The Paperboard Packaging Council’s 2025 Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference brought more than 200 industry leaders to Vancouver, B.C., marking PPC’s first return to the city in decades. Against the backdrop of a place known for its global outlook and spirit of connection, the meeting became a timely reflection of where the fiber-based packaging stands today: strengthening collaboration, celebrating innovation, and preparing for a future defined by rapid change. As economic complexity rises and technology reshapes business models, the Vancouver gathering served as a collective moment of alignment; an affirmation that progress comes when PPC members face challenges together, share openly, and support one another through periods of evolution.
The meeting opened with a highly anticipated keynote from Laurent Sellier, CEO, Smurfit Westrock North America, who offered members a clear, measured view of how the newly merged global company is positioning itself for the future. Sellier emphasized that the merger’s true strength lies not in size, but in strategic alignment. He described a company building toward greater agility, tighter global connectivity, and long-term investment discipline to meet the rising expectations of customers across markets. “We are building a company prepared for the future—one connected from region to region, combining the best of both legacies into something stronger than either could be alone,” he said. His remarks immediately set the tone for a conference focused on readiness, collaboration, and forward-looking leadership.