Referendum 2023

An Important Message from P+PB Board Chair, Jonathan Kraft

This October, paper manufacturers and importers supporting this campaign will be asked if they want to continue investing in this unified effort.

The business case for the campaign is strong and compelling as concern for the environment is not going away and customers and consumers alike are looking for industry to lead the way. Therefore, telling our industry’s leadership and sustainability story at this time is a competitive advantage and a story worth telling.

P+PB Board Chair Jonathan Kraft speaks about the importance in business of building on momentum and continuing this important consumer conversation.

State of the Campaign Report is Now Available

The 9^th annual State of the Campaign report is now available. This key annual touchpoint details the P+PB's ongoing impact on industry reputation, consumer preference and achieving all-time high engagement with our campaign ahead of the continuance referendum this October.

The piece showcases our recent work – including the Go Papertarian! initiative, Pack It! The Packaging Recycling Design Challenge, and pizza box recycling efforts – and details how the campaign is working to increase fiber recovery through education, showcasing innovation through plastic substitution and demonstrating the industry’s forest stewardship.

Read the report here.

Your Campaign and Referendum Questions Answered

Don't see your question below? Read the full FAQ here.

The Paper and Packaging Board was established January 21, 2014. Our Order requires the industry to hold a “continuance referendum” no later than every seven years to vote on whether or not to continue the program. Company designees will receive a mailed paper ballot and an electronic ballot via email with a simple yes or no question about continuing the program. Voting will take place between October 6 and 20, 2023.
The USDA runs, tallies and reports the results. USDA reports the results as quickly as possible. Results are anticipated no later than November 2023. For the program to continue, a simple majority of those voting must vote yes and represent a majority of the voting volume of paper and paper-based packaging. Learn more.
Our 2023 State of the Campaign report recaps progress against key reputation measures along with measures of consumer preference. The campaign’s message changed in 2021 to focus on the industry’s unrivaled sustainability story. Campaign metrics show that sustainability is resonating with consumers, customers and the industry – setting the paper industry apart from other competing materials and creating a more favorable marketplace as a result for paper and packaging manufacturers and downstream companies. Since advertising first hit the market in July 2015, reputation metrics are at all-time highs.
The program addresses several related business objectives that speak to a range of issues facing the paper and packaging industry that the board believes an ongoing consumer conversation can support.

Increase residential fiber recovery;

Showcase paper innovations and plastic substitution;

Reduce guilt about using trees, a renewable resource;

Promote sustainable features that customers want in their consumer product and shipping packaging and paper provides; and

Buffer against attacks and threats to the industry.
Yes. In addition to taking on multiple business objectives the campaign has:

Created a unified voice in the marketplace. Sharing the industry story of renewability, innovation and recycling leadership with consumers and customers benefits ALL! companies with markets in the U.S.

Generated robust consumer engagement, most recently in our papertarian campaign and other consumers initiatives.

3 billion impressions (July 22,2022 – June 23, 2023); 734 million video views, 23 million social engagements and 3 million website visits

Growing adoption of the Box to Nature residential recycling initiative and EMPTY. FLATTEN. RECYCLE. message on residential e-commerce boxes

Industry Leaders Voice Support

Referendum 2023: Santiago Arbelaez, International Paper

Referendum 2023: Rob Shepherd, The Kraft Group

Referendum 2023: Rob Melton, Domtar

Referendum 2023: Richard Bennett, PactivEvergreen

Referendum 2023: Mark Beamesderfer, Metsa Board

Referendum 2023: Lynda Ramsey, Domtar

Referendum 2023: Jonathan Kraft, The Kraft Group

Referendum 2023: John Mulcahy, Georgia-Pacific

Referendum 2023: Beth Cormier, Sappi

Referendum 2023: An Boon, Graphic Packaging International

Let's Talk Referendum

A personal invitation from P+PB President Mary Anne Hansan

Have questions, comments, ideas or observations about the Paper and Packaging Board program? I invite you to reach out to me directly to talk. I value my time with you and the one-on-one conversations with our member companies.

You can reach me at mahansan@paperandpackaging.org or 703-935-8591.