Arlington, VA, September 10, 2007 – With packaging solutions ranging from bio-polymers and PLA to low-energy consumption components, small footprint machinery, and e-machinery, the full array of sustainability-oriented innovation will take center stage at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, October 15-17, 2007.

Attendees searching the PACK EXPO Las Vegas show site using keyword terms such as “sustainable,” “energy,” “bio-polymers,” “recycling,” “green initiatives,” and “green house gas emissions,” will find more than 250 companies and their innovative packaging materials, containers, machinery and components exhibiting at the show.

“The simple fact is, sustainable can mean many things to many people depending on the focus a company is taking regarding this trend,” notes Charles D. Yuska, President and CEO of PMMI. “PACK EXPO Las Vegas exhibitors are showcasing all of the different solution sets a consumer or industrials goods company may be seeking to address their sustainability initiatives.”

In addition to the exhibitors that are displaying their sustainability oriented products and services, MeadWestvaco Chairman John A. Luke, Jr, will share his company’s leadership position on sustainability during the Tuesday, October 16 keynote presentation, entitled: “Brand Sustainability, The New Relationship Between Sustainable Packaging and Winning Brands.”

MeadWestvaco is a “best in class” member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which represents the top 10 percent of the largest 2,500 companies in the world. The company has a long history of environmental stewardship, including sustainable forest management, active carbon reduction programs, and sustainable packaging design and development.

Mr. Luke will discuss the growing importance of sustainability to the industry, its customers and consumers.

In addition to the Luke keynote, The Conference at PACK EXPO theme is: “Sustainability: The New Manufacturing Imperative.”

Each presenter at the 70 sessions will devote time to provide input on how sustainability is affecting or impacting the development and manufacturing of consumer and industrial goods.

“Sustainability is the new way of life for manufacturing companies and we have made it the primary focus of the world’s largest packaging conference,” says Ben Miyares, Conference Director and Vice President of Industry Relations at PMMI. “All of the Conference speakers have been asked to address the issue of sustainability in relation to the products, services or market trends they will be discussing in their presentations.”

Finally, PMMI is pleased that the Sustainable Packaging Coalition will be exhibiting at PACK EXPO Las Vegas. According to the Coalition website, the SPC is an “industry working group dedicated to transforming packaging into a system that encourages economic prosperity and a sustainable flow of materials.”

“We’re pleased to have one of the leading groups that represent all aspects of the sustainability equation at PACK EXPO Las Vegas,” adds Miyares. “Working together and collaborating with the entire packaging supply chain, PMMI and groups like the Sustainable Packaging Coalition will continue to support the information and resource needs of any consumer or industrial goods company looking for sustainable packaging solutions.”

For more information on how sustainability will be showcased at PACK EXPO Las Vegas, visit www.packexpo.com.

PACK EXPO Las Vegas will be held October 15-17, 2007 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.

PMMI is a trade association whose more than 500 general members manufacture packaging and packaging-related converting machinery in the United States and Canada. PMMI’s thirty-two supplier members manufacture commercially available packaging machinery components. PMMI's vision is to be the leading global resource for packaging. Its mission is to improve and promote members' abilities to meet the needs of their customers. Visit www.pmmi.org for more information.

 PACK EXPO Las Vegas will be held October 15-17, 2007 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. The show will be co-located with the PROCESS EXPO, the Converting & Package Printing EXPO and the International Bottled Water Association’s 2007 Convention and Tabletop Trade Show. PACK EXPO International will be held November 9-13, 2008 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.  PMMI also produces EXPO PACK México, the premier packaging show in Mexico serving the Latin American region. This show will be held June 24-27, 2008 at Centro Banamex, Mexico City, Mexico.

Visit www.packexpo.com for more information. 

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