Packaging guides for US & Canadian buyers
Practical, sourced guides from Direct Eco Green on packaging regulations (PFAS, compostable and recyclable claims, Canada's single-use plastics rules), sourcing from Asia and Europe, and materials such as bagasse and rPET.
Sourcing
Landed Cost of Imported Packaging in 2026: Duties, Fees and Freight, Step by Step
The landed cost of imported packaging is everything you pay to get it into your warehouse: the factory price, freight and insurance, customs duties,…
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Custom Printed Food Packaging: From Artwork to Delivery, a Buyer's Guide
Custom printed food packaging goes through five steps: choosing the item and printing method, preparing artwork on the factory's dieline, approving a…
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Eco-Friendly Food Packaging Suppliers in the US and Canada: How the Options Compare (2026)
Eco-friendly food packaging suppliers in the US and Canada fall into four groups: large US manufacturers and their brands, catalog distributors,…
Read the guide →Sourcing Packaging Beyond China in 2026: Vietnam, India, Turkey and Europe Compared
As of October 2026, imports of packaging into the US from most countries face Section 301 "forced-labor" tariffs of 10% or 12.5%, and goods from…
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How to Vet an Overseas Eco-Friendly Packaging Manufacturer: A 12-Point Audit Checklist
To vet an overseas eco-friendly packaging manufacturer, ask for documents you can verify yourself: the business license, FSC and BPI certificates…
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Packaging MOQs Explained: Why Minimums Exist and How to Lower Unit Cost Without Overbuying
A packaging MOQ (minimum order quantity) exists because every production run carries fixed costs, such as molds and cutting tools, printing plates,…
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What Is PLA? Plant-Based Plastic in Food Packaging, Explained Without the Hype
PLA (polylactic acid) is a plastic made from plant sugars, usually from corn, sugarcane or cassava, that are fermented into lactic acid and…
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PE, PLA or Aqueous Coating? How to Choose a Paper Cup in 2026
A paper cup holds liquid because of a barrier on the inside: a polyethylene (PE) film, a polylactic acid (PLA) film, or a thin water-based (aqueous)…
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Switching to Reusable Foodservice Ware: Laws, Cost per Use and How to Run the Program
Reusable foodservice ware means plates, bowls, cups, cutlery and containers designed to be washed and served again, in materials such as…
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What Is Bagasse? Sugarcane Fiber Packaging Explained for Foodservice Buyers
Bagasse is the fibrous residue left after sugarcane is crushed to extract its juice; it is pulped and molded under heat and pressure into plates,…
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What Is rPET? Recycled PET, Food-Contact Safety and Recyclability Explained
rPET is recycled polyethylene terephthalate: PET plastic, mostly from used bottles, that has been collected, sorted, cleaned and reprocessed into…
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Packaging EPR Laws in the US and Canada: What Brands and Restaurants Must Do (2026)
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws make the companies that put packaging on the market pay for collecting and recycling it. As of October…
Read the guide →PFAS in Food Packaging: State-by-State Bans in the US and Canada's Plan (2026)
As of October 2026, intentionally added PFAS are banned in food packaging by state laws in New York, California, Washington, Vermont, Colorado,…
Read the guide →Recyclable or Compostable? Packaging Claims Under the FTC Green Guides and SB 343 (2026)
Packaging is recyclable when it is actually collected, sorted and reprocessed where it is sold, and compostable when it is certified to break down in…
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Compostable Packaging for Caterers and Events: BPI, ASTM D6400 and What You Can Claim
Compostable packaging only makes sense for a catered event when three things line up: the items are certified to ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868 (typically…
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Food Packaging Rules for Restaurants in the US and Canada: The 2026 Checklist
Restaurants in the US and Canada face five layers of packaging rules in 2026: food-contact safety (FDA regulations in the US, Health Canada guidance…
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Tell us which products you need, your quantities and your delivery city in the US or Canada. Direct Eco Green replies with a tailored quote within 48 hours, with samples available before production.
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