Bright Ideas in Istanbul: Reflections from ECMA Congress 2025
By Emily Leonczyk, Executive Director & Vice President, Paperboard Packaging Council
PPC Vice President & Executive Director, Emily Leonczyk and President, Ben Markens joined industry colleagues from across the globe at the ECMA Congress in Istanbul Türkiye. Below is Emily’s full reflection and takeaways.
Every so often, I find myself in a room where the conversations remind me of just how global and connected our industry is. That was the case last week as I joined PPC President, Ben Markens and colleagues from around the world at the ECMA Congress in Istanbul. Folding carton conversations echoing across Istanbul to North America and beyond, uniting our global industry in one resounding voice. With the theme “Folding Cartons: The Future is Bright,” the gathering could not have been more fitting.
Over the course of the week, the program brimmed with insights from across the value chain. We celebrated with longtime PPC-ECMA members, welcomed new connections, and reconnected with colleagues. Coupled with ECMA’s 65th anniversary, the gathering felt both historic and forward-looking, a reminder of where we’ve been and where we’re going.
Amid these conversations, I had the privilege of sharing PPC’s perspective in a presentation on the North American folding carton market. The discussions that followed reminded me how valuable it is to compare notes across continents. Europe’s evolving regulatory environment, in particular, offers important lessons as we anticipate what may be on the horizon in North America.
Among the many highlights, ECMA’s Managing Director and fierce advocate for the industry, Mike Turner, spoke with conviction in his call for unity. As he put it, “When a sector is having tough times, it’s more important for colleagues to come together to solve problems.” His words, delivered against the backdrop of Europe’s mounting regulatory pressures, rang true for North America as well. PPC continues to look to our European partners to share lessons and anticipate what lies ahead.
The winners of the 2025 European Carton Excellence Awards (ECEA) were unveiled after a cruise along the Bosphorus before Thursday’s dinner, offering a breathtaking backdrop for meaningful conversation and camaraderie. Hosted by Pro Carton and ECMA, the ECEA brings together partners from across the supply chain to showcase the most innovative and impactful carton board packaging designs. Pro Carton’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Winfried Mühling, brought his signature energy and vision to the stage.
Perhaps most inspiring of all was seeing students take the stage during the Pro Carton Young Designers and Student Video Awards. Their creativity, boldness, and fresh ideas, including a clever and beautifully executed coffee carrier, left me confident and inspired by our industry’s future talent. 
As Ben and I departed, I felt very grateful for the warm welcome of our ECMA partners, for the strength of our shared industry, and for the reminder that when we work together, geography is no barrier. The future of folding cartons is not only bright, it’s brilliant.