Editor's note: The most recent additions to this list are the BPI Summit and the Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference.
There are a lot of changes afoot in the packaging industry, which makes opportunities to connect and collaborate across the value chain all the more important. Numerous conferences and events seek to attract packaging leaders or sustainability professionals.
Here are some of the most notable U.S. events on the calendar for packaging industry professionals for the remainder of 2024.
Which other events are on your radar? Let us know at [email protected].
The Consumer Goods Forum Global Summit (June 11-14 in Chicago)
This C-suite, forum-member-only event is slated to cover topics including retail and consumer trends and reducing plastic waste for the fast-moving consumer goods sector. The program features top executives from Mondelēz, Walmart, Coca-Cola and others.
Multilayer Flexible Packaging (June 25-26 in Chicago)
This event, put on by plastics industry market intelligence and events firm AMI, will cover topics including the sustainability and recycling of flexible packaging, developments in high-barrier and multilayer monomaterial film and Americas markets trends.
Digital Print for Packaging US (July 29-31 in Burlington, Vermont)
This Smithers event will focus on the still-relatively-new technology of digital printing for packaging, seeking to bring together brand owners, converters and technical providers. It is slated to feature speakers from WW Kellogg Co., Cabot, Digimarc and others.
Advanced Recycling Summit (Aug. 27-28 in Akron, Ohio)
In its second year, the chemical recycling event is slated to cover how this novel area of technology is shaping conversations around recycling, the circular economy and brands’ sustainability goals.
Read Packaging Dive’s coverage of last year’s event.
BPI Summit (Sept. 10-12 in Berkeley, California)
Attendees involved in compostable products, hauling, composting operations and policy will discuss systems for organic waste diversion that include compostable products and packaging. An optional tour will be available at the Napa Recycling & Composting Facility.
Labelexpo Americas (Sept. 10-12 in Chicago)
This package printing industry event is “the best opportunity to target the latest advancements in flexible packaging, automation, RFID technology and sustainability all under one roof,” according to organizers.
Packaging Recycling Summit (Sept. 16-18 in Anaheim, California)
Attendees from brands, material suppliers, reprocessors and MRFs will gather to discuss design for recyclability, value streams and more.
Read Packaging Dive’s coverage of last year’s inaugural edition of the event, including on collaboration across the value chain, overcoming recycling rate stagnation and capturing tiny recyclables.
FPA FlexForward Conference (Sept. 17-19 in Charlotte, North Carolina)
The Flexible Packaging Association chose sustainability as the overall theme for its annual event, which includes board meetings as well as educational sessions covering the state of the industry.
E-PACK US (Oct. 1-2 in Chicago)
Speakers from across the value chain will discuss the rapidly evolving e-commerce packaging market, including emerging opportunities and innovations.
Read Packaging Dive’s coverage of last year’s gathering, highlighting how sustainability has become an imperative and e-commerce packaging design priorities.
SPC Advance and How2Recycle Summit (Sept. 30-Oct. 2 and Oct. 2-3, co-located in Chicago)
SPC Advance, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s fall members event, will highlight the urgency of moving further and faster on solutions to reduce carbon emissions from packaging. One topic will be the trends outlined in SPC's Packaging Innovation Trends report. The How2Recycle Summit, co-located with SPC Advance, will feature a range of speakers across recycling and packaging and offer tours of LRS MRFs, SC Johnson’s headquarters and more.
Read Packaging Dive's coverage of last year’s SPC Advance, including about a shared label between How2Recycle and The Recycling Partnership, collaboration between packaging companies and recyclers, and topics in flexible pouch design, reuse and EPR.
Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference (Oct. 23-24 in Chicago)
Host Recycling Today calls this the “longest-running conference and trade show in the paper and plastics recycling industries.” Sessions include discussions about the significance of M&A, a deep dive into pricing indices and developments in the chemical recycling sector.
Read Packaging Dive's coverage of last year’s PPRC, including brands’ work toward — and challenges with — meeting sustainability targets and reclaimers’ thoughts on the slow growth for recycled PET demand.
Pack Expo International (Nov. 3-6 in Chicago)
The every-other-year international edition of the industry’s main event is poised to be “the biggest packaging and processing show on the planet” in 2024. PMMI reports that more than half of show attendees come from food and beverage companies.
