FoodChain ID Announces Partnership with Unpac
Regulatory compliance solutions and services provider, FoodChain ID, is working with AI-powered Saas platform, Unpac, to provide the global food and beverage industry with a single, integrated EPR compliance solution that will facilitate packaging data collection, automate reporting across jurisdictions, and be able to deliver actionable insights to procurement, packaging design and sustainability teams. The program will set out to ease the burden of packaging compliance by facilitating regulatory complexity and state-by-state reporting, surfacing cost savings, and elevating operational performance. The new joint project will feature:
- One-click, multi-jurisdiction EPR reporting, powered by Unpac’s automation engine and supported by FoodChain ID’s regulatory consulting team for compliance confidence across U.S. state-specific frameworks
- Automated data validation, gap analysis and eco-modulation simulations to reduce fees and improve packaging performance, guided by FoodChain ID’s domain expertise in food and beverage packaging standards
- Up to 80% reduction in manual effort and 20%+ reduction in EPR-related fees, with packaging cost savings of 10-20% validated by FoodChain ID’s expert interpretation and defensibility reviews
- Unpac’s dynamic Single Source of Truth for packaging data, enriched with FoodChain ID’s broader compliance intelligence and audit support capabilities
- End-to-end support from data to decision, combining Unpac’s AI-driven platform with FoodChain ID’s advisory, implementation, and enterprise enablement services
“Together, we’re eliminating the friction from EPR compliance and giving brands a smarter way to reduce risk, meet regulatory deadlines and find savings in their packaging data,” said Marc Losito, VP of Regulatory Solutions at FoodChain ID. “This partnership isn’t just about EPR reporting, it’s about helping our customers future-proof their packaging strategy with defensible data and intelligent tools.”
J.R.LIGGETT'S Provides Microplastics Solution
As consumers grow increasingly aware of the negative impacts of microplastics, they are looking to their health and beauty products as an area to embrace zero-waste products. Enter J.R.LIGGETT'S, which has been providing consumers with a wide range of zero-waste, sustainable personal care products that are good for themselves and their pets for nearly 45 years. Each offering is made with plant-based ingredients, free of detergents, sulfates, palm oil, and plastic-free packaging while providing old-fashioned quality and value for a "de-plasticizing health and beauty routine.
“As a Legacy Brand that’s proudly made in America, our mission has always been to support healthy people, healthy pets, and a healthy planet,” said Jamie Miller, President of J.R.LIGGETT LTD. “We believe that personal care can be simple, sustainable, and effective. It’s about taking wellness back to basics, and giving customers a way to feel good about what they’re putting on their bodies and into the environment.” Learn more about the company here: The Natural View: Lessons in Leadership & Clean Label From J.R.LIGGETT’S, a Genuine Legacy Brand.
Kaneka Nutrients Addresses Misleading Label Claims
The Kaneka Corporation is working with accredited third-party laboratories to increase the monitoring and lab testing of products labeled as Ubiquinol. Kaneka Nutrients' increase in tracking efforts comes as a result of recent concerns over misleading label claims. Through the use of yeast fermentation technology, the production of Ubiquinol is both sustainable and fully traceable. Maintaining the products legitimacy is extremely important due to its role in supporting cellular health and overall wellness, protecting health outcomes, and preserving integrity within the supplement industry.
"Kaneka Nutrients has long set the standard for purity, safety, and scientific research in Ubiquinol ingredients, which is why we remain committed to ensuring the quality of Ubiquinol products in the marketplace,” said Terese Mansell, Vice President of Kaneka Nutrients. “Our first phase of testing revealed significant concerns about products failing to meet label claims. With phase two, we continue to uphold transparency, protect consumers from misleading products, and preserve trust in authentic Ubiquinol.”
GNT Spotlights Plant-Based Color Trends
GNT Group has published a new report highlighting four new trends that are emerging from the influence of bold colors on new foods and drink products that can help consumers connect, explore culture, and find comfort during difficult times. In their research, GNT points to color as the center point of food and drink experiences that feel more "social, expressive, and emotionally resonant."
The Gather Together Report also highlights:
- Joyful Unity celebrates communal eating in familiar or reinvented spaces, expressed through warm, hearty shades inspired by seasonal, nourishing, and comforting dishes.
- Cultural Celebration reflects rising interest in regional authenticity and hyper-local flavor exploration, characterized by bold, saturated tones rooted in culinary heritage.
- Sensory Escape showcases surreal, multisensory food experiences that offer a break from routine, with unconventional, mysterious, and futuristic hues.
- Branded Bites highlights the rise of hybrid brand collaborations, from retail cafés to limited-edition snacks, using fresh citrus and floral tones to create uplifting visuals.
“People are looking to food and drink for connection, comfort, and creativity – and color helps spark those moments. Gather Together shows how brands can tap into this momentum using plant-based shades that resonate with how consumers want to eat and share today," explained Dieuwertje Raaijmakers, Marketing Communications Specialist at GNT Group.
Gnosis by Lesaffre Partners with Maternity Foundation
The NGO Maternity Foundation is partnering with Gnosis by Lesaffre to further its mission of assisting with healthier pregnancies for women in some of the world's most fragile and remote areas. The collaboration will focus on providing women in low-resource areas with nutrition education, access to quality care, and use of the Safe Delivery App—a free job aid, training, and microlearning tool providing guidance and information to midwives for quality care throughout a pregnancy. The application and its included training program has reached 500,000 healthcare professionals across the world.
Throughout the partnership, Gnosis has agreed to provide financial support over a period of three years to help expand the program while Maternity Foundation will leverage its trainers and awareness-increasing activities to amplify global and country-level recognition of the importance of healthier pregnancies, emphasizing proper nutrition and supplementation— particularly folate—as essential for improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.
“Our partnership with Gnosis by Lesaffre exemplifies how cross-sector collaboration can drive meaningful progress in maternal and newborn health. By joining forces—through joint advocacy and by leveraging the Safe Delivery App and its accompanying training program—we can accelerate efforts to promote healthier pregnancies, ultimately contributing to safer births and better beginnings for babies,” shared Anna Frellsen, CEO of Maternity Foundation.
SD Head USA Invests in New North Carolina Facility
Gaston County, North Carolina will be new home of SD Head USA's new $65 million dollar HPMC capsule manufacturing facility. Shandong Head Group will set up the state-of-the-art site in South Ridge Business Park in Bessemer City, creating over 100 new jobs for the local area. The site will expand the company's capsule capacity by more than 20 billion per year, help strengthen domestic production and supply chain reliability for its Healsee branded vegetarian HPMC (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose) empty hard-shell capsules, and help SD Head USA stay on pace with the industry's growing demand for clean-label, gelling aid–free, plant-based capsules.
News of the facility, which is scheduled to open in late 2026, marks the latest milestone in the company's mission to move closer towards regionalized production and decreased lead times for its nutraceutical partners across North America. “Our newest manufacturing facility represents more than just an investment in Healsee Capsules Inc.—it’s a commitment to the future of Gaston County and North Carolina,” said Michael Chen, Chief Executive Officer of SD Head USA, the North American operations of Shandong Head Group. “With an estimated $65 million capital investment and more than 100 new jobs to be created over the next 24 months, we are proud to support local economic growth and contribute to the resurgence of domestic manufacturing. At a time when many companies face global supply chain uncertainty, this facility will serve as a reliable, U.S.-based solution for our customers nationwide.”
Benicaros Featured in LOAM Prebiotic Fiber Formula
NutriLeads carrot-derived ingredient, Benicaros, has been named as the key ingredient in the new LOAM Prebiotic Fiber Formula. Developed by LOAM founder Dr. Karan Rajan, the product is a first-of-its-kind 6-in-1 formula delivers 10 grams of diverse prebiotic fibers per serving to support digestion, immunity, metabolism, and mood. With roughly 95% of adults lacking in sufficient intake of 25-30 grams of fiber per day, the formula's signature blend of six complementary prebiotic fibers provides the comprehensive support needed throughout the digestive tract.
"Benicaros aligns perfectly with LOAM mission to support healthier, more diverse gut microbiomes for beneficial overall health,” said Jan Jongsma, Chief Executive Officer of NutriLeads. "Its clinically proven gut and immune health benefits, favorable formulation properties, and low gas formation compared to standard prebiotics, makes Benicaros an ideal fit for LOAM Prebiotic Fiber Formula.”
HTBA Announces New Manufacturing Plant in Spain
HealthTech Bio Actives (HTBA) has invested over €6 million in its new diosmin production plant in Murcia, Spain. At its new site, the citrus flavonoids and active forms of vitamin B12 producer will look to increase its diosmin production capacity for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers by more than 40%. The new facility marks another milestone in the brand's long-term strategic growth plan which includes building on the innovation and manufacturing capabilities of diosmin, an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for the treatment of chronic cardiovascular disease (CVD), varicose veins, spider veins and hemorrhoids, as well as a food supplement ingredient, and its signature branded ingredient—DiosVein, to keep legs healthy.
“This latest investment further reinforces HTBA’s standing as an international leader in the production of flavonoids, supporting innovation in the health and wellness sector,” comments Alexandre Valls-Coma, Chief Executive Officer at HTBA. ”By prioritizing innovation and sustainable manufacturing, over the last few years the company has entered a period of remarkable growth. This project further strengthens our expansion and competitiveness in a highly regulated and demanding global environment."
