Crazy About Packaging: Conversations with the C.A.P. Pack
ICPG
Welcome to Crazy About Packaging, an ICPG podcast dedicated to helping food companies enhance their competitive advantage. Through expert interviews, technology...
Season 2 , Episode 4: 2024 Packaging Trends Overview
🎙️ Welcome to the final Crazy About Packaging podcast of 2024! This episode is packed with insights into the year’s most influential packaging trends and the regulations shaping the sustainability landscape.
🌍 Join Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan as they review the biggest trends of 2024, including the rise of innovative materials, machine-learning in recycling, and global policy shifts. They also share ICPG’s 2024 highlights and reveal how these milestones are paving the way for a more sustainable future.
♻️ Key topics covered in this episode include:
Paperization of Packaging: Exploring the shift from plastic to fiber-based materials and the challenges in recyclability.
Ocean-Based Feedstocks: Examining the promise and hurdles of using marine materials like seaweed for single-use packaging.
Machine Learning in Recycling: How new technology and automation are revolutionizing material sorting and recycling efficiency.
Recyclability Labeling: The growing push for clear, localized labels to guide consumers in proper recycling.
Scaling Up Reuse Programs: The expansion of reuse models in urban areas and their potential for mainstream adoption.
📦 The episode also highlights major policy updates like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Reduction Act, and the Global Plastics Treaty, all of which are reshaping the future of packaging.
🏆 Don’t miss ICPG’s 2024 milestones, including ICPG’s XPP material winning the U.S. Plastics Pact Innovation Award for recyclability, incorporating lifecycle analysis (LCA) for XPP, among others.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website, and join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X. Together, let’s celebrate the progress of 2024 and get excited about what’s to come in 2025!
--------
1:03:43
Season 2, Episode 3: The Vital Role of Recycling Education and Access
🎙️Welcome back to Crazy About Packaging! In this episode, Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan are joined by Kate Bailey, Chief Policy Officer at the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), to explore the challenges and solutions for creating a circular economy for plastics in North America. Discover the myths surrounding recycling and what it really takes to make recycling effective across the U.S.
🌍 Kate Bailey brings nearly 20 years of experience in the recycling industry, offering expert insights into policy and hands-on solutions. She discusses how better access to recycling, especially in underserved areas, and smarter packaging design can significantly improve recycling rates.
♻️ Did you know that while only 9% of plastics are recycled, this number includes items not meant for curbside bins? Kate explains how everyday items like plastic bottles and tubs are recycled at higher rates, and why policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws are critical to boosting infrastructure and participation in recycling programs.
📦 Learn how the APR Design Guide is pushing for smarter, more recyclable packaging, and why better packaging decisions, from labels to caps, can make or break the recycling process.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website, and join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X. Together, let’s get crazy about packaging and work towards a more sustainable future!
--------
51:01
Season 2, Episode 2: Tackling the Food Waste Crisis
Welcome back to Crazy About Packaging! In this episode, Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan team up with food waste expert Angel Veza from ReFED to explore how packaging plays a crucial role in addressing the U.S. food waste crisis. Discover staggering statistics, innovative solutions, and learn how packaging can help reduce food waste, combat climate change, and save money.
🌍 Angel Veza, Senior Manager at ReFED, joins the show to share her expertise in food waste reduction. With her culinary background and sustainability focus, Angel leads initiatives at ReFED that drive impactful, data-driven solutions across the supply chain.
📊 Did you know that 38% of food in the U.S. goes uneaten, equating to 7.6 million tons of waste? Angel breaks down the financial and environmental impacts, painting a vivid picture of the waste's true cost—$444 billion, or 2% of U.S. GDP.
♻️ While packaging often gets a bad rap, Angel reveals how smart design and innovation—like barrier packaging, resealable options, and improved date labels—can extend shelf life and prevent food from going to waste.
🌡️ Explore cutting-edge solutions like sensors that detect spoilage and temperature-sensitive packaging. Angel emphasizes that reducing food waste will require multiple strategies working in unison for a lasting impact.
🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website, and join the conversation on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Together, let’s get crazy about packaging and make a difference in reducing food waste.
--------
50:22
Season 2, Episode 1: The Value of a Sustainable Packaging Assessment
Season 2 kicks off with an exciting dive into the value of sustainable packaging assessments. In this episode, we’re joined by guest host Sarah Webber from Plastic Ingenuity, who walks us through how these assessments are transforming the industry by identifying sustainable, cost-effective packaging solutions.
♻️ In this month’s recycling trivia game, Natalie challenges Mike, Jonathan, and Sarah to figure out if a cracker dip package is recyclable. Their answers might surprise you!
🌍 Discover the four key steps of a sustainable packaging assessment, from defining goals and assessing current packaging to creating a gap assessment and executing the plan.
🔍 Learn about the specific challenges healthcare packaging faces in sustainability and how industry leaders are pushing for change despite the slow adoption of recyclable materials.
📈 Hear how sustainable packaging assessments are helping companies meet corporate and government sustainability targets without breaking the bank.
Join us for a knowledge-packed episode filled with practical insights, expert advice, and real-world applications for sustainable packaging. Whether you’re a packaging professional, sustainability advocate, or curious about the future of packaging, this episode offers valuable information for everyone.
Don’t forget to connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X to join the conversation! Interested in being a guest host or have questions? Email us at [email protected] – we’d love to hear from you!
--------
39:04
Episode 19: Modified Atmosphere Packaging
Dive into the world of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) with our hosts on Season One's final episode of the Crazy About Packaging podcast. This must-listen episode explores the innovative solutions that extend shelf life while maintaining food quality, making it perfect for anyone interested in food packaging technology and sustainability.
♻️ In this month’s recycling trivia game, Natalie challenges Mike and Jonathan with a tricky ground turkey package. Can they determine if it’s recyclable without knowing the material?
🌍 Learn the basics of MAP and its origins. Jonathan shares how this technology, initially popular in Europe, revolutionized food packaging in the U.S., extending the shelf life of products like bagged salads.
🥓 Discover the versatile uses of MAP across various food categories. From case-ready meats to fresh produce and snack products, see how MAP keeps food fresher for longer.
🔬 Explore recent advancements in MAP materials and sealing techniques and what the future holds for this essential packaging technology.
Join us for an episode packed with expert knowledge, practical insights, and real-world examples. Whether you’re a packaging professional, sustainability enthusiast, or just curious about how your food stays fresh longer, this episode offers something for everyone.
Listen now or visit our website for more information at www.icpg.co and don’t forget to join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X. Have a question or are interested in joining us as a guest host? Email us at [email protected] – we love hearing from our listeners!
About Crazy About Packaging: Conversations with the C.A.P. Pack
Welcome to Crazy About Packaging, an ICPG podcast dedicated to helping food companies enhance their competitive advantage. Through expert interviews, technology deep dives, and how-to sessions, we work together to educate the industry on the next generation of food packaging materials, technology, and expertise. Listen in as the C.A.P. Pack - Jonathan Cage, Mike Moren, and Natalie MacVarish - discuss the latest in packaging.
![Podcast php[podcast] episodes from php[architect]](https://za.radio.net/podcast-images/175/php-podcast-episodes-from-php-architect2.png?version=78bdf36ad9c53683900825985fb81d6b)
South Africa