Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

Sustainability as differentiator

Sustainability in packaging will be a ‘must,’ not a ‘nice to have,’ says Alcan Packaging’s Michael Rubenstein.

"There is no such thing as being ‘environmentally friendly.’ However, different packaging solutions have different environmental performances," says Michael Rubenstein, chief growth and innovation officer at Alcan Packaging in a question-and-answer interview with Pharmaceutical Technology Europe (PTE).

Understandably, many companies in the packaging community are eager to push their sustainability solutions, but Rubenstein notes, “there are no silver bullets for more sustainable packaging—it all depends on the context.” Alcan takes a 4 Ps approach, aiming to integrate sustainability into its plants, people and communities, products, and partnerships.

Sustainability cannot be a mere marketing tool, but a long-term strategy. Citing automotive industry failures for sticking to “historically successful, but outdated strategies,” Rubenstein tells PTE, “Either one is at the front of the race or one risks to be out sometime in the future. Sustainability is developing to be a differentiator for leading packaging converters and their customers.”

-Jim Butschli

2024 PACK EXPO Innovations Reports
Exclusive access: Packaging World editor-curated reports revealing PACK EXPO's most groundbreaking technologies across food, healthcare, and machinery sectors. Each report features truly innovative solutions selected from hundreds of exhibitors by our expert team. Transform your operations with just one click.
Access Now
2024 PACK EXPO Innovations Reports
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
Download Now
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO