The President’s Perspective: Lynn Dyer | Winter 2026

As we step into 2026, I’ve been reflecting on the question at the heart of any strong organization: How do we continue to demonstrate our value in a changing environment? 

The packaging policy landscape continues to evolve quickly. Expectations are higher. Conversations are more complex. And the need for clear, fact-based leadership has never been greater. That reality is guiding much of our focus this year. 

One of AMERIPEN’s key priorities for 2026 is to increase outreach to and engagement with stakeholders, especially legislators, to strengthen our leadership position and solidify our unique value proposition. This focus reflects what we heard directly from members through our recent survey and during the membership workshop at last year’s Annual Summit: lean in further, build stronger relationships, and ensure AMERIPEN’s voice is not simply present, but influential. 

AMERIPEN is uniquely positioned to do exactly that. 

We are the only trade association representing the entire packaging value chain, including material suppliers, packaging converters, brands, retailers, end-of-life material managers, and allied trade associations. We represent all packaging materials, formats, and end markets. That breadth is not common; it is precisely what gives us credibility when engaging with policymakers. 

However, it is not enough for us to understand what sets AMERIPEN apart. We must ensure others understand it as well. 

In 2026, we are focused not only on communicating outward, but on engaging meaningfully. Effective policy is built on relationships. That means continuing to show up in person through fly-ins, conferences, and direct engagement with lawmakers. It means equipping stakeholders with fact-based resources that ground policy discussions in data and real-world experience. And it means refining how we reach our audiences through enhanced policy resources, more targeted outreach, and clearer digital pathways that make our expertise accessible. 

You will see this commitment reflected in several ways this year. We are strengthening the tools and resources available to members, non-members and policymakers. We are sharpening how we present and explain our policy positions. We are elevating the new Power of Packaging™ website as a foundational platform for education and engagement. 

Before packaging is regulated, restricted, or redesigned, there must be a shared understanding of why packaging exists in the first place. Power of Packaging™ reinforces that foundation by highlighting packaging’s role in safety, access, affordability, innovation, and sustainability. It ensures that policy conversations begin with value, not assumption. 

While there are some organizations that report on packaging policy developments, AMERIPEN’s role is different. We are at the table shaping those discussions. We bring together diverse perspectives across the value chain and work toward practical, effective policy outcomes that reflect the realities of our industry. 

The policy decisions being made today will define the future of packaging in the United States. AMERIPEN is committed to leading that conversation, and leadership is strongest when it is collective. 

I invite you to lean in with us. Show up. Speak up. Engage your networks. Help ensure that practical, fact-based policy prevails. 

Together, we will not simply respond to packaging policy; we will shape it with clarity, credibility, and purpose. 

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to advancing responsible packaging policy in the United States. 

With gratitude, 

Lynn Dyer