New packaging advocacy group formed

There’s a new plastics packaging advocacy association in the U.S., formed by 10 major American corporations.

Raw material suppliers DuPont, Dow Chemical and MeadWestvaco are among the 10 founding companies that have created the American Institution for Packaging and the Environment (Ameripen), which will represent the packaging industry, advocate on public policy relating to packaging, and coordinate the sector’s environmental efforts.

Other founding companies are Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble Co., Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, ConAgra Foods, Sealed Air Corporation and Tetra Pak.

According to a news release, membership is open to raw material producers, packaging suppliers, packaging converters, waste haulers, recyclers, and packaged goods manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

Ameripen’s first annual meeting is due to be held June 22.

The newly formed association, which is headquartered in East Lansing, Mich., is modeled after European and British packaging associations Europen and Incpen. According to Ameripen, it will take a “material-neutral” approach to packaging and encourage science-based decision making on sustainable packaging initiatives, and also advocate measures that are environmentally, socially and economically sound.

“Ameripen will further enhance the packaging value chain’s commitment to continuously improving its sustainability profile and reducing packaging waste,” said Colgate-Palmolive vice president Joan Pierce, who is also Ameripen president. “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.”