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Gain new insight into the world of packaging at the NPE2024 Packaging Industry Sessions. Learn from industry experts how manufacturers are making packaging more sustainable, durable, sellable and more.

May 6

12:00 – 12:30 p.m: Redesigning Flexible Packaging for Sustainability | Dan Ward

Attendees get a first look and introduction to NOVA’s Sustainability scorecard, a new approach and tool designed specifically to score the sustainability of flexible packaging. The recent case studies demonstrate typical challenges and trade-offs encountered when redesigning current flexible packages for sustainability. Finally, NOVA provides specific recommendations and best practices to consider for maximum sustainability benefit. The session will end with a discussion on the future, evolving sustainability challenges in flexible packaging.

3:00 – 3:30 p.m: Introducing New HDPE Innovations Across the Rigid and Flexible Packaging Spaces | James Stern

Over the last few years, Exxon Mobil Product Solutions (EMPS) has developed and commercialized several innovative high-density polyethylene (HDPE) materials. In this session, you get a first-hand look at the development of such resins, in conjunction with OEMs, customers and brand owners across both the rigid and flexible application spaces.

May 7

10:00 – 10:30 a.m: The Future of Sustainable Packaging: Enabling the Circular Economy | Haim Za’afrani

The packaging industry develops solutions, using plastics, that deliver on the essential needs of the global community. But now the industry is at a critical point. it is under intense scrutiny, with some groups suggesting the complete elimination of plastic packaging, which is simply unrealistic. Examine the technologies, solutions and services that have been engineered to work together to enable your sustainability goals, regardless of where you are in your journey.

10:00 – 10:45 a.m: Growth, Trends and New Opportunities in Packaging Equipment | Jorge Izquierdo

This session reviews the demand for packaging equipment during COVID-19, the impact of supply chain disruptions, workforce challenges, the trends driving the future of packaging equipment and new market opportunities.

11:00 – 11:45 a.m: Optimizing Thin Part Production: Beyond Lightweighting to Rightweighting Excellence | Erik Foltz

Many corporations are investigating ways to minimize their plastic footprint to help achieve sustainability goals and help reduce part costs. In this session, gain a holistic view of the lightweighting process to better optimize plastic part design.

1:00 – 1:45 p.m: PMMI Market Update Mash-Up Compass and Flexible Packaging | Rebecca Marquez

See how the market data from the PMMI Compass and Flexible Packaging reports directly applies to plastics and gain practical market updates.

2:00 – 2:45 p.m: Regulatory and Legislative Update | Natha Dempsey, Alison Keane, Esq. and CAE, moderator Jason Eberstein

Hear from the , and to learn about the latest federal and state regulations and legislation that will impact packaging.

3:00 – 3:50 p.m: Defining Sustainable Polymer Technologies in Packaging: Building Your Personalized Pathway to Eco-Friendly Solutions | Adam Wozniak

Learn about materials for packaging. This session includes an overview of the types of materials used for packaging and insight into where sustainable and recyclable materials are an option.

May 8

12:00 – 12:30 p.m: The Consumer’s Voice in Sustainable Packaging Innovation | Imre Varga, Brant Wunderlich

This session shares the findings of ongoing, multiyear research into consumer preferences for packaging, plastics and sustainability. Learn about consumer preferences, behaviors, loyalties and more.

2:00 – 2:30 p.m: Amplify Sustainable Packaging With a New PHA Composition | Raj Krishnaswamy

Polyhydroxybutanoic acid (PHB) copolymers or PHAs are recognized to naturally biodegrade in soil, home compost, industrial compost, fresh water and marine environments. This presentation, highlights the attributes and value proposition of “new to the world” bio-based amorphous PHA rubber. Incorporating amorphous PHA as a component in products based on other compostable polymers such as semicrystalline PHA, PLA, PBS and PBAT results in considerably faster composting and biodegradation, improved melt processing and handling, higher toughness and flexibility. These values will dramatically expand the range and utility of compostable packaging.

3:00 – 3:30 p.m: Introducing STRAP: A New Paradigm to Recycle Plastics | George Huber

Developed in collaboration with researchers and companies at , Solvent-Targeted Recovery and Precipitation (STRAP) is a brand-new platform technology for recycling plastics to food-grade materials using solvents. Dive deeply into the models, tools and databases used during this process. Discover how STRAP can produce a high-quality white resin for food-grade applications, how resins recovered from STRAP can be cheaper than virgin resins and why they have 60-95% lower greenhouse gas emissions than producing virgin polymer.

May 9

10:00 – 10:30 a.m: Advanced Recycling: Putting Circularity Into Circulation | Jennifer Austin

Brand owners in the medical and pharmaceutical packaging industry have established sustainability goals for the plastic packaging of their products, which can be supported by the rest of the value chain. This includes improving packaging performance while reducing raw material consumption, increasing recycled content incorporation, improving the recyclability of packaging and utilizing alternatives to fossil-based feedstocks. Learn about the Exxtend technology for advanced recycling and discuss the incorporation of certified circular polymers in product designs.

12:00 – 12:30 p.m: Making it Stick: Using Watt Density to Optimize Adhesion | Tyler Derus

Discover the fundamentals of corona treatment and its crucial role in enabling quality adhesion on plastic films. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the field, you will gain valuable insights and practical knowledge to avoid pitfalls of overtreatment and undertreatment, and prepare to achieve consistent, high-quality adhesion results.

May 10

11:00 – 11:30 a.m: The Integral Role of Plastic in Worldwide Packaging Innovation | Toby Lane

See the latest research from on the attitudes and experiences of packaging professionals around the world. Explore the motivations and broader context around the notable drive to reduce and replace plastic through innovation.