The list below contains people interacted with, company name, website link and a key takeaway from the presentation and/or individual conversation. Happy to go further if you would like more details on any of the below, a blog post for your website or to connect.
1. Emily Friedman, ICIS (ICIS Sustainability | ICIS). Presented Supply, Deman & Pricing: The eternal battle between recycled and virgin reasons. Differentiated recycled content resins into two groups: Sustainability Driven (certified PCR, Food Grade, Clear) and Cost Sensitive (PIR, Mixed color, Cheap). Sustainability Driven films primarily tied to brand mandates & regulation (states with PCR laws, some EPR eco modulation laws). Comprehensive resource link: https://sustainablepackaging.org/2025/03/06/guide-recycled-plastic-packaging/
2. Pat Lindner, Amazon (Home – Amazon Sustainability.) Amazon HQ is in Seattle and they hosted multiple events. Amazon targets partners who have 2 things (amongst others). 3rd Party Certifications help them quickly vet suppliers. If there is no certification, they create them to improve reliability in their supplier network. Record of moving fast — suppliers who move on things they can move on. Example discussed was suppliers counting carbon as suppliers are part of Amazon’s overall emissions. Pat was a keynote speaker. Amazon packaging continues to evolve into combining the best attributes of paper box (easy for consumer to recycle) & plastic bags (lies flat, less weight & less space than a box) in their packaging. Paper bags have grown to dominate their delivery packaging. Why paper? Two reasons. #1 Paper is a renewable source & viewed as a material that can have properties that were not thought of prior – repel water, tough, circular inputs. #2 Consumer feedback demands ease in recycling curbside.
3. Ian Gaudreau, Hasbro (Corporate Social Responsibility – CSR Hasbro). Diversification is a highly valued, rewarded and a key sustainability attribute. Diversity in supply chain, vendors, customer base, products sold etc. Ian spoke specifically about the diversity in Hasbro’s supply chain. A commitment years ago to manufacture in more places than just China has helped them better navigate the last few months.
4. Eva Caspary, Pregis (Sustainable Packaging | Pregis) In a presentation Paper or Poly, Eva talked in terms of AND, not OR. They both have a place depending on company goals and cost of ownership. Cost of ownership factors reviewed included upfront costs, freight, labor, EPR fees, efficiency, brand loyalty, Capex, & damages. How each company views these factors helps each brand determine the right choice (paper or poly). The message for manufacturers was to have options for each as brands weigh alternatives for best fit.
5. Jeff Travis, American Packaging Corporation (Packaging Company | American Packaging Corporation): Jeff’s company continuously educates customers on sustainable material options and on their own sustainability program to stay ahead. Jeff found that competitors were training, so they began educating customers through online training sessions, in-person sales meetings & an investment in design guides.
6. WM–Waste Management (WM | Waste Management & Recycling Services) : A visit to one of their material recycling facilities challenged the group in asking if we are educating employees on our sustainability program (WM believes it helps retention) either through educational meetings or even just with visuals within the facility. WM had creative signs in the facility that spoke to their mission/vision intertwined with their sustainability goals.
7. Renaud Rosier, Amy’s Kitchen (Amy’s Kitchen): To support brands affected by EPR laws, Renaud suggests getting educated and having something on the website to show awareness of your role as a manufacturer. Renaud’s company (frozen food brand) is affected by EPR — he has just registered in OR & CO. He looks to his manufacturers to support the reporting they must do (what the material is made of and the weight per package) and to help reduce the fees through eco-modulation that will come in years to come. (EPR education link: Extended Producer Responsibility – SPC’s Guide)
8. Kasra Eskandari & Rachel Bonsignore NeilsenIQ (NIQ – The Full View™ of Consumer Intelligence). What do consumers think make a brand sustainable? The data says Sustainable Packaging and Responsible Sourcing are the top two responses. What packaging claim was most tied to being recognized as sustainable? Recycled Content. (pages 16, 17 attached). More statistics on consumers and sustainability attached.
9. Daniel Beltra, Storyteller (Daniel Beltrá – Art Works for Change.) Presentation on the value of storytelling. What’s your story? Is it tied to your sustainability efforts? Authentic storytelling can be a fantastic way to attract customers, talent and build brand identity/loyalty.
10. Paul Nowak, SPC director. The SPC (and other organizations like it) is a consistent source of ideas & information to innovate around, to comply with regulation, to better understand customer demands and to strategize value in ways that would likely not be possible otherwise. For organizations without an innovation team (or with), attending a conference like this once a year provides an innovation spark that leads to new paths of understanding and value. See newly released 2025 trends report here: 2025 Trends Report
Bonus one for Waste: Stephanie Didier, Operation Clean Sweep, (Home – Operation Clean Sweep). Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) is an industry-led program that supports companies in their goal towards achieving zero resin pellet loss in operations. The credential speaks volumes to company sustainability commitment while also having a positive economic impact on waste reduction. Emphasis on waste reduction in any form ties directly to the bottom line.