Several large US corporations have formed a new packaging trade organization called Ameripen, which will address public policies that have an impact on packaging and the environment. The group says that it will represent the interests of the industry, which includes raw material producers, packaging manufacturers, packaging users and fillers, retailers, and material recovery organizations. Corporate founders include Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, ConAgra Foods, Dow Chemical, DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers, Kellogg, MeadWestvaco, Procter & Gamble, Sealed Air Corporation, and Tetra Pak.

Modeled after Europen and Incipen, the European and British counterparts, respectively, Ameripen says it will advocate packaging policy developments in North America focusing on measures that are environmentally and economically sound, as well as socially responsible. Declaring that it will take “a material neutral approach,” Ameripen says it will encourage science-based decision making on sustainable packaging initiatives and provide guidance to policy makers on the value and role of packaging.

“Ameripen will further enhance the packaging value chain’s commitment to continuously improving its sustainability profile and reducing packaging waste,” says Joan Pierce, Ameripen president. “The organization will play an instrumental role in conveying this message to opinion leaders in North America and ensuring that participants in the packaging value chain have maximum scope to innovate, compete and operate in a resource-efficient way.”

“Today, the complexity of environmental issues confronting packaging is greater than ever. Having a voice to represent common industry views of these matters and help shape public policy is an absolute essential,” adds Julian Carroll, managing director of Europen. “In Europe, our experience with such an approach over more than 20 years has been positive and productive for industry. Europen welcomes the formation of Ameripen, congratulates those who have led this initiative and recommends membership to every packaging value chain member.”