The American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN;www.ameripen.org) announced Dec. 15 the retirement of the organization’s president, Joan Pierce of Colgate-Palmolive Company, along with related changes to its Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

Succeeding Pierce as president of the industry trade organization that advocates for environmentally and economically sound packaging policy improvements is Gail Tavill of ConAgra Foods, Inc., formerly the group’s vice president. Other changes to the AMERIPEN Executive Committee include Shanna Moore of DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers being named vice president, and Jeff Wooster of The Dow Chemical Company succeeding Moore as the organization’s secretary. Ron Cotterman of Sealed Air Corp. remains treasurer.

At the same time, AMERIPEN has also appointed Richard Abramowitz, director of public affairs of WM Recycle Services, to its Board of Directors on an interim basis to serve out the remainder of Pierce’s term. In extending an invitation to Waste Management, Inc., the AMERIPEN Board is reinforcing the group’s commitment to diversity and representation of the full packaging value chain.

 “Joan was a driving force in helping to get AMERIPEN launched and running,” says Tavill. “All of us sincerely thank her for her time, passion, and commitment to effect positive change in the packaging industry and we wish her all the best in this next chapter of her life.”

Formed earlier this year, AMERIPEN’s Corporate Founding Members include:  The Coca-Cola Co., Colgate-Palmolive Co., ConAgra Foods, Inc., The Dow Chemical Co., DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, Kellogg Co., MeadWestvaco Corp., The Procter & Gamble Co., Sealed Air Corp. and Tetra Pak. 

Other AMERIPEN member companies include:  Amcor, Ball Corp., DaniMer Scientific, ExxonMobil Chemical, International Paper, Myriant Technologies, Inc., Owens-Illinois, Inc., PaperWorks Industries, PARC Corp., PepsiCo, Saint-Gobain Containers, Inc., Sonoco and Waste Management, Inc.

AMERIPEN advocates packaging policy developments in North America and focuses on measures that are environmentally and economically sound, as well as socially responsible. The Institute, with a material neutral approach, encourages science-based decision making on sustainable packaging initiatives and provides a point-of-view and guidance to policy makers and thought leaders on the value and role of packaging.  You can also read more about AMERIPEN in a blog by Bob Lilienfeld,Green thoughts: It’s About Time.