Over the past 12 months, the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) celebrated several historical milestones while expanding educational programing, increasing industry promotion, enhancing web presence, and adding new personnel. Informed by a rich historical legacy as well as strategic goals for future growth, PPC's 2014 accomplishments serve as a testament to its status as the premier, time-honored trade association for converters and suppliers of paperboard packaging.

 

The year 2014 marked PPC's 85th year serving the folding carton industry, and the richness of this historic legacy shined through at the Fall Meeting in Atlanta, GA, where attendees applauded the induction of PPC's 45th Chair, Kyle Eldred of Frankston Packaging Co., LP, and said a fond farewell to Clausen Ely, PPC's legal counsel of more than 40 years. The conference also featured a ceremony that honored Bradley Currey Jr., retired paperboard ＥＸＥＣutive, previous PPC ＥＸＥＣutive committee member, and recipient of the Robert T. Gair Award — PPC's highest honor, bestowed to Currey in 1997 for his lifetime contributions to PPC and the paperboard packaging industry.

 

"With 85 years of service guided by 45 outstanding Chairs, it's amazing to see how far we've come as an association," said Ben Markens, PPC President. "Yet we've come this far — and will continue to grow — only by keeping an eye to the future."

 

Indeed, as PPC celebrated its rich history this year, it also moved forward with its mission to provide converters the tools they need to thrive in 2014 and beyond. To provide members and the industry with a hub for the latest PPC news, industry information, legislative updates, and pertinent white papers, PPC launched a redesigned, mobile-optimized website. It also expanded industry promotion by launching a blog, YouTube Channel, and press room page.

 

PPC also saw great success in its 2014 initiative to expand educational resources and programming. PPC introduced insightful data reports on OEE gluing (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and IT/ERP solutions, and hosted live webinars on workplace liability issues and tips for leveraging OEE. PPC facilitated comprehensive seminars on food safety best practices and short-run converting solutions, and even produced an informative video and white paper in conjunction with the latter. PPC also expanded its Folding Carton Boot Camp curriculum to include digital printing solutions.

 

As PPC's offerings and services grew in 2014, so, too, did its staff support. This year, PPC added a member services coordinator and retained an industry sustainability consultant to bolster and enrich messaging and member programing.

 

PPC's existing programs prospered in 2014 as well. Dedicated to providing the paperboard industry a voice in Capitol Hill, PPC promoted state-level government affairs efforts to educate legislators about the negative financial impact of Extended Producer Responsibility legislation. In conjunction with its new University Outreach Program, PPC donated nearly 500 Ideas & Innovation Handbooks to universities and helped a record 28 member companies distribute over 14,500 saplings to students in North America via its educational TICCIT program.