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Mars’ Allison Lin Champions Women in Packaging

Mars, Inc. Global VP of Packaging Sustainability Allison Lin shares her journey in the packaging industry, providing advice to other women seeking a career in the field, and shares Mars’ efforts to enhance inclusiveness in the workforce.

Allison Lin, Global VP of Packaging Sustainability Mars, Inc.
Allison Lin, Global VP of Packaging Sustainability Mars, Inc.

Packaging World:

What are your core responsibilities as Global Vice President of Packaging Sustainability at Mars, Inc.?

Allison Lin:

In my role at Mars, I lead the global cross-segment strategy to improve the sustainability of Mars’s product packaging. We’ve set an ambitious, science-based target to design all of our products for a circular economy. This includes eliminating unnecessary packaging, removing difficult-to-recycle materials such as PVC, and using recycled content wherever possible. We’re also working in partnerships with governments, NGOs, suppliers, packaging developers, and even competitors to drive the systems change necessary to make a circular economy truly possible, including both necessary redesigns as well as infrastructure improvements.

What was your career path to get you to where you are today? Did you have a mentor?  

I originally interned on Wall Street at Merrill Lynch and quickly realized that wasn’t the right career path for me. Luckily, Procter & Gamble was recruiting on campus, and I entered the world of packaging—which I knew nothing about at the time except as a consumer. I was offered the opportunity to lead their global recycled and bio-based plastics sourcing strategy, and I fell in love with the field of packaging sustainability. I eventually went to Starbucks, where I got to experience the fiber side of the packaging business as well, and Coca-Cola, where I led the World Without Waste strategy for Closures, Labels, and Films. I recently spent two years on the converter side of the business to get a different perspective leading corporate sustainability at Westfall-Technik before coming back to the brand owner side at Mars. I’ve been extremely fortunate to have many mentors along the way, as well as role models and male allies.


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