APR Design® Training & Tours

Get the best of both worlds– detailed classroom learning combined with live recycling facility tours– alongside other brands and packaging designers.

Up Next: Flexibles Design Training & Tour

  • Monday, April 28: Evening Reception
  • Tuesday, April 29: Training & Tour
  • Houston, Texas

What Does the Training & Tours Include?

These interactive sessions dive deep into how to design for recyclability and why it is important. The program starts with classroom learning to cover the recycling process, policy and economics, and design best practices. Then we put the classroom learning to the test—touring a recycling facility and seeing the recycling process in action. Ultimately, this program will develop expertise and insights that attendees can bring back to their companies and leverage to lead better packaging design.

Learn more about our available programs.

Flexibles Design Training & Tour

Flexible plastic packaging performs some amazing functions, but its properties also make it one of the most challenging formats to recycle.  This one-day training will go deep into the film & flex recycling process — from collection to sorting to processing — through a combination of classroom learning & a facility tour.  Learn best practices and tips for designing packaging made with film & flexibles so that it can be recycled in existing and future programs.

Who Is This For?

Anyone designing, using, manufacturing or collecting flexible packaging or wanting to understand the challenges inherent in recycling it.  Open to technical and non-technical audiences– including package design engineers, sustainability managers, product and marketing managers, procurement managers, and more! 

Why Should I Attend?

  • Tackle one of the biggest challenges today in plastics recycling– how to design & recycle flexible packaging for today and tomorrow.  Understand the systems and processes, why restrictions exist, and what the future might look like.
  • Get a private, guided tour of one of the largest and most advanced mechanical film recycling facilities in the world: Natura PCR. **Note: competitors of Natura PCR and/or their equipment vendors may not be eligible to attend the tour.
  • Learn from Curt Cozart, APR COO, who has filled critical roles in most of the US post consumer PE recycling capacity over the past 35 years.
  • Meet and network with colleagues in the industry.
  • Maximize your time with an efficient, one-day training session.

Who Leads The Training?

Curt Cozart is Chief Operating Officer at APR, as well as president and owner of Common Sense Solutions, Inc., a consulting company specializing in plastics recycling plant design, project management, and operations. He has worked in the plastics recycling industry since 1991 when, as a project manager for Mobil Chemical Company, he built the first North American film recycling plant dedicated to LLDPE stretch film. Since that time, he has participated in the construction and operation of much of the North American PET, HDPE and film recycling industry. Curt holds a BS in mechanical engineering from The United States Military Academy at West Point.

Two-Day Design Training & Tours

An interactive, engaging two days to dive deep into the world of recycling and design for recycling.  Both mornings are spent in the classroom, where we cover what it means to be recyclable, how packaging makes it through the full North American recycling system, recommendations and watchouts for design, as well as recycling policy and economic updates.  Each afternoon the group will take a field trip to see recycling in action.  Day one will be at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and day two will be at a recycler.  In between sessions, enjoy the opportunity to mingle and network with colleagues in the recycling value chain.

Who Is This For?

  • Package Design Engineers
  • Sustainability Managers
  • Product and Marketing Managers
  • Procurement Managers

Why Should I Attend?

  • Recycling is a complex process!  Dive into the details with an expert and see the process first-hand to get an invaluable experience that will guide all future packaging design discussions
  • Develop plastics recycling expertise to meet voluntary and legislative requirements, improve the supply of high-quality PCR, and reduce plastic waste going to landfills.
  • Understand the intricacies of the APR Design® Guide for Plastics Recyclability, APR test methods and recognition programs.
  • Experience an APR Design® Training at an entry-level price, great for small companies or larger companies that are thinking about scheduling a customized full-day session in the future.

Who Leads The Training?

Curt Cozart is Chief Operating Officer at APR, as well as president and owner of Common Sense Solutions, Inc., a consulting company specializing in plastics recycling plant design, project management, and operations. He has worked in the plastics recycling industry since 1991 when, as a project manager for Mobil Chemical Company, he built the first North American film recycling plant dedicated to LLDPE stretch film. Since that time, he has participated in the construction and operation of much of the North American PET, HDPE and film recycling industry. Curt holds a BS in mechanical engineering from The United States Military Academy at West Point.

How Much Does It Cost?

Pricing can vary, since these events are held at different venues around the country. But generally pricing is between $1,200 and $1,750 USD. APR negotiates hotel room rates, but those are booked separately by the attendees. Check the event registration page for specifics.

When Is The Next Session?

Stay tuned– we anticipate scheduling an event in 2025.  To read about our October 2024 event, click here.  If you’d like to be alerted when we schedule the next event, contact us.

Get Alerted For the Next Session

Let us know if you want a reminder when our next training is scheduled.