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Pallet C e nt ral • Ma rch -Ap r il 2 0 24 11 Ybrarra Joins NWPCA As Manager, Public Affairs T he NWPCA is thrilled to welcome Gabriella Ybarra (pronounced ē-bar-ra) as our new manager of public affairs. She will play an integral role in increasing the impact of NWPCA's communications and social media campaigns and federal advocacy programs, and she will support the association's Political Action Committee. Gabriella joins NWPCA as a recent graduate of Mississippi State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Political Science and Special Education. In Gabriella's most recent roles, she has served as a legislative affairs intern with the USDA Forest Service and as a field organizer for Mississippi's governor race in 2023. ese roles have allowed her to maintain strong analytical abilities and effective communication skills related to public policy. Alliance For Sustainable Packaging For Foods Formed; NWPCA Founding Member A n industry coalition has launched the Alliance for Sustainable Packaging for Foods (ASPF), uniting diverse global stakeholders to reshape food packaging regulations for environmental sustainability. NWPCA is a founding member of ASPF along with other associations including Aneberries, Canadian Produce Marketing Association, FMI—e Food Industry Association, Fruit South Africa, Frutas de Chile, International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), National Milk Producers Federation, National Council of Farmers Coops, North American Meat Institute, Organic Trade Association, Reusable Packaging Association, Stop Foodborne Illness, US Dairy Export Council, and Western Growers Association. e ASPF aims to engage with regulators, governments, researchers, and civil society organizations to ensure that food packaging regulations achieve environmental sustainability without compromising food safety and product quality, and without increasing the carbon footprint of the industry. "We're proud to be a founding member of ASPF and continue to expand our global engagement on behalf of the industry. Wooden pallets foster environmental sustainability without compromising safety or quality. Inherently reusable and 100% recyclable, wooden pallets support ASPF's goal of significantly reducing packaging waste," commented Jason Ortega, NWPCA Vice President of Public Affairs. "By promoting wooden transport packaging, the alliance can advocate for a circular reuse system, minimizing the environmental impact of packaging disposal." For more information about NWPCA's work with the ASPF, contact Jason Ortega at jortega@palletcentral.com or visit allianceforsustainablepackaging.com/en. Ortega Keynotes TIMCON Annual Mee ng, Visits Member Facility K eynoting at the general meeting of the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON), held in Manchester in January, NWPCA Vice President of Public Affairs Jason Ortega echoed the theme of international partnerships as he presented an update on NWPCA activities. Ortega's remarks mention a new carbon calculator in development and preview an enhanced partnership with TIMCON as the two organizations embark on a joint initiative to help TIMCON's membership meet increasing sustainability obligations. John Dye, president of TIMCON, said strong relationships with international and domestic associations—including the European Federation of Pallet & Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB), National Wooden Pallet & Container Association, National Association of Pallet Distributors, Timber Development UK, Wood Panel Industries Federation, and the Wood Recyclers Association, which were all represented at the event—are vital to advancing the interests of timber-based businesses, including cooperating on policy matters affecting the industry, such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and working together to source high-quality data to inform better decision making for businesses. During the week, Jason also visited member facility Scott Pallets. ank you to John Dye and the Scott Pallets team for welcoming Jason to their facility outside Edinburgh, Scotland.

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