10:00 AM - 10:45 AM CT

KEYNOTE: Making the First Dual-Sided Pouch — and Going Beyond PB&J for Perfect Private-Label Pairings

Jeff Mahin, CEO & Co-Founder, Split Nutrition and Jessica Quon, COO & Co-Founder, Split Nutrition

Split Nutrition’s Jeff Mahin and Jessica Quon kick off the 2021 Global Pouch Forum as they dive into how Split Nutrition was created from pouch innovation. What started as wanting to take PB&J on the go turned into a patented, never-before-sold dual-sided foil pouch with endless possibilities for two great things on two separate sides — allowing customers to bring it and consume it anytime, anywhere.

During their discussion, hear about Split Nutrition's origin story and how coming together with seasoned experts in nutrition (nutritionist Phil Goglia, cofounder), the restaurant industry (Chis Meers, cofounder) and Packaging (Graham Redding at PSG Labels) made the perfect recipe for pouch innovation that would create a new CPG category.

You’ll also gain insight into how the dual-sided pouch opens endless private label and white label options for other CPG combinations: condiments (wasabi and soy sauce), to-go restaurant needs (ketchup and mustard), beauty products (shampoo and conditioner) and beyond. While Split Nutrition will always be branded to deliver on-the-go snacks like peanut butter and jelly, the opportunity to supply white label combinations to partners is a huge part of the company’s future.

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10:45 AM - 11:00 AM CT

Yoga Stretch Break

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11:00 AM - 11:30 AM CT

Flexible Packaging Association — State of the Industry

Alison Keane, Esq., IOM, CAE, President & CEO, Flexible Packaging Association (FPA)

Alison Keane will update attendees on the state of the industry for the U.S. flexible packaging industry. The industry was reported to be $33.6 billion in annual sales for 2019 and Keane will present the latest findings from FPA’s state of the industry survey for 2020. Keane will also discuss the sustainability aspects of flexible packaging, including new research the FPA has done on e-commerce packaging; the current legislative climate facing the packaging industry — and flexible packaging in particular; FPA’s advocacy efforts to combat the current anti-plastic and anti-packaging sentiment; and efforts to promote the industry with consumer product companies, consumers and policymakers.

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM CT

Recycling Food Packaging

Linda Roman, Head of Packaging Growth and Technology, Kraft Heinz

Recycling flexible films is challenging for many reasons, including a lack of collection and infrastructure. Kraft Heinz aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025, and increase the use of recycled content by aggressively pursuing technical alternatives while also collaborating externally to advance the commitment. It is important for stakeholders across the value chain to partner in order to help drive successful recycling and keep packaging in play for as long as possible. In this session, you will learn more about how Kraft Heinz is partnering to help move toward a positive end-of-life for flexible films, like recycling.

Learning Objectives:

• Recycling flexible films is challenging for food packaging

• Flexible packaging must protect the product throughout the use cycle, and prevent food waste

• Partnerships are key to successfully recycling flexible food packaging

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12:00 PM - 12:45 PM CT

Networking Lunch

12:45 PM - 1:15 PM CT

Polyethylene and Polypropylene Market Update: The Impact of Covid-19 and the Texas Freeze

Mike Burns, Vice President of Polyethylene, RTi and Scott Newell, Vice President of Polypropylene Markets, RTi

How long will it take the North American resin market to recover? Low inventories, production issues and exports coupled with strong demand have led to historically high polyethylene and polypropylene prices. In the coming months, what strategies should processors utilize to gain a competitive advantage in unstable times? Learn the key drivers the RTi experts will be following to foresee the market recovery. At the end of March, polyethylene and polypropylene prices were up $0.43 and $0.65 per pound respectively over the past 12 months. What will it take for prices to subside? Mike Burns and Scott Newell will provide real-time market updates and outlook in the polyethylene and polypropylene resin markets and answer your market questions.

1:15 PM - 1:45 PM CT

The Continued Evolution and Application of the Unstoppable – Versatile Standup Pouch Package

Dennis Calamusa, President - CEO, ALLIEDFLEX Technologies, Inc.

We continue to see the dramatic expansion of the implementation of the stand-up pouch packaging format in the global marketplace.

The following will be explored:

• New applications that are being introduced across a host of markets and product categories;

• Strategies for utilizing the stand-up pouch to enter markets traditionally dominated by legacy formats;

• Creating value added line extensions that increase profitability, point of differentiation and extend demographic appeal; and

• Review why the stand-up pouch packaging format is continuing to dominate the packaging landscape and what the flexible packaging industry is dong to keep the momentum going strong.

1:45 PM - 2:00 PM CT

Daily Wrap Up

Join Ron Sasine Principal, Hudson Windsor, and the Flexible Packaging Editorial Team as they discuss the highlights of the day’s events.

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10:00 AM - 10:45 AM CT

Innovative Packaging Solutions For Industry Disruptor: Meal-Kits

Brian Legg, Director of Procurement, HelloFresh International and Theresa Solberg, Strategic Sourcing Manager, HelloFresh International

HelloFresh’s meal kits have disrupted the industry. With the company’s unique logistic concerns, retail packaging solutions simply do not work. This is evident in dairy and protein packaging, where the company has systematically transitioned suppliers from rigid trays and cups to durable and flexible pouch or thermoformed solutions.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn about the HelloFresh product, supply chain and production

• Making the case to move away from retail packaging conventions

• Key learnings from the challenges faced and best practice solutions discovered

• Vision for the future: plastic reduction, innovative/recyclable materials and durability

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM CT

Yoga Stretch Break

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11:00 AM - 11:30 AM CT

Investments in Packaging and Processing operations in 2021 and Beyond

Jorge Izquierdo, Vice President, Market Development, PMMI

Learn about the trends that have emerged or accelerated due to the pandemic and what trends will remain driving operations in the future and what are the key priorities and challenges for investments in operations as we take a look at the effect of COVID on operations.

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM CT

Technologies for Sustainable PE Pouch Design

Todd Fayne, PepsiCo

Todd Fayne will discuss the challenges of recycling flexible packaging, the trend to mono-material pouches and the use of technological innovation to improve performance on pouch-making machines. Recycling challenges include collection, sortation, processing and the aftermarket demand for PCR. As pouches trend to all-PE from paper or PET composite laminations, pouch-making is becoming ever more challenging. Design considerations that could improve performance will also be discussed.

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM CT

Networking Lunch

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12:45 PM - 1:15 PM CT

The Packaging M&A Landscape

Brian Flynn, Director, William Blair

Merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the flexible packaging industry has steadily risen over the past few years, driven by a highly fragmented market landscape and a backdrop of macro tailwinds. Since Q3 2020, M&A in the packaging industry sharply escalated after COVID-driven delays last year led to a backlog of potential deals. Valuations for packaging companies have returned to pre-COVID levels, creating a fertile deal-making landscape for buyers and sellers in the rest of 2021 and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

• Overview of the factors influencing the broader M&A market

• Insights into the evolution of the flexible packaging M&A landscape

• Key areas of diligence focus in flexible packaging M&A transactions

• Outlook for flexible packaging M&A

1:15 PM - 2:00 PM CT

Enhancing Consumer Engagement and Brand Protection with Smart Packaging

Moderator: Carl Joachim, Cofounder, ePac Flexible Packaging
Panelists: Kyle Williams, Chief Marketing Officer, Concentrate Brands. Additional panelists to be announced.

Smart/connected features are changing the value that flexible packaging can deliver to brands and consumers. This session will explore how brands can leverage new flexible packaging technology to enable brands to provide track/trace, consumer interaction, regulatory compliance and much more. Join us as we explore the real-world use cases with Connected Packaging customers.

2:00 PM - 2:15 PM CT

Daily Wrap Up

Join Ron Sasine Principal, Hudson Windsor, and the Flexible Packaging Editorial Team as they discuss the highlights of the day’s events.

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM CT

Design for Recyclability: Addressing Machinability

Michelle Sauder, Marketing Director - Food & Specialty Packaging, Dow

The move to recyclable films made from polyethylene (PE) has presented several challenges. Machinability or packaging productivity has been at the top of the list. This panel discussion will cover common issues that occur when making pouches from PE-based films. Moderated by Dow, it will bring together experts from across the value chain to share their perspectives on these challenges and discuss how resin designers, film and fitment producers, package designers and equipment manufacturers can work together to address these issues.

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM CT

Yoga Stretch Break

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11:00 AM - 11:30 AM CT

State of the Contract Packaging Industry 2021: The Untold Story

Ron Puvak, Executive Director, CPA

A fast-paced, dynamic session exploring the rapidly evolving contract packaging and manufacturing industries. Based on the 2021 Contract Packaging Association’s State of the Industry Report, flexible packaging is the leading and fastest-growing format in the $76 billion U.S. contract packaging industry. We will look at the growth, innovation and changes through 2025 based on our exclusive research. Brands depend upon contract packagers more than ever. How did COVID impact these relationships, and how are contract packagers helping brands emerge as stronger competitors going forward? What trends are shaping the industry, and how can brands benefit? What are the impacts of the labor shortage on automation investment and package development? How are leading brands leveraging contract manufacturers to maximize their competitive position in 2021 and beyond? These and more questions will be explored and answered.

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11:30 AM - 12:00 PM CT

Using Pouches for Brand Connection

Heidi Graham, President/Owner, Shine Advisor

Pouches can be tricky. They can make or break a product experience. Successful flexible package design requires both right-brain and left-brain thinking. Left-brain thinking often rules the day in business settings (the numbers, the facts, the technology details). Right-brain thinking allows you to tap into the experience of using a product. To successfully design a pouch for your customer, you must fully leverage right brain thinking.

People won’t do something unless they feel something. Thoughtful design creates that feeling. And this is the magic of right-brain thinking. You could also call it customer-led design, because thoughtful design focuses on the experience of your customer.

Former Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi knows this well; Graham will share a great story about how Nooyi brought design to her leadership team. Pouches offer incredible opportunity to shape a customer’s experience of a product and a brand. To do that you must first fully appreciate their experience through behavioral and sensorial research.

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM CT

Networking Lunch

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12:45 PM - 1:15 PM CT

Recycling Realities for Flexible Plastic Packaging

Betsy Dorn, Principal, Circular Matters LLC

Flexible plastic packaging has experienced phenomenal growth over the last two decades — now exceeding all other packaging forms in the U.S. except for corrugated containers and claiming 19% of the $170 billion U.S. consumer goods packaging market. As the U.S. market share for flexible packaging has grown, so has the concern over lack of sustainable end-of-life management options for this type of packaging. Increasingly, companies are working to design more recyclable packaging with the hope that recycling systems will grow to accept this material.

Given that municipal recycling programs are working to reduce contamination and accept only materials that can be economically recovered, processed and marketed, is it realistic to believe that flexible plastic packaging will ever be accepted in curbside recycling programs? Are store drop-offs really a viable recycling option over the long term? In this presentation, Dorn will describe existing and emerging opportunities for recycling flexible packaging along with associated challenges and limitations. Possible strategies will be presented for overcoming these challenges and clearing a path so that flexibles can make the transition from being non-recyclable, to "recycle ready," to actually being recycled.

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1:15 PM - 1:45 PM CT

Leveraging Transformational Packaging Innovation to Differentiate Your Brand

Nicole Juntunen, Vice President of Commercial and Business Development, Aeroflexx

AeroFlexx is a breakthrough in liquids packaging that combines the best attributes of flexibles and rigids, eliminating the negatives to create a disruptive new-to-the-world package form. The technology platform provides a rapid execution of customization, allowing customers and consumers alike to enjoy characteristics never-before seen in liquid packaging. This session will review the full sustainability impact of the pak, sharing details on the customer collaboration and technical process that led to a recent innovation. Joined by one of the earliest scale adopters, Custom Culinary, the session will take a real-world look at that company's transition from rigids to the AeroFlexx pak to penetrate the DTC market with a new product, a reflection on the expected impact to the company's bottom line, and the benefit to its corporate sustainability goals.

1:45 PM - 2:00 PM CT

Daily Wrap Up

Join Ron Sasine Principal, Hudson Windsor, and the Flexible Packaging Editorial Team as they discuss the highlights of the day’s events.