Editor’s note: The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) continually looks for new members and has been ramping up those efforts in recent years This “FPA New Member Profile” feature is part of an occasional series by FlexPack VOICE® to recognize new members.
FlexPack VOICE® is reaching out to companies new to FPA to learn more about what they do and to get their views on issues facing the flexible packaging industry.
In this installment, we talk to Alan Rogers, vice president of sales at Polymount US LLC, which joined FPA earlier in 2024.
The company is a supplier to the flexible packaging industry, providing sustainable solutions to help printers reduce waste, Rogers says.
“By joining FPA, we are able to network with more like-minded printers that strive to become more sustainable,” he says.
FlexPack VOICE®: What do you see as the key issues in 2024 that affected your business, especially as it might pertain to flexible packaging?
Alan Rogers: A major issue in the flexible packaging industry this year is the continued push toward sustainability and reducing plastic in our landfills. Many printers are slow to react because it can be a rather large investment. Reducing plastic waste while contributing to a circular economy should not cost printers money, but rather save them money.
FPV: What do you think will be the primary issues in 2025?
AR: The circular economy will continue to be a major push in 2025. However, printers will be asked to look at all aspects of their manufacturing process and find more areas to reduce waste. For example, one of the largest areas of plastic waste for flexible packaging printers is start-up rolls and misprints. This affects both gravure and flexo printers. However, many flexo printers overlook other major contributors to landfills such as plate mounting tape. This tape—also referred to as “stickyback”—is a single-use product and nonrecyclable.
FPV: Talk a bit about your sustainability efforts as they pertain to flexible packaging.
AR: Polymount manufactures two major products that help customers achieve their sustainable goals. First, our Polymount Film Cleaner is a machine that allows customers to remove ink from setup rolls or misprints so they can reuse that roll of film over and over for future setups. Or, if they prefer, they can de-ink the film, regranulate it, and then turn it into pellets for extruding. This reduces the amount of plastic going into landfills. This allows printers to reduce waste while saving money. Also, Polymount Self-Adhesive Plate Sleeves eliminate the need for plate mounting tape. As previously mentioned, this tape is a single-use, nonrecyclable product. By using Polymount Sleeves, plates mount directly to a permanent adhesive coating on the sleeve, eliminating the need for tape, reducing their waste, and preventing tape from filling up our landfills.
FPV: What do you think should be the government’s role in a circular economy?
AR: To help the world become a better place, I feel we do need some type of government involvement such as tax incentives and credits to those who help reduce waste. Printers that are investing in equipment to reduce plastic in our landfills should be rewarded, which can lead to incentives to invest more and become more sustainable. However, sustainable programs should not cost printers money; they should save them money.
FPV: Anything that you would like to add?
AR: Organizations like FPA add value to flexible packaging printers in both the gravure and flexographic industries by representing the industry and providing educational information to both suppliers and printers. This keeps all involved up to date on various policies and reforms that affect our industries. We—as a supplier and FPA member—look forward to learning more from FPA. And we can, in turn, educate those printers that are not current members and encourage them to join.
Thomas A. Barstow is senior editor of FlexPack VOICE®.