Hardware Podcasts

326 - NSF Global: Why Safety and Sustainability are Two Sides of the Same Packaging Coin

People of Packaging · 6 Oct 2025 · 26m

What this episode covers

Matthew Allen, Global Managing Director of Consulting, Training, and Sustainability at NSF, explains how the organization evolved from creating safety standards for soda fountains and swimming pools in the 1940s to addressing modern packaging challenges. He details the tension between sustainability goals, such as lightweighting and compostability, and the rigorous food safety testing required to ensure materials do not compromise product integrity or human health. Allen highlights the complexity of global compliance, noting that packaging must meet divergent regulatory standards in jurisdictions like Texas, Germany, and Kuala Lumpur, while also addressing emerging issues like microplastics and the practical realities of industrial versus home composting.

Most relevant to

large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
NSF, Landau Packaging, Veterans Compost, Nestle
Also
Expo West, People of Packaging

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