Sustainable Packaging

Paris Packaging Week Future Leaders! Mariia Baranova / Laurine Friche

Cory Connors and Brodie Vander Dussen Season 4 Episode 331

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariiabaranova/

Connect with Laurine Friche 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurinefriche/

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Cory Connors:

Welcome to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors and Brodie van der Dusen. We're very excited for today's, podcast. Some future leaders from Paris Packaging Week. We've got Maria Baranora and Lauren. Preach. Very excited to have you both. I apologize if I mispronounce your names, but please correct me if I was wrong. And we're really thrilled with the program that Paris Packaging Week has developed with this future leaders program, because we see it as the future of innovation. In packaging, and you two are great representatives for that. So, if you don't mind, tell us a little bit about each of your background. Lauren, we'll start with you.

Laurine Friche:

So, hello, everyone. I'm Lorraine Friche. Originally from France, I completed my master's degree from an engineering school specializing in, matter, material physics and chemistry. And, in 2019, I completed my final internship at an Alba tube factory, focusing on qualifying new recycled materials. Following this, I was hired as a chemical engineer at Alba electroplating plants in Northern France. After a few months, I was promoted to quality manager of the plant and seeking for CSR challenges. I was, I started in 2022 now as a material science expert in the CSR department of Albea. Cosmetic and fragrances.

Cory Connors:

Wow. That's incredible for such an early stage of your career. Well, well done. I feel like I need to work harder and do more great things. So good for you. Well done, Maria. You're up next. So

Mariia Baranova:

I have less experience in LBA, I would say, so I have much, much less posts that I have, have tried in LBA and I have started, I would say, if we go for the first, for the roots, I have moved in France in 2015. to do the studies in marine biology. And after very quickly, I was passionate about the ecology. So I changed a lot of the, my field. And I finished with the master degree in ecotoxicology and ecophysiology. If I translate it in human language, it means the studies of the climate change, pollution, and other factors on the living organism and ecosystems. And so after graduating in 2020, I have decided that I want to do something with that. And, I have specialized in, sustainability and I was looking for the apprenticeship on the field. And I have joined in 2021. And in 2020 I ended up in the CSR team with CSR projects. So on different fields. And yeah, that's all for now. It's still in the CSR without any change.

Cory Connors:

That's incredible.

Brodie Vander Dussen:

That's all for now. But wow, that's quite a lot already. That's great.

Cory Connors:

you're both incredible. I'm so excited to, to get to interview you both. This is a real honor. Thank you.

Brodie Vander Dussen:

Thank you for having us. So question, so how did you guys get involved with Paris Packaging Week? I know you both said that you guys came to France and are studying in France, so how did the Packaging Week connect to the work that you guys are doing now?

Laurine Friche:

Maya, well, last year our communication team and our chief, encouraged us to apply for the to the future leaders. And we had the greet to be nominated, but it wasn it was us who decided to do it. It's, our, our team in Albea because, they were looking for, four people under 30 years old. And, and we. We said yes, because it's a really good opportunity to us to connect with industry leaders and to meet the other future leaders. So it was an incredible experience.

Brodie Vander Dussen:

Wow. Yeah, I think that's great. I think it's so cool to have, programs like this where you can elevate younger people in the industry who are doing really great things like you guys are. To be able to network with people who are more experienced than we do, but still, we all have something to bring to the table. So I think it's. I think this is super cool. So glad that you guys were nominated and said yes to that. I think that's also a really brave first step.

Laurine Friche:

We had to speak in front of many people.

Brodie Vander Dussen:

that's a lot. It does take some bravery to do that for sure.

Mariia Baranova:

Yeah, that's it. And especially the, I think that's created some kind of community because in any case, the industry, it's not easy for young professionals. I think it's obvious. for all of us, it's not easy, and it's quite great to have the community where you can speak about the niche sector where you're working on and to exchange the ideas and the experiences, which are quite different because you work in different companies, but still with the same challenges. So it's quite cool. Indeed, it was quite a lot. It was a lot to proceed and it was really exciting.

Cory Connors:

Congratulations to you both. This is, it's a huge honor. And I've spoken with Christelle that, that runs the Paris packaging week event and, this program. and, The reason for this is very pure, like you're speaking about. it's all for good, and it's all for positive. I'd like to know if you've had any doors open because of this award that you've both received any new opportunities.

Mariia Baranova:

Okay. so yes, we, but for example, we are speaking with you today. So it was thanks to Paris Packaging Week, and as we have, Lauren has said, we have a panel discussion, so we talk with the public in the, during the Paris Packaging Week. And it was, give the voice. And, we also have, but the community. We have the exchange in the emails, some of the opportunities that appears in our newsletter. And so, yeah, that's all. It's open the doors. One challenge is that when we have the busy schedule is to jump in this opportunity that open the door. That is quite challenging. Of course. Yes. And I think that in the future there will be when we will be more, when there will be more people who will be nominated, that we will win. We will become bigger and bigger. Maybe one of the day we'll not be so young in this field and we will be able to open ourselves the opportunities. we will be able to open the opportunity for someone else that it's a beautiful part of the community, I think.

Cory Connors:

Well said. That's exciting. Yeah. To be able to pass that forward. the, I had mentors growing up in the industry when I was your age, and I am very thankful to them. And now I get the opportunity to do the same and bring people back up and say, here's what I've learned. And, and it's a true honor to be able to do that. And it feels so good to be able to, give back to the next generation. And then, and then I'm, I believe that the three of you in this call will do the same. So well done.

Brodie Vander Dussen:

I love that. I love the image that comes to mind, even of someone reaching down with an arm open or hand open to pull our generation up. And then we get to turn around and do the same thing back to the next generations to come. I think it's so cool that like passing of knowledge, of community, of. opportunity too. I think that's amazing. I love this community that you guys talk about. I think that's huge. I think, especially in business and, in our careers, that's not something that we always find. I feel like sometimes it's a little bit cut throat, a little bit, a little, like I want to keep my opportunities for myself, but it's really cool to have a community within the space. To that. It's the opposite. people wanting to share and wanting to grow into, collaborate. I think that's amazing. So you mentioned this albeit group that you guys work for. I'm probably not pronouncing that right. can you tell us a little bit more about what that is? What do you guys do there? and how does that kind of play into the packaging industry?

Laurine Friche:

So, Halbea Group is a global leader in beauty, personal care, and pharma packaging. We provide brands of all sizes with innovative and responsible packaging. like for example, solution, like for example, lipsticks or choose mascara compacts and so on jars and many mores, let's say, and we have, sustainability and, sustainability is at the core of the strategy and the product development there. So it is in the center of the Albia strategy. And, so as we said before, Maria and I are in CSR, department of Albia. And, and for example, as, as a material science expert, I focus on, integrating, recycled material, also called PCR. so post consumer recycled material in our solutions. we have. We have committed to have a 10 percent of PCR in our packaging by 2025 and, our target would be 30 percent in 2030. And, also we need to reuse, to reduce the use of the fossil because we need to reduce the use of fossil origin region. And, in, in parallel, I'm also, for example, supporting the plans, to decrease, the use of the non recyclable resins and increase the recyclable ones. Our goal is to reset, to provide recyclable cosmetic packaging. Of course.

Cory Connors:

That's wonderful. Maria, do you have anything to add to that?

Mariia Baranova:

About the RBI, I don't think so. It's quite the, but that's, it's, we don't have anything else. And for my part, I'm working as CSR project leader and I have two main mission in my post. The first one is regarding the CSR reporting and the follow up of the progress on the CSR commitments on global level. And of course, CSRD, like someone who works in sustainability, we are all working for the legislation. And, for other part, I'm looking for assess the carbon footprint of packaging. So it's LCA and the full impact from the products and the processes.

Cory Connors:

I believe that the younger generation has really taken hold and really, grabbed a hold of sustainability. And I wanted to get, both of your thoughts on that. How has the younger generation taken sustainability by the horns and said, we're gonna do this, we're gonna move forward. like it or not?

Laurine Friche:

I think that since our childhood, we have been more aware about, climate change and, issues than older generations, if I can say. And therefore, we know that We don't want to repeat the same scenario. And we have, there are new training, new programs that have emerged. And we continue to educate ourselves and the industry every day. We need to. And because we can only achieve that together. So we will. And it's, yes, we need to, we are still studying the topic, every day,

Cory Connors:

Excellent points. Yeah. Well said. Maria, any thoughts?

Mariia Baranova:

Yeah, I'm totally agree with Loreen and one thing that I have observed during my short, professional life is that more I meet the people of, younger genera of young generation, younger than me and even a bit older, I would say, so I see in their eyes is ready for change. They're not scared to transform the things. And in the usual way, and it's quite important in the terms of the crisis that we're living in And what is was Really things that I remark during my work is also it's worldwide. It's not only in Europe. When you see the younger generation in Europe, I would say, so it's quite wider. You have not only our younger generations are active that want to push, but worldwide, you see this difference and it's quite impressive because when you see the people from other points of world, and there's so energy, they have so much energy, so much. And I think it's really important that we all want to change the thing, and fight the global change, fight the pollution. It's quite inspiring, okay, we're not only in the Europe, we're everywhere. We're in North America, we're in China, and other countries, and that is, it's really valuable.

Brodie Vander Dussen:

Yeah, I totally agree. I think it's Really cool. Even Lauren, you mentioned the generations of passing it down and we've seen previous generations. And we know that we don't want it to continue down this route. I think it still goes back to that, us turning around and having a hand open for the next generation of we want to do it different, but we have to partner together to do it. I think that's, yeah, it's contagious to see everyone else and to hear about it. I love being in this industry and this space because. There are times where it is depressing to hear how bad things are, but then, you get to hear and talk to people who are excited about it and excited and hopeful for the future. I think it's huge. It's massive. And it really is that, fuel behind the change. so this is a program that. for Paris Packaging Week. Are you guys going to be there in January?

Laurine Friche:

Yes, of course. And we are so excited to attend the Paris Packaging Week again in January. And we really want to see, to meet the new future leader class. It would be really nice to be able To meet them, to speak about, those topics with them and, to see again, our, the future leader with where, with whom we were. And, yeah, it would be really nice.

Cory Connors:

it's an amazing show. And I have to be honest, I've nominated Brody to be a future leader for next year. So maybe we'll all four be there. This could be a incredible experience. Let's cross our fingers. Yeah,

Laurine Friche:

we could make it to university.

Cory Connors:

Yeah.

Mariia Baranova:

No, it's really nice. It's it's wonderful. And, yeah, I think it's one special thing about the next is that, a lot of companies will, they are in the race for the new CSRD that requires a climate change transition plan. So there will be, I think a lot of products that will be interesting to see because it will push the industry. And in general, five years past. Usually after the CSO roadmaps closer, there is new interesting things, so excited about it, and we will grow as future leaders, so it's great. that's the best part. I'm joking, but yeah, it will be really cool.

Cory Connors:

That's great.

Mariia Baranova:

I love that.

Cory Connors:

Yeah, you're exactly right. And I think that was the intention of the Paris packaging week group, the team from easy fares. They want this to be a community of, young professionals that will support each other and will be supported by, mentors in the industry, hopefully like me. And, that will help you all in your careers. So. It's exciting. Well, what's the best way for all of us to get in touch with you? when, so we can, work with you.

Laurine Friche:

Depends, the best way just to get in touch is from LinkedIn because it's really, easy to, easy for everyone, I think, and, to work with me, in Alvea and, as, I don't know, customer or supplier, it would be, by my email address.

Cory Connors:

Great. Perfect. Same for you, Maria. LinkedIn and email.

Mariia Baranova:

Exactly. I'm from classic school. LinkedIn, email, everything as usual.

Cory Connors:

Even the website, right? these are old school methods.

Mariia Baranova:

Yeah. Great.

Cory Connors:

Well, thank you all. This has been an amazing show. We really appreciate it. Anything we didn't ask you, we, you wish we would have, that you'd like to talk about?

Laurine Friche:

For me, thank you. Thank you for having us. And it was really interesting. And, thank you for to give us this opportunity. And, for me, everything was cool and nice to meet those of you.

Cory Connors:

Nice to meet you too. I did want to. Oh, yeah, we can't wait. Can't wait for January. I was wondering if you thought, there would be any kind of leftover, signs that there was the Olympics there in Paris, by the time that we get there in January. there was a debate about leaving the Olympic rings up on the Eiffel Tower, I don't know what, what came of that, but do you think we'll be able to see maybe some of the sporting event fields or anything that will be still there?

Mariia Baranova:

There will be the statues of the women that was placed on the board of the river. I don't know exactly when they will place them, but it will be great. It's something feminist, something innovative, we will say so. And I think the debate are not closed, so maybe you will have the rings, but I'm not sure.

Laurine Friche:

And there is something that they make also that is good for me, that is, I'm not in Paris, but in which, in every Station of subway. They put some signs like, for example, in this place, you can visit these things and so on. And, maybe it will stay and it would be good for tourism.

Brodie Vander Dussen:

Wow. That's helpful. I'm excited to get lost every time.

Laurine Friche:

So,

Brodie Vander Dussen:

yeah.

Cory Connors:

Well, thank you all. We really appreciate your time and your wisdom. Thank you. very

Mariia Baranova:

much.

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