2025 Agenda

The Future of Flexible Packaging

Join Flexible Packaging Association President and CEO Dan Felton, Blaige & Co. Chairman and CEO Thomas Blaige, and BNP Media Packaging Group Publisher Douglas J. Peckenpaugh for an update on the state of the U.S. flexible packaging industry, including a look at ongoing public policy pressure from state and federal legislation, laws, and regulations. This keynote session will include details on extended producer responsibility (EPR) and recycled content mandates, as well as regulatory updates related to toxic substances in packaging. Our speakers will also look at financial market indicators, as well as key points of innovation driving industry growth. Top takeaways will include:

• How flexible packaging continues to be the fastest-growing packaging market segment in the U.S.
• Product examples that are leading the innovative use of flexible packaging
• Key market indicators for the global flexible packaging market
• What packaging laws and regulations FPA is helping to shape in the U.S.—and how you can help

Future-Proof Solutions for Sustainable Pouch Packaging

As environmental regulations tighten around the globe and consumer demand for sustainable packaging grows, manufacturers face more pressure than ever to find sustainable solutions. Flexible pouching products in particular present a unique challenge, as traditional pouch materials are unable to be recycled, and many sustainable materials are too heat-sensitive to withstand high-speed production. In response to these challenges, R.A Jones, in partnership with watttron, a German engineering company specializing in digital heating systems, has developed cutting-edge heat sealing and tension control technologies for use on existing pouch machinery to handle eco-friendly materials without sacrificing speed. In this sustainability-focused session, R.A Jones Director of Product and Marketing Ricky Low and a representative from Nestlé Germany will discuss:

• This innovative technology’s pathway to commercialization
• Product testing in the new R.A Jones Pouch Lab
• Key market indicators for the global flexible packaging market
• Navigating environmental regulations while meeting consumer expectations

Exploring the Potential of New Flexible Cube-Style Pouch Packaging

More developers of consumer product goods (CPGs) continue to see the benefits of using flexible packaging options like flat-bottom, side-gusset, and stand-up pouches. These known benefits including attractive material and transportation costs, among others. Now, a new cube-style pouch shows great potential to contribute exponentially more benefits. During this innovation-focused presentation, Jim Pease, President, Sun Centre USA Inc., and Bill Gross, Executive Vice President PPC Flex, will provide a look at this new cube-style pouch design, which can offer:

• Streamlined production with a single film process
• Reduced material use, carbon footprint, and cost
• Six-sided printing for better branding
• Larger package opening for improved end-user accessibility

An early adopter of this new cube-style pouch is using it for dog food, but this packaging holds great potential for use with a wide range of CPGs.

Redefining Flexible Packaging - Advanced Materials & Smart Machinery for a Sustainable Future

Innovative partnerships and technologies are reshaping the future of sustainable packaging. This presentation highlights how a cross-functional team of professionals created a groundbreaking polyethylene (PE) mono-material packaging solution for use in horizontal form-fill-seal (HFFS). This collaborative panel will highlight various technologies involved, including:

• Advanced HFFS film unwinding and sealing
• Tamper-evident spout technology/li>
• Consistent and uniform ultrasonic spout welding
• The versatile PE mono-material

Attendees will understand how combining advanced materials, smart machinery, and innovative thinking can lead to practical, sustainable packaging solutions. The solution demonstrates how advanced design elements, such as servo-driven control, synchronized ultrasonic energy delivery, and innovative sealing materials, can enable precision and reliability in large-format pouches and spout integration. This new market solution is designed for automotive products like motor oil, windshield washer fluid, and antifreeze; personal care products like liquid soaps and hotel amenities; household products like laundry detergent/refills; and food products like edible oils and condiments.

Key Trends Driving M&A Activity in the Film and Flexible Packaging

The flexible packaging sector has undergone considerable consolidation via M&A activity over the past 20 years. This surge of activity has been largely fueled by the influx of private equity capital, as well as selective activity from large, publicly traded companies in the sector. These acquirers have set forth complex objectives, which Mesirow Managing Director Rick Weil will discuss and explore in detail:

• Participate in a fragmented, resilient, and growing sector that serves attractive end markets
• Drive enhancements and improvements via investments in people, equipment, and technology
• Achieve cost savings, efficiencies, and synergies where possible
• Solve challenging regulatory demands, including sustainability, traceability, security, and anti-counterfeiting measures
• Provide innovative solutions for emerging consumer trends around sustainability and digital printing, among others

Sow Strong and The Digital Pouch

Sow Strong Food is challenging preconceived consumer beliefs about nutrition bars and related snacks, one of the largest and most-active segments of the snack and bakery market. Sow Strong Oat Bars have a unique round, hamburger-press shape, while the company’s Oat Bites come in irregular, bite-sized shapes. The products are natural, have no added sugar, and are gluten-free, hitting multiple desirable metrics for consumer acceptance. Naturally, innovative products also call for innovative packaging. Sow Strong Food uses multiple flexible package formats, all converted digitally. In this commercialization-focused session, Sow Strong Food Founder Justin Kershaw, a former NCAA Division One athlete, and Sow Strong COO Paul Unrue, who is also vice president of sales at StockPKG, the packaging supplier, will discuss:

• Sow Strong’s pathway from basement-based innovation to market introduction
• Why flexible packaging, including the pouch format, is a good fit for Sow Strong
• An overview of the unique benefits of digitally converted packaging

Medical Industry Innovation: Safety and Sustainability in High-Performance Pouch Packaging

Verde Environmental Technologies has redefined sustainable packaging with its patented Deterra Drug Deactivation and Disposal System. Designed to reduce drug misuse and protect the environment, Deterra is powered by proprietary activated carbon technology that deactivates drugs permanently, rendering them inert and safe for disposal. This packaging solution was developed with Accredo Packaging to create bio-based, fully recyclable pouches made from sugarcane, offering a negative carbon footprint. In this session, Verde Environmental Technologies Director of Operations - Hayley Wenda-Zilka and Accredo Packaging Director of Marketing - Roberto Santos Rebollar will share the journey of developing a high-performance, eco-friendly packaging solution that aligns with Verde’s aggressive sustainability mission while meeting rigorous pouch performance demands, including:

• How Verde developed a biopolymer-based pouch that meets critical performance requirements, such as maintaining barrier and seal integrity for hazardous materials, while minimizing environmental impact
• Design and testing of sugarcane-derived polyester resin film structures to meet demanding pouch applications, offering a renewable, fossil fuel-free alternative to traditional material
• How Verde leveraged expanded color gamut printing technology to deliver color consistency and reduce ink and solvent waste by up to 95%, further enhancing sustainability

Advanced Pouch Inspection Strategies

Every packaging format presents unique challenges to food safety and QA/QC operations like product inspection. In this session, Dan Gardner, Director, Market Development Group, Valco Melton, will outline a versatile, innovative approach toward inspection of flexible packaging like bags and pouches, whether made of plastic or paper. Attendees will learn how a unique combination of infra-red and visual imaging can significantly improve the converter or brand owner’s cost, quality, and confidence, significantly reducing the risk of pouch contamination and weld failures, providing a distinct market advantage.

Improving Retort Technology for Pouch Packaging

A new retort technology improves temperature distribution and allows for reduced come-up times in pouch batch processing. The technology also features more product yield per batch compared to existing processes. The combination of a shorter process with a higher batch yield reduces energy consumption, produces higher-quality product, and processes at the lowest cost per case for flexible containers. Scott Whiteside, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, will provide an overview of this technology, called ImmersaFlow™ and developed by STOCK America, a ProMach brand. He will also report on testing the technology in Clemson’s Cryovac Retort Lab. Initial testing has included protein products like chicken and beef, as well as potatoes and baby food, with pet food trials coming soon.

Frito-Lay Commercially Compostable Package

Sustainability is top of mind in packaging today, and compostable options continue to attract interest. During this innovation spotlight session, Jeff Boekeloo, product development manager, Printpack, will provide a look at a recent compostable packaging project with Frito-Lay North America, Inc., a division of PepsiCo. This innovative packaging won three 2025 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards, given by the Flexible Packaging Association: Gold for Packaging Excellence, Gold for Technical Innovation, and Silver for Sustainability.

The Super Bowl offered Frito-Lay the opportunity to highlight its pep+ (PepsiCo Positive) sustainable goals with a direct-to-consumer package at its “Chip Strip” in Las Vegas. Consumers enjoyed their favorite Game Day snacks, including Lay’s®, Doritos®, CHEETOS®, and Tostitos®, all in eye-catching, commercially compostable packaging. The packaging incorporates unique graphic elements and hidden “Easter Eggs” synonymous with Las Vegas, the Super Bowl, and Frito-Lay, and showcases Frito-Lay’s sustainable commitment to “building a world where packaging never becomes waste.”

All-Polyethylene Pouches with the Latest MDO-PE Print Web Solutions

The landscape of plastic packaging is undergoing significant transformation, driven by evolving consumer demands, stringent regulatory pressures, and rapid technological advancements. Among the various segments, primary consumer packaging represents one of the largest areas within flexible polyethylene (PE) packaging, including food and beverage, personal care, beauty, household, pharmaceutical, and health products. These applications typically involve use of PE-based sealant webs laminated to biaxially oriented polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) print webs. However, this combination of different polymers can be difficult to recycle. A potential solution features all PE packaging, which involves the use of machine-direction oriented polyethylene (MDO-PE) films for the print webs. However, the laminates based on the existing MDO-PE solutions can result in a drop in performance as compared to the traditional multi-material laminates. This presentation, led by Savargaonkar, Nilesh, Ph. D., Principal, Customer Application Development Engineer, ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co., will outline novel MDO-PE solutions that can offer a balance of excellent performance and recyclability (where organizations collect and recycle plastic film).

Panel Discussion: Adding Value and Differentiating Pouch Packaging

In today’s rapidly evolving consumer packaged goods (CPG) market, shaped by geopolitical shifts and emerging trends, CPG brands are seeking new ways to stand out on the shelf. How can you create a lasting impact through flexible packaging like pouches? During this diversified panel discussion—consisting of panelists Chuck Christopher, Vice President of Sales, All State Printing; Ed Wiegand, President and CEO, JetFx; and Ryan Chai, Strategic Solutions Manager, Nobelus, led by moderator Alon Schnitzer, North America Flexible Packaging Specialist, HP—as they explore innovative technologies that can enhance pouch packaging, drive differentiation, and add value—not just to your products, but to your business as a whole:

• Gain insights on navigating a rapidly evolving market, exploring innovative substrates and materials that strengthen the brand-converter relationship
• Discover how converters can maximize digital embellishments to enhance brand differentiation and learn strategies for gaining a competitive edge by integrating new technologies, digital printing and automation for a profitable and sustainable business growth.

Moderator

Panelists

Keynote: 2025 Steve Fairfield Memorial Award for Flexible Packaging Innovation

Steve Fairfield was a flexible packaging innovator who left an indelible mark on the baby food and fruit purée industries. His entrepreneurial and visionary contributions helped reshape the flexible pouch landscape. Steve Fairfield passed away in May 2024, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire industry innovators for generations. Global Pouch Forum, along with sponsor Skjodt-Barrett Foods, are proud to honor Steve Gosling, Cheer Pack North America visionary and early collaborator with Steve Fairfield, as the inaugural recipient of the annual Steve Fairfield Memorial Award for Flexible Packaging Innovation. During this keynote session, we will celebrate their groundbreaking innovations that have helped shape and catalyze growth of pouch packaging across the industry.

Speakers