With the Wal-Mart Packaging Scorecard completion deadline of February 1, 2008 less than three months away, sustainability remains top-of-mind for many consumer product goods manufacturers and their packaging suppliers.

Throughout the year, FPA has worked to promote a greater understanding and acceptance of flexible packaging as a sustainable packaging solution. FPA’s sustainability efforts and activities are numerous and include active participation on the Wal-Mart Sustainable Packaging Steering Committee and Network, development of two FPA Sustainable Packaging & Wal-Mart Packaging Scorecard Workshops, launch of the Sustainable Packaging Update Newsletter and the Flexible Packaging Value Proposition Education Campaign, and the addition of the Sustainable Packaging page to FPA’s Web site, www.flexpack.org.

FPA & Wal-Mart

FPA is an active member of the Wal-Mart Sustainable Packaging Steering Committee and Network. Through our participation, FPA has worked to promote the environmental and sustainable benefits of flexible packaging while working with the other members of the group to achieve packaging sustainability.

To help FPA members help their customers navigate through the very complex Wal-Mart Packaging Scorecard, FPA is conducting a second Sustainable Packaging & Wal-Mart Scorecard Workshop on Thursday, December 13th at the BWI Marriott in Linthicum, Maryland.

The upcoming workshop will include updates on and modifications to the Wal-Mart scorecard process, and in-depth demonstrations of the Wal-Mart packaging scorecard, virtual packaging trade show, and scorecard modeling tools, and detail the results of FPA’s Brand Owners and Retailers Sustainability Survey.

Sustainable Packaging Update Newsletter

FPA will soon launch the FPA Sustainable Packaging Update Newsletter - a monthly electronic newsletter designed to provide FPA members with the latest industry-related sustainable packaging news.

The newsletter will feature information on updates to the Wal-Mart Packaging Scorecard process, industry-related sustainability education events, FPA sustainability activities, and link readers to the “Flexible Packaging Sustainability Initiatives and Updates” section of the FPA Web site, which highlights FPA members’ sustainability efforts and activities and contains press releases, news articles and other sustainable flexible packaging information from FPA members.

Flexible Packaging Value Proposition Education Campaign Launch

In December 2007, FPA will launch its Flexible Packaging Value Proposition Education Campaign. Through this campaign, FPA will work with FPA members to educate retailers and consumer goods manufacturers on the sustainable benefits of flexible packaging.

Campaign tools including brochures and handouts, electronic Web site banners, and briefing documents that will describe how flexible packaging companies are contributing to the sustainable packaging movement.

Sustainable Packaging Online

FPA has created a section on its Web site dedicated to sustainability. The Sustainable Packaging section of www.flexpack.org contains a wealth of information on sustainable packaging, FPA sustainability events and activities, and the latest industry-related sustainability news and information, and the Wal-Mart Packaging Sustainable Packaging Scorecard.

The public section of the FPA Sustainable Packaging Web page provides visitors with information on the FPA Sustainable Packaging Report, full access to press release from Wal-Mart, the FPA Predominant Material Guidance, the Wal-Mart Packaging Materials, Sustainable Packaging Coalition Definitions and Wal-Mart’s sustainability initiatives.

The FPA “Members Only” Sustainable Packaging Web page includes information on FPA’s Sustainable Packaging Task Group, past meeting minutes, updates on the Wal-Mart Packaging Scorecard process, sustainable packaging research documents such as the FPA Sustainable Packaging Report and the FPA Brand Owner and Retailer Sustainable Packaging Report, and electronic versions of FPA sustainable packaging initiative presentations.

FPA’s 2008 Annual Meeting!

The Flexible Packaging Association’s 58th Annual Meeting will be held March 5-7, 2008 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. The meeting will bring together FPA members and guests for great networking opportunities, fun and content-rich presentations.

The Meeting will also include the presentation of the 2008 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards and the Flexible Packaging Innovation Showcase, which will feature all the entries from the 2008 Achievement Awards competition.

Registration materials and the meeting agenda will be available in the upcoming months. For more information, contact FPA at (410) 694-0800 or visit the association online at www.flexpack.org.