The Packaging Association

What The Packaging Association does

PAC Global (The Packaging Association) is a Canadian nonprofit professional association founded in 1950 as the Packaging Association of Canada and rebranded to PAC Global in 2020 to reflect its international reach. Headquartered in Markham, Ontario with a lean operating team of 1–10 employees, the organization serves a distributed membership of 2,500+ packaging industry professionals worldwide across packaging manufacturers and converters, brand owners and retailers, design agencies, academia, and sustainable packaging processors. Its mission centers on advancing packaging design and innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity through a multi-program portfolio.

The core technology surface consists of a membership portal (portal.pac.global), the PAC CONNECT digital marketplace for sustainable packaging, the PIP360° benchmarking tool for packaging innovation circularity, and a portfolio of certification and education products. Notable proprietary or co-developed assets include the IFS PACsecure Standard (a joint quality/safety standard with IFS, with PAC Global acting as an approved training provider), the Consumer Goods Forum's Golden Design Rules training curriculum (linked to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment), and structured virtual courses covering plastics packaging, packaging essentials, paper packaging, and sustainable packaging. The organization also runs the annual PAC Awards competition (continuous since 2016) and flagship events such as the Disruptors Summit and the Canadian EPR Forum.

PAC Global's business model is a hybrid of membership subscriptions, paid training and certification, event registration fees, awards competition entries, and custom consulting services. Pricing is tiered by membership status, with members receiving discounted rates across all programs (e.g., IFS PACsecure training at $499 member/$699 non-member; Complete Plastics Packaging Course at $750 member/$950 non-member; Golden Design Rules Essentials complimentary for members/$100 for non-members). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: members are acquired through networking events, the Disruptors Summit, PAC Awards, webinars, and educational programs, with a multi-channel presence spanning the website, LinkedIn (25,000+ executive connections), email newsletters, and webinars. Customers include enterprise brand owners such as P&G, Loblaw, Club Coffee, Starbucks China, and design agencies such as PIGEON and FutureBrand, though revenue is spread across many small transactions rather than concentrated enterprise contracts.

Name

The Packaging Association

Legal name

PAC Global

Website

https://pac.global

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PAC Global is a Canadian nonprofit packaging industry association founded in 1950, serving 2,500+ members worldwide with awards, education, sustainability certification, benchmarking tools, and networking events across manufacturers, brand owners, and design agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Packaging industry association
• Professional membership services
• Packaging education training
• Sustainable packaging consulting
• Packaging awards programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Markham

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to all PAC Global programs, exclusive pricing on courses, conferences, competition entries, events, webinars and all other PAC Global initiatives.
2. Training and Education: Professional courses and certifications including IFS PACsecure training ($499 member/$699 non-member), Complete Plastics Packaging Course ($750 member/$950 non-member), and Golden Design Rules Essentials (complimentary for members/$100 non-members).
3. Events and Conferences: Registration fees for Disruptors Summit, PAC Awards events, webinars, Canadian EPR Forum, and other industry events. Members receive exclusive registration opportunities and discounted pricing.
4. Awards and Competitions: Entry fees for PAC Awards competitions across categories including Brand Marketing, Package Innovation, Sustainable Package Design, and PAC IOU Design.
5. Consulting Services: Custom consulting services for the packaging value chain covering packaging innovation, sustainability, circular economy, and Golden Design Rules implementation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PAC Global is a membership-based nonprofit industry association serving the global packaging industry. It provides professional development through training courses and certifications (IFS PACsecure), industry networking via events such as the Disruptors Summit, recognition through the PAC Awards competition, sustainable packaging resources via the PAC CONNECT digital marketplace, strategic consulting services, and benchmarking through the PIP360 tool. Members and non-members access educational programs, industry events, and a worldwide network of packaging professionals, brand owners, manufacturers, and design agencies.

Product overview

PAC Global operates as a membership-based packaging industry association offering a multi-faceted portfolio of programs and services. The core offerings include PAC Awards (global packaging design competition), PAC CONNECT (digital marketplace and resource hub), PAC ED (educational programming with virtual courses), PAC DIGITAL (print industry resources), PAC NEXT (sustainable packaging initiatives), and PAC IOU (inclusivity in design). Supporting infrastructure includes PIP360 benchmarking tool and IFS PACsecure certification program. Educational products include courses on plastics packaging, packaging essentials, and Golden Design Rules. The organization also provides custom consulting services for packaging sustainability and circularity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PAC CONNECT: Digital marketplace connecting members to sustainable packaging options and industry pioneers.
• PAC ED
• PAC DIGITAL
• PAC NEXT
• PAC IOU
• PAC Awards
• PIP360

Products and services

• PAC Awards Global packaging design awards program recognizing excellence in sustainable packaging, package design innovation, brand marketing, and inclusive design across the industry. Open to members and non-members with entry fees and multiple award categories.
• PAC CONNECT Digital marketplace and resource platform for members featuring sustainable packaging options, webinars, case studies on packaging innovation, and connections to industry pioneers.
• PAC ED Educational Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,500 members in worldwide network
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IFS (International Featured Standards)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAC Global is an approved IFS Training Provider. The IFS PACsecure Standard is the result of joint effort between IFS and PAC Global to assess quality and safety of packaging materials and compliance with customer requirements.
• RecycleMeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosting webinars on EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) topics including 'PAC CONNECT: EPR State of Play' (April 2026) and 'Navigating the Changing Landscape of U.S. EPR Legislation'.
• National Zero Waste CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted webinar on 'Reuse in Hospitality and Entertainment Foodservice' (March 2026) addressing sustainable packaging in hospitality sector.
• The Body ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in webinar on 'The ROI of Recycled Plastic: The Business Case for Responsible Sourcing in Global Supply Chains' alongside Plastics for Change and Amcor.
• AmcorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in webinar on recycled plastic ROI alongside The Body Shop and Plastics for Change, presenting case study on responsible sourcing.
• Plastics for ChangeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipated in webinar on recycled plastic ROI alongside The Body Shop and Amcor, focusing on world's first fairly traded sourcing.
• Consumer Goods ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Golden Design Rules were developed by the Consumer Goods Forum, a consortium of international consumer goods manufacturing companies representing more than 10% of the global plastics packaging market. PAC Global provides GDR training and consulting.
• Canada Plastics Pact (CPP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAC Global supports implementation partners for the Canada Plastics Pact Road Map. The Complete Plastics Packaging Course references Canada Plastics Pact in Circular Economy content.
• Canon CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted PAC DIGITAL: Diversify Your Business event on April 22, 2026 at Canon Canada, focusing on education and connections in the printing world.
• Ellen MacArthur FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Consumer Goods Forum's Golden Design Rules are intended to help achieve targets laid out in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.
• GeneraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted PAC CONNECT Webinar on 'Onshoring Package Supply Chains Without Tariff Impact' with economic and environmental insights from the produce industry.
• Reclay StewardEdgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresented webinar on 'Mastering Compliance with the Federal Plastics Registry' helping organizations ensure compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PMMI (The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies): US-based trade association for packaging and processing, organizer of PACK EXPO. Directly comparable to PAC Global as a membership-based industry body serving packaging manufacturers, converters, and brand owners, with overlapping awards, events, and education programs.
• AIPIA (Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association): Industry association focused on active and intelligent packaging technologies. Comparable to PAC Global as a specialty packaging membership body running events, awards, and member education in a packaging sub-vertical.
• Sustainable Packaging Coalition: Industry coalition focused on sustainable packaging design and circular economy, operating programs comparable to PAC Global's PAC NEXT and PIP360° benchmarking, with overlapping sustainability curriculum and member-network offerings.
• TAPPI: Association for the pulp, paper, packaging, and converting industries, offering technical conferences, courses, and standards. Comparable as a long-established industry association serving packaging-adjacent manufacturers with events and education.
• Smithers: Provider of packaging market research, testing, and industry events (e.g., Digital Print for Packaging). Comparable to PAC Global in delivering packaging-focused research, events, and education to CPG and converter clients.
• Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP): US professional society for individual packaging professionals, offering certifications, awards (Packaging Hall of Fame), and education. Closely mirrors PAC Global's PAC ED educational programming and member-services model for packaging practitioners.
• World Packaging Organisation (WPO): International non-profit packaging organization running the WorldStar Packaging Awards and education programs globally. Comparable to PAC Global as an international packaging industry body focused on recognition, education, and sustainability.

Broad incumbents

• Informa Markets (PACK EXPO International): Operates the largest North American packaging trade show (PACK EXPO) within a much larger events and exhibitions portfolio. Comparable as a packaging events authority but with significantly broader scale and resources than PAC Global.

Emerging players

• The Dieline: Leading packaging design media platform and operator of the Dieline Awards, a prominent global packaging design competition. Comparable to PAC Global's PAC Awards as a packaging design recognition platform with strong brand and CPG participation.

Regional players

• BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation): UK trade association for print and packaging industries. Comparable to PAC Global as a regional membership body delivering events, training, and standards for packaging and print professionals, though geographically focused on the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PAC_Consortium

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The Packaging Association