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Agenda

The 2024 program is here! The 2024 agenda will feature speakers from Dispatch Goods, Mars Wrigley, Bloomberg Intelligence, Smithers, National Retail Federation, Smurfit Westrock and more.

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Please click on the dates below to see each day's program.
Registration and Exhibit Hall Opens
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Brittany Onslow | Head of Events, Americas, Smithers
Transparency – How Amazon helps brands fight counterfeits
Session I: Market Overview – Trends and Current State of the Industry
Amazon's Growing Dominance in the Digital Commerce Leap
Digital commerce continues to rise and the gains are far from over with online sales as a percent of total US retail sales expected to grow to 33% of sales, up from 25%, based on our calculations. Amazon will remain the dominant share, capturing nearly 30% of all US retail online sales, but others are making strides too. Social shopping proliferation and generative AI are key drivers to the growing momentum.
 
Poonam Goyal | Sector Head & Senior Equity Analyst , Bloomberg Intelligence
Are consumers willing to pay more for sustainability?
Networking Break
Sponsored by 
Session II: Brand Case Studies and Design
Nestle Premium Water E-fulfillment Case Study
Nestle is facing SIOC fees due to the weight of the Premium Water eCommerce packs and CRaP fees due to the channel conflict. Goal was to create packs that are fit for purpose, are consumer-first solutions and improve the profitability of the assortment on eCommerce
Russ Beadle | Co-Manufacturing Manager, Nestle
Packaging designed with ecommerce in mind- how is it different from other packaging innovations?
Covid and the reach of digital technologies have accelerated the growth of ecommerce. Digital is an opportunity to reach more people than ever before, and packaging is the vehicle to meet consumer expectations and experiences. The strategies developed for ecommerce packaging can be quite different than those for other channels. There are both challenges and opportunities. The presenter will share some examples of how to best leverage ecommerce for growth and what are some of the main learnings to consider for informing future developments.
 

Paola Appendini, Ph.D. | Packaging Innovation & Breakthrough Technologies, Mars
Cracking the Code to Sustainable Packaging in E-Commerce
As the e-commerce boom reshapes consumer behavior, a pressing sustainability challenge lies at our doorstep: the mountains of packaging piling up at consumer homes. This rising concern demands innovative solutions from brands struggling to balance convenience with environmental responsibility. Join this session to delve into the complexities of e-commerce packaging and discover strategies to navigate its unique demands. Learn how to optimize packaging for both product protection and sustainability, unlocking a competitive edge while safeguarding the planet.
We will discuss:
  • Balancing product protection and sustainability
  • Tackling shipping optimization and logistic constraints
  • Reverse logistic strategies for successful returns and recycling

Thaxton Lipscomb | Global Lead Packaging Engineer, Kimberly-Clark
Lunch Break
Session III: EPR and Potential Legislation Impacts on E-Commerce Packaging
Legislative Impacts on E-Commerce Packaging
E-packaging (and packaging in general) is under increased scrutiny in the past several years, resulting in a flurry of state and federal legislation and regulations. From Extended Producer Responsibility laws, to Recycled Content Mandates, and restrictive labeling laws, there is a host of new legislation that will change the way packaging can be used and recycled for decades to come. Join Rob Keith, Membership & Policy Director at AMERIPEN – The American Institute for Packaging and the Environment, to hear about legislative trends, how you can help influence them for the better, and what they mean for E-packaging.

Rob Keith | Membership & Policy Director, AMERIPEN
Session V: Innovation in E-Commerce – Power of Partnerships
Navigating Fulfillment in 2025: Adapting to Evolving Retail Needs
As 85% of online shoppers avoid reordering after a bad delivery experience, brands must get fulfillment right to stay competitive. Maggie, drawing on 15 years of experience at ShipHero and LVK, will explore how logistics providers can meet diverse customer needs through transparency, strong partnerships, and innovative solutions. She’ll share real-world examples, like how Momofuku and Loog Guitars scaled their operations by leveraging customized fulfillment strategies. She’ll also highlight the critical role of strong partnerships and collaboration in achieving successful fulfillment, as well as strategies for enhancing supply chain transparency and visibility to address growing consumer expectations.
 
Maggie Barnett | CEO, LVK and COO, ShipHero
Ensuring Trust and Authenticity in E-Commerce: Protecting Packages and Brands Along the Supply Chain
Recipients must be sure that the package has not been tampered with along the journey from online shop/warehouse to customer. In addition, it should be ensured that goods sent are genuine and not fake products smuggled into the distribution network. We show how simple solution can protect image of online store stack holders and brand owners as well as health/trust of consumers along the SCM.
Dave Sandello | U.S. Vice President, Securikett
Networking Break
Sponsored by 
Session VI: Refill and Reuse
Sustainable Packaging Design Successes and Challenges
Please join me in a discussion about the successes and challenges for a variety of packaging across the Clorox portfolio as they are being re-thought, re-formulated, and redesigned to enable a more sustainable and circular future. See examples of how recyclable, refillable, and reusable packaging levers can play together and the role each can play when thought of holistically.  
Mark Pszczolkowski | Principal R&D Scientist, The Clorox Company
Session VII: Digitized Packaging Data
Modernized and Digitized Packaging Data and KPI's to Accelerate Sustainability and Support Compliance & Reporting
In today’s rapidly evolving market, the modernization and digitization of packaging data are crucial for driving sustainability and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. This subject explores how advanced digital tools and technologies can transform packaging processes, enabling companies to track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) more effectively. By leveraging real-time data and analytics, businesses can develop an achievable, optimized, and robust sustainability strategy by gaining insights into gap, opportunities, and prioritization. Additionally, digitized data facilitates transparent and accurate compliance reporting, helping organizations meet environmental regulations. This approach not only enhances operational efficiency but also supports corporate social responsibility initiatives, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.
Steve Alagna | Senior Sustainability Packaging Engineer, Dell
Networking Reception
Registration and Exhibit Hall Opens
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Next Generation Packaging Brings Reliability and Visibility to Supply Chains
From the rise of e-commerce to the global drive for sustainability, the need is growing for creative cost-efficient packaging, with a focus on reducing CO2 footprints. The next generation of packaging must meet strict standards of recyclability, reusability, compostability, biodegradability and traceability. Smart packaging with real-time tracking and monitoring raises data-privacy issues, especially if personal information such as end-user location, identity and preferences is in danger of being accessed by unauthorized users. 
Alicemarie Geoffrion | President, Packaging, DHL Supply Chain North America
Session VII: Circular Practices for Packaging
Save Money with Circular Packaging
Companies are starting to embrace a circular packaging model to meet carbon goals and reduce waste. However, circular packaging can also save businesses money. Jason Manasse is the Chief Revenue Officer of Dispatch Goods, a reverse logistics company helping brands launch packaging return programs. Jason will speak about why the circular economy is an exercise in COGS reduction and how it can save money on packout costs.
 
Sean Judkins-Boeri | Head of Sales & Customer Success, West, Dispatch Goods
Session VIII: Automation and Innovation in E-Commerce Packaging
Right size and connected packaging to meet the e-commerce challenges
Customer challenges are ever-changing as industries reshape sourcing, production and supply chain to adapt to climate and geo-political challenges. To remain competitive, business models must factor-in persistent labor constraints, increased cost of goods and services, and shifting consumer dynamics (i.e. the shift to e-commerce) To be successful in today's multichannel retail landscape, brands and retailers are looking at right size packaging across the spectrum of their operations in order to automate work and optimize packaging. At the same time, inventory management, traceability and product authentication are now front an center capabilities to address leakages and inefficiencies. During this session you will learn how brands, manufacturers, retailers and co-packagers can further optimize operations and supply chain, reduce their carbon footprint with automation and recyclable connected fiber packaging to meet today's challenges, and deliver a more efficient, connected, and integrated business model.
 
Leon Nicholas | Vice President, Retail Insights & Solutions, WestRock
Networking Break
Sponsored by 
ESG, Sustainability, and Right-Sized Packaging... at what cost?
This presentation will address the intricate interplay between Environmental Social Governance (ESG) principles, sustainability objectives, and the adoption of right-sized corrugated packaging within supply chain operations. As businesses increasingly recognize the imperative of integrating ESG considerations into their strategic frameworks, the significance of sustainable practices and their tangible manifestations such as eco-friendly packaging solutions comes to the forefront. My presentation will focus on the relationship between ESG, sustainability, and the implementation of right-sized corrugated packaging as well as the bottom-line effects of these goals.
Craig Hall | CMC Automation
Session IX: Paper solutions and coatings for e-commerce packaging
Evolution of Ecommerce Packaging: Unpacking the Future of Paper Mailers
Explore the next generation of e-commerce packaging through forward-thinking approaches to paper mailer design and composition. Gain insights into the strategic transition from traditional boxes to paper mailers and learn how to optimize paper mailers for enhanced efficiency, sustainability and consumer brand experience. Delve into the components shaping this evolution, from water-based barrier coatings to innovative tapes.
Melissa Seburg | NA Marketing Specialist-Packaging Makers, ACS, Envelope, H.B. Fuller
Using Coatings to Improve the Performance & Recyclability of Packaging
The functionality of packaging, and consequently the materials from which it is made, has always been fundamental to its design. As regulations become more stringent regarding which materials can be used, as well as their end-of-life dispositions, the ability to reuse or recycle packaging materials has become increasingly important. The use of coatings continues to afford material designers the ability to achieve the wide range of functionalities required for their specific packaging applications while also allowing for a minimal number of recyclable base substrates (e.g. paper) to be employed. In this discussion, we will explore specific examples of types of coatings (and their application methods) that can yield both high-performance and a high level of recyclability in packaging materials.

Molly Hladik | Manager, Global Research & Development, Consultant
Closing Remarks