Crazy About Packaging: Conversations with the C.A.P. Pack

♻️ In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — are joined by Tamsin Ettefagh, Chief Sustainability Officer and VP of Industry at PureCycle, to talk about one of the biggest questions in packaging today: how do we scale high-quality recycled material, especially for food applications?
From advanced recycling to polypropylene supply challenges, this episode breaks down what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change to make recycled content goals realistic.
🔍 Tune in to explore:
What “advanced recycling” actually means (and how it differs from traditional methods)

Why polypropylene’s versatility makes it both valuable and difficult to recycle

How thermoformed packaging could help improve PP recycling rates

The gap between PCR goals and real-world supply chains

What it takes to create clean, consistent recycled material for food packaging

🎯 If you’re working with recycled content, setting sustainability goals, or trying to understand where advanced recycling fits, this episode gives you a clear look at the full system.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and reach out at [email protected] with your questions. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next — we’ll see you in the next episode!

🎙️ In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — take a step back and revisit some of the packaging challenges that keep showing up again and again.
From material swaps to recycling confusion to the realities of running high-speed packaging lines, these are the conversations that come up in almost every packaging project. Instead of chasing the latest trend, this episode pulls together some of our favorite moments from past episodes to highlight the themes that keep shaping real-world packaging decisions.
🔍 Tune in to explore:
Why packaging must protect the product first — and why ignoring that rule leads to failed projects

How small material changes can create big challenges on form fill seal lines

The moment ICPG realized XPP could solve a long-standing problem in FFS packaging

Why recycling systems depend on simple consumer guidance, not complicated rules

The tradeoffs every team faces when balancing performance, sustainability, and cost

🎯 If you're working through a packaging change, chances are you've already run into at least one of these challenges. This episode connects the dots between past conversations and the real decisions packaging teams face every day.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and send us your questions at [email protected]. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next — we’ll see you in the next episode!

🧪 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — unpack a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime: food safety in packaging.
Before a package hits a production line, let alone store shelves, it has to pass a series of tests, audits, and validations to make sure it’s safe. This episode breaks down what that process actually looks like, and why switching materials is never just plug-and-play.
🔍 Tune in to explore:
Why regulatory reviews, migration testing, and seal integrity are non-negotiable for food-safe packaging
What happens when packaging materials interact with food (and why it’s not as simple as checking a box)
How packaging that “works” in theory can fall apart in transit or fail in real-world use
The step-by-step process teams go through when changing packaging materials
🎯 If you’ve ever wondered why packaging changes take months or what really goes into validating a new structure, this episode lays it out.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and email us your questions at [email protected]. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next!

📦 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — kick off 2026 by reflecting on the year that just wrapped. What actually changed in packaging and sustainability in 2025? What still needs work? And what should brands be preparing for right now?
From PCR availability to shifting regulations to consumer trust in recycling, this episode breaks down where we saw real momentum and where confusion is still holding the industry back.
🔍 Tune in to explore:
Why consumer doubt is one of the biggest threats to recycling success

How 2025 moved the conversation around PCR from theory to reality — especially for PP

What different regions are doing when it comes to policy, and why fragmentation is slowing progress

Why mono-material packaging is gaining ground and what it means for design and manufacturing

The risks of waiting too long — and the importance of building for long-term impact

🎯 If you’re trying to make sense of what 2025 meant for packaging — and what 2026 is likely to bring — this episode lays it out clearly. Less guesswork, more action.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and send us your questions at [email protected]. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next — we’ll see you in the next episode!

Crazy About Packaging: Season 3, Episode 4 – The C.A.P. Pack on the Move 🌍 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — reflect on what they’ve learned from working with packaging teams around the world.
From Europe to South America, the team has spent so much time traveling, talking with manufacturers, and presenting at global packaging summits. One thing is clear: no matter the region, everyone is facing the same challenges: shifting regulations, polystyrene replacement, and pressure to move toward more sustainable solutions without slowing down production.
🔍 Tune in to explore:
Why polystyrene phase-out is a global trend (and how XPP is helping teams make the switch)

How regulatory uncertainty is pushing companies to create different packaging strategies by region

Why recyclability depends on infrastructure — and why it varies so much from place to place

Surprising non-food FFS applications for XPP, from pest control trays to snap-cap dosing systems

What global brands are doing now to prepare for what's next

🎯 Whether you're based in Berlin or Boston, this episode brings a global perspective to packaging strategy and highlights what it takes to move fast without falling behind.
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and reach out at [email protected] with your packaging questions. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next — we’ll see you in the next episode!