212 -Sustainability using packaging equipment? Josh Becker from Harpak-Ulma LIVE from PACK EXPO

People of Packaging · 12 Sept 2023 · 27m

What this episode covers

Josh Becker, Bakery and Confection Segment Manager for Harpak-Ulma, discusses how packaging equipment drives sustainability by reducing waste and improving supply chain efficiency. He highlights specific technologies like a vertical bagger with a 'tight bag' feature that removes air to maximize pallet density and reduce shipping emissions. Becker emphasizes the critical need for early involvement of equipment manufacturers when brands switch to new sustainable films to avoid production losses and ensure compatibility. The conversation also addresses the tension between consumer demand for product variety and the goal of minimizing food waste through better inventory management.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies: Harpak-Ulma, SupplyCaddy, Meyers, Ravenwood
Products: Packaging Peeks
Tools: HMI

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

EMS@C-LEVEL22 Feb 2023 · 8m
BONUS - iNEMI VP of Technical & Project Operations Grace O'Malley at APEX 2023 - EMSNOW & SCOOP On Location
Grace O'Malley, VP of Technical & Project Operations at iNEMI, explains how the organization transitioned its roadmap from a static print document to a dynamic, real-time online platform to better serve the electronics manufacturing industry. She details how the pandemic accelerated collaboration on advanced packaging, smart manufacturing, and sustainability initiatives, including the development of an 'eco-impact estimator' tool. O'Malley highlights the industry's shift from simple material substitution to holistic lifecycle analysis, emphasizing the need for validated data on critical resources and carbon footprints across the entire supply chain.
Sustainability & circular products Design for manufacturing & NPI
4 chapters
Hardware to Save a Planet30 Mar 2023 · 49m
Intelligent Dumpsters and Sustainable Waste Disposal with Ben Chehebar, VP of Hardware at RoadRunner Recycling, and Jason Gates, Senior VP of Strategy at RoadRunner Recycling
Ben Chehebar and Jason Gates, founders of Compology (now part of RoadRunner Recycling), explain how they pivoted from a residential anaerobic digester concept to building smart connected cameras that monitor dumpster fill levels and contamination. They detail the hardware challenges of creating rugged, long-life devices using Cat M cellular connectivity and machine learning, and discuss how they overcame resistance from waste haulers by selling directly to large waste generators like McDonald's and Starbucks. The episode covers their acquisition by RoadRunner, the integration of their technology into outsourced waste management, and the broader shift in corporate incentives toward ESG reporting and cost reduction.
Connected products & IoT Industrial & consumer product design
8 chapters
The Startup CPG Podcast4 Aug 2026 · 44m
#260 - Packaging Changes as you Grow with Evie's Snacks and Belmark
Eve Ackerley, founder of Evie's Snacks, and Cody Ponsler from Belmark discuss how packaging must evolve as a CPG brand scales from farmers markets to national retail. Ackerley details her journey from hand-applied stickers on craft bags to custom printed stand-up pouches, highlighting a critical lesson where buyer feedback revealed her initial design looked like 'laundry detergent.' Ponsler explains why 50% of brands change their packaging art between their first and second production runs and advises founders to prioritize shelf-life and brand storytelling over premature premium finishes.
Packaging design Scaling production
6 chapters
The Startup CPG Podcast9 Oct 2026 · 29m
Reinventing the Pizza Bagel: Bagelverse's Jacob Cooper on Nostalgia and CPG
Jacob Cooper, founder of Bagelverse, explains his pivot from eight years as a CTO in AI to launching a nostalgic pizza bagel brand with flavors like spicy vodka and barbecue chicken. He details the complex supply chain requiring two separate co-packers for bagels and pizza assembly, and his strategy of validating demand through pop-ups before securing manufacturing. Cooper emphasizes the critical importance of high-quality packaging for emerging brands and his long-term, relationship-focused approach to securing retail placements with major retailers like Target and Whole Foods.
Starting a product company Manufacturing partners & offshoring
6 chapters
Hardware to Save a Planet23 Jun 2022 · 37m
The Waste Management Industry with Jeff Satwicz, Co-Founder of Bigbelly
Jeff Satwicz, Co-Founder of Bigbelly, discusses the evolution of his company from a garage startup to a global provider of smart waste management systems. He explains how their solar-powered compactor bins reduce waste truck mileage by 80% and improve local air quality, while also serving as educational tools for recycling behavior. Satwicz highlights the technical challenge of making durable, human-proof hardware for public spaces and the strategic value of IoT data in optimizing collection routes and vehicle types.
Connected products & IoT Industrial & consumer product design
7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by People of Packaging. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.

212 -Sustainability using packaging equipment? Josh Becker from Harpak-Ulma LIVE from PACK EXPO

What this episode covers

Most relevant to

Topics

Mentioned

Related episodes from other shows

BONUS - iNEMI VP of Technical & Project Operations Grace O'Malley at APEX 2023 - EMSNOW & SCOOP On Location

Intelligent Dumpsters and Sustainable Waste Disposal with Ben Chehebar, VP of Hardware at RoadRunner Recycling, and Jason Gates, Senior VP of Strategy at RoadRunner Recycling

#260 - Packaging Changes as you Grow with Evie's Snacks and Belmark

Reinventing the Pizza Bagel: Bagelverse's Jacob Cooper on Nostalgia and CPG

The Waste Management Industry with Jeff Satwicz, Co-Founder of Bigbelly