San Francisco-based Helen Yang is spearheading a new wave of thinking in the packaging industry, challenging conventional wisdom with a focus on both environmental impact and human health. Recently named a Future leader by Paris Packaging Week,Yang brings a unique perspective forged from her background in cosmetic chemistry and a growing concern over plastic waste. Her work centers on developing innovative, plant-based packaging materials that prioritize safety and durability alongside sustainability-a critical balance frequently enough overlooked in the pursuit of eco-kind solutions.
What inspired you to pursue a career in the packaging industry?
Helen Yang – I began my career as a cosmetic chemist, developing clean and sustainable formulas for beauty and personal care brands. However, I consistently faced a contradiction: no matter how sustainable the product itself was, we still packaged it in plastic destined for landfills. With each product launch, I felt I was contributing to the plastic pollution problem.
I realized that focusing solely on formulation wasn’t enough. High-quality products also require safe and sustainable packaging. As a chemist, when I couldn’t find a plant-based, non-toxic, shelf-stable, and durable packaging material, I decided to invent one myself to support the industry I love.
What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a young leader in the packaging sector?
Helen Yang – Our biggest challenge has been balancing sustainability with compostability in a packaging material. Compostable alternatives to single-use plastics already exist, but they typically have a very short lifespan. Consumer goods, however, often require several years of shelf life and must withstand temperature and humidity fluctuations, repeated opening and closing, and even transit.
We spent six years formulating our material to be durable, lightweight, and compatible with complex liquid formulas without requiring a plastic liner. As a young leader, it’s incredibly rewarding to bring a fresh perspective and concrete innovation to the table.
If you could change one misconception about packaging, what would it be?
Helen Yang – That sustainability shouldn’t just concern carbon emission reductions, but also human safety and health. Often, when we talk about sustainability in packaging, we focus on life cycle analysis: what raw materials are used? What’s the transportation footprint? How is the packaging disposed of at the end of its life? Of course, all of that is essential – a packaging material isn’t sustainable if it harms our planet. But that must go hand-in-hand with safety and toxicology. It’s equally important to consider what additives are used in a packaging material, and whether it generates harmful microplastics. For example, a material sourced from renewables but coated with PFAS might be carbon positive, but it’s not sustainable for consumer goods in the long term.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Paris Packaging Week. What legacy do you hope this new generation of Future Leaders will leave for the next 25 years?
Helen Yang – This cohort of Future Leaders represents an exciting mix of backgrounds, from academic research to industry, which I believe is crucial for leaving a legacy of action. We’re eager to move new materials out of R&D labs and into the market, and Future Leaders are embracing a new palette of materials and technologies to move beyond reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels.
I hope our generation will leave behind a truly circular economy by creating packaging that is both sustainably sourced and responsibly managed at its end of life.
What advice would you give to young professionals starting their careers in packaging?
Helen Yang – My advice is to develop deep technical expertise and excel in a specific area, then be flexible about how your career evolves. When I started my first job after university, I was advised to plan out my entire 30-year career. Not only was it impossible to predict how the industry would change, but I never would have ended up in packaging if I’d stayed strictly within my corporate product development role.
Instead, focus on building a strong technical foundation. For me, that was chemistry, materials science, and a deep understanding of the consumer goods industry. Developing deep expertise will allow you to identify problems throughout your career and, most importantly, invent concrete solutions in whatever field you choose.
What does being selected as a Future Leader mean to you?
Helen Yang – Being selected as a Future Leader is a tremendous honor, and for me, it signifies that the packaging industry is genuinely ready for change and sustainable innovation. As a founder, it’s a validation of the hard work my team and I have put into our mission of eliminating plastic pollution destined for landfills in the packaging sector.
The Future Leaders program also provides a platform to amplify our message: a circular future, free of microplastics, isn’t just possible, it’s realistic. It’s not a distant dream, and we’re excited to collaborate with you to accelerate the adoption of materials that are safe for people and the planet.
Whether you work on the brand, design, engineering, or consumer side, we’re thrilled to connect with you through this program and discuss circular packaging.
Can you name an innovation or packaging design that you find iconic – and why?
Helen Yang – Laser engraving is an iconic technology, often overlooked. Unlike the many colorful or glittery decoration methods found in the packaging sector, laser engraving – or marking – has existed for decades and allows for direct decoration without ink, solvents, or VOCs. It’s less frequently seen in consumer product packaging, despite being a reliable, high-definition marking technology and a true model of sustainability!
San Francisco, CA – Helen Yang, a rising leader in sustainable packaging, is challenging conventional industry thinking with a focus on both environmental impact and human health. Yang, recently recognized as a Future Leader at Paris Packaging Week, is advocating for a more holistic approach to packaging sustainability that goes beyond carbon footprint reduction.
Yang’s journey began in cosmetic chemistry, where she quickly identified a critical disconnect. “I was developing clean and sustainable formulas, but they were still being packaged in plastic destined for landfills,” she explained. This realization spurred her to found a company dedicated to inventing a truly sustainable packaging material – one that is plant-based, non-toxic, and durable enough for long-term product storage.
Developing this material proved to be a six-year undertaking, focused on achieving a balance between compostability and the rigorous demands of consumer goods packaging. “We needed a material that could withstand temperature fluctuations, repeated use, and transit, without compromising its sustainability,” Yang said. The resulting innovation is a lightweight, durable material compatible with complex liquid formulas, eliminating the need for plastic liners.
A key tenet of Yang’s philosophy is that sustainability must encompass human safety alongside environmental concerns. She criticizes the tendency to focus solely on life cycle analysis, arguing that the toxicity of packaging additives and the potential for microplastic generation are equally important considerations. “A material sourced from renewables but coated with PFAS might be carbon positive, but it’s not sustainable for consumer goods in the long term,” she cautioned.
Yang believes the current generation of Future Leaders is poised to drive significant change in the packaging industry. “We’re eager to move new materials out of R&D labs and into the market,” she stated, emphasizing the need to move beyond reliance on fossil fuels. This shift towards circularity is gaining momentum as companies seek to reduce waste and minimize their environmental impact.
For young professionals entering the packaging field, Yang advises building a strong technical foundation and remaining adaptable. “Focus on developing deep expertise, then be flexible about how your career evolves,” she said. Her own path, from cosmetic chemistry to packaging innovation, demonstrates the value of embracing unexpected opportunities.
Yang highlighted laser engraving as an often-overlooked iconic packaging innovation, praising its ability to provide direct decoration without the use of inks, solvents, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This technology exemplifies a commitment to sustainability through efficient and environmentally responsible design.
