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

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Aug 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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43 recent

August 11, 2026Episode 1246 min

Season 3, Episode 12: High Barrier Food Packaging

🥫 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — break down what high barrier food packaging actually does and why the right structure looks different for every product. From yogurt and coffee pods to ground beef and salsa, every food has its own needs for oxygen, moisture, light, sealing, and shelf life. This episode looks at how packaging teams balance those needs with cost and recyclability — without losing sight of the package’s most important job: protecting the product. 🔍 Tune in to explore: What “barrier” actually means in food packaging and what it protects against Why barrier needs can vary so much between different foods and filling processes How materials like polypropylene, PET, polystyrene, and polyethylene handle oxygen and moisture Why barrier and shelf life aren’t the same thing — and how testing helps determine the right structure How added barrier layers can affect recyclability and why simpler isn’t always better 🎯 If you're working toward longer shelf life, fewer materials, or more recyclable food packaging, this episode shows why those goals have to start with the product and its specific needs. 🎧 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!

July 14, 2026Episode 1149 min

Season 3, Episode 11: The Real Cost of Packaging

💰 In this episode of Crazy About Packaging, the C.A.P. Pack — Natalie, Mike, and Jonathan — take a closer look at one of the biggest questions in packaging: what does a package actually cost? Material price is often where the conversation starts, but it’s far from the whole story. From yield and lightweighting to freight, processing efficiency, and line performance, this episode explores the factors that have the biggest impact on total packaging cost. 🔍 Tune in to explore: Why price per pound is only one piece of the packaging cost equation How material yield can lower costs without changing the price tag When lightweighting creates savings — and when it creates new problems Why processing efficiency can have a bigger impact than material cost alone The hidden costs and opportunities that come with changing packaging materials 🎯 If you're evaluating a new packaging material or trying to balance cost, performance, and sustainability, this episode will help you look beyond the numbers and see the full picture. 🎧 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!

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 label The visual cues that influence purchasing decisions, from colors and textures to package design How packaging can appear more sustainable without improving environmental performance Why life cycle impacts are often overlooked in favor of familiar sustainability signals The 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 time Why recycling is not just a system, it’s a business with real constraints The difference between AI used for recycling and the tools most people know today How better sorting improves bale quality and makes materials more valuable What 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 recycle How thermoformed packaging could help improve PP recycling rates The gap between PCR goals and real-world supply chains What 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 projects How small material changes can create big challenges on form fill seal lines The moment ICPG realized XPP could solve a long-standing problem in FFS packaging Why recycling systems depend on simple consumer guidance, not complicated rules The 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 packaging What 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 use The 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 success How 2025 moved the conversation around PCR from theory to reality — especially for PP What different regions are doing when it comes to policy, and why fragmentation is slowing progress Why mono-material packaging is gaining ground and what it means for design and manufacturing The 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 region Why recyclability depends on infrastructure — and why it varies so much from place to place Surprising non-food FFS applications for XPP, from pest control trays to snap-cap dosing systems What 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 disruption How it compares to PET in weight, recyclability, tooling wear, and barrier needs What applications it’s best suited for — from dairy multipacks to hot fill and aseptic How 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!