Knowledge Moves Us Forward

November 6, 2026

Every fall, millions of students head back to school—new classrooms, new teachers, new subjects, new opportunities to learn.

But “back to school” shouldn’t apply only to our children and grandchildren. In the packaging industry, learning is a lifelong requirement. Technology changes. Equipment becomes more sophisticated. Customers expect more. AI and automation are reshaping how we work. And a new generation of employees and future leaders must develop the skills necessary to keep our companies competitive.

That is why supporting the Foundation for Packaging Education is one of the most important investments an AICC member can make.

Through the generosity of donors, the foundation helps AICC provide education that reaches employees throughout our industry, from someone spending their first week in a box plant to an emerging leader preparing to run one.

A cornerstone of that effort is AICC’s Packaging University. Since its launch in 2017, more than 30,000 courses have been completed. Today, Packaging University offers more than 150 courses across nine colleges, including approximately 40 courses in Spanish. For employees of dues-paying AICC member companies, that education is available as part of their membership.

Think about what that means. A plant employee can strengthen technical knowledge. A salesperson can better understand the products they sell. A supervisor can become a stronger manager. A future executive can begin developing the leadership skills needed to guide a company through its next generation.

The classroom never closes, but high-quality education does not happen by itself. Courses must be updated as our industry changes. New programs must be developed, more content needs to be translated, and leadership programs must continue to prepare the people who will someday lead our companies and our Association.

That requires resources, and that is where the Foundation for Packaging Education comes in. When you become a foundation donor, you aren’t simply making a contribution to a foundation. You are putting someone in a classroom. You are giving an employee an opportunity to grow. You are helping a company develop its next supervisor, salesperson, technical expert, or president. Most importantly, you are investing in the future of the independent packaging industry.

So, as students everywhere head back to school this fall, perhaps it is worth asking ourselves, “Who will help educate the next generation of our industry?”

The answer should be all of us. Please consider becoming a donor to the Foundation for Packaging Education. Our industry’s future is already in the classroom. Let’s make sure we give it the education it deserves.