TAPPI Offers Info on the Bay

Published: August 01, 2008

NORCROSS, GA

The beautiful Chesapeake Bay is the setting for the 2008 TAPPI PLACE Conference, scheduled for September 14-18 at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel in Portsmouth, VA.

Entitled “Innovations in Flexible Consumer Packaging,” the conference features a wide range of presentations and events. The agenda will include practical information on renewable polymers; case studies for sustainability and flexible packaging; updates on food safety and regulatory issues; technical presentations on active and smart packaging; discussions with award-winning brand owners and converters; advances in solventless adhesives, aqueous coatings, and primers; and productivity innovations for web handling and winding.

In addition, says TAPPI, tabletop displays will feature the latest products and services, and attendees will be able to meet and network with engineers, managers, specialists, suppliers, consultants, and end-users from the flexible packaging and converting industry.

Wal-Mart's perspective on sustainability will be the focus of the keynote address Monday, September 15, at 4:00 P.M. The speaker will be Drew Gilchrist, VP of sales for Vanguard Packaging & Display, a member of Wal-Mart's Sustainable Value Network. Gilchrist is directly involved in Wal-Mart's Retail Link Users Group.

A.J. “Tony” Burns, associate director at Procter & Gamble, will present sustainability from P&G's vantage point at a luncheon Wednesday, September 17. Burns is P&G's designated speaker on the subject and serves on the Advisory Board for the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC).

And for more on today's hottest topic, a special Sustainability Workshop will be offered Tuesday, September 16, from 8:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M. This interactive learning event will connect sustainability to customer expectations, social responsibility, and bottom-line improvement. Content will include definitions, concepts and practical suggestions for achieving financial and environmental sustainability. Discussions will consider implementation challenges, monitoring techniques, and related certifications. TAPPI says attendees will learn sustainability techniques and strategies and identify a multistep path for reaching their organization's sustainability goals.

Other events at the 2008 conference include the New Technology Showcase, 8:00-10:00 A.M., Monday, September 15, at which attendees will be able to meet with representatives from a long list of suppliers; an Awards Luncheon Tuesday, September 16; and the Gala Event on Wednesday, September 17, 6:30-10:00 P.M., held aboard the “Carrie B,” an authentic 19th century Mississippi riverboat.

For more information and the complete conference schedule, visit www.tappiplace.org.