Beyond the Shelf: The Product & Packaging Podcast

by Specright

Today, the world is demanding more of products and packaging: they need to meet consumer demands, be sustainable, and travel through complex supply chains. Simply put, companies that make things need to respond faster than ever to change. Welcome to “Beyond the Shelf: The Product and Packaging Podcast," presented by Specright. In this podcast, we’ll interview experts and industry leaders across food, beauty, CPG, and industr ... 

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Podcast episodes

  • Season 3

  • Beyond the Shelf and Sustainable Packaging Podcast Live from Spec Summit 2025

    Beyond the Shelf and Sustainable Packaging Podcast Live from Spec Summit 2025

    In this episode of Beyond the Shelf: The Product & Packaging Podcast, Laura Foti is joined by Cory Connors and Brodie Vander Dussen, hosts of the Sustainable Packaging Podcast live from the Specification Management Summit, presented by Specright. The group discusses the significance of Spec Summit in showcasing Specright’s innovations and its impact on Specification Management. The conversation highlights how digitizing specs can streamline processes, improve sustainability efforts, and enhance collaboration across packaging and product development teams. Brodie shares insights from a panel she moderated on dedicated spec management roles, while Cory emphasizes the urgency of data readiness for new regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The hosts reflect on the annual event's community spirit, learning opportunities, and success stories from companies using Specright to save time and reduce errors. You can connect with Cory and Brodie on LinkedIn and follow their podcast here. Beyond the Shelf is presented by Specright, the leader in Specification Management. To learn more and request a demo, click here. To listen to previous Beyond the Shelf podcast episodes, click here.

  • Sustainability, Compliance, and Claims: Insights from Sheila Millar

    Sustainability, Compliance, and Claims: Insights from Sheila Millar

    In this episode of Beyond the Shelf: The Product & Packaging Podcast, Laura Foti chats with Shelia Millar, of Keller and Heckman LLC. Sheila leads Keller and Heckman’s consumer protection regulatory practices and brings deep experience to a range of public policy and regulatory matters, including advertising and promotions, sustainability and environmental claims, connected products, privacy, cybersecurity, and product safety. She counsels United States (U.S.) and international businesses on compliance questions and processes, represents them in regulatory enforcement matters, and advocates on their behalf before federal and state legislative and regulatory bodies. In this episode, Sheila highlights the challenges companies face with inconsistent regulations and emphasizes the importance of substantiating advertising claims to avoid allegations of greenwashing. Sheila advises companies to leverage trade associations for information tracking and emphasizes the need for data collection and continuous monitoring in making sustainable claims. The conversation touches on extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws, packaging regulations, consumer education, and the complexities of balancing environmental goals with practical considerations like food safety. You can connect with Sheila at millar@khlaw.com or connect with her on LinkedIn. Beyond the Shelf is presented by Specright, the leader in Specification Management software. To learn more or request a demo, click here. To listen to other Beyond the Shelf episodes, click here.

  • Data-Driven Sustainability in Fresh Foods: Insights from Kitty Dowgert Taylor Farms

    Data-Driven Sustainability in Fresh Foods: Insights from Kitty Dowgert Taylor Farms

    In this episode of Beyond the Shelf: The Product & Packaging Podcast, Laura Foti chats with Kitty Dowgert, Senior Manager of Specification Program at Taylor Farms, about making data-driven decisions for product development and more sustainable packaging. To connect with Kitty on LinkedIn, click here. To learn more about Taylor Farms, click here. Beyond the Shelf is presented by Specright, the leader in Specification Management. Click here to learn more or request a demo. To listen to previous episodes of Beyond the Shelf, click here.

  • From Legislation to Innovation: The Path to Sustainable Packaging with Paul Nowak, GreenBlue

    From Legislation to Innovation: The Path to Sustainable Packaging with Paul Nowak, GreenBlue

    In this episode of Beyond the Shelf: The Product & Packaging Podcast, Laura Foti chats with Paul Nowak, Executive Director of GreenBlue, about the organization's efforts in advancing sustainable practices through education and collaboration. Paul shares insights on GreenBlue's mission to accelerate a just and sustainable materials economy, highlighting their key programs like Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) and How2Recycle. He discusses the challenges and opportunities posed by Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, emphasizing the importance of managing packaging data for compliance. Paul also touches on future trends in packaging sustainability, such as paperization and advanced recycling technologies. Additionally, he underscores the significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in driving innovative solutions for sustainability challenges. The conversation concludes with Paul's advice to choose courage over fear and take actionable steps towards sustainability goals while leveraging strategic partnerships. To learn more about GreenBlue and its programs, click here or connect with Paul on LinkedIn. Beyond the Shelf is presented by Specright, the leader in Specification Management, to learn more or request a demo, click here. To listen to preview Beyond the Shelf podcast episodes, click here.

  • Navigating Packaging Policy: A Conversation with AMERIPEN's Dan Felton

    Navigating Packaging Policy: A Conversation with AMERIPEN's Dan Felton

    In this episode of Beyond the Shelf: The Product & Packaging Podcast, Laura Foti chats with Dan Felton, Executive Director of AMERIPEN. In this episode, they discuss AMERIPEN's role in policy and advocacy for the packaging industry, emphasizing material inclusiveness. Felton highlights several regulatory challenges facing packaging today, particularly extended producer responsibility (EPR), which has gained traction in the US due to increased packaging usage during COVID-19 and heightened global focus on environmental sustainability. He underscores the importance of collaborative efforts across various stakeholders—from recyclers to brand owners—to address these challenges effectively. The conversation also touches on how state-level complexities in recycling regulations can pose additional hurdles and why it's crucial for industry experts to engage with policymakers to ensure informed decisions are made. You can learn more about AMERIPEN here and connect with Dan on LinkedIn. To listen to other Beyond the Shelf podcast episodes, click here. Beyond the Shelf is presented by Specright, the leader in Specification Management. To learn more, click here or request a demo.