FPA Value Evolution
By Peter Schottland, FPA Chairman

As I begin my term as chairman of the FPA Board of Directors, I would like to take this opportunity to thank James E. Love, III for his steadfast leadership over this past year. His positive impact on the association has led to the enhancement of several FPA programs and publications including the prominent State of the Industry Report. His guidance has kept the association, and all it has to offer, a mainstay in the flexible packaging industry.

Keeping the Promise

FPA has served as the united voice of the flexible packaging industry for 56 years. This voice has promoted the manufacturing of and technological advancements in flexible packaging; protected our industry against unnecessary and costly legislation; advocated for strong environmental regulations; and educated the public on the benefits of flexible packaging.

Year after year, the association continues to improve and evolve. With these great advancements, FPA is keeping the promise of providing valuable conferences, networking events, financial benchmarking reports, market research and proactive government relations geared towards helping our companies grow and succeed.

Value Through Research and Education

This year, the association will conduct major market research examining the realities of globalization and what globalization means to flexible packaging. We must begin to thoroughly understand the impact globalization is having and will have on our industry.

This market research study will answer several important questions including what the successful business models are for competing regionally/globally; where growth opportunities exist; how the U.S. differs from the rest of the world; what the major material and equipment issues are around the world; and what our customers “globalization” strategies are. The results of the market research study will be presented at the 2006 FPA Fall Executive Conference, which will be held on October 4, 2006 in Chicago, IL.

Value Through Advocacy

The association will utilize its positive and productive relationship with the U.S. EPA to provide the industry with unique opportunities to ensure reasonable, workable and cost effective environmental regulations.

FPA will also draw upon this relationship to educate the public on the benefits of source reduction. Packaging waste has become a strong focus of the U.S. EPA. During the 2006 Environmental Summit, Deputy Director of the U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste, Maria Parisi Vickers, announced that the agency will work with the packaging industry to decrease waste through source reduction and recycling. FPA ceased this opportunity to commit the association and its resources to work with the U.S. EPA to decrease the presence of packaging waste.

FPA will work with an industry coalition to ensure the continuation of the food contact notification program. The current FCN program, which decreases the review time of new food contact materials from three years to four months, is in jeopardy. The U.S. FDA’s proposed 2007 budget will discontinue the program. If this proposal is adopted it will be a major blow to the food and food packaging industries. The FPA will seek input and involvement from our members to avoid the discontinuation of this program and the negative impact it could have on the industry.