Ameripen concludes 2025 Summit

The American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (Ameripen), Springfield, Massachusetts, recently concluded its 2025 Annual Summit, bringing nearly 150 industry leaders to Washington for three days of advocacy, education and strategic collaboration.

The organization says the event marked a critical moment as packaging policy continues to evolve, and the country’s first packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws are being implemented.

“With EPR now a reality and packaging legislation moving rapidly in legislatures across the country, this Summit provided members an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with policymakers, regulatory staff and one another,” Ameripen Executive Director Lynn Dyer says. “The energy, collaboration and leadership on display this week reinforced the important role Ameripen plays in helping our industry shape effective, actionable packaging policy.”

According to the organization, the Summit opened with Ameripen’s largest-ever Capitol Hill delegation, with 60 members educating federal policymakers in nearly 40 intimate meetings. These conversations centered on the need for a federal solution to address the growing patchwork of state labeling requirements.

Throughout the three-day event, annual Summit participants engaged with lawmakers, regulatory leaders and subject matter experts through panels, workshops and peer discussions. Program highlights included: 

• A “fireside chat” with Circular Action Alliance CEO Jeff Fielkow; 
• panel discussions covering recyclability validation, municipal and county perspectives on EPR implementation, EPR compliance and enforcement and end market development; 
• a keynote looking to the future of packaging; and 
  
• legislator perspectives.

In addition to a full programming agenda, the Summit offered opportunities for member networking and connection. The summit concluded with a member workshop.

“Our Annual Summit reinforced what makes Ameripen unique,” Dyer says. “We are a place where policy and industry meet. Our work is collaborative, grounded in data and delivers real-world results. I am incredibly proud of the leadership our members continue to demonstrate as we navigate this next chapter in packaging policy.”