2026 FlexForward Conference

State of FPA and the U.S. Flexible Packaging Industry

• Dan Felton, President & CEO, Flexible Packaging Association
  
  

Join FPA President & CEO, Dan Felton, for a fast-paced and high-impact briefing on the latest developments shaping FPA and the U.S. flexible packaging industry. This session will provide a concise overview of the key trends, market dynamics, economic factors, litigation, and public policy initiatives shaping our industry today. Whether you're a manufacturer, supplier, brand owner, or industry observer, this update will equip you with timely insights to navigate challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Federal and State Proactive Policies

• Edwin Borbon, Government Affairs Associate, Serlin Haley LLP
  
  
• Andy Hackman, Principal Lobbyist, Serlin Haley LLP
  
  
• Judith Zink, Principal & Co-Founder, Capitoline Consulting 
  
  

Post-Consumer Recycled Content – Challenges and Opportunities

Panelists:

• John Garnett, SVP, Technical, Sustainability, Innovation, Charter Next Generation
  
  
• Anna Rajkovic, Market and Innovation Manager, Borouge International (formerly NOVA Chemical)
  
  
• Other speakers TBA
  
  

Moderator:

• Alana Carr, Inside Sales & Marketing Manager, Alpine American, Inc.

Will post-consumer recycled (PCR) content mandates help or hinder the recycling system? Speakers will outline current federal and state policy landscapes, recent rulemakings, and timeline expectations, with a focus on how PCR requirements affect material design, supply chains, and end-of-life outcomes. The discussion will cover certification, traceability, and transparency needs, as well as challenges related to the availability, quality, and cost of PCR streams. Attendees will leave with a practical understanding of compliance pathways, market signals for packaging converters and brand owners, and key considerations for measuring impact within extended producer responsibility (EPR) and related governance frameworks.

MAHA, Microplastics and More...

Panelists:

• Joe Dages, Partner, Steptoe LLC
  
  
• Craig Davis, Senior Director of Plastics, American Chemistry Council (ACC)
  
  
• Nishant Sharma, Director - Regulatory and Scientific, Amcor
  
  
• Others TBA
  
  

Moderator: 

• Kyla Fisher, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Sustainability

The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement is driving greater attention to food safety, chemicals in food contact materials, and emerging contaminants, creating new challenges for the flexible packaging industry. This session will examine how MAHA-related priorities are shaping federal and state policy, regulatory oversight, scientific research, and brand expectations. Panelists will discuss key issues, including microplastics, the future of GRAS, consumer perceptions, and evolving legislative and regulatory trends, and highlight how the industry is collaborating to advance science, engage policymakers, and communicate the essential role of flexible packaging in protecting food, reducing waste, and supporting public health.

WIN MONDAY: The High-Performance Habit that Fuels Momentum, Growth, and Success

• Paul Epstein, Former NFL, NBA and Super Bowl Chief Sales Officer, now two-time bestselling author and award- winning speaker.
  
  

Monday isn’t just another day.  It’s the most reliable performance habit of your entire week. Every seven days your team gets the same reset. The only question is: does that reset spark winning actions and momentum or default to comfort and stagnation?”

Win Monday vs. Waste Monday. We always get to decide.

According to research inside Win Monday’s Habit Lab this performance gap is the reality for most organizations—as 86% of employees consider Monday their worst day of the week, yet 98% of people that accomplish something meaningful on Monday feel momentum their entire week.  

What if Monday became your team’s competitive edge?

In this keynote, former NFL and NBA executive and bestselling author Paul Epstein reveals the weekly habit that separates champions from everyone else — flipping Mondays from missed opportunities into momentum drivers that lead to lasting growth and success.

When winning Monday becomes your organization’s “go-to” habit, you win everything that follows.

Are you ready to Win Monday?

The Kraft Heinz Company Brand Spotlight - Flexible Packaging Needs

• Linda Roman, Director, NA R&D Fellow, Packaging R&D
  
  

Flexible packaging plays a critical role in protecting food quality and preventing waste. As consumer expectations and industry requirements for performance, food safety, and recyclability continue to evolve, manufacturers face increasingly complex packaging decisions within a rapidly changing legislative and recycling infrastructure landscape.

This presentation will explore key considerations for flexible film packaging, factors shaping the future of food packaging, and opportunities for collaboration across the value chain to advance flexible film recycling and support a more circular system.

Eco-modulation and Flexible Packaging Design: Industry Perspectives, Fees and Case Studies

Panelists:

• Jason Bergquist, CEO – North America, RecycleMe
  
  
• Letricia Fry, Director of Sustainability, Inteplast Group
  
  
• Linda Roman, Director, NA R&D Fellow, Packaging R&D
  
  

Moderator:

• Apurva Shah, Vice President of Strategy & Customer Development, Charter Next Generation

Attendees will gain insight into how environmental impact considerations are being translated into material selection, design optimization, packaging formats, and fee structures that encourage more sustainable packaging solutions. The discussion will examine the rationale behind eco-modulation programs, compare fee structures emerging across different states, and highlight the evolving policy landscape impacting the flexible packaging industry.

Through practical case studies, panelists will demonstrate how eco-modulated fees and incentives are applied in real-world scenarios and discuss the implications for collaboration across the packaging value chain. This session will be especially valuable for organizations involved in supplying, designing, manufacturing, or specifying flexible packaging solutions.

Navigating Sustainability: Overcoming Packaging Industry Challenges on the Road to 2030

Panelists:

• Dan Felton, President & CEO, Flexible Packaging Association
  
  
• Purva Mhatre-Shah, Ph.D. Associate Sustainability Manager, Sonoco Products Company
  
  
• Rebecca Mick, Program Director, Film and Packaging Innovation, Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)
  
  
• Emily Williams, Director of How2Recycle, GreenBlue
  
  

Moderator

• Jim Lush, Business Development Manager, Celplast, Metalized Products Limited

The packaging industry is at a critical juncture as we strive to meet ambitious mandated and voluntary sustainability goals. This panel will bring together thought leaders that represent industry associations, regulatory bodies, and advocacy groups to explore the challenges ahead and the collaborative strategies needed to drive meaningful change in our industry.

Lobbying and Saving Democracy

• Andy Hackman, Principal Lobbyist, Serlin Haley LLP
  
  

Come hear from one of FPA’s state lobbyists in this "TED Talk-style" presentation to understand how lobbying just might save democracy. Regardless of your role, this presentation will give you tools to be an effective advocate for your company, your industry, and your own personal goals. Learn how the art of lobbying can apply to more aspects of your job and your role in society than you might realize.

Polyethylene & Polypropylene Market Update

• Esteban Sagel, Principal, Chemical and Polymer Market Consultants 
  
  

This session examines how global volatility, driven by the Iranian conflict, shifting U.S. trade policies, and the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence, is reshaping the flexible packaging industry. Participants will gain practical insight into polyolefin supply, realized pricing, production costs, and the North American market outlook to support stronger 2027 budgets and strategic plans.

 Why this matters for your 2027 planning:

• Navigate Supply Volatility: Understand how geopolitical conflict, feedstock disruptions, and changing trade flows are affecting polyethylene and polypropylene availability.
  
  
• Manage Pricing Dynamics: Use realized domestic and export prices, production costs, and market fundamentals to make better commercial and sourcing decisions.
  
  
• Build Resilience: Evaluate whether your strategies can withstand sudden changes in trade rules, logistics, supply, and global demand.

Advanced Recycling and Mass Balance: A Necessary Frontier for Flexible Packaging

Panelists:

• Steve Adams, Vice President, Nexus Circular

• Dr. Rachel Meidl,Ph.D. Deputy, Center for Energy Studies, Rice University

• Adam Peer, Senior Director, Plastics Sustainability, American Chemistry Council (ACC)

• Jen Ronk, Senior Sustainability Manager, North America – Packaging & Specialty Papers, Dow
  
  

Moderator:

• Dan Felton, President & CEO, Flexible Packaging Association

Delve into the evolving landscape of advanced recycling, highlighting the diversity of technologies and applications that extend the lifecycle of plastics. Experts will examine the legislative and regulatory debates shaping adoption, funding, and accountability, and explore how advanced recycling intersects with extended producer responsibility (EPR) and post-consumer recycled (PCR) content schemes for flexible packaging. Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of the how advanced recycling can be leveraged as a solution for circularity and public policy objectives.

Steve Adams, VP Commercial Growth, Nexus Circular

Advanced Recycling/Mass Balance

Steve brings 15 years of experience in the advanced recycling and chemical manufacturing industries and currently leads strategic M&A, commercial growth and licensing initiatives to further integrate Nexus Circular into the recycling landscape, expanding its impact.

Steve has led the design, construction, startup, and operation of Nexus Circular's first commercial-scale advanced recycling facility. Previously, in engineering and operations leadership roles with Baker Hughes and other oil and gas companies, he directed multi-site manufacturing and supply chain networks and developed engineering strategy with delivery of complex capital projects.

Steve earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University.

Jason Bergquist, CEO - North America, RecycleMe

Eco-modulation and Flexible Packaging Design

Jason Bergquist is CEO – North America at RecycleMe, the consulting division of Reclay Group International. With more than 35 years of industry experience, Jason has led commercial and municipal waste divisions, material recovery operations across six states, and bottle bill redemption programs in Maine, New York, and California. His career spans the U.S., Europe, and Asia, bringing a global perspective to recycling and resource management. Jason holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from John F. Kennedy School of Law and has provided regulatory guidance on Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, container deposit legislation, Superfund compliance, and hazardous waste management.

Edwin Borbon, Government Affairs Associate, Serlin Haley LLP

Federal and State Proactive Policies

Edwin brings a wealth of experience in California’s legislative landscape, with a career spanning both government service and advocacy. He spent six years in various roles with the California State Assembly, most recently serving as legislative director for Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas). His career in California began as a scheduler and legislative assistant for multiple assembly members; he then advanced to key roles, including legislative director and Capitol director. Edwin also worked in legislative advocacy for the Precision Advocacy Group, a Sacramento-based lobbying, public affairs, and public relations firm. He leads the advocacy work for FPA in the Western Region, covering the states west of the Mississippi.

Alana Carr, Inside Sales & Marketing Manager, Alpine American, Inc.

Post Consumer Recycled Content - Challenges and Opportunities

Joe Dages, Partner, Steptoe LLP

MAHA, Microplastics and More...

Joe is a lawyer serving companies in the food-contact material, chemical, food, dietary supplement, cosmetic, and drug industries. He counsels these companies on compliance with the pervasive regulatory schemes that apply to their products under federal and state law. He is particularly experienced with helping clients bring new products to market that are regulated by the FDA, FTC, USDA, and EPA. In the food contact arena, Joe also advises on compliance with foreign laws administered by the EU, China, MERCOSUR, and Japan, among others.

Prior to and during law school, Joe worked in government relations and international affairs for a leading trade association representing the food, beverage, and consumer product industry.

Jim Ellis, Creator, Ellis Insight LLC

FlexPAC Breakfast

Paul Epstein, Former NFL, MBA and Super Bowl Chief Sales Officer

Keynote Speaker

Dan Felton. President and CEO, Flexible Packaging Association

State of FPA and the U.S. Flexible Packaging Industry

Navigating Sustainability: Overcoming Packaging Industry Challenges on the Road to 2030

Dan serves as President & CEO of the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), the association representing U.S. converters of film, foil, paper and other materials into packages for food, medical device and industrial products. Prior to joining FPA in 2024, Dan served as Executive Director for AMERIPEN – the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment. A well-known leader in the U.S. government affairs arena for more nearly 20 years, Dan has represented multinational corporations, various coalitions, and trade associations representing several Fortune 500 companies. He is particularly passionate about environmental, sustainability, and packaging issues and has advocated extensively in those areas at the local, state, and federal levels in the U.S.

Letricia Fry

Eco-modulation and Flexible Packaging Design: Industry Perspectives, Fees and Case Studies

John Garnett, SVP, Technical, Sustainability, Innovation, Charter Next Generation

Post Consumer Recycled Content - Challenges and Opportunities

Andy Hackman, Principal Lobbyist, Serlin Haley LLP

Federal and State Proactive Policies

Lobbying and Saving Democracy

Dr. Rachel Meidl Ph.D. CHMM

Advanced Recycling/Mass Balance

Dr. Rachel Meidl, PhD, CHMM, is deputy director and a distinguished fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. She also co-chairs the Recycling Science Council and is a strategic advisor to MSCI, Inc. With over 30 years of experience across industry, academia, government, and finance, her research focuses on sustainability, the circular economy, and life cycle management. Previously, Dr. Meidl served as deputy associate administrator for the U.S. PHMSA and director of Regulatory & Technical Affairs at the American Chemistry Council. She is a member of the National Academies of Sciences Roundtable on Plastics Committee and holds a Ph.D. in law and public policy from Northeastern University.

Neil Menezes, President of EcoCompass Inc.

Eco-modulation and Flexible Packaging Design

Dr. Purva Mhatre Ph.D.

Navigating Sustainability: Overcoming Packaging Industry Challenges on the Road to 2030

Dr. Mhatre-Shah is the Associate Sustainability Manager at Sonoco Products Company, where she serves as the North American Sustainability Business Partner and leads global product life cycle assessments (LCA), carbon footprinting, and company-wide LCA automation. Previously, she spent three years in environmental consulting developing circular economy strategies and carbon accounting frameworks. Purva holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in civil engineering and a PhD in Sustainability Management. An accomplished researcher, she has authored multiple papers on circular models, material reuse, and industrial adoption barriers.

Rebecca Mick, Program Director, Film and Packaging Innovation, Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR)

Navigating Sustainability: Overcoming Packaging Industry Challenges on the Road to 2030

Rebecca Mick is the Program Director for Film & Packaging Innovation at the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). She manages Critical Guidance, a part of APR’s Design for Recyclability Recognition Program and the Film Technical Committee. Rebecca brings nearly a decade of experience in the packaging industry with most of that time in flexible packaging. She now helps companies from across the value chain understand how to design plastic packaging for recycling while also helping to expand the guidance for flexible plastic packaging. Rebecca has a PhD in Chemical Engineering specializing in polymer rheology from Illinois Institute of Technology.

Anna Rajkovic, Market and Innovation Manager, Borouge International

Post Consumer Recycled Content - Challenges and Opportunities

Anna Rajkovic is the Market and Innovation Manager of Mechanical Recycling at legacy NOVA Chemicals, now Borouge International. In this role, Anna is at the forefront of driving innovation in the circular economy, overseeing the PCR product portfolio, and more broadly, spearheading efforts to enhance circularity with plastic converter customers and across the entire plastics value chain. Since joining NOVA Chemicals in 2008, Anna has made significant contributions to the circular economy space. She started as an applications development specialist, later becoming the market manager for circular economy, and has extensive experience as a technical service specialist for the drum and pipe markets. Anna's dedication extends beyond her immediate responsibilities. She has been actively involved with key industry associations such as the Association of Plastics Recyclers (APR) and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste. Currently, she serves as co-chair for the Market Development Committee in APR. Before her tenure at NOVA Chemicals, Anna gained valuable experience as a regional sales manager at KWH Pipe in Calgary and as an account manager at Jana Labs. She holds a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

Linda Roman, Director, NA R&D Fellow, Packaging R&D

Eco-modulation and Flexible Packaging Design

Linda Roman is a Director of Packaging and North America R&D Fellow at Kraft Heinz, bringing 30 years of Food & Beverage experience. She leads a Packaging R&D team to advance critical business strategies, packaging innovation and circularity through technology unlocks and strategic partnerships. Linda holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Florida.

Jennifer Ronk, Global Director for Plastics and Circular Policy

Advanced Recycling/Mass Balance

Jennifer Ronk is Dow’s Global Director for Plastic and Circularity Policy, leading global policy strategy on plastics and the circular economy. She develops science-based policy positions to support circularity, business growth, and regulatory readiness through engagement with governments, industry partners, and NGOs. Since joining Dow in 2018, Jennifer has held key sustainability leadership roles and serves on the boards of AMERIPEN, GreenBlue, and Houston Wilderness. Prior to Dow, she worked in sustainability research, climate policy, and environmental consulting. She holds a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University

Esteban Sagel, 

Polyethylene & Polypropylene Market Update

Over more than 32 years in the petrochemical industry, Esteban Sagel has built a rare perspective across the full value chain, with experience in chemical production, polymer conversion, processing equipment, consumer packaging, and market consulting. His career has included leadership roles at Repsol Química, Tetra Pak, Nexant, CMAI, and Wood Mackenzie, where he led the global polymers practice and managed analysts across Houston, London, and Singapore. Since founding ChemPMC in 2015, Esteban has advised companies, investors, and industry associations across the Americas and Asia on market strategy, forecasting, pricing, investment due diligence, and the changing dynamics of the polyethylene and polypropylene industries. He is a frequent speaker at major industry conferences in North America, Latin America, and Europe, and is regularly called upon by the trade press for his perspective on polymer markets. Esteban holds a Chemical Engineering degree from IQS Barcelona and an MBA from Rice University.

Apurva Shah, Vice-President of Strategy & Customer Development, Charter Next Generation

Eco-modulation and Flexible Packaging Design

Apurva Shah is Vice President of Strategy & Customer Development at Charter Next Generation, one of the leading producers of specialty films in North America. In this role, he leads growth strategies supporting CNG's mission to be the most sustainable material supplier to the packaging industry and the evolution of CNG's business model to be a valued partner to its customers.

Apurva has spent most of his career in the films and flexible packaging industry, beginning with multiple sales and marketing roles in Dow Chemical's Packaging & Specialty Plastics business. Between Dow and CNG, he worked at L.E.K. Consulting, a London-based strategy consulting firm, where he advised private equity firms investing in the packaging space. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Apurva lives in Chicago with his wife, Amy, and their two children. He also serves on the board of the Flexible Packaging Association.

Nishant Sharma, Director - Regulatory Affairs, Amcor

MAHA, Microplastics and More...

With over 15 years of experience in Compliance, Nishant has been a driving force in Regulatory field with most recent engaged topic includes PFAS & GRAS. Currently, Nishant is leading Amcor flexibles North America Regulatory team, as Director – Regulatory & Scientific

Emily Williams, Director of How2Recycle, GreenBlue

Navigating Sustainability: Overcoming Packaging Industry Challenges on the Road to 2030

Emily Williams, Director, How2Recycle, has over ten years of packaging industry experience in packaging roles, working across product development engineering, strategic marketing, partnerships, policy, and product sustainability expertise. As a recognized subject matter expert, she has held leadership positions across organizations, serving on the Board for AMERIPEN, as the Chair of the Government Affairs Committee with the Flexible Packaging Association, and a member of the Communications and Public Affairs Committee with the Association of Plastics Recyclers. Emily has a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a Masters of Science in the same from the University of Cincinnati.

Judith Zink, Principal & Co-Founder, Capitoline Consulting

Federal and State Proactive Policies

Judith is a founding Principal of Capitoline Consulting, LLC, with 30 years of federal government relations experience in both private firms and corporate settings. She advises CEOs, non-profits, and public entities on legislative and regulatory policy, specializing in strategy, communications, federal budgets, and advocacy. Known for building long-lasting, bipartisan relationships with government officials, Judith has spent over a decade driving measurable value for many of her clients. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and German from Loyola University Chicago and is a fellow of the Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft. Additionally, she actively supports community youth mentorship and food security initiatives.