Packaging Etcetera Podcast
The Packaging Etcetera Podcast is by and large a forum for discussing events and trends in the packaging industry. While packaging is the focus, Etcetera is a reference to an occasional wild card - maybe something serious and career focused, or something scientific or maybe even something fun and playful.
Packaging Etcetera Podcast
North Jersey IOPP Finds Its Identity And Mission with Adam Brakoniecki
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Welcome And The Chapter Rebrand
SPEAKER_00All right. Back for another wild and crazy episode of the Packaging Etc. podcast. I'm your host, Matt Mulvey, with me today to talk about the rebirth of the Institute of Packaging Professionals North Jersey chapter, Adam Brachanecki. Adam, welcome.
SPEAKER_01Hey, thanks for having me, Matt.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah, great. Um, I appreciate you uh taking some time and joining me today on the on the podcast. So I know the the the genesis of of today's episode, we wanted to talk about this rebirth of the what used to be the Meadowlands chapter is now the North Jersey chapter. So do me a favor, take a minute, kind of introduce yourself, let everybody know who you are, and tell us a little bit about the genesis of that that rebirth, that change to the chapter.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. Um, so so for those that don't know me, my name is Adam Brackeneki, uh, and I'm a principal packaging engineer within the Sustainable Medical Technologies Institute at BD. This is a group that was created by BD to reduce the environmental impact of our products. You know, focuses on materials of concern, alternate modes of sterilization, sustainable design for product and uh packaging, really helping us develop circular economy solutions. I'm also at BD the global process owner for packaging, design, and development, which means that I'm responsible for um creating our global packaging documents, uh policies, procedures, as well as assessing external documents and then applying them to what we do at BD. That's the part that that pays the bills. But in my free time, I'm also the president of the North Jersey chapter of IOPP. And so we're we're using the the term North Jersey um as as part of a recent rebrand that we did. Going back years and years, um, we were known as the the Meadowlands chapter. And you know, obviously, if you're if you're from the the North Jersey area, uh Meadowlands has has a certain connotation, you know the general area. And what we found was that you know a lot of folks that are new to the area, maybe you you came in for a new new opportunity, new job, you just you knew out of school, you're you're here, and and there wasn't a really strong geographical marker for Meadowlands. And and and I'll give you, I'm gonna throw a few things out to you uh first just to have you guess. And there's nothing against these chapters, but I I went through this morning and just pulled out some some chapter names. Again, nothing against them, but if I told you to to to to guess where the Gulf Coast chapter was, where would you guess?
SPEAKER_00Well, Gulf Coast, that's a rough one because uh you could go anywhere from the southern tip of Florida all the way around to uh Houston, Texas. So anywhere in between, but I'd probably pick a midpoint and say, you know, Alabama or Mississippi, somewhere around there.
SPEAKER_01So so you you actually had one, you had the the city, Houston, Texas, is where um uh where the Gulf Coast is based out of. Uh another one, and and they do a great job on the website. Uh we'll get to that. But Glass City, where would you pick Glass City as uh Yeah, I'd I'd have I'd have no clue on that one.
SPEAKER_00I mean, I'd be putting my packaging hat on and I would guess South Jersey, you know, because uh you know Delaware River has uh you know a lot of glass houses down there due to the the sand and um you know raw material locality, but I'm sure that's not it.
SPEAKER_01No, and that's a great guess. That's a great guess. Uh Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, and again they they recognize uh on on the website. And then the last one here, I'll I'll throw this out there, uh Cascade chapter of IOPP.
SPEAKER_00Okay, so Cascade, I'm gonna have to go with Pacific Northwest on that one. Uh I'm gonna guess Washington, Oregon area, Cascade Mountain Range. That's kind of where I'm I'm leaning towards.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you're you're you're again you're you're real real close. So Seattle, Washington, right with all the industry up there. So so but that gives you, you know, the and I would have then thrown in meadowlands if I was talking to somebody who who wasn't from this area and I said meadowlands, it would probably fall into a similar bucket where it's a bit vague. Because you've got you've got other chapters out there, you know, Southeastern chapter, right? There's a geographical reference, you could probably guess. New England chapter, again, really, really well defined, central Ohio, central Indiana. There's a geographical reference. So if you're new to an area and you go through a list of chapters, what's local to me, those you would at least know. And so for us in the the former Meadowlands chapter, you know, having that that that marker of North Jersey um seemed to make a lot of sense. The the initials also worked out North Jersey, NJ, um, so kind of a play on that as well. But it it gave folks that are in this area something to to at least geolocate from. Okay. Makes sense. So so you know, with that rebrand, um, there there obviously was a number of chapters that existed in this area. We had the New Jersey chapter of IOPP. Um, and I should I should take a quick step back, IOPP, and I know acronyms are everywhere in industry, Institute of Packaging Professionals. Uh apologies, I
Why Chapter Names Confuse People
SPEAKER_01didn't uh mention that before. Um, but we had a for years there was a New Jersey chapter of IOPP that's been defunct now for for about a decade or more. We had the Meadowlands chapter, and then we had, you know, we had some other folks that were were close. I think there at one point in time there was a Connecticut chapter. And so so over the years, right, folks would come into this area. As I mentioned, you're new to the area, you don't know where Meadowlands is, you see, you know, a listing for a New Jersey chapter. You know, folks were were associating with a chapter that really didn't exist anymore. And so we wanted to correct that with the rebrand as well.
SPEAKER_00Okay. I believe the Meadowlands chapter was the chapter that I joined when I first got involved in IOPP. This is going back 2001 when I was about six years old. Just kidding. Uh no, I was uh I was at Rutherford studying packaging engineering and I I joined up and and earned my CPIT. Uh I I want to say it was 2001, and I believe it was the Meadowlands chapter that I got involved with.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. It it it's got a long history. I mean, the the genesis of of even the Meadowlands dates back to I think it's around 1960. Um the Society of Packaging and Material Handling Engineers um was was where the first certificate we we have some had some folks on our board of directors that that dug that out of the um the archives there. Um so it goes back a long, long way. So there's there is a history there, and it's not one that we wanted to to walk away from, but uh again, for the for the sake of you know, having that nostalgic name is great. You know, we want to honor the the history of the chapter. To your point, you know, a lot of folks remember the Meadowlands chapter, but it it uh the name doesn't define the chapter, but it wasn't helping us in in in you know today's day and age.
SPEAKER_00Okay. So aside from this uh rebirth, I guess we're calling it the the the name change, uh any scope change, any change in focus in the organization, or is this just simply uh uh a new name, but we uh we have we're we're staying true to the original focus of the organization.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's a that's a really good point. I I think you know, for those that knew the Metalands chapter, new know IOPP, you know, we are staying true to to a focus on education and and technical content. It in the New Jersey area, right? It's kind of a double-edged sword. The challenges and the opportunities is that there are other packaging trade groups in the area. Um, there is the cosmetic industry buyers and suppliers or or SIBS group, which is obviously, as the name implies, cosmetic focused. There's also the New Jersey Packaging Executive Club, NJPEC, a little more focused on networking and scholarships. Uh, and then there's IOPP, the North Jersey chapter. And so the opportunity there is is obviously there's different focus areas, and maybe how do we as North Jersey chapter partner with some of those other organizations? But at the same time, we recognize that there's only so much time in a day, and and and folks have other other industry groups that they may be a part of and maybe involved with. And so, you know, we we we want to be that that educational, the technical focus group uh of those in this area. And I think the events and things that we do, we we we try and focus there more than other areas.
SPEAKER_00Okay. So if you wouldn't mind, tell me a little bit about or tell us all a little bit about some of the recent events that you guys have run through your local chapter.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. So we you know, we try uh as as the president, I would love to tell you that, you know, we're we're gonna have events all the time and and um getting people together. The reality is that we we we try and have at least two to three, you know, I'd love to have four events once a quarter a year, but we we're that's an aspirational goal. You know, we've had about one to two events a year, um uh some some notable ones recently. You know, we had one focused on sustainability uh probably a year or so back. We had folks from three separate companies um come in and and and describe the challenges around sustainability, what their specific industries or or companies were facing, had really, really well attended because that was that was was hot, a hot topic of of the moment. The fun one, we it was a little bit longer ago, but we actually had one where um cannabis packaging, right? So this is early on in
Staying Technical In A Crowded Scene
SPEAKER_01cannabis becoming more legal. Um, we had a uh a gentleman come in and speak. Fascinating, fascinating to think about. You think it's it's it's cannabis, right? It's not that hard to package. Well, when you figure the the barrier properties, some of the um the stickier substances have to release, um, how is it presented? How is it protected? Uh, how is it regulated? How do the graphics uh interact with it on shelf? It was a fascinating, fascinating event. But again, in the scope of technical packaging challenges that that industry faces, it was it was an incredible, uh, an incredible event to um to hear about and the challenges that they're having was was really, really, really well received.
SPEAKER_00I I don't have any personal experience with uh with any of the cannabis packaging developments, if you will, but just intuitively, I would think, and you please tell me if I'm I'm way off base here, but but my my first guess would be it would probably be an amalgamation of like a nutraceuticals packaging with uh you know very consumer-driven, uh heavy on the branding point of purchase marriage between those two industries. Am I am I kind of on the right track there?
SPEAKER_01Yes, absolutely. It had it had almost that, yeah, that food element in some of the the barrier properties and shelf life properties. It had, yes, the the consumer appeal of being on shelf next to you know a whole lot of other you know similar products, um, and and and that regulated element. So I think you're spot on there. Okay.
SPEAKER_00It's a little surreal to me that we're actually having having this conversation about this, you know, growing up in an era where you know it was always taboo, and now all of a sudden here we are on a on a podcast chatting about cannabis packaging. And it's just it's just kind of interesting how how things develop like that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. And and when we first, you know, this was years ago, right? And our our board of directors was was um was a little bit older, right? Uh come from uh an earlier generation, and and to to hear everybody talking about cannabis packaging, right? The the squirming in in your seats, like, did we really want to be the the chapter talking about you know talking to somebody about cannabis packaging? And and you know, uh again after the fact it was like it was just mind-blowing. Could because to your point, how it relates, it's not cannabis, it's it's another product, right? And we have as packaging professionals, we have to protect, we have to brand, we have to do all those things that you would for any other product. Um it just happens to be cannabis inside. Yeah, it's just another widget.
SPEAKER_00Yep, yep. So talk to me a little bit about IOPP. So I'm familiar with the organization. Maybe not everybody out there listening is obviously, you know, you mentioned SIBS, you mentioned NJPEC. Now, NJPEC I've been a very active member with, you know, since my college days, and so I'm intimately familiar with that organization, but you know, the NJPEC is a New Jersey-based local organization. One chapter, that's it. SIBS, to my understanding, is the same. They're based in Manhattan. Uh, they are a cosmetics industry organization, so they are heavily focused in cosmetics. IOPP is a little bit different, or I should say a lot of bit different, because it is a global organization with chapters on, I would guess probably six of the seven continents. So, you know, talk to people, talk to me, you know, a little bit about, you know, IOPP parent organization. You know, let's, you know, let's dive a little bit into you know some of their philanthropic endeavors. Maybe uh, you know, there's obviously certifications available, trainings, etc., and how the North Jersey chapter kind of fits into that, uh, fits under that umbrella, I guess.
SPEAKER_01Yep, yep, absolutely. So, so uh IOPP globally is is is quite large. So there's over 3,300 active members today uh across IOPP in over 30 countries. Um there are a total of of 22 chapters, um, and that includes both US and Canada. We actually have a Canada uh a chapter up in Ontario, Canada. Um, so so it's not just even the the US. The the interesting thing, and to the earlier discussion around you know what is IOPP, it obviously has that geographic nature. So those 22 chapters you know scattered across the country, uh North America want to give people a local community
Standout Events From Sustainability To Cannabis
SPEAKER_01to be a part of. But at the same time, there's actually eight technical committees. So if if your focus is, and and I'll I'll talk to one that I'm a part of, right? The the MDPTC or the medical device technical packaging committee, there there are eight of those, uh, you know, whether it's pharmaceutical med device labeling, whether it's um chemical packaging, bag, there's a number of of focused committees that that you can also be a part of, right? So you don't have to identify geographically, you can identify through you know some specialization, maybe where you're working and what you're doing day-to-day. You know, bringing that down to the local, a little more local level, you know, our our New Jersey, North Jersey chapter has about 500 active members. So of those 3,300, North Jersey is a is a pretty large, large group. And it it makes sense with with the North Jersey representing Long Island, Manhattan, Northern New Jersey, Southern Connecticut. Uh, we even have folks coming in from Pennsylvania that are members of our chapter. So so it does give a a local uh opportunity for folks to come out and and like I said, talk and and hear you know technical packaging things a little more a little more closer to home.
SPEAKER_00Okay. So I guess what I'm hearing is I had a big swing and a miss because I in my head I always thought Iopp was this this monster global organization with you know chapters in Europe and chapters in the Far East, and so it's it's predominantly well, I guess solely North America.
SPEAKER_01F from a chapter perspective, yes. And and and you know, the having members in 30 countries, right? There's a lot of students that are that are members um that start through their education, and and that's where some of the the countries are represented. But yeah, chapter-wise, it is it is really North America.
SPEAKER_00Okay. Sounds like maybe there's some opportunities there. I'm always I'm always looking uh glass half full, you know, gotta grow, gotta expand, gotta improve our numbers.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and and and I think the challenge is while they're they're similar, I you know, and not to dive into another topic like packaging, packaging waste regulation in Europe, right? There are differences globally that that I think you know could be exciting opportunities to your point for the future, you know, where where else could we go? And and and what does that bring to the broader organization, right? That's that's always the the benefit. The more folks you have, the the the more diversity you have, the the the better opinions and and perspectives you bring in to everybody. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00Well, I mean, unless you're working at a local pizza shop in town, you know, we uh we all work for organizations that are a part of this global economy. And so we're not only selling to the US market or the North American market, we're selling to a global market. And so having strongholds in other areas of the world where some of that knowledge sharing can take place, I think there could be, you know, it could be advantageous for everybody, uh, you know, on both sides of the aisle or on all sides, if you will. Yeah. Okay. So uh I understand, you know, you said uh, you know, one to two events free per year. You you would love to get to the point where you're you're holding one every quarter, but uh sounds like you have an event coming up soon that you wanted to uh make mention of.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and and and and thank you for that. We we have um we have an event scheduled for June 23rd, true to the the North Jersey uh name, it'll be in Hackensack, New Jersey. But it's it's titled The Power of Color. And so, you know, looking at at topics that really apply to everybody, color is something that is is everywhere. Whether you're in you know the medical device packaging industry where you have brand colors to you know industries where cosmetics and food you're on shelf. Um we actually have uh Barry Sinel from Diagio, who's who's gonna be speaking uh from the end user side of color, and then Dan Daza from Sun Chemical, uh, one of the premier color organizations in the world, we'll we'll talk on the technical side around you know what what makes color and and it's a great opportunity for folks to come out to ask questions to hear again how how color is being used across the spectrum of industries. For for anybody that is interested, we have our registration through through IOPP, uh North Jersey IOPP, all one word.org. Um, we've got a link on our website, north jerseyiopp.org. Click on the events and and we have the link embedded there um for folks to come out. Uh great food, great drink, um, great presenters. And you know, we're we're hoping to really kick start kickstart you know that this being the first of a few events this year in 2026. So if folks are interested, please come take a look, come join us. Um I think it's gonna be a great event.
SPEAKER_00Okay. You you kind of frame the organization and the local chapter, I should say, and the events that you host as more educational and you know, like you mentioned, NJPEC is more, you know, networking and scholarship uh focused, which is is absolutely true. You know, as a packaging professional, you know, if I'm sitting there and I'm on the fence about attending this event, just based on the technical and learning aspect of the event, what what kind of demographics could I expect
How IOPP Works Beyond The Local Level
SPEAKER_00from the attendees if I wanted to come to an event like this and I wanted to add networking as part of my agenda? Who who could I I mean I'm not asking to drop names, but just uh uh by all means, name drop, name drop. Perfect cover theory. Yeah. Um just trying to understand demographics sake. Who who are the typical people, positions, companies, et cetera, that would attend an event like this?
SPEAKER_01So so I I think that the the attendees reflect the the area. I I can go back since you know it it's done, right? We had our sustainability event. We had we had folks from cosmetic companies, from food companies, from pharmaceutical companies, from medical device companies, as well as the suppliers. We had uh somebody from a machine company, uh folding carton company, labels and insert company. Um, we had uh one or two consultants, uh consulting companies uh come and join us. So it's it's very diverse. And so it doesn't really matter where you are, you're you're likely to find uh a peer in a in a similar industry or or somebody that's that's totally unrelated coming to hear the same the same thing and network with with folks uh across the spectrum. So I I do think you know, and we do deliberately plan events to try and pull in as many people as possible. You know, if I held an event on pharmaceutical labeling, that may not be applicable to to a wide range of folks, but you know, something again like color, like sustainability, even some of the regulations, you know, uh food, uh food and and drug under under uh similar similar regulations, you know, they're there we're trying to do things that apply to the widen widest audience possible, but still give good technical content.
SPEAKER_00And now from a uh leadership perspective, you mentioned you were the president of the North Jersey chapter. And when we originally started discussing this episode, we were intending to have uh a panel of leaders from the organization due to unforeseen, unfortunate circumstances. Uh it was whittled down to you. So you drew the short straw and had to come on and talk to me. But uh feel like we need to give a shout-out. So if you wouldn't mind, just kind of mention so so people who know who they missed out on, unfortunately, in this episode, and we'll have to figure out if we can do a follow-up at some point and get everybody involved.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah, so so um uh my vice president, um, who our former president, um, now currently the uh fortunately sticking sticking with me as vice president, Franco Diaz was unable to join us, but he's he's our vice president, very well connected in the in this area and and really helps out a ton with speakers and and and spaces. I will do a quick plug. You know, we are looking for more board members if folks are interested. We we we struggle uh with with social media and and and um the events side of things. We're we're doing the best we can, but we are looking for folks uh if you're interested for for more of a public facing role within the board. And then uh Rob Reichman uh is our treasurer. So we we um we've just recently put Rob on as as uh our our our moneyman, so to speak, um helping us with with finances, um but but again, very well connected in in the industry, in the area. And so we we we all lean, it's a kind of a three-legged stool. We pull one of us out and and uh it doesn't work very well. Um so we've been coordinating amongst ourselves to hold these events, but Rob and Franco are tremendous on the board. Um I think between the three of us, we we probably have over 75 years, I may be underselling it, 75 years in in the packaging space uh combined. So again, you know, we we want to share our knowledge with the community. We want to bring folks together to um to to to learn and and and grow. So yeah, they we we couldn't uh I could not do this, we could not do this as a chapter without their support.
SPEAKER_00Okay. No, I appreciate you sharing that. Now you did mention that you go you're always looking for new members, you're looking for people, you know, some new blood to infuse onto the board and whatnot. And I do know that from personal experience with NJPEC and other organizations, one thing that we struggle with in general, and I think that this is that this is not specific even to packaging, is how are these organizations attracting in younger talent? How are they bringing in the newer and younger, the future generations that will be leading these boards? And so I know that that we on the on the NJPEC side have struggled. What are you guys seeing through the IOPP and and specifically the North Jersey chapter? Uh you guys have a an outreach program or kind of uh do you have a focused effort where you're looking at some of the younger generations and trying to bring them in?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yes, yes, yes, and yes. Um so so everything you mentioned is true. We we struggle. We struggle with with um bringing in new membership, especially younger, younger generations for for a variety of reasons. You know, but to your point, this is not it's not a North Jersey chapter problem. It is it is a broader problem. I I talk to other chapter presidents on a monthly basis, you know, hosted through our national group, and and you know, some some chapters are better than others, especially if you're you're co-located in a region with a packaging university. And so for us in North Jersey, I I think there's a uh untapped potential with with you know rutgers uh being in our backyard here of engaging more with the students. As part of as part of this upcoming event, um I did reach out to through through our mailing list uh for the for the students at Rutgers that are registered through North Jersey chapter of ILPP. Um, you know, personal invite to have them come out. If if you are a student and and you're listening here, you know, we always offer free attendance to to the events for packaging students. Come on out and take a look. Uh give us a test drive if you will. But but no, it it's a struggle. And so I think where where we can tap into that student base. You mentioned yourself, right? Being part of NJPEC as a student. I I was part of the the IOP chat IOPP chapter at Michigan State. So my background is, you know, uh my my degrees are through Michigan State School of Packaging. I was a uh a member back then. I I didn't understand it to be candid, right? I didn't know what what IOPP was. I knew it was something that I I should be involved with, and then I stayed with it, I grew with it, and I and realized what the the opportunity was. But I I I think you know that's that's a a goal for me for us as a as a group to get more involved with the students, to bring them out and and hopefully do what it sounds like you and I both did is just progress into the the real world from the the the engagement at the university level.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Well, and uh I'll I'll add to the the plug for the students. So if there are any students out
The Power Of Color Event Preview
SPEAKER_00there that are on the fence or or maybe we're not aware of IOPP as an organization, number one, get involved. Number two, there is a certification program through IOPP. You start out as a CPIT, which is where I started, uh certified professional in training. And then there is a five-year uh recertification process once you get your CPP, which is certified packaging professional. Uh, you have to pass an exam and you have to, there's a bunch of different uh criteria you have to meet, exceed, if you will, in order to earn your CPP. But then after I think it's three recertifications, you earn lifetime certified packaging professional status through IOPP. Um, so uh great on a resume, lovely to have those uh initials after your name. So, students, if you're out there and you're you're on the fence, you're thinking about uh getting involved, by all means give it a shot. Look into CPIT, go on the IopP.org webs. It's Iop.org, right? Yeah. Ioppp.org website. Uh all the information you need is right there. Awesome. Well, before we uh wrap up, any any parting thoughts you'd like to share?
SPEAKER_01No, I I I really appreciate you uh you know having me on here, highlighting the the the North Jersey chapter of IOPP, the the work that we're trying to do. Um I'll I'll echo what what you said earlier. If you're whether you're a student, whether you're just somebody in industry, you're you're looking to make connections, whether it's IOPP, SIVS, NJPEC, come on out. You know, it it's I think all of these organizations do a tremendous job trying to help people, right? It it's about growing individuals, uh advancing in your career, making those connections, those networks. Come on out, come on out to events, join, see what it's all about, kick the tires. Uh, I I think the the benefits uh is it a commitment? Absolutely, right? It's it's your free time, and and I think these organizations, we we we acknowledge that, uh, we respect that. But come on out, and I think that the value is gonna be is gonna be there. Uh so yeah, that's that's my plug. Whether it's if it's North Jersey, IOPP, it's another group in in New Jersey here. I mean, New Jersey, uh northern New Jersey as a whole, uh just has uh has one of the most concentrated packaging ecosystems in in the U.S. Uh I mean with with the life sciences that we have here in this area, the the the the logistics hubs, you mentioned at the beginning, right? The glass manufacturing, just the the longstanding manufacturing in this area. We we are just a phenomenal area for for packaging folks to be. And so yeah, take it take advantage of that.
SPEAKER_00Awesome. Well, I I I do want to go back and and I'm gonna uh I'm gonna ask you, maybe maybe you know, maybe you don't the Toledo chapter. Why are they called the is there like a is there like a major hub of glass manufacturing in that area?
SPEAKER_01You know, I I I I I will have to go on that that'll be my hubwork from this episode is to go and and I'm sure there's gonna be somebody at ILPP National listening, just screaming to themselves, um, listening to this, like you you should have known this, the Glass City. That'll be a future episode then. I so maybe this is the the plug to get I'll get my counterpart in Glass City to come on and uh and do an episode with you. But um, yeah, that's it's a great question. I I again New Jersey area, you always think of New Jersey as kind of the glass, the glass capital in the country, and and uh there's gotta be there's gotta be a sister or or brother or sister uh connection there with uh Toledo.
SPEAKER_00Must be. Well, I guess we'll have to find that out. Uh anybody listening, if you happen to know, feel free to reach out. I'd love to hear from you. You can reach out to Adam through the IOPP North Jersey chapter website, which he mentioned earlier. You can also go on my website, which is www.precisionengsolutions.com, hit the contact us form, or you can hit either of us up on LinkedIn. I know I'm always on LinkedIn multiple times every day, so uh feel free to reach out. I would love to hear from you, and I would love to get an explanation as to why the Toledo chapter is called the Glass Chapter. Am I getting that right? Glass City. Glass City, thank you. Glass City. Glass City chapter, yeah. All right. Well, uh, I think that's about it for today. Adam, thank you so much for joining. Anything else you got for me?
SPEAKER_01Well, I I think you you uh you had mentioned that you you always wanted a fun fact, and so
Board Help Student Outreach And Credentials
SPEAKER_01I I wanted to be prepared. Yes, thank you. Okay, fun fact, it's all yours. I I felt it was appropriate uh since we're talking a lot about IOPP. I I'll another another quiz for you here. When do you think uh IOPP was was started, was founded?
SPEAKER_00Oh you know, as a 20-something year member, I should probably know this, I should have it memorized. Uh I don't have the time to to Google it. So um uh package I I'm gonna go with 1959. Ooh, that was that's that that's good.
SPEAKER_011953. Okay, all right, which was which which means that it has actually been around longer than bubble wrap, which was in 1957, and PET bottles, which were 1973. Okay. So uh a little little factoid there. And then just as a uh extra little kicker, um, we mentioned the the certified packaging professional. Uh care to wager a guess when the CPP designation was was rolled out.
SPEAKER_00I'm gonna guess that's a much more recent development. Um I'm gonna go 1980s. Let's go 1984.
SPEAKER_01Again, you're you're not you're not off by too much. It 1977. Okay. Uh was when CPP designation rolled out, and it was actually just three years after the first UPC barcode was scanned at a grocery store checkout.
SPEAKER_00Interesting. 77 was a really good year. I will neither confirm nor deny that was the year I was born, but it was a very good year.
SPEAKER_01So I learned that hopefully that a little bit of of IOPP trivia and factoids there to close the show.
SPEAKER_00That was perfect. That was perfect. Thank you. I'm actually really proud that I I even came close on those, trying to apply whatever whatever logic in my brain I can come up with. But I the the first question I was thinking, it's this is definitely a post-World War II think. Um thing. I'm thinking, you know, maybe uh, you know, the the economic boom of of World War II and and you know people coming back and it was a major shift in in industry. I'm like, that probably makes sense. And so 53, even closer to the end of the war than I thought. So um, but that was kind of my my my logic. It might have maybe it was just pure luck that I got it close, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it. All right. Adam, again, thank you so much. Everyone listening in, thank you so much for dipping into this episode of the Packaging, et cetera, podcast. Please consider hitting that like and subscribe button. I very much appreciate your support. And until next time, take care.
