The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) and its board-level work group on meetings have reimagined our fall conference, which will now be the premier flexible packaging event of the season. The conference, September 17–19, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina, builds upon previous fall conferences with an eye toward the future of f lexible packaging solutions up and down the supply chain.
With the theme of sustainability, the FlexForward® Fall Conference will bring together the various value chain members to discuss challenges, opportunities, and solutions for flexible packaging, particularly surrounding circularity.
In addition to regular topics of interest to the membership such as the polypropylene update, state advocacy report, and global trend analysis, attendees will discuss these industry headwinds and innovations with a range of stakeholders:
- Procter & Gamble will speak to its journey and future path for its flexible portfolio.
- ExxonMobil Product Solutions will discuss the current state of its chemical recycling program and how it will be scaled to accommodate flexibles circularity.
- FPA Sustainability Achievement Award winners will present their innovations to address sustainability concerns.
- Others will present white papers on circular flexible solutions: traceability programs, including R-Cycle and RMS; the use of new materials; safety features and novel sustainable approaches to medical packaging; and stakeholder communication on sustainable solutions.
- A new FPA report on food loss and waste reduction in the flexibles space will be discussed.
While past FPA fall conferences were rich in content, they were often mini-annual meetings and did not have a lot of networking opportunities. The new format—expanded to a day and a half from one day—will have a larger opening night reception at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, tabletop exhibits with extended networking breaks, and a second evening reception. It also will have more technical content specific to circularity solutions for flexibles.
There will be something for everyone within our member companies, as opposed to past fall conferences, which were generally geared toward the C-suite. Unlike the Annual Meeting, it is also open to nonmembers, including suppliers, converters, consumer packaged goods companies, recyclers, and policymakers, who can participate in the discussion on the future of flexible packaging so we can continue our FlexForward® journey.
Thank you to the meetings committee, our sponsors, our exhibitors, and our presenters. It is not too late to register and get in on the conversation; see the full information at www.flexpack.org/events/fall-conference-2024.
Alison Keane, Esq., IOM, CAE
Former President and CEO
Flexible Packaging Association