Published: 3/3/2025

(Akron, Ohio) – March 3, 2025 - Smithers, a leading provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services, announces that Chad Atzemis, Commercial Director, will be speaking at the upcoming ISTA Forum 2025 in Orlando, Florida, from March 24 to March 26. Smithers is a premier sponsor of the event and a sponsor of the Educational Foundation dinner, focused on creating scholarships supporting the next generation of packaging leaders.

Atzemis’ presentation, titled “Adoption of Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Plastics in Packaging Applications from Markets to Material Validation,” is scheduled for Tuesday March 25, at 10:30 a.m. EDT. He will share an overview of the market for PCR plastics, with special focus placed on growth areas, market dynamics, and potential obstacles to more widespread adoption. Atzemis will also introduce a validation and quality control process based on various testing methodologies, designed with the goal of helping users understand their materials and their impact on end-use packaging.

“Sustainability is increasingly important for both brand owners and packaging suppliers, which is driving more companies to utilize PCR plastics in their packaging,” said Michael Kuebler, Technical Director of Distribution Testing, Smithers. “Chad’s presentation will emphasize the importance of validating these materials through testing in order to support performance optimization in the supply chain.”

Atzemis first joined the Smithers team in 2023 as a Senior Consultant and was promoted to Commercial Director last year. He has 20 years of technical service and business development experience in rubber, plastic, and color additives. Prior to his time at Smithers, he was Chief Operating Officer at Lianda Corporation. He earned his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from John Carroll University and his Master of Science in chemical entrepreneurship from Case Western Reserve University.

As a Premier Sponsor of the ISTA Forum 2025, Smithers will be present in the exhibition hall. A number of key Smithers leaders will be present at the conference to discuss the latest developments in transit testing and attendees’ testing challenges. 

“Smithers has been sponsoring the ISTA Forum for over 15 years,” said Kuebler. “We are incredibly proud of what we have accomplished in partnership with ISTA over the years, including the development of new testing standards, key field data collection projects, and other important collaborations. We’re looking to another year of building relationships with our packaging colleagues and driving the industry forward.”


Those interested in attending the ISTA Forum 2025 can register here.


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About Smithers:

Founded in 1925 and headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Smithers is a multinational provider of testing, consulting, information, and compliance services. With laboratories and operations in North America, Europe, and Asia, Smithers supports customers in the transportation, life science, packaging, materials, components, consumer, cannabis, dry commodities, and energy industries. Smithers delivers accurate data, on time, with high touch, by integrating science, technology, and business expertise, so customers can innovate with confidence