Crazy About Packaging: Conversations with the C.A.P. Pack

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Crazy About Packaging, an ICPG podcast dedicated to helping food companies enhance their competitive advantage. Through expert interviews, technology deep dives, and how-to sessions, we work together to educate the industry on the next generation of food packaging materials, technology, and expertise. Listen in as the C.A.P. Pack - Jonathan Cage, Mike Moren, and Natalie MacVarish - discuss the latest in packaging.

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41 recent

June 9, 202651 min

Season 3, Episode 10: Consumer Perception of Sustainable Packaging

🛒 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack explores a question that influences nearly every purchase decision: what makes packaging feel sustainable?From glass jars and aluminum bottles to paper wraps and earthy colors, consumers make quick judgments about packaging every day. But do those first impressions actually match the environmental impact of the package? This episode takes a closer look at the psychology behind sustainable packaging and the gap between perception and reality.🔍 Tune in to explore:Why consumers often view certain materials as more sustainable before reading a single labelThe visual cues that influence purchasing decisions, from colors and textures to package designHow packaging can appear more sustainable without improving environmental performanceWhy life cycle impacts are often overlooked in favor of familiar sustainability signalsThe challenge of communicating complex sustainability data in a few square inches of packaging space🎯 If you've ever wondered why consumers gravitate toward one package over another — or how brands can balance sustainability, performance, and perception — this episode offers a fascinating look at what drives packaging decisions.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and send us your questions at icpg@impactgroup.co. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next — we’ll see you in the next episode!

May 12, 2026Episode 950 min

Season 3, Episode 9: AI and Recycling Systems

🤖 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — are joined by Joe Castagneri, Director of Software at AMP, to break down how AI is changing the way recycling systems work.From computer vision to robotic sortation, this episode looks at what actually happens inside a recycling facility and how smarter systems can recover more material without relying on perfect consumer behavior.🔍 Tune in to explore:How AI-powered sortation identifies and separates materials in real timeWhy recycling is not just a system, it’s a business with real constraintsThe difference between AI used for recycling and the tools most people know todayHow better sorting improves bale quality and makes materials more valuableWhat happens when AI is used to recover recyclables before they reach landfills🎯 If you’ve ever questioned whether recycling really works (or what it takes to make it work better) this episode gives you a clear look inside the system.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and send us your questions at icpg@impactgroup.co. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next — we’ll see you in the next episode!

April 14, 2026Episode 854 min

Season 3, Episode 8: Advanced Recycling and the Future of Polypropylene

♻️ In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — are joined by Tamsin Ettefagh, Chief Sustainability Officer and VP of Industry at PureCycle, to talk about one of the biggest questions in packaging today: how do we scale high-quality recycled material, especially for food applications?From advanced recycling to polypropylene supply challenges, this episode breaks down what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change to make recycled content goals realistic.🔍 Tune in to explore:What “advanced recycling” actually means (and how it differs from traditional methods)Why polypropylene’s versatility makes it both valuable and difficult to recycleHow thermoformed packaging could help improve PP recycling ratesThe gap between PCR goals and real-world supply chainsWhat it takes to create clean, consistent recycled material for food packaging🎯 If you’re working with recycled content, setting sustainability goals, or trying to understand where advanced recycling fits, this episode gives you a clear look at the full system.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and reach out at icpg@impactgroup.co with your questions. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next — we’ll see you in the next episode!

March 10, 2026Episode 713 min

Season 3, Episode 7: The C.A.P. Pack's Greatest Hits

🎙️ In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — take a step back and revisit some of the packaging challenges that keep showing up again and again.From material swaps to recycling confusion to the realities of running high-speed packaging lines, these are the conversations that come up in almost every packaging project. Instead of chasing the latest trend, this episode pulls together some of our favorite moments from past episodes to highlight the themes that keep shaping real-world packaging decisions.🔍 Tune in to explore:Why packaging must protect the product first — and why ignoring that rule leads to failed projectsHow small material changes can create big challenges on form fill seal linesThe moment ICPG realized XPP could solve a long-standing problem in FFS packagingWhy recycling systems depend on simple consumer guidance, not complicated rulesThe tradeoffs every team faces when balancing performance, sustainability, and cost🎯 If you're working through a packaging change, chances are you've already run into at least one of these challenges. This episode connects the dots between past conversations and the real decisions packaging teams face every day.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and send us your questions at icpg@impactgroup.co. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next — we’ll see you in the next episode!

February 10, 2026Episode 642 min

Season 3, Episode 6: Food Safety Validation in Packaging

🧪 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — unpack a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime: food safety in packaging.Before a package hits a production line, let alone store shelves, it has to pass a series of tests, audits, and validations to make sure it’s safe. This episode breaks down what that process actually looks like, and why switching materials is never just plug-and-play.🔍 Tune in to explore:Why regulatory reviews, migration testing, and seal integrity are non-negotiable for food-safe packagingWhat happens when packaging materials interact with food (and why it’s not as simple as checking a box)How packaging that “works” in theory can fall apart in transit or fail in real-world useThe step-by-step process teams go through when changing packaging materials🎯 If you’ve ever wondered why packaging changes take months or what really goes into validating a new structure, this episode lays it out.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and email us your questions at icpg@impactgroup.co. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next!

January 13, 202649 min

Season 3, Episode 5: A Look Back at Packaging and Sustainability in 2025

📦 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — kick off 2026 by reflecting on the year that just wrapped. What actually changed in packaging and sustainability in 2025? What still needs work? And what should brands be preparing for right now?From PCR availability to shifting regulations to consumer trust in recycling, this episode breaks down where we saw real momentum and where confusion is still holding the industry back.🔍 Tune in to explore:Why consumer doubt is one of the biggest threats to recycling successHow 2025 moved the conversation around PCR from theory to reality — especially for PPWhat different regions are doing when it comes to policy, and why fragmentation is slowing progressWhy mono-material packaging is gaining ground and what it means for design and manufacturingThe risks of waiting too long — and the importance of building for long-term impact🎯 If you’re trying to make sense of what 2025 meant for packaging — and what 2026 is likely to bring — this episode lays it out clearly. Less guesswork, more action.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and send us your questions at icpg@impactgroup.co. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next — we’ll see you in the next episode!

December 9, 2025Episode 443 min

Season 3, Episode 4: The C.A.P. Pack on the Move

Crazy About Packaging: Season 3, Episode 4 – The C.A.P. Pack on the Move 🌍 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — reflect on what they’ve learned from working with packaging teams around the world.From Europe to South America, the team has spent so much time traveling, talking with manufacturers, and presenting at global packaging summits. One thing is clear: no matter the region, everyone is facing the same challenges: shifting regulations, polystyrene replacement, and pressure to move toward more sustainable solutions without slowing down production.🔍 Tune in to explore:Why polystyrene phase-out is a global trend (and how XPP is helping teams make the switch)How regulatory uncertainty is pushing companies to create different packaging strategies by regionWhy recyclability depends on infrastructure — and why it varies so much from place to placeSurprising non-food FFS applications for XPP, from pest control trays to snap-cap dosing systemsWhat global brands are doing now to prepare for what's next🎯 Whether you're based in Berlin or Boston, this episode brings a global perspective to packaging strategy and highlights what it takes to move fast without falling behind.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and reach out at icpg@impactgroup.co with your packaging questions. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next — we’ll see you in the next episode!

November 11, 2025Episode 334 min

Season 3, Episode 3: You Asked, We Answered — All About XPP

🧃 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack, Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan, finally answer the questions they get asked most about ICPG’s flagship material: XPP.You’ve heard us talk about XPP before — but this time, we’re getting specific. What is it? Can it run on your current form fill seal line? How does it compare to PET? Why does it matter if it “snaps”? And what’s the deal with sustainability?We cover it all.🔍 Tune in to explore:What makes XPP different from other polypropylene materials (hint: a lot)Why it works on polystyrene-designed FFS lines with minimal disruptionHow it compares to PET in weight, recyclability, tooling wear, and barrier needsWhat applications it’s best suited for — from dairy multipacks to hot fill and asepticHow major brands like General Mills are already using it today🎯 If you’re still using polystyrene, evaluating options for recyclable packaging, or just trying to understand what sets XPP apart, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram, or send us your questions at icpg@impactgroup.co. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next — we’ll see you in the next episode!

October 14, 2025Episode 250 min

Season 3, Episode 2: What Do Sustainability Buzzwords Actually Mean?

🌱 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — are joined by Paige Greenberg, Sustainable Packaging Engineer at Plastic Ingenuity, to break down one of the most overused (and misunderstood) parts of packaging today: sustainability buzzwords.We’re talking about those words we see everywhere — recyclable, biodegradable, compostable, circular, reusable — and digging into what they actually mean, how they’re misused, and why it matters.🔍 Tune in to explore:The differences between biodegradable, compostable, and oxo-degradable (yes, there’s a big one)What “circularity” really looks likeHow reuse systems can fall short without infrastructure and consumer buy-inWhy terms like “sustainable” are values-driven, and how that shapes strategyWhat manufacturers and brands can do to bring clarity instead of confusion🎯 If your team is trying to make smart, sustainable packaging choices — or just trying to understand what all these labels mean — this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram, and drop us a note at icpg@impactgroup.co with any packaging buzzwords you want us to tackle next. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming. We’ll see you in the next episode!

September 9, 2025Episode 143 min

Season 3, Episode 1: The Blunder Years: Exploring Some of Packaging's Greatest Misses

Crazy About Packaging: Season 3, Episode 1 – The Blunder Years💥Welcome back to a new season of Crazy About Packaging! In our Season 3 premiere, the CAP Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — take a look back at some of the biggest packaging fails we’ve seen (and a few we’ve personally been part of).From melted PLA containers to packaging you need scissors to open, this episode is full of real-world examples of what happens when good ideas miss the mark. And more importantly, what we can learn from them.🔍 Tune in to explore:What went wrong with some of the most infamous packaging fails in recent yearsWhy well-intentioned “sustainability” moves can create new problems for consumersReal stories from the CAP Pack’s past projects, from nacho cheese disasters to melted prototypesThe small details that make or break a package once it hits the real world🎯 If you’ve ever had a packaging concept fall apart in testing (or worse, in-market), you’re not alone. This episode is packed with cautionary tales and a few laughs, and it just might help you avoid your own blunder.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our website. Join the conversation on LinkedIn and Instagram, and email us your packaging fail stories at icpg@impactgroup.co. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next — we’ll see you in the next episode!