Unboxing the Future of Packaging: Inside the 2025 American Packaging Summit

The 8th Annual American Packaging Summit made a strong return to Chicago this May, offering a dynamic platform for professionals to engage in insightful conversations, exchange ideas, and forge meaningful connections. Held at the Marriott Chicago O’Hare from May 13–14, the two-day event brought together leading voices from across the industry to explore critical themes shaping the future of packaging—Sustainability & Materials, Design & Branding, and Innovation & Technology.

Throughout the summit, industry leaders shared strategies, solutions, and forward-looking perspectives. A heartfelt thank you goes to Oliver Campbell of Dell Technologies, Paula Steenstra of McDonald's, and Eric Henderson of PepsiCo for their outstanding leadership in emceeing breakout rooms and guiding conversations across both days.

Opening Day: Keynotes, Plenaries, and First Look at the Future

Day 1 opened with a warm welcome from Kenya K. Merritt, Deputy Mayor of the City of Chicago, setting a positive tone for what would become an engaging and informative program. The morning keynote was delivered by Kory Nook, VP, Packaging Research and Innovation at Danone. His session, titled “Revolutionizing Packaging: Danone’s Roadmap to a Sustainable Future,” outlined Danone’s commitment to recyclable packaging and material recovery, providing a roadmap for sustainability in the consumer goods sector.

Following the keynote, Paula Steenstra, Director, Design and Packaging at McDonald's, took the stage to share her expertise on integrated packaging approaches that elevate customer experiences. Her plenary emphasized consistency in global branding and the role of design in delivering delight to consumers around the world.

Nathan Pajka, Manager, Sustainability at Metsä Board Americas, followed with a compelling plenary on how suppliers can support a sustainable value chain. His insights highlighted the importance of accountability, responsible sourcing, and the design of recyclable and compostable packaging systems.

After the morning sessions, attendees enjoyed a networking break and 1:1 meetings, supported by our refreshment sponsor, Coast to Coast Logistics.

Breakout Sessions and Workshops: Innovation in Action

The summit’s first breakout sessions featured Jeff Loth of Microsoft, who explored the company’s holistic approach to sustainable packaging and environmental impact reduction. Simultaneously, Elimar Pozzobon of Estée Lauder and Sridevi Narayan-Sarathy of PepsiCo each led dynamic conversations on consumer-driven makeup innovation and advanced sustainable packaging materials, respectively.

In the afternoon, the energy continued with a diverse set of workshops. Amy Redden of Clearwater Paper discussed innovations in sustainable paperboard. In parallel, James McMonigal of Esko Brands presented the transformative potential of AI and automation in packaging artwork processes. Meanwhile, Mark Boksa of Markem-Imaje addressed compliance challenges tied to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.

Over lunch, attendees joined open-seated discussions and participated in sponsored Lunch & Learn Roundtables led by thought leaders from LyondellBasell, Metsä Board Americas, IPG - Intertape Polymer Group, Specright, Premier Packaging LLC, and Coulter, LLC. These sessions allowed for deeper engagement in smaller, interactive group settings.

Afternoon Conversations: Fireside Chats and Deeper Insights

Following lunch, the summit featured compelling fireside chats. Kerri Clark of KIND Snacks and Matt Daum, Ph.D., of Michigan State University explored innovation, sustainability, and leadership in packaging. In a concurrent session, Laura Shimmin of Mars and Jesse Medlong of DLA Piper led a discussion on advancing sustainability through R&D and material design.

Additional workshops in the afternoon expanded on packaging performance and innovation. Chris Schmidt of LyondellBasell discussed optimizing resin use for sustainability without compromising functionality. Jarno Weemers, Ph.D., of Synthomer introduced solutions for reducing carbon emissions through polymer modification, while Conner Nielsen of Packsize showcased right-sized packaging as a path toward streamlined operations.

After a second networking break filled with refreshments and 1:1 meetings, Raymond Wodar of Dassault Systèmes concluded the afternoon with an engaging keynote on leveraging Virtual Twin technology and life-cycle assessments to create actionable roadmaps for sustainable packaging.

To close out Day 1, a high-profile panel discussion brought together leaders from Adidas, Lindt & Sprüngli, Herbalife, Suntory Global Spirits, Bel Brands, and JBM Packaging. Their conversation explored the intersection of innovation, compliance, and consumer expectations, offering tangible takeaways for modern packaging strategy.

The day ended with a lively Networking Drinks Reception, sponsored by Black & Veatch, complete with signature cocktails and continued conversation.

Day 2: Empowerment, Strategy, and Forward Thinking

Day 2 began with a networking breakfast and the highly anticipated Women in Leadership Panel, moderated by Jill Gaynor of Premier Packaging LLC. Influential speakers from Unilever, Estée Lauder, Carter's, Conagra Brands, and Mars shared personal stories and strategies for fostering leadership and equity in the workplace. Their conversation was both empowering and deeply reflective of the broader industry evolution.

Following this, Oliver Campbell of Dell Technologies delivered a powerful keynote on PET packaging and circular economy innovations, highlighting Dell’s commitment to sustainability through advanced material use and regulatory leadership. Deepali Palta, Ph.D., of Kellanova, followed with a presentation on the power of packaging to drive brand growth, consumer trust, and innovation.

Workshops and Networking: Learning Through Collaboration

Attendees then split into morning workshops featuring a variety of expert voices. Satoshi Motoda of Kuraray discussed the future of compostable packaging through new polymer developments. Ronald De Vlam of PV&COHO brought a creative perspective on design thinking for end-to-end packaging solutions. Krish Vengat of GEP focused on cost-saving strategies through packaging optimization.

A final networking break offered more opportunities to engage with exhibitors, reconnect with peers, and discuss key learnings before returning for the afternoon sessions.

Kevin Marshall of Microsoft explored how inclusive, sustainable packaging elevates brand experience in a competitive market. Meanwhile, Vikas Sharma of PepsiCo and Charles Ho Fung of Molson Coors Beverage Company offered insights into optimizing the packaging pipeline and aligning innovation with brand identity.

Later, ExxonMobil Product Solutions Company’s Meredith Burthman and Alex Kean discussed how collaboration across the value chain is essential for achieving a plastic circular economy. They offered insights into converting plastic waste into valuable resources while maintaining packaging performance.

Final Sessions: Talent, Strategy, and the Road Ahead

The final lineup featured a wide range of thought-provoking sessions. Thorsten Harstall of Adidas examined shifting consumer expectations and the evolving definition of sustainability. A fireside chat with Sonja Dearden of Lindt & Sprüngli and Laura Bix, Ph.D., of Michigan State University addressed ways to improve print workflows and vendor collaboration. Tim Backe of the Institute of Packaging Professionals explored balancing cost, performance, and sustainability in packaging design.

Over the last lunch of the summit, more Lunch & Learn Roundtable Discussions took place, led by experts from The Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED, Michigan State University, PepsiCo, Carter’s, Certified Angus Beef, Adidas, Lindt & Sprüngli, Ultradent, B&G Foods, Microsoft, McDonald's, and Unilever.

The day concluded with a powerful fireside chat led by PepsiCo’s Eric Henderson and Brianna Kusch, joined by Tim Backe of the Institute of Packaging Professionals. Their discussion on building the next generation of packaging talent emphasized workforce development, upskilling strategies, and the future of packaging innovation.

Finally, a closing panel from Unilever—featuring Joshua Fishman, Michael Fromm, and Jade Adams—explored how value creation is being redefined through cross-functional collaboration, design, and operational excellence. Their closing insights left the audience inspired and ready to take the next steps in their packaging innovation journeys.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As applause rang out at the conclusion of the summit with the Chair's Closing Remarks, the energy in the room confirmed what we already knew: this wasn’t just another industry conference—it was a launching point for new ideas, partnerships, and strategies that will shape the future of packaging.

If you weren’t able to attend this year, you didn’t just miss keynotes—you missed the conversations that are defining the path forward.

Join us in 2026 for the 9th Annual American Packaging Summit. Stay updated and reserve your place: uspacksummit.com.

Testimonials

“Superb experience - fabulous speakers and good time allocated to talk with exhibitors.”

Tammy Butterworth, Innovation Director, Welch’s

“Phenomenal. I’ve been blown away by the calibre of speakers, the openness of industry leaders to share their experiences as well as the collective sense of wanting to elevate packaging and solve challenges together (like more sustainable packaging).”

Patricia Chraiteh, Sr Manager Product Development & Insights, Nature Fresh Farms

“Really appreciate how the structure facilitates networking in a way that breaks the ice. The overall layout with the keynotes, sessions, and open networking is well paced.”

Liz Donahoe, Sr. Manager Pkg R&D, PepsiCo

“Top-notch, well-run summit with excellent opportunity to network and collaborate with Sr leaders from America’s top companies. I’m inspired!”

Rachelle Fisher, Brand Design Manager, Tyson Foods

“Summit has enabled me to learn about how major companies are working on around packaging development and sustainability.”

Juan Rodriguez, Optimization Manager, Nespresso

“The American Packaging Summit was one of the most impactful trade shows I’ve attended. I acquired more leads from this event than any other trade show in the past. Additionally, the industry leaders speaking at the event were extremely informative.”

Brenton Barry, Business Development Manager, Alpla Group

“Very informative and provided great insight to do better packaging designs at my organization.”

Kimberly Ison, Packaging Engineer III, Dawn Foods

“The opportunities to network with other people working specifically in the packaging industry are like no other conference I have been to! I absolutely loved the round table discussions and being able to schedule 1-1 with vendors that had products or services that will potentially help my company reach future goals. The speakers were very transparent about the struggles and successes that their companies are going through. Not only insightful, but validating that everyone in packaging is dealing with similar struggles. I learned so much about how different companies and teams are approaching these hurdles to meet future goals.”

Christina Abiera, Packaging Designer, Chadwell Supply

“It was a very engaging, exciting, and well-organized event with excellent opportunities to connect with a wide variety of people and backgrounds with a high willingness for after-event follow ups. That makes this event very worthwhile in terms of the participation level, and the ability to reach a greater audience with the accompanying speaking slot.”

Jarno Weemers, Application Development Scientist, Synthomer

Learn more about our fall 2025 North American events and secure your spot today:

Unboxing the Future of Packaging: Inside the 2025 American Packaging Summit

Testimonials

Amalia Osorio Digital Marketing Lead at Generis