From September 30 to October 2, 2024, part of Group O's team attended SPC Advance in Chicago—a members-only event hosted by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. This annual gathering brings together industry leaders, innovators, and forward-thinkers in sustainable packaging to exchange ideas, collaborate, and inspire change.

Representing Group O were Marissa Lundberg, National Accounts Manager for Packaging Solutions, and Cindy Whiteman from the Corporate Marketing team. Their biggest takeaways centered around three overarching themes: collaboration, innovation, and hope.

Collaboration: Building Connections for a Greener Future

One of the central focuses of this year’s SPC Advance was the importance of collaboration across the packaging ecosystem. Marissa and Cindy had the opportunity to meet numerous industry innovators and manufacturers, including organizations such as Sway, Air Carbon Alloys, and Kaneka. These connections reinforced a key lesson: true progress in sustainability comes from working together.  In the spirit of collaboration, companies shared ideas and updates on topics such as these at SPC Advance 2024:

Reducing Plastic Usage: Companies are focusing on reducing or eliminating plastic use, increasing recycled content, incorporating post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, and exploring alternative solutions.

Advanced Recycling: A key solution for flexible packaging, with the primary focus remaining on designing packaging to reduce product damage—a critical factor in sustainability.

Sustainability Terminology: Terms like greenwashing, greenhushing, and greengushing are emerging in the sustainability discourse.

Packaging Redesign Examples: Companies are moving from glass jars to kraft flexible packaging pouches for products like tomato sauce to enhance sustainability.

Redesign for E-Commerce: Companies are redesigning packaging for e-commerce platforms like Amazon, utilizing dual packaging strategies for retail shelves and shipping.

A notable area where Group O hopes to contribute to future discussions is around tertiary packaging—the outermost packaging used in logistics, such as pallets, stretch film, and strapping. While primary and secondary packaging solutions often take center stage, tertiary packaging also plays a critical role in sustainability. Group O, with its experience in this area, is eager to help lead the conversation on how these solutions can further reduce waste and improve environmental outcomes. We look forward to fostering broader discussions around this at future SPC events.

Innovation: Pioneering Sustainable Solutions

SPC Advance 2024 showcased innovative approaches to sustainable packaging. Companies are increasingly focused on reducing or eliminating plastic usage, incorporating post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, and exploring alternative solutions. Noteworthy innovations included:

Sway, which creates packaging made from seaweed, offering a biodegradable and renewable alternative to traditional plastic.
Air Carbon, which is pioneering the creation of packaging materials from greenhouse gases, effectively transforming harmful emissions into useful products.
Kaneka, which provides compostable, bio-based packaging solutions that offer sustainable alternatives to conventional materials.
Shellworks, which produces a breakthrough resin called Nature's Plastic made from microorganisms. 

These innovations demonstrate the industry's ongoing commitment to finding more eco-friendly solutions that reduce environmental impact. These examples are just a few of the incredible innovations showcased at the SPC Advance conference.

Hope: A Shared Responsibility to Combat Climate Change

Despite the challenges ahead, the mood at SPC Advance was hopeful. From the diverse range of sustainability innovators to the shared goal of addressing climate change, there was a palpable sense of optimism among attendees. This hope is something Group O is eager to cultivate. Marissa and Cindy returned with renewed energy, ready to explore new partnerships with sustainability pioneers and to reflect on what Group O can do internally to further address the pressing issue of climate change.

At Group O, we are continuously evaluating how we can make a greater impact. The insights from SPC Advance 2024 have reinforced our commitment to finding ways to reduce our environmental footprint. Whether it's through promoting PCR products, partnering with sustainability innovators, or generating content that contributes to the conversation around sustainability, Group O is excited to lead the charge in creating a greener future.

We Need to Be a Part of the Change Today for a Better Future

SPC Advance 2024 was an event that fostered collaboration, sparked innovation, and inspired hope for a more sustainable tomorrow. As we look ahead, Group O is eager to continue building upon the insights gained at the event and work toward even more ambitious sustainability goals. We hope you’ll join us as we continue to find ways to be a part of the change for the future. Stay tuned as we continue this journey!