Latest Stories – FlexPack Voice

Find in-depth stories about all the most relevant issues facing flexible packaging today. Digital-expanded and digital-exclusive features offer a deeper look at some of these topics to give you an even fuller view.

Digital Exclusive

FPA Member Milestones

Mica Corp. Hits 30 Years as Member of FPA

When Mica Corporation opened in 1971, the company was a one-person operation run by its founder, Daniel Siegel.

Digital Exclusive

International Entries Highlight 2021 Awards Competition

Judges Recognize Winners in UAE and India

The Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition had a strong international flavor this year, especially when it came to printing excellence, leading to multiple awards for one company in the United Arab Emirates and another in India.

Digital Exclusive

Prototypes Offer Solutions Through Flexible Packaging

Students Discuss Winning Entries in FPA Contest

Caylee Boone and three of her classmates at the University of Wisconsin-Stout were tasked with coming up with ideas and prototypes that would advance uses for flexible packaging, so they started to think about how they use products and what could be improved.

Sustainability Efforts Honored

5 Packages Receive Awards in FPA Annual Contest

Sustainability goals are shared across the flexible packaging industry, so when it comes to finding ways to improve the circular economy, collegiality and collaboration dominate, says Randy Shermet, vice president of sales and development at Polykar in Burlington, Ontario.

Packaging For Patient Care

Sterile Packaging Helps Medical Professionals Save Lives

From scraped knees to heart-valve replacements, every day people depend upon health care and medical/surgical supplies safely delivered in sterile packaging.

Market Tracker Explained

Euromonitor’s Tool Now Updated Quarterly

Without reliable information about COVID-19’s impact on daily life and spending habits, strategic planning becomes challenging for flexible packaging manufacturers hoping to make inroads in, perhaps, Turkey, France, Brazil, or China.

FlexFocus™FlexMatters

A Closer Look at Stan Bikulege

Chairman and CEO of Novolex

In this issue, we interview Stan Bikulege, chairman and CEO of Novolex and a board member of FPA.

Digital Exclusive

E-commerce Trends Accelerate

Euromonitor International Research Head Outlines How Trends Will Play Out

The ramp up to e-commerce worldwide will only accelerate in the months ahead as businesses and stores reopen and consumers go back to more normal daily activities, according to Michelle Evans, senior head of digital consumer research for Euromonitor International.

Digital Exclusive

Steady at the Helm at Bumble Bee

Jan Tharp, CEO and President, Offers Tips for Weathering a Crisis

When it comes to providing leadership in a crisis, Jan Tharp says a critical aspect is having someone at the helm who is going to be a reassuring presence.

Digital Exclusive

American Packaging Corp. Garners FPA’s Highest Award

The Award is the Top Prize in FPA’s Annual Competition

The Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition sponsored by the Flexible Packaging Association included 75 packages, with some of them being entered in multiple categories.

Digital Exclusive

Presentation Shows How Market Tracker Tool Can Help FPA Members

The Tool is Available Online Through FPA’s Website

Let’s say you want to learn more about trends in another country where you might want to do business. As a member of the Flexible Packaging Association, details are a few mouse clicks away with the Market Tracker tool. “What is great is that you can compare one market against another, which can really help […]

Ripe for Rebound

Experts Predict Renewed Interest in Mergers and Acquisition Deals

Mergers and acquisitions in the flexible packaging industry slowed in 2020 as COVID-19 upended the international economy. But as the pandemic ebbs in 2021, the industry will be eager to return to a busier pace for making deals.

Behind the Annual Awards Contest

Judges Offer Tips on Improving Entries

David Luttenberger picks up a bag entered in the 2021 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition and holds it up in the air, examining it.

Digital Exclusive

Judges Bring Varied Experience to Annual Contest

Three Judges. Three Backgrounds.

FPA’s annual contest highlighting industry achievements doesn’t just happen: it takes the coordinated work of the key staff at the Flexible Packaging Association and experts in the industry who volunteer a good chunk of their time in the late fall to judge the contest.

Finding the “Wow”

Packaging Becomes E-commerce Social Media Star

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, e-commerce was seen as a function of convenience: tap on a keyboard or phone and new shoes arrive at the door.

Digital Exclusive

What Will Power Shift Mean to Flexible Packaging Industry?

Experts Offer Insights into Changes in D.C.

Now that Democrats have control of the House, Senate, and White House, policies of particular importance to the flexible packaging industry continue to be closely monitored by those who follow the trends in Washington, D.C. After Joseph R. Biden was sworn in as the new president on Jan. 20, FlexPack VOICE™ reached out to Alison […]

Digital Exclusive

Expanded Interview with Kathy Bolhous

CEO Charter Next Generation

Editor’s Note: This is an expanded version of an interview with Kathy Bolhous that appears in the January/February 2021 issue of FlexPack VOICE™. Each issue, as well as occasionally in a digital exclusive, FlexPack VOICE™ hosts a question-and-answer segment that discusses important issues with an industry leader. The digital features often will have a closer look […]

Digital Exclusive

Charter Next Generation: Post-Merger

CEO Discusses Challenges with Merger

The 2019 merger of Charter NEX and Next Generation Films was the culmination of one process and the beginning of another: taking two companies and knitting them together as one. That process ended in October with the birth of a new company name, Charter Next Generation, and a new tagline, “A Better Way.” The post-merger […]

Digital Exclusive

Consumers Remain Concerned About Food Packaging and Safety

G&S Business Communications Survey Shows Evolving Trends

Late in the fall, G&S Business Communications updated its national survey of consumers to see how COVID-19 continued to change their habits and found that about 58% remained at least somewhat concerned with contracting the virus through food packaging. That number was down from 66% in April 2020, says Brian Hall, managing director for G&S. […]

Digital Exclusive

Christoph Langohr, of Syntegon, Gives Sustainability Update at PACK EXPO Connects

With deadlines toward a circular economy quickly accelerating over the next few years, companies continue to innovate by trying different techniques, including offering paper packaging as an option. During a presentation at PACK EXPO Connects that was held virtually Nov. 9 to 13, Christoph Langohr, project manager sustainability horizontal flow wrapping with Syntegon, gave an […]