Companies that are members of the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) have until May 30, 2025, to register their summer interns and part-time workers for the FPA Summer Internship Program, which is part of the organization’s efforts to promote careers in the flexible packaging industry. The summer internship program is put on by FPA’s Emerging Leadership Council (ELC).
The internship program is in its fourth consecutive summer and seeks to teach interns and part-time employees about various aspects of the industry through small group meetings with mentors.
The online program is limited to 75 people, but FPA member companies can have up to five people join. They can be interns or part-timers who have not yet started a full-time job. There is no cost for FPA member companies. The application form can be found here.
Some Details
FPA says the participants can expect to meet up to 90 minutes per week, with online meetings typically beginning at 11 a.m. on Fridays. Networking from these sessions has been a cornerstone of the program, which is run by the ELC, which works to promote the industry year-round. The ELC members serve as mentors for the summer program, which is organized by the ELC’s Education and Recruitment Committee.
In recent interviews, several ELC members said the summer program is a key workforce development initiative at their companies.
“Last year was my first time volunteering to lead a small group in FPA’s summer internship program,” Natalie Jardell, Flint Group’s sustainability and technical manager for key accounts in packaging inks, says in a recent interview with FlexPack VOICE®magazine to be published online in July. “While my role was serving and educating, engaging with these students and young professionals excited me more about our industry.”
Jardell also serves as vice-chair of the ELC’s Advocacy Committee.
“It is evident this program benefits those entering the flexible packaging industry, but I believe I also benefited by learning from their experiences and points of view,” she adds.
Speaker Series
The 2025 program includes a speaker series in which industry leaders and experts will hold talks online. The speaker lineup is being developed.
Previous speakers have included CEOs of flexible packaging companies, brand experts, and other stakeholders such as Kim Carswell, who worked for several consumer brands and then as an adviser for the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. Carswell gave a presentation on career development in 2024.
More Information
If you have questions, email ELC members James Rosenberger, product manager of sustainable solutions at Charter Next Generation, at james.rosenberger@cnginc.com and Patrick Clark, vice president of product development and procurement at Bryce Corporation and vice-chair of the ELC’s Education and Recruitment Committee, at pclark@brycecorp.com.
Thomas A. Barstow is senior editor of FlexPack VOICE®.