As the peak professional body for packaging education and training in Australasia it is paramount that the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) offers professional designations that are internationally recognised and have the ability to raise the profession of packaging technologists and designers across the globe. Such a designation is the CPP; which is a registered trademark of the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) in the United States.
Since 1972, IoPP has awarded over 2000 qualified applicants the designation Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) and is recognised as the premier designation in the industry signifying excellence as a packaging professional.
Candidates achieve the CPP designation by demonstrating industry expertise and experience, measured through a flexible applicant testing process.
Attaining the CPP recognises the designation as a commitment to excellence in the packaging profession and the credential demonstrates that a packaging practitioner possesses packaging knowledge, experience and skills to the degree that they deserve recognition as a true packaging professional. CPP’s are in demand
as speakers and as leaders on packaging teams.
Approximately three years ago, the AIP approached the IoPP about the possibility of rolling out the CPP program into Australia. Since then, the AIP announced that the region has 20 certified packaging professionals, with enrolments coming in every week from across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.
As a member country of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), the AIP recently agreed to provide support for CPP program roll outs for other countries across the globe. This has been to ensure that the CPP designation and the packaging profession is recognised globally. WPO member countries that are in the process of the rollout include Nigeria, Brazil, South Africa and Singapore with many others to follow shortly.
The CPP designation is now internationally recognised by several organisations including the IoPP, the AIP and the WPO.
By encouraging other countries to roll out the CPP program the aim is to see packaging technology and design become more globally recognised as a profession, which in turn will encourage more people to attain greater packaging skills and knowledge.
The flow-on effect will be more people developing long-term careers in packaging across the globe.
The CPP designation should also assist companies to recognise and employ highly skilled packaging professionals through various means including international transfers and exchange programs.
Attaining the CPP designation is an excellent investment in a packaging professional’s development and the credential defines the packaging professional, allowing organisations to seek out and hire the right professional based on verified knowledge, skills and industry contributions.
In an ideal world, all companies who are hiring packaging professionals should ensure that the CPP designation is a recognised and required skill-set for the hiring and promotion processes.
The CPP is the premier designation in the industry, signifying excellence as a packaging professional.
The most recent IoPP salary survey has revealed that CPPs earn anywhere between seven per cent and 10 per cent more than their co-workers who don’t have the certification.
Using the CPP program to assess and evaluate one’s professional competency will validate the person as internationally proficient as a packaging professional.
Nerida Kelton MAIP
Executive Director – Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP)
ANZ Board Member – World Packaging Organisation (WPO)