acknowledges that this is a challenging time for such a large business, and says it is important to be able to "look at things with different aspects and from different angles."

The retail media division of Albertsons Companies, Albertsons Media Collective, has taken a strategic step by establishing a presence in Midtown Manhattan. The retailer plans to use the location to enhance its advertising services for brands and agency partners, while also increasing awareness of the Albertsons brand and its retail media expertise.

The Heinz ketchup bottle has been through many changes since 1876, when it defied conventions of the time with a clear glass bottle rather than brown, moving through multiple revisions and converting to mainly plastic, adapting sustainability considerations along the way. The brand has also made user experience a priority, with one example being the EZ Squirt bottle that is easier for children to use.

Consumers are actively looking for international products that offer authenticity and adventure and are willing to pay a premium for these experiences. The expansion of stores such as H-Mart and 99 Ranch is one sign, and traditional grocers such as Kroger are also broadening their multicultural assortments, often through private brands, in an effort to move beyond the typical "ethnic aisle" and more closely tailor their assortments to reflect the unique needs of local communities.

Key global coffee trends for 2026 include functional beverages, ready-to-drink coffee, popular among Gen Z; and coffee concentrates, which offer convenience. Innovations in at-home barista technology and a focus on responsible sourcing are also shaping the market.

Agriculture is foundational to our work at the Consumer Brands Association and to the products Americans rely on every day. We're excited to launch "Talking Dirt with Riley", a new blog series by Riley Cagle, Manager of Federal Affairs at Consumer Brands. In this series, Riley will explore how agriculture policy intersects with the CPG industry, from regenerative agriculture to supply chains and research. With deep roots in rural communities, he brings both personal perspective and policy expertise to the conversation. Read the first post, "Talking Dirt with Riley: An Introduction", and join us as we dig into the policies behind the products we use every day. Check it out here.

It's been 10 years since the Consumer Brands Association announced the launch of SmartLabel. In the time since, SmartLabel has redefined how we shop. Find out some of the many ways SmartLabel's scannable QR code and innovative platform have enhanced ingredient transparency for the American people. See them here.

The Recycling Leadership Council, a coalition of industry partners formed by the Consumer Brands Association, is committed to reducing plastic waste. Its priorities include advocacy at the federal level on the topic of recycling modernization and support of innovation to scale the process. "The RLC is united in support of policy frameworks that will unlock the investment and manufacturing innovation needed to modernize America's ageing recycling infrastructure to adequately handle the amount and types of plastic materials discarded today," said John Hewitt, senior vice president of packaging and sustainability at Consumer Brands.

The Recycling Leadership Council, a broad coalition of recycling, manufacturing, packaging and consumer products sectors in the US, is aiming to reduce plastic waste and modernize recycling. The council plans to work with Congress to drive innovation and update infrastructure.

Procter & Gamble is running local ads during the Super Bowl in 36 Southern markets for Spruce and in 46 markets for Zevo, instead of buying national spots, to reach consumers more cost-effectively. The ads will air in markets where the products can be used as winter ends, and P&G hopes the campaign will generate nationwide interest through word-of-mouth.

A market-wide study by Amplified and Video Futures Collective on the attentive viewing of advertising on Australian streaming video platforms found that audiences paid 79% attention to ads, with 59% active and 20% passive. Videos on streaming sites performed better than linear TV, social media and mobile videos, achieving higher attention levels than YouTube mobile (66%), large-format out-of-home (74%), linear TV (80%), display ads (161%) and scrollable social media (123%). In terms of average attention, cinema beat streaming video by 6%.