This is a follow-up Q&A session from an IOPP (Institute of Packaging Professionals) webinar featuring Daniel Peretz, Kelly Williams, and moderator Jessie Schwartz.

The discussion addresses questions about sustainable packaging, focusing on bioplastics (particularly PLA), compostability challenges, recycling infrastructure, and the integration of recycled content.

Key themes include the practical limitations of different composting methods, the challenges of replacing fossil-based plastics with sustainable alternatives, consumer education needs, and the importance of setting realistic recycling goals.

The conversation emphasizes that while material science has advanced significantly, infrastructure and market adoption remain major barriers to widespread sustainable packaging solutions.

Questions Discussed
PLA Compostability: Does PLA break down in windrow compost facilities or home composting, and how do bench chemistry tests correlate with real-world compostability?

Fish Box Alternatives: What are alternative options for fish boxes to meet refrigeration requirements while using sustainable materials?

Recycling Infrastructure: Why don't more establishments (like fast-food restaurants) have recycling bins despite making sustainability claims?
Consumer Confusion: How can the packaging industry address the confusion consumers face with inconsistent recycling labeling and instructions?

Pilot Programs for Recycled Content: What pilot programs exist for integrating recycled content, and what approaches are proving successful?
Attainable Sustainability Goals: How should brands approach recycled content commitments to make them realistic and achievable?

Small vs. Large Scale Partnerships: Do brands need to partner with companies of similar scale, or can smaller companies effectively support sustainability initiatives?

About the Expert Panel:
Jessie Schwartz, Moderator is the CEO of Strategic Packaging Partners, a consulting firm that helps food and beverage manufacturers bridge the gaps between procurement, operations, and packaging engineering. With experience including packaging roles at Target and work with companies ranging from PepsiCo to mid-size food manufacturers, Jessie specializes in cutting through organizational silos and packaging industry complexity to help companies make practical decisions. She's currently helping numerous brands navigate EPR reporting requirements and has firsthand visibility into how sustainability mandates translate (or fail to translate) into actual operational changes. Her approach focuses on identifying costly blind spots and facilitating the cross-functional collaboration needed to implement packaging solutions that work in the real world—not just in press releases.

Daniel Peretz is a resin distributor at NextGen Polymers who works across both virgin and post-consumer recycled materials. His unique position provides unfiltered visibility into market dynamics, supply challenges, and the gap between corporate sustainability announcements and actual purchase orders. He's invested in recycling infrastructure and works with major brands on implementation pilots.

Kelly Williams is an independent compostable films consultant with over a decade in the industry, including work with Elevate and Earth First. He's partnered with converters on cutting-edge projects, experienced major market disruptions, and currently develops practical compostable structures designed for commercial scale.

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Jessie Schwartz - jessie@stratpackpartners.com