2025 Agenda

Flexible Packaging – State of the Industry: Policy Driving Innovation

Alison Keane, President and CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) will update attendees on the State of the Industry for the U.S. flexible packaging industry – the fastest growing segment of the packaging industry. Flexible packaging is comprised of packaging made with paper, plastic, film, foil, metalized or coated paper, and film or any combination of these materials; and includes rollstock, bags, pouches, liners, shrink sleeves, wrap and stretch wrap, bulk shipping sacks, flexible lidding and film wrap around labels. The presentation will cover the current legislative and regulatory policy, and the innovation spurred by these mandates. Ms. Keane will also discuss the sustainability aspects of flexible packaging and the FPA’s advocacy efforts to promote the industry with consumer product companies, consumers and policy makers.

Pouch Converters Are Hot Commodities—Driven By the Accelerating Global Industry Consolidation

Since 2021, Blaige & Company moved into the third decade of proprietary research on the impact of the global consolidation across packaging and plastics sectors. As discussed in the Blaige proprietary Twenty-One-Year Plastics and Packaging Mergers and Acquisitions Consolidation Study, on average, 74% of 2001’s top 50 packaging companies have undergone change of ownership or been eliminated over the past 20 years. This presentation will cover:

• The main valuation drivers of the sector as well as the headwinds for business owners in 2024
• Valuable strategies designed to help company owners understand how to use mergers and acquisitions as a valuable tool
• How global customers/brand owners influence consolidation
• An overview of the innovation by CPG companies in the key aspects of the packaging such as design, functionality, branding and sustainability
• Past two decades of M&A analysis in the pouch sector and expected trends for 2024-2025
• And much more!

Pouch Technology for Liquid Product Innovation and Category Growth

Along with a co-presenter from Tree Top, Inc., Dan will discuss the potential for packaging innovation for a variety of liquid applications, including fruit purée, baby food, beverages, and more. This session will highlight recent developments in pouch machinery technologies, including spouted pouches, implemented by a variety of global CPG companies, including in the United States. The presentation will shine a spotlight on IMA’s work with Tree Top, the advantages of continuous motion pouch packaging, mono-material sealing technology, and new opportunities for category innovation thanks to aseptic pouch filling.

Changing State of the Packaging Industry: Forward-Looking CPGs Reinventing the Status Quo through Flexible Pouch Packaging

During this innovation-focused keynote, renowned flexible packaging expert and Global Pouch Forum founder Dennis Calamusa will highlight innovation across today’s consumer packaged goods (CPG) landscape, including foods, beverages, personal care, household, and more. As part of his CPG market analysis, he will provide a snapshot of the flexible packaging strategy behind the product, as well as the target consumer, and retail marketing strategy, as well as any environmental and sustainability benefits. These new flexible pouch packaging market entries are setting the stage for category disruption, growth, and opportunity.

Packaging Sustainability, Recycling, Environmental Impact, and Extended Producer Responsibility

Sustainability is—and will remain—the hottest topic across all aspects of our global CPG packaging industry. Packaging is undergoing a transformation as all CPG products face scrutiny related to sustainability. In response to this global packaging crisis, catalyzed by ever-expanding extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, suppliers continue to introduce new recycle-ready packaging materials that will work as functionally capable replacements for less-sustainable options. Our global CPG industry faces significant challenges, and flexible packaging has a world of solutions. In this panel discussion, flexible packaging experts will discuss the next generation of flexible packaging options to build a truly circular economy for packaging, addressing key topics like:

• Achieving sustainability and performance with PE/PA multilayer films
• Efficient & Sustainable Ultrasonic Pouch Sealing
• Testing sustainable pouch performance
• APR-approved, high-barrier, recycle-ready monomaterial laminates

Considerations for Widely Recyclable Pouches

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has highlighted a concerning statistic: Flexible Packaging accounts for less than 1% of recycled packaged goods. Even with the introduction of Store Drop Off programs, the recycling rates have only marginally improved, reaching less than 3%. This data underscores a pressing need to drive the adoption of Widely Recyclable pouches, aiming to enhance recycling convenience and rates significantly. Sonoco Flexible Packaging recognizes this imperative and is eager to guide discussions on the transition to paper-based pouches.

In this presentation, Jake Branyon of Sonoco Flexible Packaging will delve into crucial design and technical considerations, providing insights into the deployment of widely recyclable pouches. The focus will encompass various aspects, including suitable product types, formats, and compatible machinery.

For Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies, this initiative presents a unique opportunity to assess their portfolios. By understanding the potential of widely recyclable pouches, CPGs can strategize the shift of specific products to more sustainable packaging solutions. For industry suppliers, the presentation is a valuable opportunity to understand the needs for further innovation within the value chain. This encompasses enhancing performance and exploring novel techniques that align with the requirements of packaging products using paper substrates. Join us in this collaborative endeavor to drive innovation, improve sustainability, and foster a greener future for packaging solutions.

Innovation Spotlight

Printing Koochikoo® Lovely Yellow Lemon, Lolly Pop Rainbow, and Cool Mint Treat

Koochikoo meets the constantly growing demand for better, healthier candy products that are plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free. This new package designed for Koochikoo is a first in this category of candy packaging. It is uniquely designed for a premium look. The best part of the pouch is the brilliance in printing. The combination of the gloss and matte effect gives an abstract look to highlight certain areas of the package. The pouch is printed with 8 colors by the rotogravure process. The design is done in such a way that it gives a simple, yet rich matte corrugated sheet-like look even though it’s a plastic laminate. The stand-up pouch feature helps in better utilization of space in the market shelf display.

Innovation Spotlight: Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging

US Waffle, Jus-Rol Poffitz Club Pack with Sealstrip's SealAcross® Reseal

US Waffle’s Jus-Rol Poffitz Club Pack with Sealstrip’s SealAcross Reseal delivers customer satisfaction, food waste reduction, and brand impact. Frozen food packaging is challenged by freshness preservation, lack of convenience, and differentiation. The decision to enhance the Poffitz packaging for Sam’s Club with gussets and an easy open, tamper-evident, reseal feature provides an impressive entrance into the market for a product new to the U.S. Poffitz is the first to feature SealAcross, including patented TamperTear technology.

Welcome, Introduction to Day 1 Proceedings, Announcements

From Mission Impossible to Commercial Reality: Mono-Material Retort Pouch

Sustainability and recyclability are hot topics in packaging today, with global consumer packaged goods (CPG) producers actively seeking environmentally friendly packaging solutions. To meet this demand, Japanese packaging company TOPPAN and Australian CPG producer Flavour Makers have collaborated to commercialize a recycle-ready, retortable, mono-material pouch with high barrier properties. The innovation has earned recognition as a Gold PIDA Award from the Australian Institute of Packaging. Australian-based Flavour Makers is a large producer of pouched sauces, dressings, soups, and more, offering its Celebrate Health, Australian Organic Food Co., Passage Foods, Street Kitchen, and Cleanfit brands across Australia and for export to multiple overseas markets. This session will explore the relationship between TOPPAN and Flavour Makers, as well as other applications for this innovative pouch packaging.

Welcome, Introduction to Day 2 Proceedings, Announcements

Closing Remarks, Takeaways from Day 1 Proceedings, Announcements

Welcome, Introduction to Day 2 Proceedings, Announcements