Alana Carr, Sales & Marketing Manager at Hosokawa Alpine American, Inc., had never imagined herself working, or advocating for, the plastics industry. “I’ve always loved the environment and was passionate about protecting it,” she says. “Like many consumers, I believed all the negative, false claims associated with plastic packaging.”
Alana’s impressions changed quickly. After college graduation, Alana started out with Alpine as an administrative assistant, and soon met Alpine’s president, David Nunes, who shared research and insights that challenged her views. “He explained how flexible packaging is the economically, ecologically, and environmentally superior option,” she recalls. “I was intrigued yet skeptical—but the data spoke for itself. I’ve been pro-plastic ever since.”
Over the past 11 years, Alana has grown her role into one that bridges operations, marketing, and strategy. Her responsibilities include providing sales quotes, oversight of order management, and leading the company’s marketing and social media efforts.
Curiosity has led Alana deeper into the technical side of the business. “I became really curious about our Blown Film Machines,” Alana says. “The engineering aspect of Alpine fascinated me.” That interest prompted her to pursue advanced coursework in polymer and plastics engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell—an effort that has strengthened both her confidence and her capabilities.
Her passion for plastics extends far beyond her job description. “I’ve been called out for being annoyingly persistent in advocating for plastics and recycling,” she laughs. “But even my 3-year-old daughter knows how to sort plastic film at home and gets excited to bring it to the store for drop-off.”
Alana joined FLiP (Future Leaders in Plastics) nearly a year ago, bringing with her a strong appreciation for the value of young professional networks. She currently serves as co-chair of the Emerging Leadership Council for the Flexible Packaging Association, further demonstrating her commitment to the industry’s future. Since joining FLiP, Alana has participated in virtual programming and was recently matched with a mentor through FLiP’s mentorship program. “FLiP is a great way to stay informed on industry updates and insights while building meaningful connections,” she says. “I’m really looking forward to the mentorship experience and learning from others in the industry.”
One of the biggest challenges she sees for plastics is the misguided negative public perception—especially around end-of-life concerns. “We need to keep promoting the benefits of plastics and push for better recycling infrastructure and consistent legislation across states,” she says.
When asked why someone from her generation should consider a career in plastics, her answer is direct: “It’s a fantastic industry to work in. It’s going to be around for the long term—and working in this field means you’re supporting the right choice for our environment.”
As for a plastic product she couldn’t live without? “Definitely food packaging that keeps our food fresh and increases shelf-life,” she says. “Without it, I’d go broke trying to keep up with my daughter’s endless appetite for fresh fruit and organic vegetables.”
Away from work, Alana is a devoted single mom who loves spending time outdoors with her daughter. Whether they’re cooking together, hiking, or heading to the beach, she’s always looking for new ways to share her love of the outdoors—and maybe one day, fishing, snowboarding, and travel too.
PLASTICS and the Future Leaders in Plastics (FLiP) Committee are devoted to supporting and encouraging the next generation of plastics leaders who will play a crucial role in the innovation, technology and future of the plastics industry. FLiP’s mission is to provide young professionals under the age of 40 the exposure, education and resources they need to build lifelong careers in plastics. Want to join? Want to get your employees involved? Email: [email protected]
