This is a podcast where we illuminate the stories of people in the packaging industry and proudly sponsored by TheLabelKing.com
Hosted by the Label King of the Mountains, Adam Peek
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit encase.substack.com
288 - How CERM is making chat and scheduling easier using AI! LIVE at LabelExpo 5 of 5
Sunday, September 15, 2024 • Duration 20:33
About the Guest(s):
Steffen Haaga is a professional with extensive experience in the MIS (Management Information Systems) sector, specifically within the packaging industry. He currently holds a significant position at Cerm, a Belgium-based company known for its advanced MIS solutions tailored for labels, flexible packaging, and folding carton markets. Steffen's expertise lies in optimizing production processes, integrating systems, and leveraging technological advancements such as AI to improve efficiency.
Esteban Garcia serves as the Business Development Manager for Cerm, covering North America and South America. With four years at Cerm, Esteban brings a unique perspective, having formerly been a user of the software. This dual experience allows him to understand the practical challenges and opportunities within the industry. Esteban focuses on helping clients navigate efficiency problems, improve profitability, and implement MIS solutions from Cerm effectively.
About the Sponsors:
Specright has some amazing things happening! Please check them out below and help support the podcast!
If you listened to the podcast and wanted to connect with Specright to rid the world of waste. Let’s go! www.specright.com/pkg. Prepare your company for the world of EPR laws and be the sustainability hero! Make sure you check them out and join them on their mission to have a world where people are free to make amazing things!
Also…
If you need contract-to-hire support, or you are looking to hire directly for industry professionals…. Spark Packaging can help. Spark Packaging is the industry partner who provides all your recruitment and staffing needs.
If you are hearing this…and thinking “THAT’S ME”…You need to go to to SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING, again that is SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING and answer some of their questions. Once received a Spark team-member will reach out A-S-A-P! Tell them the Packaging Pastor sent ya!
If you want to be a guest on this podcast, or Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors OR Packaging Unbox’d with Evelio, go to www.encasemedia.com and fill out an application for one or all!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
186 - Landfill degradable water bottles?? Kahle Wightman from Serum
Wednesday, March 29, 2023 • Duration 27:49
I’m trying out a new service to decipher the audio into some nice summary and formats which you can view below the sponsor information!
Be sure to thank our newest sponsor, Ruvi! Go to https://www.goruvi.com and use code packaging to get 15% off your order
If you listened to the podcast and wanted to connect with Specright to rid the world of waste. Let’s go! www.specright.com/pkg. Prepare your company for the world of EPR laws and be the sustainability hero! Make sure you check them out and join them on their mission to have a world where people are free to make amazing things!
Also…
Are you sick and tired of the same positions at your PLANT consistently being open or just not being filled? Or maybe your facility just isn’t retaining talent due to not having dedicated recruitment support.
If you need contract-to-hire support, or you are looking to hire directly for industry professionals…. Spark Packaging can help. Spark Packaging is the industry partner who provides all your recruitment and staffing needs.
If you are hearing this…and thinking “THAT’S ME”…You need to go to to SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING, again that is SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING and answer some of their questions. Once received a Spark team-member will reach out A-S-A-P! Tell them the Packaging Pastor sent ya!
If you want to be a guest on this podcast, or Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors OR Packaging Unbox’d with Evelio, go to and fill out an application for one or all!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
185 - The TLMI sustainability awards are named after Calvin Frost!
Wednesday, March 22, 2023 • Duration 28:28
I’m trying out a new service to decipher the audio into some nice summary and formats which you can view below!
Be sure to thank our newest sponsor, Ruvi! Go to goruvi.com and use code packaging to get 15% off your order
If you listened to the podcast and wanted to connect with Specright to rid the world of waste. Let’s go! www.specright.com/pkg. Cory Connors and I just got back from their Summit and learned a ton about how they are enabling companies to organize their data for EPR reporting, sourcing, and LCA’s. Make sure you check them out and join them on their mission to have a world where people are free to make amazing things!
Also…
Are you sick and tired of the same positions at your PLANT consistently being open or just not being filled? Or maybe your facility just isn’t retaining talent due to not having dedicated recruitment support.
If you need contract-to-hire support, or you are looking to hire directly for industry professionals…. Spark Packaging can help. Spark Packaging is the industry partner who provides all your recruitment and staffing needs.
If you are hearing this…and thinking “THAT’S ME”…You need to go to to SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING, again that is SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING and answer some of their questions. Once received a Spark team-member will reach out A-S-A-P! Tell them the Packaging Pastor sent ya!
If you want to be a guest on this podcast, or Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors OR Packaging Unbox’d with Evelio, go to and fill out an application for one or all!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
184 - LIVE from TLMI with Charlie MacLean - President at ASL Print FX
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 • Duration 24:57
The first of 3 interviews from the TLMI Converters Meeting in St. Pete, FL!
If you listened to the podcast and wanted to connect with Specright to rid the world of waste. Let’s go! www.specright.com/pkg. Cory Connors and I just got back from their Summit and learned a ton about how they are enabling companies to organize their data for EPR reporting, sourcing, and LCA’s. Make sure you check them out and join them on their mission to have a world where people are free to make amazing things!
Also…
Are you sick and tired of the same positions at your PLANT consistently being open or just not being filled? Or maybe your facility just isn’t retaining talent due to not having dedicated recruitment support.
If you need contract-to-hire support, or you are looking to hire directly for industry professionals…. Spark Packaging can help. Spark Packaging is the industry partner who provides all your recruitment and staffing needs.
If you are hearing this…and thinking “THAT’S ME”…You need to go to to SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING, again that is SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING and answer some of their questions. Once received a Spark team-member will reach out A-S-A-P! Tell them the Packaging Pastor sent ya!
If you listened to the podcast and wanted to connect with Specright to rid the world of waste. Let’s go! www.specright.com/pkg. Cory Connors and I just got back from their Summit and learned a ton about how they are enabling companies to organize their data for EPR reporting, sourcing, and LCA’s. Make sure you check them out and join them on their mission to have a world where people are free to make amazing things!
Also…
Are you sick and tired of the same positions at your PLANT consistently being open or just not being filled? Or maybe your facility just isn’t retaining talent due to not having dedicated recruitment support.
If you need contract-to-hire support, or you are looking to hire directly for industry professionals…. Spark Packaging can help. Spark Packaging is the industry partner who provides all your recruitment and staffing needs.
If you are hearing this…and thinking “THAT’S ME”…You need to go to to SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING, again that is SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING and answer some of their questions. Once received a Spark team-member will reach out A-S-A-P! Tell them the Packaging Pastor sent ya!
This podcast is part of a great network of podcasts about packaging. Go follow along with .
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
182 - FREE WATER with Founder, Josh Cliffords
Monday, February 27, 2023 • Duration 28:03
The viral sensation that uses packaging to generate ad revenue to make water FREE!
Learn about the reasons behind this incredible story with the founder of FreeWater.io, Josh Cliffords.
About 8 minutes in, you’ll hear him talk about how free water can end global famine. Truly, it’s amazing stuff!
If you want to be a guest (or nominate someone to be) on this podcast, or Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors OR Packaging Unbox’d with Evelio, go to www.encasemedia.com and fill out an application for one or all!
If you listened to the podcast and wanted to connect with Specright to rid the world of waste. Let’s go! www.specright.com/pkg. Cory Connors and I just got back from their Summit and learned a ton about how they are enabling companies to organize their data for EPR reporting, sourcing, and LCA’s. Make sure you check them out and join them on their mission to have a world where people are free to make amazing things!
Also…
Are you sick and tired of the same positions at your PLANT consistently being open or just not being filled? Or maybe your facility just isn’t retaining talent due to not having dedicated recruitment support.
If you need contract-to-hire support, or you are looking to hire directly for industry professionals…. Spark Packaging can help. Spark Packaging is the industry partner who provides all your recruitment and staffing needs.
If you are hearing this…and thinking “THAT’S ME”…You need to go to to again that is and answer some of their questions. Once received a Spark team-member will reach out A-S-A-P! Tell them the Packaging Pastor sent ya!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
181 - Can low migration inks be sustainable and fun? YES! with Mell Bishop and Jim Harris from ACTEGA
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 • Duration 27:39
I honestly never thought I’d learn this podcast is #1 in Careers in El Salvador AND learn I could have so much fun discussing ink innovation with the wonderful people at ACTEGA.
Connect up with Mell and Jim on LinkedIn by clicking on their names
If you listened to the podcast and wanted to connect with Specright to rid the world of waste. Let’s go! www.specright.com/pkg. Cory Connors and I just got back from their Summit and learned a ton about how they are enabling companies to organize their data for EPR reporting, sourcing, and LCA’s. Make sure you check them out and join them on their mission to have a world where people are free to make amazing things!
Also…
Are you sick and tired of the same positions at your PLANT consistently being open or just not being filled? Or maybe your facility just isn’t retaining talent due to not having dedicated recruitment support.
If you need contract-to-hire support, or you are looking to hire directly for industry professionals…. Spark Packaging can help. Spark Packaging is the industry partner who provides all your recruitment and staffing needs.
If you are hearing this…and thinking “THAT’S ME”…You need to go to to SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING, again that is SparkPackagingINC.com/HIRING and answer some of their questions. Once received a Spark team-member will reach out A-S-A-P! Tell them the Packaging Pastor sent ya!
Welcome to another fascinating episode of the People of Packaging Podcast! Hosted by Adam Peek, this session brings you live insights from Label Expo, with special guests Steffen Haaga and Esteban Garcia from Cerm. The conversation explores the innovative strides being made in the packaging industry's management systems, highlighting Cerm's role in transforming efficiency and productivity.
During this lively discussion, Adam, Steffen, and Esteban delve into the cutting-edge MIS solutions offered by Cerm. Key topics include the introduction of AI-driven tools like automated scheduling and the Lumi chatbot, which promise to revolutionize how businesses handle production planning and customer support. They also discuss how Cerm's robust system scales with companies, aiding them in maintaining profitability despite challenges like labor shortages. The conversation is peppered with insights into the necessity of advanced data integration and the growing importance of business intelligence tools in today's market.
Key Takeaways:
* AI-driven Solutions: Cerm has launched innovative AI tools such as an automated scheduling assistant and the Lumi chatbot to improve workflow efficiency and user support.
* Scalability of MIS: Cerm offers robust MIS solutions that cater to growing companies, ensuring they can scale without compromising on efficiency or profitability.
* Integration and Partners: The importance of integrating with numerous industry partners like Esko, Hybrid, and ABG to streamline operations and reduce manual touchpoints.
* Change Management: Implementing a new MIS system is challenging but feasible with proper planning and management, leading to significant long-term benefits.
* Global Reach: Cerm’s capabilities extend across multiple languages, facilitating international operations and training.
Notable Quotes:
* Steffen Haaga: "We're really happy to have him on board, for sure."
* Esteban Garcia: "Not only am I happy to be with Cerm, I was once a Cerm user, which makes it easier for me to be able to explain to my friends in the industry."
* Steffen Haaga: "We launched two products here, one was our automated scheduling…another, our chatbot, Lumi…"
* Esteban Garcia: "Once you do it, it's gonna be mind-blowing."
* Steffen Haaga: "It's heavy work, but it's worth it."
Tune in to the full episode for more insightful discussions on the latest in packaging industry technology and how it’s revolutionizing efficiency and profitability. Don't miss out on the valuable information, and stay connected for upcoming episodes of the People of Packaging Podcast!
Brian Davis is a seasoned packaging engineer with over 20 years of experience in the industry. A Michigan State University alum, Brian specializes in foam packaging and has recently transitioned his expertise to the aerospace sector, designing packaging for aerospace components. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Brian now resides in Orlando, Florida, where he continues to contribute to innovative packaging solutions.
Episode Summary:
In this engaging episode of Packaging Today, hosts Adam Peek, Evelio Mattos, and Cory Connors are joined by packaging engineer Brian Davis. The conversation kicks off with light-hearted banter about their YouTube channel and humorous anecdotes about sustaining a podcast amid various restrictions. They then delve into significant discussions on foam packaging, sustainable packaging alternatives, and the real-world challenges companies face in achieving their sustainability goals.
The episode offers invaluable insights into the packaging industry's efforts to move away from polystyrene towards more sustainable materials like molded pulp and mycelium-based alternatives. Brian shares his expertise on the intricacies of foam packaging and highlights the complexities of implementing reusable plastics as a more sustainable option. The hosts also discuss industry trends, including the National Restaurant Association's focus on sustainable packaging, and touch upon major brands like Mars and Unilever struggling to meet their 2025 sustainability targets.
Key Takeaways:
* Sustainable Packaging Trends: The episode covers the National Restaurant Association's recent focus on sustainable packaging, especially the transition away from polystyrene.
* Challenges in Achieving Sustainability Goals: Discussion on major brands like Mars and Unilever acknowledging their struggles to meet 2025 sustainability packaging targets.
* Foam vs. Alternative Materials: Brian Davis provides a detailed comparison between expanded polystyrene (EPS) and more sustainable alternatives such as molded pulp and plastic crates.
* Reusability and Market Adoption: Insights into the challenges and benefits of moving from single-use wooden crates to reusable plastic crates in different regions of the USA.
* Composting Challenges: An in-depth look at the practical difficulties of compostable packaging, including the requirements for high-temperature commercial composting facilities.
Notable Quotes:
* Brian Davis: "You can't recycle expanded polystyrene in a regular recycle stream; it has to be recycled by the manufacturer."
* Adam Peek: "The answer is not always moving away from plastic to a paper-based alternative. That's not always the right answer."
* Cory Connors: "These EPR laws are going to force restaurants to stop using styrofoam or polystyrene if you're technical, for to-go containers."
* Evelio Mattos: "When it comes to targets, what's real? What do you think is realistic? And do you have any clients that are going through this?"
* Brian Davis: "The logistics of getting it from the supplier to the warehouse takes time and less people are willing to make that leap. It's hard to get some traction going initially."
Resources:
* Brian Davis on LinkedIn - Connect with Brian for insights and expertise on packaging engineering.
* National Restaurant Association - Explore the latest trends in sustainable packaging in the restaurant industry.
* Michigan State University - Learn more about their packaging engineering program.
* EPS Industry Alliance - Information on the recyclability and benefits of expanded polystyrene.
* Compost Manufacturing Alliance - Learn about field testing programs for compostable materials.
Stay tuned to Packaging Today for more enlightening discussions on the latest in packaging innovations and sustainability trends. Don't forget to subscribe and join us for our next episode!
Conversation between People of Packaging Podcast Host and Chief Creative Officer Clark Goulsby
0:02:36
"How I Learned Web Design and Transitioned into the Design Industry"
0:03:49
Conversation with Clark Goolsby on Design, Plastic Manufacturing, and Art Background
0:05:46
Interview with Chase Design Group Chief Creative Officer,
0:12:24
Conversation on Packaging Design Trends and Aesthetics
0:17:15
Exploring the Paradox of Gender Neutral Branding: A Discussion on Color and Target Market
0:23:14
Heading: Exploring Gender Neutrality in Branding: A Conversation with Clark
0:24:38
Interview with Clark Chase of Chase Design Group
Highlights
Yeah, no, I think it's interesting. Obviously, Nike has and it's fashion, so fashion is always kind of on the cutting edge of things. But, like, I've always thought of Nike, and I think most people do, as, like, a serious performance brand. And to see what they're doing with color, especially in the masculine space in the men's shoes, for example, to your point, they're using a lot of colors that I think people would associate traditionally associate with feminism.
Yeah, it's huge. And we were chatting a little bit before, but we were talking about brands and kind of the roles of color and gender and how that kind of plays out across these brands. And it's really fascinating. And I certainly don't have the answers. I'm more just kind of seeing these things and interested in it. But a lot of the brands that have kind of come out as gender neutral really play in these kind of color spaces that are devoid of color.
No, I think it's one of the things we struggle with, because as a packaging designer, I think you're always trying to balance being on trend and being relevant and kind of looking like you belong in a certain or. Even within a category, making sure that you're acknowledging the codes of that category so that you seem like a credible product within that category, but at the same time trying to figure out how to make something that is unique and ownable within that space. And I think we're always balancing those two things.
So it's an awesome sort of backstory, and I'm sure there's a whole lot of other things, but it sort of helps set the table for this question that I've been kind of going through, which is we see a lot of different trends, and we can sort of take this any way we want to go. But you're at the forefront of branding and packaging. One of them has been the transformation, like we talked about, from physical to digital.
Today? I would say in large part, we do two things, which is branding and packaging, and those are kind of our two main areas of focus. Historically, Chase has done a lot of different things. Margot started the company in entertainment, so it was film posters, record sleeves, things like that. We've done interior. We've done licensed product style guide. We've done a lot of different things and kind of bounced around. But over the last, I would say decade, we've gotten more focused in packaging and branding.
TITLE "Founder of Serum Explains Her Journey to Creating Environmentally-Friendly Packaging Solutions" SUMMARY Kahl Whiteman is the founder of Serum, a company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The podcast episode is her first and she is from Salt Lake City, Utah, where it was three degrees at the time of recording. Kayl has had a very interesting life up until this point, having worked on giant yachts and other places. She has come a long way to start her own company, Serum. She talks about how her life has been colorful and full of different experiences that have brought her to the place she is in today. She talks about her journey and the importance of taking risks to reach success. She also explains the mission of Serum and how it is helping people to have better lives. Kahl encourages listeners to take risks and trust in their capabilities to reach their goals, and to not be afraid of failure.
The speaker is 24-year-old who grew up in Arizona and was instilled with a passion for plastic from a young age by his dad, who works in the plastic industry. When the speaker turned 18, he decided to pursue a career in boats, working as a chef on boats from 60 foot sailboats to 200 foot super yachts. The speaker gives a brief explanation of the metric system and how it works. Her dad is still working in the plastic industry, with the company supplying the additive that allows plastic to biodegrade in landfills. The speaker's passion for packaging was influenced by her dad, and now she is taking the things his dad instilled in her and multiplying them. In the conversation, the speaker talks about their high school senior thesis paper about landfills and the importance of integrating them into the reduce, reuse, recycle mindset. They then talk about their experience as a chef on boats, and how they noticed the plastic waste that was being sent to landfills, sparking their interest in the plastic industry and waste management. The speaker then explains that their company, Serum, takes already recycled plastic and adds a biodegradable additive before turning it into single-use water bottles. This process creates a viable, valuable end of life solution for these plastics, while also helping to reduce plastic waste.
The conversation discussed the process of what happens to food waste, plastic bottles, and other kinds of trash in a landfill. It is not the dump people have been told about for years, but a carefully engineered and managed space. As the waste decomposes, a methane gas is released and is now being captured and turned into renewable energy. This process of capturing methane from landfills is called the methane capture process and helps to reduce pollution and create a more circular economy. Additionally, the waste in the landfill breaks down within two to fifty years and helps to create energy instead of lingering in the environment.
TIMESTAMPS 0:00:00 Interview with Kahl Wightman, Founder of Serum 0:02:23 Conversation with Kahle, a 24-Year-Old Chef Working on Super Yachts and Passionate About Plastics and Landfill Gas to Energy 0:04:09 Heading: Exploring the Benefits of Landfill Gas to Energy with Serum Founder, Chef-Turned-Entrepreneur, Sarah Koehler 0:10:11 "The Benefits of Landfill Management and Methane Capture" 0:12:05 "Exploring the Benefits of Waste-to-Energy: Turning Landfill Methane into Natural Gas" 0:16:01 Heading: Exploring the Benefits of Waste-to-Energy Technology for Packaging Circularity 0:18:01 Interview with Serum Co-Founder, Ryan Schoenfeld, on Biodegradable Plastics 0:22:07 Interview with Kale Kahle of Serum Water: Exploring Innovative Solutions to Waste Management
HIGHLIGHTS Yeah, I love it. Let's kind of pull it back here to Serum. I know you said you're starting with water bottles, but are you seeing this be able to grow where packaging can be contributing at the end of it? Like, you talked about how you're using PCR materials where now packaging is not only contributing to sort of the circularity that comes from recycling, but now also contributing back into the circularity that can come from waste to energy. I completely agree. Yeah. And I think people going and saying when their argument against this technology is saying, well, natural gas has its own issues, it's just like saying, well, landfills, it's like demonizing the word landfill, demonizing the word natural gas, and nothing comes close to the capture rate that landfills have when it comes to consumer behavior. If the fact of the matter is 95% of our waste is going to these landfills.. And right now the fight is everyone's saying, let's change that, let's change that, let's push this waste out of that environment. But if we just embraced that and said, okay, let's roll with that, that's an amazing capture rate. Landfills aren't horrible entities. Let's roll with this and see if we can turn this into a positive thing. We'd make incredible progress in both clean energy and waste management. Yeah. And thinking about that and natural gas probably has its own opponents and all that stuff, right? But it's like, if we can create natural gas from our natural habits instead of our natural habitats through drilling and fracking and all that stuff, I got to imagine and I have zero idea what the proportionality is, right? Somebody might come in and be like, well, our landfills can only create less than 1% of the natural gas. Okay, I don't know these things. That's just not the reality of waste management. In the year 2023, landfills are meticulously engineered, they're highly managed. And most importantly, basically, when the waste is in the landfill, it's putting off a methane gas as it decomposes. And now these landfills are capped. And the methane gas, instead of becoming a pollutant, is now turned into basically clean, renewable energy. It's turned into natural gas. And not only that, but it's a baseload energy source. It's constantly emitting methane, unlike wind and solar, where sometimes there's not wind, sometimes there's not sun, there's always going to be methane coming out of a landfill. Coca Cola is not doing it, Nestle is not doing it and it hasn't been combined with using already recycled plastics. So with serum we take already recycled plastic. That plastics can only be recycled a number of times. We're just kind of trying to find a viable, valuable end of life solution for these plastics. We take the recycled plastic, we add the biodegradable additive, the landfill biodegradable additive and then we turn it into whatever plastic application we'd be focused on.
Calvin Frost has joined the People Podcast, hosted by Adam Peek, to discuss his experiences in the label industry. He got into the industry by chance in the mid 80s and left corporate America to pursue a career in recycling. They discuss Adam's post on LinkedIn asking who should she talk to at the TLMI converter meeting, and how Ginny Gandy of Label Leaders of Tomorrow suggested Calvin. Adam hopes Roz Bandy, a good friend of his, is feeling better. Calvin mentions that he will be the most controversial guest on the podcast and the conversation shifts to him introducing himself. He talks about how he got into the industry by chance and left corporate America to pursue a career in recycling. The speaker talks about their journey of starting a business in the recycling industry and how they eventually shifted to recycling non-recyclable materials such as laminated paper and films. Through their efforts, they developed relationships with large corporations such as Three M, Avery, and Dennison. The speaker also mentions the covenants they have to agree to, which includes not landfilling any byproduct that they can't reprocess and bringing in salvage materials at 60%, 20-25%. The speaker, who has been involved in the pressure sensitive label industry for many years, discussed the evolution of the industry and the risk it is currently facing. As the adhesive used renders the label non-recyclable, the speaker was part of a task force in the 1990s to develop benign technology, which would render the label recyclable. Currently, the speaker is trying to garner support and scale in order to make this technology more cost effective so that it can be used. This would make the pressure sensitive label industry more environmentally friendly. The speaker, a recycling expert, began by discussing how he got into the pressure sensitive label industry and realized it was at risk due to lack of sustainable practices. He then discussed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and how it would influence the technology of the industry. He then discussed liner recycling, noting the two main issues of logistics and packaging. Finally, he discussed Jim Shively and how he has made improvements in the industry but the two main issues still remain unsolved.
Timestamps
0:00:00
Conversation with Calvin Frost, TLMI Converter Meeting Day Two
0:02:29
Heading: Channeled Resources: Recycling Non-Recyclables and Developing Relationships with Large Corporations
0:04:26
Heading: Exploring the Pressure Sensitive Label Industry and the Benefits of Benign Technology
0:08:32
Exploring the Challenges of Recycling Pressure Sensitive Labels in the Label Industry
0:10:45
Discussion on Pressure Sensitive Labels and Recycling in the Packaging Industry
0:12:19
Conversation on Recyclable Adhesives and Sleeve Packaging
0:15:55
Exploring Sustainable Packaging Solutions: A Discussion on Chlorine-Based Inks and Sleeve Packaging
0:18:13
Exploring the Challenges of Recycling: A Conversation with an Expert in the Field
0:20:31
Interview with Calvin Frost: A Conversation on Sustainability in the Packaging Industry
Highlights
We're trying to compete with coal and the products that we use, the matrix and the flexible packaging that go into our fuel, all of those have to meet an EPA emission standard. Chlorine causes a problem. What we had, we had a supplier shipping us 300 tons a month of their matrix, and we had to stop it because the tests that we found showed very, very high levels of chlorine. When we finally drilled down into this, we found out that this company was using a chlorine based ink.
So when we start talking about some of these technologies, it's great. The really interesting part is, from a technology point of view, from a sustainability point of view, the end user has to be part of the discussion. And they give you one example, and this is really interesting. So we have problems when we use materials for energy. The basic problem is chlorine. Chlorine causes emissions, and we're out of spec with EPA. We have to meet standards.
What happens in the repulsing process and we're talking paper now, not film. What happens in the paper manufacturing process is that the traditional adhesives, hot milled and acrylics will disintegrate into smaller pieces and they'll go through the felts, they'll go through the screens, and those adhesives will then cause contamination in the paper. Now, we can use it in brown grades, corrugated. We're able to withstand some contamination in that kind of material.. But if we have the technology that will keep the adhesive in a large piece so I can catch it on that screen and I can put it in my wastewater. I'll keep it away from the new paper that I'm making.
We can figure this stuff out, right? But getting the industry to focus on solutions for those two issues, logistics and packaging, that's been really complicated. So there was a good Q and A this morning on liners. Jim Shively ran that and I've spent lots, he's terrific and I've spent a lot of time with Jim and Jim has brought some real good changes to the industry but we're still backwards when it comes to solving the two basic problems, logistics and packaging.
EPR is now coming in extended producer responsibility. All of these factors are going to push our technology to change or we're going to be out and glue applied is going to be back because it's friendlier. So to me some of the things that we've been working on liner recycling, that's an easy one. We've been recycling liners for years and years and years. The complicated part is collecting it, right? The complicated part, there are two problems with liner recycling, just two, logistics and packaging. It's as simple as that.
If you want to be a guest on this podcast, or Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors OR Packaging Unbox’d with Evelio, go to www.encasemedia.com and fill out an application for one or all!
If you want to be a guest on this podcast, or Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors OR Packaging Unbox’d with Evelio, go to www.encasemedia.com and fill out an application for one or all!
If you want to be a guest on this podcast, or Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors OR Packaging Unbox’d with Evelio, go to www.encasemedia.com and fill out an application for one or all!
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