Flexible Packaging Association

What Flexible Packaging Association does

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) is a U.S.-based trade association founded in 1950 and headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, serving as the leading industry advocate for American manufacturers of flexible packaging and their material/equipment suppliers. The organization represents converters producing film-, foil-, and paper-based packaging for food (45% of flexible packaging demand), medical/pharmaceutical applications (17%), and industrial products, across an industry that generated $42.6B in U.S. sales in 2024 and is projected to reach $44.6B in 2025. FPA's core offerings center on three pillars: advocacy and regulatory representation (including active litigation against California's SB 343 and opposition to New York's proposed EPR bills); industry research and publications (State of the Industry Report, Cost Earnings Survey, LCA studies, members-only Market Tracker); and convening events (the Annual Meeting, FlexForward Conference, Congressional FlexFly-In, Achievement Awards, and Student Design Challenge).

FPA operates a lean staff of 1-10 employees under President & CEO Dan Felton (appointed 2024, previously Executive Director of AMERIPEN), generating revenue through membership dues, event registrations, publication sales, and partnership media arrangements. Its go-to-market relies on multi-channel engagement — FlexPack VOICE magazine, Industry News Bulletin email, active social media presence, and media partnerships with AMI, Smithers (SUSTPACK), Packaging Strategies, and SPC Impact — to reach converters, suppliers, and brand-owner stakeholders. Strategic priorities in 2026 include regulatory defense against expanding state EPR legislation, transatlantic alignment with Flexible Packaging Europe and CEFLEX on circular economy frameworks, and member enablement for the GS1 Sunrise 2027 2D barcode transition. As a nonprofit association governed by a member Board of Directors, FPA has no external investment ownership and is structurally focused on industry representation rather than equity value creation.

Name

Flexible Packaging Association

Legal name

Flexible Packaging Association

Website

https://flexpack.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Flexible Packaging Association is a 75-year-old U.S. trade association headquartered in Annapolis, MD, serving as the primary advocate for flexible packaging converters and material/equipment suppliers across the $42.6B U.S. industry. It delivers regulatory representation, industry research, networking events, and the annual Achievement Awards competition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FPA is a trade association serving as the leading advocate and voice for the U.S. flexible packaging industry. It delivers industry advocacy before federal and state governments, publishes annual market research and economic impact reports, hosts conferences and networking events (Annual Meeting, FlexForward Conference, Congressional FlexFly-In), runs the Achievement Awards and Student Design Challenge competitions, and produces the FlexPack VOICE magazine for its converter, supplier, and brand-owner members.

Product overview

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) is a trade association serving as the leading advocate and voice for the U.S. flexible packaging industry. FPA is not a product company but rather offers a portfolio of member services including industry events (Annual Meeting, FlexForward Conference, Congressional FlexFly-In), competitive awards programs (Achievement Awards, Student Design Challenge), and industry research publications (State of the Industry Report, Cost Earnings Survey, Sustainability Studies). FPA provides advocacy representation, regulatory guidance, and professional development through its Emerging Leadership Council. The association also maintains a membership directory and Buyer's Guide for industry networking and business development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FPA Annual Meeting

Quantifiable outcome

• Flexible packaging requires less water and energy to manufacture and transport, generating smaller quantities of greenhouse gases
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPE is FPA's European partner organization, representing all major European producers of flexible packaging. The partnership involves information exchange, joint advocacy on regulatory issues, and collaboration on international standards. Guido Aufdemkamp, Executive Director of FPE, presented at the FPA 2026 Annual Meeting on European packaging regulations including the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
• CEFLEX (Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEFLEX is a collaborative European initiative bringing together the entire flexible packaging value chain to advance circular flexible packaging systems through system modeling, design guidance, and policy-aligned solutions. FPA President & CEO Dan Felton conducted a fireside chat with CEFLEX consultant Dana Mosora at the 2026 Annual Meeting to explore circular economy approaches and what European experience may signal for the U.S.
• Product Stewardship Institute (PSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFPA and PSI conducted a year-long dialogue starting October 2019 involving 18 FPA member companies and 20 PSI state and local government agencies to discuss how to manage flexible packaging within a potential regulatory context. The dialogue resulted in shared elements of EPR legislation for packaging and paper products.
• GS1majorTechnology or IntegrationGS1 is leading the global transition from traditional one-dimensional barcodes to two-dimensional codes (Sunrise 2027). FPA is preparing the flexible packaging industry for this transition which represents the most significant operational transformation since the barcode's introduction in 1974.
• Martha's TableminorOthers
• Packaging Recycling SummitcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFPA is a media partner for the Packaging Recycling Summit, which unites leaders from across the circular packaging value chain. FPA President & CEO Dan Felton sits on the Summit's Advisory Board and attends the event. FPA members receive a 10% discount on registration.
• SPC Impact (Sustainable Packaging Coalition)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFPA is an exhibitor and sponsor of SPC Impact, which brings together experts responsible for packaging design, labeling, recovery, and regulation. FPA sponsors an educational lunch at the event.
• AMI (Applied Market Information)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerFPA is a partner for AMI's Polyethylene Films conference and AMI's Stretch and Shrink Film conference. FPA President & CEO Dan Felton chairs and speaks at these industry events. FPA members receive 15% off registration fees.
• Smithers (Sustainability in Packaging US)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFPA is a partner for Smithers' Sustainability in Packaging US conference (SUSTPACK). FPA President & CEO Dan Felton speaks at the event and FPA members receive a discount when registering.
• Packaging Strategies (Global Pouch Forum, Converters Expo)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerFPA is a media partner for the Global Pouch Forum and Converters Expo events. FPA President & CEO Dan Felton delivers keynote presentations at Global Pouch Forum. FPA members receive 15% off registration fees.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AMERIPEN (American Institute for Packaging and the Environment): U.S. packaging industry trade association focused on policy and sustainability advocacy. Highly comparable to FPA in mission (advocacy, sustainability) and stakeholder overlap (brand owners, converters); FPA's current CEO previously led AMERIPEN, underscoring how closely the two organizations compete for the same advocacy mandate.
• Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC): A project of GreenBlue that convenes packaging stakeholders around sustainable design and end-of-life recovery. SPC is a direct peer to FPA's sustainability programming (FPA is an SPC Impact exhibitor/sponsor), and the two organizations compete for member mindshare on circular-economy and EPR issues.
• Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR): Trade association focused on plastics recycling, including design guidance and advocacy for recyclable formats. APR overlaps directly with FPA on end-of-life, recyclability, and EPR advocacy, particularly relevant given EPA CCL 6 microplastics scrutiny and state-level EPR bills.
• Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP): U.S. individual-membership packaging association providing professional development, certification, and education. IoPP is comparable in its packaging education, networking, and member-service model and overlaps with FPA on events and emerging-leader programming.
• Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC): Trade association for North American paperboard packaging manufacturers. PPC is structurally identical to FPA - a material-format-specific trade body running awards (PPC's Carton Competition), advocacy, and research - making it a strong model and competitor for FPA's converter membership base.
• Glass Packaging Institute: Trade association for the North American glass container industry. While substrate-different from FPA, GPI is structurally a peer - a material-format trade body running advocacy, sustainability, and education - and competes with FPA when brand owners choose between glass and flexible formats.

Broad incumbents

• American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA): Larger U.S. trade association representing the forest products industry, including paper-based packaging. AF&PA is a co-plaintiff with FPA in the SB 343 First Amendment lawsuit, indicating close coordination, and competes for share of voice on paper/fiber-based flexible packaging policy.
• Aluminium Association: U.S. trade association for the aluminium value chain, including foil used in flexible packaging. Overlaps with FPA on regulatory and sustainability issues affecting foil-based converters and competes for attention when policymakers debate substrate-level packaging rules.
• American Chemistry Council (Plastics Division): Large U.S. chemical industry trade body that represents plastic resin producers feeding the flexible packaging supply chain. ACC's plastics advocacy intersects with FPA's on microplastics, EPR, and recycling policy, making it both a frequent partner and a broader industry competitor.

Others

• Packaging Strategies: B2B media and events company producing the Global Pouch Forum and Converters Expo. While a commercial media business rather than a non-profit association, Packaging Strategies is a direct collaborator with FPA (media partnership, FPA CEO keynotes) and an indirect peer in packaging industry convening and content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FlexPackOrg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4UYar4TQBDtNk2eP2l1AEQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Perfect-Packaging-346766162622687
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/6873591
• Instagraminstagram.com/flexiblepackagingassociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Flexible Packaging Association