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This year\u2019s Global Pouch Forum in late May was jam-packed with engaging and informative presentations and speakers. One of them was Latricia Fry, Sustainability & Market Development Manager at Inteplast<\/a>.<\/p>\n At GPF, Fry presented a \u201cConverters Perspective: Driving Sustainability in Flexible Packaging.\u201d<\/strong> Shortly before taking the stage, Fry sat down with Packaging Strategies<\/em> to discuss this important theme.<\/p>\n We asked Fry about some of the key points that she was planning to get across to GPF attendees during her presentation, especially in the context of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)<\/a> mandates.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re facing a very distinct challenge in the flexible packaging industry today. Flexible packaging\u2014especially multi-layer flexible packaging\u2014faces the stiffest fees when it comes to EPR,\u201d Fry said. \u201cWhat we really need to focus on is how we can design for recyclability today \u2026 and reduce those EPR fees for our brand owner customers.\u201d<\/p>\n While mono-material polyethylene and polypropylene certainly offer definite advantages when it comes to recycling, Fry said the reality is that multi-layer flexible packaging is an essential option for protecting products.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s where advanced recycling really comes into play. There are a lot of pilot programs going on right now that are capturing those multi-material products and actually moving them through advanced recycling, where you get down to a feedstock that you can make back into resin,\u201d Fry said.<\/p>\n Check out<\/a> the entire interview with Fry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n