In this episode, Cory Connors sits down with Anna Perlina, a sustainable packaging and EU PPWR consultant with Integrity Solutions, to unpack why the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is reshaping how companies — even those outside Europe — think about packaging strategy. Anna traces her path from leading global packaging procurement at a major FMCG company to founding her own consultancy, and explains how the PPWR has turned "sustainable packaging," once a vague and subjective goal, into a concrete, common playing field with a roadmap running through 2040. The two also preview this November's Sustainable Packaging Summit in Utrecht, where they both serve as ambassadors.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Anna's journey from corporate packaging procurement to founding Integrity Solutions
• Why PPWR gives companies a concrete, common definition of "sustainable packaging" for the first time
• The business case for regulatory certainty: why clear rules unlock long-term investment in new materials and equipment
• The real-world testing and scale-up challenges of switching packaging formats (including a cautionary tale about pickle jars)
• Anna's role as an ambassador for the Sustainable Packaging Summit and her speaking history with Packaging Europe webinars and panels
• Reflections on last year's Sustainable Packaging Summit in Utrecht, including moderating the "paper vs. plastic" panel
• What's new for the 2026 Summit: three full days of programming, EU commissioner participation, and lessons learned from the PPWR's first milestone (August 12, 2026)
• Why non-EU companies should study the PPWR now, even if they don't sell into Europe
• Practical tips for attending the Summit, including train travel to Utrecht

Chapters: 

00:16 Introduction to Sustainability and Consulting
02:59 Understanding PPWR and Its Impact on Packaging
05:37 Challenges in Sustainable Packaging Implementation
10:06 The Role of the Sustainable Packaging Summit
12:46 Insights from the Last Summit and Future Expectations
15:23 Practical Tips for Companies on Sustainability
18:07 Conclusion and Networking Opportunities

Resources Mentioned:

• Integrity Solutions — Anna Perlina's sustainable packaging and EU PPWR consultancy
• Anna Perlina on LinkedIn
• Sustainable Packaging Summit, Utrecht — November 10–12, 2026, at the Beatrix Theatre, Jaarbeurs
• European Commission PPWR overview and guidance

Contact:

Listeners can connect with Anna Perlina on LinkedIn, where she regularly publishes free expert content and practical guidance on navigating the PPWR.

Support our Sponsors 

Learn more here:

- 3M

- Specright

- Forest 

https://anewearthproject.com/collections/new-earth-approved

Connect with Cory

Connect with Cory on LinkedIn here: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/

I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap. 

This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.