In order to promote future growth of the label and package printing industry, Avery Dennison welcomed 35 attendees to its Mentor, OH, USA, facility for the inaugural Label Leaders of Tomorrow (LLT) Excursion event on July 18-19, 2023.

The TLMI group is open to members of all ages – encompassing young industry professionals and those ascending to leadership positions for the first time. Attendees were privy to education sessions, a leadership panel, plant tours at Avery Dennison, and networking opportunities.

Plus, with the help of Avery Dennison’s creative design team, attendees developed the logo for future Excursion events.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to host the first LLT event,” said Tina Hart, vice president of sales, Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials North America. “We take the future of our industry seriously, bringing in new talent and ideas. We realize how important this industry is, and there are a lot of opportunity regardless of your interests, from marketing to sales to product development. This allows new members to come in and learn more about the industry.”

LLT launched one year ago, with a goal of outlining a career path in the label and package printing space. The group meets at all major TLMI events, and the Excursion event at Avery Dennison served as the first in what is planned as multiple future events. A Mentor Program has also become a prominent feature of LLT, as TLMI members are volunteering to serve as mentors for others in the industry.

“Our goal is to reach the emerging leaders among TLMI members,” stated Mike Barry, key account and OEM manager, Domino Digital Printing North America. “We’ll keep having events like this that will be valuable to our members.”

TLMI has emphasized the cultivation of the next-generation workforce. With community, insight and advocacy shaping the association’s plans, engaging up-and-coming employees has been paramount. For example, TLMI is investing $30,000-40,000 annually in scholarships for high school and college students. Additionally, there are scholarships available for TLMI members to help further their employees’ training.

“Two years ago, we spent time redefining out strategy,” explained Linnea Keen, president, TLMI. “As the industry changes, we need to change also. We’re focusing on continuing growth and being caretakers of this great industry that we all love.”

As part of the event, Avery Dennison hosted numerous sessions on the tools necessary for future success in labels and packaging, including leadership, sustainability, and Pressure Sensitive Labeling 101.

Brad Thrasher, HR business partner for Avery Dennison Label and Graphics Materials North America, detailed the latest trends in leadership in an interactive and engaging presentation.

“Communication is one of the biggest opportunities in an organization and for leadership,” said Thrasher. “It’s important to address the things you’ll have to confront as a leader such as how artificial intelligence will impact future relationships. There are jobs that will exist that don’t exist today. Leaders are responsible for the culture and understanding how their leadership style reflects that.

“Networking and learning from each other is one of the most valuable opportunities you can have and leverage,” he adds. “Seeking out a mentor, inside or outside of your company, is a great component for building your capabilities.”

Sustainability will also be a key topic for future leaders. Matt Wilkinson, circularity and sustainability technical manager at Avery Dennison, discussed sustainable packaging trends, as well as what’s been pushing sustainability movement over the last five years.

According to research from EuroMonitor:

• 66% try to have a positive impact on the environment through their actions.
• 50% would pay extra for goods that are environmentally friendly.
• 33% are willing to buy second-hand items to reduce their carbon footprint.

“Consumers are pushing sustainability, especially the younger generations,” said Wilkinson. “They are willing to spend a little bit more if the brand has a sustainable message to it. Brands, therefore, are getting pushed by consumers to provide more sustainable options.”

Wilkinson also detailed Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and the impact they will have on the industry’s future. According to Wilkinson, Scope 3 emissions – items not produced by a company but  those it’s indirectly responsible for up and down its value chain – account for 70-80% of a company’s carbon emissions.

Of course, education will play a major role going forward. “We as a country are not good at recycling,” remarked Wilkinson. “We need to make sure people know how to recycle and that the package they are recycling is going to be recycled correctly and not hurt the recycling stream.

“There is no one product fits all, either,” he added. “You have to understand your customer and what their application is.”