Flexible Packaging history

Though cardboard itself had been invented several hundred years earlier in China, the cardboard box wasn’t created until 1817 by Sir Malcolm Thornhill.

Aluminum particles were first extracted from bauxite ore in 1825 at the high price of $545 per pound.

Styrene was first distilled from a balsam tree in 1831.

Vinyl chloride, discovered in 1835, provided for the further development of rubber chemistry.

Fast forward to the Industrial Revolution: this era (starting from about 1760-1840) gave way to major technological advancements, as the demand for better quality packaging increased.

Soon, soft, collapsible metal tubes that today would be known as "flexible packaging" were first designed for artist's paints in 1841.

Francis Wolle created the bag-making machine in the United States in 1852.

The process of extracting cellulose from wood pulp was developed in 1867.

Patented in 1870, “celluloid” could not be molded, but rather carved and shaped, just like ivory.

Nine years later (1875), the can opener was invented.

One development that enhanced the process was the first automatic rotary bottle making machine, patented in 1889.

Cellulose acetate, a bioplastic, was first developed from wood pulp in 1900.

After the beginning of the century, in 1905, machinery was created to produce printed paper bags quickly.

In 1912, Brandenberger built a machine to manufacture cellophane film.

A more robust multi-walled paper bag for larger quantities could not replace cloth sacks until 1925 when a method for sewing the ends was finally developed.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE) was patented in 1941.

The Flexible Packaging Association, originally called the National Flexible Packaging Association, was founded as a corporate membership organization on July 19, 1950.

The Finnish Suominen family founded the innovative company in 1952.

In 1956, the first flexible packaging competition was established with Paper, Film & Foil Converter magazine as a co-sponsor.

But it became apparent that the bags could do much more, and Ziploc® bags were introduced in 1968 as food storage bags.The first baggies and sandwich bags on a roll were introduced

In 1971 a plant in Ikaalinen, Finland was bought to specialise in the development of Minigrip bags.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles were first patented in 1973 by chemist Nathaniel Wyeth.

In 1985, Sami Suominen who together with his wife had founded the company suddenly died, and their son took up the position as managing director.

In 2000, Marla Donahue was named as President and Chief Operating Officer.

The following year, FPA moved to 971 Corporate Blvd., Suite 403, Linthicum, MD 21090, and in 2015, FPA relocated to 185 Admiral Cochrane Drive, Suite 105, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Alison Keane, Esq., CAE was named FPA President & CEO in 2016.