Back to the Beach: Global Pouch Forum 2024

Published: April 22, 2024, By Josh Scanlan

By Douglas J. Peckenpaugh, Group Publisher, The Packaging Group at BNP Media

The Global Pouch Forum¹, produced by Packaging Strategies², now in its 27th year, is the longest-running flexible packaging event in the industry. This annual event is the gateway to current and emerging innovation in the flexible packaging market, including the ever-growing opportunities for using pouch packaging for food, beverage, personal care, beauty, household, healthcare, medical and other consumer packaged goods (CPGs).

For 2024, Global Pouch Forum is going back to the beach! The event organizers at Packaging Strategies and BNP Media's Packaging Group will host the event once again in Florida, with proceedings taking place May 29-31 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in sunny Clearwater, Florida.

Global Pouch Forum attracts global CPG producers, converters and suppliers of materials, equipment and technology to discover the future of packaging together.

The event combines opportunities for learning and networking, as well as intimate exposure to the latest supply-chain offerings via supplier exhibits.

For nearly three decades, Global Pouch Forum has remained the go-to event to get the most up-to-date information from experts and network with leaders and innovators who develop, supply, buy or recommend flexible materials, including pouches, films and machinery. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from executives of top consumer brands, contract service providers and packaging consultants.

Leaders across the flexible packaging industry attend Global

Pouch Forum to:

• Discover global market trends and applications;
• Obtain the business outlook for flexible plastics packaging;
• Hear case studies and best practices on pouches that offer shelf appeal, innovation, functionality and convenience; and,
• Network with top CPG producers and brand owners in a relaxed environment.

Global Pouch Forum is a destination for packaging professionals from across the industry, including leadership from R&D, engineering, operations and more from CPG companies and converters. The event is also an annual opportunity to connect with leading suppliers of packaging materials, machinery and services, as well as packaging consultants and market researchers.

Education is a core aspect of the Global Pouch Forum. Agenda highlights this year will include:

• EXAMPLES OF CPG INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH:
"Changing State of the Packaging Industry:
Forward-Looking CPGs Reinventing the Status Quo through Flexible Pouch Packaging" from Global Pouch Forum founder, Dennis Calamusa, President & CEO of ALLIEDFLEX Technologies;
• REGULATORY AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: "Flexible Packaging State of the Industry: Policy Driving Innovation" delivered by Alison Keane, President & CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association;
• LEADING CPG PERSPECTIVE FROM TREE TOP: "Pouch Technology for Liquid Product Innovation and Category Growth," offered by Norman Dusi, Global Sales Man-ager, IMA Industries, along with a co-presenter from Tree Top, a major producer of apple sauce and other fruit-focused products in the U.S.;
• LEADING CPG PERSPECTIVE FROM FLAVOR MAKERS: "Exploring Innovation with Retortable Mono-Material Polypropylene with High Properties," presented by Kenji Kawasaki, Technical Sales Manager, TOPPAN USA, along with CPG co-presenter Chris Cester, Packaging & NPD Project Manager, Flavour Makers, a major producer of soups, sauces, dressings and more with distribution across Australia and beyond;
• FINANCIAL MARKETS UPDATE: "Pouch Converters Are Hot Commodities — Driven By the Accelerating Global Industry Consolidation," delivered by Thomas Blaige, Chairman & CEO, Blaige & Co., a mergers and acquisitions specialist serving packaging businesses;
• EXPANDING POUCH RECYCLABILITY:
"Considerations for Widely Recyclable Pouches," from Eric Hair, Marketing Manager, Sonoco, presenting alongside a CPG partner; and,
• ADDRESSING SUSTAINABILITY: Panel
Discussion on "Packaging Sustainability, Recycling, Environmental Impact and Extended Producer Responsibility," featuring panelists discussing sustainable multilayer films, recycle-ready monomaterial laminate and other leading-edge packaging technologies designed with sustainability — and performance — in mind.

Innovation takes center stage at Global Pouch Forum, and for the second year, the event will shine a spotlight on available and commercialized solutions honored by The Flexible Packaging Association in its annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards. These Global Pouch Forum "Innovation Spotlight" presentations and CPG case studies will include:

• Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging;
• Technical Innovation;
• Printing;
• Shelf Impact; and,
• Packaging Excellence.

For comprehensive details about the 2024 Global Pouch Forum, including registration, visit https://www.packagingstrategies.com/global-pouch-forum. Looking forward to seeing you on the beach as we explore the future of flexible packaging together!

¹ https://www.packagingstrategies.com/global-pouch-forum

² https://www.packagingstrategies.com/

About the Author

Douglas J. Peckenpaugh is Group Publisher of The Packaging Group at BNP Media, including the Packaging Strategies and Flexible Packaging media brands, as well as the Converters Expo, Converters Expo South and Global Pouch Forum events. He has three decades of publishing experience covering the CPG industry. Doug studied Professional and Creative Writing at Purdue University.