Arlington, Va.; February 25, 2008 - PMMI invites packaging professionals with technical, engineering, research, operations, marketing or design expertise to submit presentation proposals for the upcoming Conference at PACK EXPO. The three-day conference program will be held in conjunction with PACK EXPO International, November 9-13, 2008 at Chicago's McCormick Place.

To be considered as a speaker, visit www.pmmi.org/a/expo.asp. Candidates will need to complete and submit the Speaker Application Form, a presentation abstract (100 words maximum) and speaker profile.

The submission deadline is Friday, April 11, 2008.Candidates will be notified of the status of their submissions by Monday, April 28.

"Change, innovation and sustainability are hallmarks of today's packaging industry," says Ben Miyares, vice president, Industry Relations, for PMMI and director of the program. "A lot of groundbreaking work that can benefit the industry at large is being done in these areas. We're looking for experts on to share their knowledge and help attendees solve packaging challenges, improve competitiveness in the marketplace and reduce environmental impact."

All presentation proposals will be reviewed by an advisory panel of packaging professionals and PMMI management. Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria: overall quality (focus and content), uniqueness of topic, business value of topic, market experience and technical and/or production insight.

Special consideration will be given to presentations delivered by packaging managers of consumer packaged goods, industrial and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Abstracts that are commercial in nature will not be accepted.

Topics of particular interest for this year's program include:

• Packaging Sustainability
  • Minimizing Packaging without Compromising Integrity
  • Downsize, Don't Compromise Protective Packaging
  • Transforming Waste into Resources
  • How (and why) to Do a Packaging Sustainability Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
  • MERGE - A Quick, Low Cost Alternative to LCA
  • Lightweighting the package...and the Packaging Line
  • Transformed for Sustainability: Case studies
  • Navigating the Wal-Mart Sustainability Scorecard
  • Operational Pros & Cons of Package Size Elimination
  • Sustainable Package Tactics: Make it Bigger. Make it Smaller. Eliminate it.
  
  
• Changing Market Dynamics
  • Product Packaging Trends
  • Packaging Share of Market Projections
  • Safety. Obesity. Imports. Microwaves. What's Driving Package Innovation?
  • The Changing Packaging Demands of Customers and Consumers
  • Packages Consumers Love ... and Hate
  • Consumers Willing to Give up Convenience? Says Who?
  • How Drink Packages and Drink Packaging Lines are being Transformed
  • RFID's Killer App: Fighting Rx Counterfeiting
  
  
• Packaging 2018
  • Packaging's Next Big Thing - What to Expect and Why
  • Can Packaging be Entirely Outsourced?
  • Tracking the Unit Package: RFID and the Alternatives
  • Transport Packaging: Will Film Totally Replace Corrugated?
  • Dynamic Digital Labeling
  • Nanotechnology
  • Covert Packaging Security Options
  • Paper, Glass, Metal, Plastics. How will their Shares Fare?
  
  
• Packaging Operations
  • Low Energy, High Speed, Permanent Bottle Decorating, Labeling
  • Resource-Conserving Packaging Line Options
  • Reconfiguring the Line to Maximize Throughput
  • How to Audit and Cut Packops Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Robotics: Moving up from the End of the Line
  • Remote Control: Running, Diagnosing and Repairing Lines from Afar
  • Tricks, Tweaks & Tips to Boost Output on your Old Line
  • How to Eliminate Millions of Gallons of Water Waste on your Bottling Line
  
  
• Material Advances
  • Practical Considerations of Bio-Polymers
  • Bio/Eco-Polymers: Today and Tomorrow
  • Waste Not/Want Not: The Value of Recycled Materials
  • Antimicrobial/Anti-Toxin Material Developments
  • Meeting the Package Labeling Needs of the Blind
  • The Challenge of Recycling Flexibles
  
  
• Container/Closure Innovations
  • Featherweight Containers/Closures
  • Handling Challenges of Featherweight Containers/Closures
  • Multipacks: Beyond Baskets, Wraps & Loops
  • Next Generation Metal, Plastic & Composite Closures
  • Evaluating the Performance of Biodegradable Containers
  
  
• Next Generation Flexible Pouches
  • Performance Zippers & Fitments
  • Potable Water in Personal Lister Bags?
  • Is there a Carton in the Future of the Retortable Pouch?
  • Pouches that Look and Perform like Cartons and Cans
  • Are Pouches Ready for Pharma? Is Pharma Ready for Pouches?
  
  

For more information about PACK EXPO International 2008, visit www.packexpo.com or contact PMMI's Show Department: (703) 243-8555 or expo@pmmi.org.