IMFA 2025 Annual Conference Recap: Charting the Future of Molded Fiber

The 27th Annual Conference of the International Molded Fiber Association convened April 30 – May 2, 2025, at the elegant Hyatt Regency Coral Gables in Miami. Against a backdrop of sunny courtyards and Mediterranean architecture, molded fiber industry leaders gathered for a content-rich program highlighting the innovations, challenges, and collaborations shaping the future of sustainable packaging.

This year’s event brought together more than a dozen expert speakers from across the globe, representing technology suppliers, composting certifiers, legal experts, and multinational manufacturers. As the pressure to reduce plastic production and waste accelerates, the conference provided a timely look into how molded fiber is meeting that challenge head-on with science, policy, and market-driven solutions.

Welcome to Miami

The conference opened with scheduled time to visit our exhibit hall and a dedicated members-only session. Attendees began arriving throughout the day, connecting in the evening over cocktails and conversation during the Welcome Reception in the hotel’s iconic Court of Lions. This informal gathering set a friendly and collegial tone for two days of intensive learning, collaboration, and innovation.

Innovation in Action

The conference officially kicked off Thursday morning with welcome remarks from IMFA’s leadership team, including IMFA Executive Chairman Gary Visser, IMFA Founder Joseph Grygny, and IMFA Executive Director Ashley Boger. Their opening message emphasized the industry’s momentum and the importance of collaborative progress in the face of evolving materials regulations, consumer demands, and environmental imperatives.

Compostability and Compliance

Susan Thoman, Managing Director of the Compost Manufacturing Alliance LLC, opened the conference with a detailed look at the field-testing data behind compostable fiber packaging. With more than 7,000 product SKUs evaluated for disintegration under ASTM D6868 and related standards, CMA’s work has become the gold standard for verifying what does (and doesn’t!) break down in modern composting facilities. Thoman discussed how molded fiber foodservice packaging plays a critical role in food scrap recovery and highlighted CMA’s efforts in fluorine testing and certification processes that are increasingly necessary for market acceptance.

Following Thoman, Katie Skaggs, a regulatory attorney and Partner at Keller and Heckman LLP, explored the growing landscape of state-level packaging legislation. Her presentation highlighted how new laws focused on topics such as EPR, PFAS, and chemical disclosures are reshaping the compliance landscape for molded fiber manufacturers. Skaggs walked attendees through the potential financial and operational impacts of these laws, emphasizing the need for proactive regulatory strategy as states continue to pass packaging-specific legislation.

Tackling Raw Materials and Driving R&D

In the next block, Scott Machen, Product Manager of Triosim Corporation, addressed one of the most pressing challenges in molded fiber: raw furnish contamination. As paper recycling streams become more mixed and degraded, Machen presented a range of pulping and detrashing solutions to maintain efficiency and quality using lower-cost feedstocks. His presentation underlined how investment in preparation systems can reduce dependency on premium furnish and support sustainability goals.

Taking the stage next, Genera's Kelly Tiller and Matt Griswold presented a compelling vision of how public-private partnerships and regional innovation ecosystems—such as the NSF-funded “Greening the Southeast” project—are creating new opportunities for fiber sourcing and processing. The pair shared how perennial grass crops and agricultural byproducts are being developed into feedstocks for molded fiber, with the goal of reducing environmental impact and creating a truly circular bioeconomy.

"The Five" Returns – Machinery, Materials, and Market Trends

One of the most highly anticipated segments of the conference was "The Five” presentations and panel, featuring back-to-back micro sessions from key equipment and material suppliers.

• Francesco Favaro of FTT introduced attendees to next-generation Type 3 fiber thermoforming machines, highlighting how fiber-based packaging can now compete with plastic in form, function, and price. Using real-world cost modeling, he showed how the so-called “green premium” is shrinking thanks to advancements in forming precision and drying efficiency.
• Manfred Habeck of SOUTHERN PULP MACHINERY (Pty) Ltd offered an honest look at the operational pitfalls in molded fiber production. Drawing from decades of global plant installations, he emphasized the importance of thorough preparation, staff training, and consistent communication protocols to avoid downtime and maximize uptime in molded fiber manufacturing.
• Chris Lo, Managing Director of TAW HOLDINGS LIMITED, gave a succinct history of hot press machine development and previewed several new post-forming technologies designed to streamline molded fiber production and improve product finish.
• Christopher Stevens, President of Dalton Electric Heating Co., presented innovative process heat technologies, including split-sheath cartridge heaters. His talk revealed how optimized heating systems can reduce energy consumption, speed up cycle times, and minimize scrap—giving fiber thermoforming a competitive edge over plastic molding.
• Michael Krawson of Sustana Fiber closed the panel by with an energetic presentation of new developments in recycled fiber sourcing, including work with high-performance, post-consumer feedstocks optimized for molded fiber applications.

The session concluded with a breakout panel discussion where audience members had the opportunity to pose questions directly to the presenters, fostering in-depth dialogue on machine compatibility, global deployment challenges, and technology integration.

Bill Haskins, Senior Technical Advisor at Juno, closed out the day with a presentation on Juno Pulp, a novel fiber derived from waste recovery that serves as a functional alternative to declining newsprint stocks. His presentation highlighted how Juno’s proprietary process diverts landfill-bound waste to create high-quality pulp suitable for molded fiber, and how its demonstration plant in Oregon is scaling toward full commercial production.

Innovative Newcomers and a Lifetime of Service

Our busy Thursday of conference sessions closed with our awards ceremony, beginning with this year’s Student Award Winner. In the Student Competition, university teams select product that is currently packaged using less environmentally friendly materials and replace components with sustainable molded fiber. Representing his team from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Preston Briggs presented the winning design which replaced polystyrene packaging used in shipping a waffle iron. Their entry addressed not just sustainability but also cost, efficiency, the unboxing experience, and shipping size, earning them well-deserved recognition from the IMFA main stage.

After celebrating industry newcomers, we turned our attention to the prestigious Joe Grygny Lifetime Achievement Award, given this year to IMFA Executive Chairman Gary Visser. This recognition is given to industry leaders who have left an indelible mark on the molded fiber industry, and this year’s winner is only the eighth person to ever receive this honor. Longtime colleague and friend Godfrey Sabido presented this award to Gary in a heartfelt speech, which is available to watch online here: https://youtu.be/YQwmppPPMkA

Breaking Bread

The IMFA Annual Conference brought more than just insightful sessions and panels – it also provided a valuable opportunity for connection. Held again at the Court of Lions, the evening offered a relaxed atmosphere for attendees to unwind, network, exchange ideas, and deepen industry relationships. With a mix of longtime colleagues and new faces, the dinner reflected the collaborative spirit that defines the molded fiber community. Conversations ranged from emerging trends and regulatory updates to shared challenges and innovative solutions.

Strategy, Collaboration, and Closing Perspectives

Friday’s keynote speaker, Ann O'Hara, President of Huhtamaki North America, delivered a powerful call to action titled “It Takes a Village.” With decades of global experience across packaging substrates, O’Hara explored how molded fiber fits into a broader ecosystem of sustainability and consumer expectations. She urged stakeholders to adopt a unified approach across regulators, suppliers, manufacturers, and trade groups to address barriers and seize emerging opportunities in fiber packaging.

Following the keynote, attendees had the opportunity to attend the returning popular Molded Fiber 101 interactive workshop, as well as committee report-outs on TAPPI engagement and IMFA’s Government Affairs initiatives. The conference officially concluded with final closing remarks and a scenic group fishing excursion to end the event on a high note.

A Community in Motion

The 2025 IMFA Conference proved that molded fiber is no longer a niche solution; it's a central player in the future of sustainable packaging. From process heat to post-forming innovation, regulatory navigation to fiber sourcing, the conference offered a comprehensive view of an industry in transition and on the rise.

As we look to Barcelona in 2026, one thing is clear: the molded fiber community is stronger, more connected, and more committed than ever to making sustainability scalable and success inevitable.

Registration is now open for IMFA’s 28th Annual Conference, scheduled for April 13-17 in Barcelona, Spain! Pre-registration and more information are available here. We hope to see you for our return to Europe!