Departments – Page 8 – FlexPack Voice

Advocacy, volunteerism, and sustainability efforts are all showcased in this section. You’ll also find letters from FPA’s president, who offers her valuable perspective on those topics and more.

ELC Summer Intern Program Resumes

Industrywide Effort Seeks Your Support

May/June 2022

FPA’s Emerging Leadership Council will be hosting the Virtual Summer Internship Program again this summer.

‘Better Together’ Resonates Across Industry

May/June 2022

What does “Better Together” mean to you? This was the question the Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council (SPMC®) posed to industry thought leaders during the lead-up to Sterile Packaging Day this spring.

State

More States Ponder Packaging Policies

May/June 2022

This year, more states are debating packaging issues. These debates, at times, are taking contrasting views over the role of producers in recycling systems and how requirements are developed.

National

All Sides Agree: Workforce Issues Need Solutions

May/June 2022

While aspects of the economy are in recovery, workforce issues are at a crisis point. Public and private entities, large and small companies are facing unprecedented challenges in finding and retaining both entry-level and skilled workers as the labor force participation rate continues to decline.

Downgauging Multi-layer Film Structures

May/June 2022

Predictive models can help designers downgauge their films while maintaining critical properties and helping to accelerate innovation.

‘Hands-On’ Experience Guides Rutgers Program

May/June 2022

In this edition, we talk to Martin Golden, adjunct professor in the Rutgers University Packaging Engineering program in New Jersey.

EPA and FPA Share Similar Goals

March/April 2022

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its National Recycling Strategy: Part One of a Series on Building a Circular Economy, which identifies strategic objectives and stakeholder-led actions to create a stronger, more resilient, and cost-effective recycling system.

Fact Sheet Explains Extended Producer Responsibility

Document Shareable With All Stakeholders

March/April 2022

host of states have either passed or are strongly considering EPR legislation as it pertains to packaging, and it is important that everyone has a fundamental understanding of the topic.

Industry Engagement Gains Momentum

March/April 2022

The Sterilization Packaging Manufacturers Council®’s work continues to advance through the development of industry white papers, active participation on national and global regulatory organizations, and an arsenal of 100 FAQs designed to help packaging professionals and engineers solve material challenges.

Recycling Efforts Must Accelerate to Meet Goals

March/April 2022

End markets for packaging with recycled content are driven, among other things, by brand owners, regulation, industry associations, and consumers.

National

Midterm Elections Just Months Away

March/April 2022

These days, Washington is in a constant election cycle. A lot is at stake this November, including control of both the House and Senate.

State

2022 State Legislative Sessions Heat Up Early

March/April 2022

This year will likely prove to be another significant and precedent-setting year with the addition of several new state laws that will govern how packaging is made and managed at the end of life.

At Cal Poly, Students Learn by Doing

March/April 2022

In this issue, we talk to Jay Singh, professor and packaging program director at the Orfalea College of Business at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, and Joongmin Shin, associate professor, industrial technology and packaging.

2022 Offers Challenges and Opportunities

Jan/Feb 2022

A new year brings a renewed focus on the Flexible Packaging Association’s core pillars: advocacy, communication, research, and networking.

News Desk

FPA Profiles the U.S. Packaging Industry

Jan/Feb 2022

AS ONE OF the fastest-growing segments of the packaging industry, flexible packaging combines the best qualities of plastic, film, paper, and aluminum foil to deliver a broad range of protective properties while employing a minimum of material.

Advocacy Efforts Expand

Jan/Feb 2022

The Emerging Leadership Council’s (ELC) advocacy group has a mission to create clear and effective communication regarding legislative proposals affecting the flexible packaging industry that can be distributed within the industry and with our customers to best advocate for the entire flexible packaging industry.

Experts Discuss New ‘Normal’

Jan/Feb 2022

Looking back to the onset of the pandemic, sterile packaging manufacturers were in the thick of it, responding to COVID’s immediate and unrelenting impact on the health care industry.

CEO: Plastic Is Not Going Away

It’s Time to Promote a Circular Economy

Jan/Feb 2022

The truth is, plastic is not the problem. The problem is that we are discarding it so early in its life cycle. Instead of thinking of one necessary use for the polymers, innovators need to think about the entire life cycle of these materials.

National

Cybersecurity Becomes High Priority

Jan/Feb 2022

Many priorities are the same every year—plastics, tariffs, and recycling. In 2022, cybersecurity has been added to that upper echelon of importance.

State

2022 State Legislative Discussions Speed Up

Jan/Feb 2022

State legislators introduced multiple bills in 2021, and some of those measures resulted in several new laws impacting packaging.

The SPE Flexible Packaging Division has been presenting FlexPackCon since 2000. In 2023, the Montreal location reached maximum capacity of almost 200 attendees. The event blends fundamentals with applied experience to address emerging issues and opportunities in packaging.

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Held annually in the U.S. since 2012, Digital Print for Packaging began as an opportunity for digital print equipment suppliers to network with converters on the relatively new idea of digital print for packaging. The interest and desire for digital print options continues to grow as converters look to provide new services and satisfy growing demands, and the industry shares a desire to explore more mainstream applications for digital print, and hopefully iterate the ROI of switching to fully digital. Smithers’ Digital Print for Packaging Conference (DPP) is the key place in the industry to have technical discussions around commercializing digital print for the packaging industry. FPA is a media partner for the event, and FPA members enjoy a 10% discount on the registration fee. Contact FPA for the discount code.

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Packed with first-hand experience, our high-level lineup of expert speakers will share their industry insights, best practices, and lessons learned throughout their e-commerce packaging journeys to provide invaluable market insights that help attendees to evaluate and optimize their own e-commerce packaging strategies. FPA is a media partner for the event, and FPA members enjoy a 10% discount on the registration fee. Contact FPA for the discount code.

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The Packaging Recycling Summit 2025, presented by Packaging World, brings together brands, materials suppliers, reprocessors, and materials recovery facilities (MRFs) to illuminate all facets of the circular supply chain. Discover the critical role of design and material selection for recyclability, and the importance of collaborating early in the design process. Engage in discussions on current legislation, brand innovations, and how collaborative efforts across the supply chain can build more resilient and sustainable business practices that benefit both the bottom line and the planet. FPA is a media partner for the event, and FPA members enjoy a 50% discount on the registration fee with this discount code: FPAMEMBER.

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As the topic of recycling and sustainability continues to take over every conversation within the packaging industry, learn more about how advanced recycling is influencing the recycling conversation, how this will change the circular economy and how brands are starting get involved when striving for further sustainability goals. Advanced Recycling Summit will bring high level presentations, interactive panels, and numerous networking opportunities with attendees from across the plastics and sustainable packaging supply chains. FPA is a media partner for the event, and FPA members enjoy a 10% discount on the registration fee with this discount code: ARS25FPA.

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