John A. Luke Jr. of Meadwestvaco To Speak on Sustainability at PACK EXPO

ARLINGTON, Va.—Packaging professionals can participate in the industry-wide discussion about sustainability and learn how to apply its principles to their business by attending this fall’s Conference at PACK EXPO. John A. Luke, Jr., chairman and CEO of global packaging solutions leader MeadWestvaco Corporation, will discuss the topic during his keynote address at the conference.

The conference is being held in conjunction with PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2007 from October 15-17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Both events are sponsored and produced by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI). Luke will deliver his keynote on Tuesday, October 16 at 10:10 a.m.

As retailers institute environmental scorecards and informed consumers make choices based on social responsibility and corporate ethics, the demand for sustainable packaging solutions has become an important concern for business leaders, marketing managers and professionals across the packaging industry. Manufacturers are assessing the challenges and opportunities involved with meeting this growing demand for sustainable products and applying the principles of sustainability throughout their businesses.

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.

Luke will discuss the growing importance of sustainability to the industry, its customers and consumers. Luke began his career with Westvaco in 1979. Among his roles, he has served as treasurer and as senior vice president, where he oversaw the international sales organization and Rigesa, Ltda., the company’s Brazilian subsidiary. In 1989, he became a member of the board of directors and in 1990 he was elected executive vice president. He was elected chairman of MeadWestvaco in November 2002.

“When discussing sustainability, issues like recycling and recovery come to mind immediately,” says Ben Miyares, vice president, Industry Relations for PMMI. “However, gains can be made at all stages of the packaging lifecycle including raw material choice, energy consumption, manufacturing practices, transportation options and waste reduction. The conference will explore opportunities for packaging providers to look beyond the obvious elements of sustainability and consider the possibilities presented at various stages in the packaging lifecycle.”

Two other keynote addresses are planned for PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2007. Additional speakers will be announced shortly.

Packagers can register for the keynote speeches and the rest of the Conference at PACK EXPO sessions at www.packexpo.com beginning in June. The fee for registrations received on or before September 24, 2007 will be $55 per session. After September 24, 2007 and on-site, the cost will be $75. Registration for the exhibits at PACK EXPO Las Vegas is required in order to register for conference program sessions.

Visit www.packexpo.com to register for PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2007 or to obtain more information. You can also contact PMMI’s Show Department at 703-243-8555; fax: 703-243-8556; or e-mail expo@pmmi.org.

PACK EXPO Las Vegas will be held October 15-17, 2007 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev. 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 . PMMI also produces EXPO PACK México, the premier packaging show in Mexico serving the Latin American region. This show will be held June 26-29, 2007 at Centro Banamex, Mexico City, Mexico. PACK EXPO International will be held November 9-13, 2008 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill.