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Brian Steinwagner, Executive VP of Business DevelopmentFlexible packaging is a dynamic and adaptive solution that can take various shapes and sizes, providing a lightweight and resource-efficient alternative to traditional rigid packaging. From stand-up pouches and resealable bags to multi-layer films and remove foils, flexible packaging has become the go-to solution for industries ranging from food and beverages to pharmaceuticals and beyond. It fosters diversity in product applications, catering to a multitude of industries and consumer needs. This adaptability allows businesses to explore innovative packaging solutions that enhance product shelf life and contribute to a more circular economy.
This versatile packaging approach meets modern consumer demands and aligns with the imperative of environmental stewardship. It offers reduced material usage, lower transportation costs, and a decreased carbon footprint compared to its rigid counterparts. This eco-friendly approach aligns with the global push toward sustainable practices, making flexible packaging a beacon of change in the packaging landscape.
Morris Packaging meets these industry trends, as a driver of innovation and sustainability in flexible packaging design. By harnessing cutting-edge technology and placing sustainability at the core of its operations, the company draws on decades of knowledge and technical expertise to assist clients in crafting the most effective and sustainable packaging solutions.
“As an innovative company, we take pride in leading the packaging industry toward a more eco-friendly future by prioritizing recyclable materials, minimizing waste in food distribution, and responsibly using energy,” says Brian Steinwagner, Executive VP of Business Development at Morris Packaging.
Morris specializes in crafting custom-tailored, high-barrier sealants, laminations, and registered coatings, ensuring a seamless combination of barrier functionality and product design. The company's strengths lie in guaranteeing the success of customer partnerships, covering elements such as material compatibility with their equipment, cost competitiveness, and adherence to necessary timelines.
In 2022, Morris achieved significant milestones, recycling over a hundred million water bottles and preventing 7 million pounds of plastic from landfills. Anticipating further progress in 2023, it aims to surpass these achievements, cultivating customers embracing 100 percent recyclable packaging. Momentum builds, with more partners expressing interest in sustainability. The company remains dedicated to collaborating, guiding partners on their evolving sustainability journey.
Morris adopts a collaborative approach, understanding each customer's unique goals to present options that align with individual sustainability objectives. All plants maintain the highest level of Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification, ensuring rigorous standards. Sourced materials are FDA-approved, with meticulous verification of recycled content, preventing greenwashing.
As an innovative company, we take pride in leading the packaging industry toward a more eco-friendly future by prioritizing recyclable materials, minimizing waste in food distribution, and responsibly utilizing energy.
“Our primary objective is not just to sell another product; we aim to empower our customers to build thriving and sustainable businesses,” says Steinwagner.
An example involves assisting a major box store in integrating the highest percentage of recycled content without a substantial cost increase. The company helped achieve a 45 percent recycled content, including pre and post-consumer recycled resins. This had a significant impact, allowing the store to report material savings in their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report without compromising packaging performance.
Morris’ continued success stems from a collective effort of its sales, technical, and manufacturing teams. Before implementing changes, the teams conduct pre-plant visits to understand and address challenges. The unique environment fosters teamwork among sales, customer service, manufacturing, and R&D, making the overall process successful.
In contrast to some competitors that offer pre-designed products, Morris adopts a holistic approach, ensuring that its offerings are tailored to seamlessly integrate with customers' equipment and meet their packaging expectations. It prioritizes customer satisfaction by starting the innovation process from the client's perspective and working backward to develop materials that align with their specific needs. This customercentric methodology distinguishes the company, setting it apart from others in the industry. Morris’s commitment to understanding and addressing customer concerns positions it as a solutions-oriented partner, delivering customized and effective packaging solutions for a more eco-friendly future.
The Gold Standard for Sustainable Flexible Packaging
Manufacturing executives now evaluate packaging through a tighter lens than cost, appearance and throughput alone. Extended Producer Responsibility rules are pushing brands to understand what their packaging is made of, how much material it uses, whether it can move through recycling systems and whether any change will protect the product as reliably as the existing structure. Pressure is especially sharp in food, pet food, chemical and lawn markets, where packaging decisions affect shelf life, filling efficiency, freight economics and compliance exposure simultaneously.
A strong packaging partner must begin with measurement rather than substitution. Many companies know the format they use but lack a clear breakdown of layer weights, material composition and the baseline cost implications tied to EPR. Without that starting point, a shift to recycled content or recyclable film can become a guessing game. Executives should expect a disciplined review of current structures, product protection needs, filling equipment, headspace, package size and required features such as zippers or closures. Best solutions do not simply replace one film with another; they question whether each component still serves a functional purpose.
“Morris Packaging is best suited to brands that cannot treat EPR as a paperwork exercise and need a supplier that can integrate recyclability, recycled content, product protection and line performance into a single workable packaging program.”
Performance remains the central test. A recyclable package that causes spoilage, weak seals, puncture issues or slower filling lines fails the business case as well as the sustainability case. Manufacturing buyers should look for suppliers able to balance material reduction, barrier properties, machine compatibility and finished-package behavior before production begins. That includes trials, shelf and handling checks, line-speed validation and confirmation that the new structure can move through existing equipment without adding friction to the plant. This matters because packaging changes often affect more than compliance reporting. They can alter pallet patterns, storage demands, distributor expectations and consumer handling. A weak transition can shift costs elsewhere in the system. At the same time, a well-tested one protects margins and credibility for executives, making supplier selection a risk-control decision as much as a procurement decision. The right partner should clarify trade-offs early, test assumptions before scale-up and prevent sustainability upgrades from becoming production disruptions, customer complaints or avoidable redesign cycles once packaging reaches the plant floor or retail channel.
“Best solutions do not simply replace one film with another; they question whether each component still serves a functional purpose.”
Most credible providers also understand that EPR readiness is not a single-format decision. Some brands will prioritize post-consumer recycled content, while others will need mono-material structures that improve recyclability. Some will require lightweighting, others will need stronger barrier performance. A useful partner must meet the buyer’s target without forcing a narrow answer and then keep improving film formulations as regulations, collection infrastructure and resin availability evolve. It should also help management teams distinguish between visible sustainability claims and changes that genuinely reduce material burden without compromising product integrity.
Morris Packaging is a strong choice for executives who need sustainable, flexible packaging that remains practical in production. Its relevant strengths are concentrated in custom flexible packaging, mono-material polyethylene structures, PCR and PIR content options, package right-sizing and technical review of current materials. The transcript shows a process built around baseline material analysis, understanding onsite equipment, testing and trial validation. It also shows that the company starts by breaking down a customer’s current package into individual layer weights and material composition, then works through barrier needs, machine fit, headspace, thickness and closure requirements before proposing a revised structure. Morris Packaging is best suited to brands that cannot treat EPR as a paperwork exercise and need a supplier that can integrate recyclability, recycled content, product protection and line performance into a single workable packaging program.
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