New Material-Neutral Organization Focuses on Packaging & Environment
- Published: July 15, 2011
EAST LANSING, MI | A new packaging trade organization has been formed called the American Inst. for Packaging & the Environment (AMERIPEN) that is modeled after EUROPEN and INCPEN, its European and British counterparts, with the intent to engage on public policies impacting the packaging value chain on topics related to packaging and the environment. The new organization will represent the interests of the industry, which includes raw material producers, packaging manufacturers, packaging users and fillers, retailers, and material recovery organizations.
Among the leading US corporations acting as cofounders are The Coca-Cola Co., Colgate-Palmolive, ConAgra Foods, Dow Chemical Co., DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, Kellogg Co., MeadWestvaco, Procter & Gamble, Sealed Air Corp., and Tetra Pak Inc. AMERIPEN’s function is to advocate packaging policy developments in North America focusing on measures that are environmentally and economically sound as well as socially responsible. Using a material neutral approach, the Institute will encourage science-based decision-making on sustainable packaging initiatives and provide a point of view and guidance to policy makers and thought leaders on the value and role of packaging. Additionally, the Institute will lobby legislators and regulators on issues related to the environmental impacts, marketing, sourcing, manufacture, and distribution of packaging throughout its lifecycle.
New AMERIPEN president Joan Pierce elaborates, “The American Institute for Packaging and the Environment will further enhance the packaging value chain’s commitment to continuously improving its sustainability profile and reducing packaging waste. The organization will play an instrumental role in conveying this message to opinion leaders in North America and ensuring that participants in the packaging value chain have maximum scope to innovate, compete and operate in a resource-efficient way.”
The Institute VP Gail Tavill comments, “With the emergence of extended producer responsibility and other potential packaging legislation in the coming years, this is a critical time for our industry to offer a compelling voice. We’re committed to providing necessary expertise and insight to ensure sustainable management of packaging throughout its life cycle.”
For additional information on the organization, contact American Inst. For Packaging and the Environment, 1400 Abbot Rd., Ste. 160, East Lansing, MI 48823; 517-318-0577; fax: 517-333-3813; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; www.ameripen.org.
