Setting standards of excellence - Paperboard Packaging Council

Food & Drug Packaging, August, 2003

As you walk through any grocery or retail store, you are faced with an endless possibility of product choices. Among the hundreds of available name brands, how do you find the product you seek? The answer: a recognizable package. Brand recognition is a key method for maintaining customer loyalty, and a package's design and visual impact draw new customers to a product.

Each year, the U.S. paperboard packaging industry produces millions of folding cartons to protect, transport and market thousands of consumer products. As competition from alternative packaging materials and foreign imports grow, folding carton manufacturers and material suppliers rely upon the Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) to serve as the voice of the industry.

PPC is the leading U.S. trade association serving suppliers and converters of all forms of paperboard packaging. It is their mission to grow, promote and protect the paperboard packaging industry, and provide members with tools to compete effectively in the marketplace. This includes comprehensive programs and services for package manufacturers, financial experts, marketing professionals, top-level executives and others within the industry.

THE NATIONAL PAPERBOARD PACKAGING COMPETITION

The annual carton competition is the premier showcase for all that is new and outstanding in paperboard packaging design and technology. Each year, the competition provides the association with a venue to display and reward converters for innovation, and advance paperboard packaging for consumer goods companies.

IDEAS & INNOVATION

Available through PPC's website (www.ppcnet.org), the Ideas and Innovation handbook is a best-selling reference guide on creative package design and paperboard converting processes. It is regularly used as a standard reference in top packaging schools.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

PPC provides member companies with seminars to learn more about technical and production issues, as well as human resources and safety concerns. An alliance with the American Forest and Paper Association is underway to meet the educational needs of packaging and design students with a comprehensive college relations program.

INDUSTRY INFORMATION

The Industry Information program provides members with information on sales volume, geographic trends, end use markets, boxboard grades, market forecasts, new orders and inventories. Statistical data is distributed to the media, allowing individuals outside the association to assess the current status of the industry.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

The Marketing and Communications program increases awareness, understanding and appreciation of the many benefits of paperboard packaging. An online Buyer's Guide, advertisements that promote the advantages of paperboard packaging and print/online newsletters are just a few of the methods used to communicate to members, students and packaging decision-makers.

WWW.PPCNET.ORG

Through PPC's website (www.ppcnet.org), members access current reports and association news, and learn about upcoming events. Soon both members and non-members will benefit from a variety of information choices: a media kit, a student section, a publications catalog, online event registration, online Buyer's Guide, PPC Live! and PPC Today newsletters, events calendar, archived information, etc.

ANNUAL MEETINGS

Spring and Fall Meetings offer members a chance to meet other folding carton manufacturers and suppliers, and hear presentations by packaging experts, economists, industry executives and customers.

CONTINUING A STRONG TRADITION

As the Paperboard Packaging Council approaches its 75th year, the association is committed to fulfilling its mission--ensuring that the paperboard packaging industry continues to create new technology and innovative products, and adapt to the ever-changing needs of customers.