3 Lessons Learned from Pack Expo Las Vegas 2025

This year’s Pack Expo Las Vegas brought together thousands of industry leaders, suppliers, and manufacturers to showcase the latest in packaging technology.

As Conner Packaging walked the show floor and attended key sessions, we were reminded why this event remains one of the most important opportunities to learn, connect, and discover what is next for manufacturing.

Although there were many insights, three themes stood out to us:

1) Companies are focusing on efficiency more than ever, 2) rapid development of innovative materials and formats, and 3) the focus on sustainability is growing.

1. Efficiencies and Advancements Across All Business Functions, Including Processing Techniques and Reshaping Production

While packaging innovations stood out, Pack Expo Las Vegas also highlighted important developments in processing, something Conner has been focused on for quite some time.

A standout session, “Scaling Quality and Efficiency Through Continuous Mixing“, provided compelling case studies from the bakery industry.

These examples showed how continuous mixing systems reduce product variability, increase throughput, and improve overall efficiency compared to traditional batch mixing. The takeaway for manufacturers is that process improvements are just as significant as packaging upgrades.

We’ve refined our approach to finding and connecting with the right partners through enhanced lead management and communication tools. This helps our teams identify opportunities faster, respond to customer needs and RFQs more efficiently, and onboard new partners faster and more accurately, creating a smoother and more responsive supply chain.

At Conner Packaging, we will continue to integrate these processing improvements.

2. Packaging Materials are Evolving at a Rapid Pace

One clear takeaway at Pack Expo Las Vegas was that packaging material innovation continues to accelerate.

Based on what we learned, Conner Packaging is committed to these action steps moving forward:

• Studying continuous processing options to identify where efficiency gains can reduce waste and improve product consistency.
• Aligning packaging and processing strategies so that improvements in one area support gains in the other.
• Continuing to innovate with new packaging materials that offer durability, flexibility, and environmental responsibility for our customers across industries.
• Expanding sustainability requirements in our supplier evaluations to include lifecycle metrics, recyclability, and end-of-life recovery.

For Conner Packaging, this trend reinforces the direction we have already been leading for years.

Our teams have long been focused on advancing high-performing, environmentally responsible packaging, ensuring manufacturers get solutions that balance durability, flexibility, and sustainability.

Exhibitors showcased a wide range of new materials across the show floor, but many of the concepts reflected work already underway within our development programs. We continue to refine and expand our portfolio of sustainable materials to keep up with regulatory changes and customer needs.

Leading the way in packaging innovation, Conner Packaging continues to advance materials that deliver durability, flexibility, and environmental responsibility.

3. Building Sustainable Value Chains is Mission-Critical

Sustainability was more than just a trend at Pack Expo Las Vegas; it was a theme.

One session, “A Supplier’s Role in Creating a Sustainable Value Chain,” highlighted how manufacturers and suppliers must take ownership of their products’ environmental footprint.

Sustainability should be fully integrated into the design, sourcing, production, and logistics processes.

For manufacturers, this means suppliers will increasingly be expected to provide high-performance packaging materials, lifecycle data, recovery pathways, and compliance with stricter regulations.

We also heard a growing emphasis on the need for better sustainability reporting. As sustainability goals become more measurable, consistent reporting standards will be critical to maintaining credibility and driving real improvement.

For us at Conner Packaging, this session reinforced the importance of evaluating partners on cost and quality, and our own commitment to sustainability.

Integrating These Lessons into Our Strategy

Attending Pack Expo Las Vegas reinforced that material innovation, advanced production, and sustainable methods will shape the future of packaging.

Based on what we learned, Conner Packaging is committed to these action steps moving forward:

• Aligning packaging and processing strategies so that improvements in one area support gains in the other.
• Studying continuous processing options to identify where efficiency gains can reduce waste and improve product consistency.
• Continuing to innovate with new packaging materials that offer durability, flexibility, and environmental responsibility for our customers across industries.
• Expanding sustainability requirements in our supplier evaluations to include lifecycle metrics, recyclability, and end-of-life recovery.

By staying at the forefront of industry developments, Conner Packaging is well-positioned to help solve these challenges with expertise and innovation.

Looking Ahead

Conner Packaging remains committed to being a partner that understands the industry and delivers solutions that make a measurable difference.

Contact Conner today, and let’s build the future of packaging together.

Request A Quote