The Packaging Material Innovation Lead – Sustainability & Recycling will be a key member of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) team, responsible for developing and implementing sustainable and recyclable packaging material solutions.
Packaging Material Innovation Lead – Sustainability and Recycling
Salary: Competitive and based on experience
Location: Bitung
Keywords: sustainability, recycling, circular economy, packaging innovation, collaboration, rigid plastics, material development, cross-functional teamwork, mentoring, regional initiatives
A leading provider of rigid plastic packaging solutions in Asia is seeking a Packaging Material Innovation Lead – Sustainability and Recycling to join their Centre of Excellence team in Bitung, Indonesia. This pivotal role offers you the chance to shape the future of sustainable and recyclable packaging materials, driving impactful change across multinational and regional brands. You will be at the forefront of developing innovative material formulations, collaborating with technical teams, and influencing the company’s sustainability roadmap. The organisation is committed to excellence, circular economy principles, and fostering an inclusive environment where your expertise will be valued and your career can flourish. With exposure to regional initiatives and cross-country collaboration, this position provides a unique platform for professional growth within a dynamic industry.
- Play a key role in advancing sustainable packaging solutions by leading innovation projects focused on recycling and circular economy initiatives.
- Collaborate closely with production, moulding, injection technical teams, R&D, suppliers, and customers to develop and commercialise new material formulations for rigid packaging applications.
- Benefit from a supportive work environment that values knowledge sharing, mentoring opportunities, and cross-country collaboration on regional innovation and recycling projects.
What you'll do:
As the Packaging Material Innovation Lead – Sustainability and Recycling based in Bitung, you will be instrumental in shaping the company’s approach to sustainable packaging. Your day-to-day activities will involve spearheading innovation projects that focus on developing advanced material formulations for rigid plastics using both virgin and recycled inputs. You will collaborate extensively with technical teams across production lines to ensure new materials are seamlessly integrated into manufacturing processes. By partnering with R&D experts as well as suppliers and customers, you will help identify promising solutions that meet both performance standards and sustainability goals. Your technical insights will guide decision-making around recycled materials’ properties while you contribute to cost-effective product development. Additionally, you’ll stay abreast of global industry trends to keep the company’s strategy ahead of regulatory changes. Sharing your knowledge within the Centre of Excellence team will be key—mentoring junior colleagues and supporting regional initiatives ensures that your impact extends beyond individual projects.
- Lead multiple packaging material innovation projects with a strong emphasis on sustainability, recycling technologies, and circular economy strategies.
- Develop, test, and validate new material formulations including virgin, recycled, and hybrid plastics tailored for rigid packaging applications.
- Work collaboratively with Production, Moulding, and Injection Technical teams to ensure seamless integration of new materials into existing manufacturing processes.
- Partner with research and development teams as well as external suppliers and customers to identify, evaluate, and bring to market sustainable material solutions.
- Provide expert guidance on recycled material properties, processing behaviour, quality limitations, and performance optimisation opportunities.
- Drive cost-efficiency while maximising recyclability and performance in all aspects of packaging material development.
- Monitor global trends in plastic recycling technologies and sustainable packaging regulations to inform strategic decisions.
- Contribute actively to the Centre of Excellence by sharing your expertise with colleagues, mentoring junior team members, and supporting regional innovation initiatives.
- Champion best practices in sustainability across the organisation’s operations through collaborative efforts with internal stakeholders.
What you bring:
To excel as Packaging Material Innovation Lead – Sustainability and Recycling you will bring a robust foundation in materials science or engineering disciplines along with hands-on experience developing innovative packaging solutions. Your background should include substantial involvement in recycling technologies—ideally within rigid plastics—and a proven track record delivering successful sustainability-driven projects. You’ll possess deep technical knowledge regarding both virgin and recycled materials’ properties as well as their practical application in manufacturing settings. Your interpersonal skills will enable you to collaborate harmoniously across diverse teams while your analytical mindset supports effective problem resolution. Project management proficiency is vital given the multi-faceted nature of this role; clear communication ensures alignment among stakeholders at every stage. Above all else your enthusiasm for environmental stewardship will inspire others as you champion best practices throughout the organisation.
- Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Packaging Technology or related discipline is required for this role.
- At least five years’ experience in packaging material development with significant exposure to recycling technologies and plastics innovation is essential.
- Comprehensive understanding of virgin and recycled plastic materials including their processing methods, recyclability factors, and application within rigid packaging environments.
- Demonstrated success in managing sustainability-focused innovation projects from conception through commercialisation stages.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively across functions such as production operations and technical teams within complex organisational structures.
- Advanced analytical skills combined with problem-solving abilities relevant to material science challenges in packaging.
- Excellent project management capabilities enabling you to oversee multiple concurrent initiatives efficiently.
- Outstanding communication skills allowing you to engage confidently with both technical specialists and non-technical stakeholders alike.
- Genuine passion for sustainability issues coupled with a commitment to driving positive change within the packaging sector.
What sets this company apart:
This organisation stands out as one of Asia’s foremost providers of rigid plastic packaging solutions serving renowned multinational brands across various industries. Their unwavering commitment to innovation is matched by a dedication to sustainability—driving progress towards a circular economy through cutting-edge research and development efforts. Employees benefit from an inclusive workplace culture that encourages knowledge sharing, mentorship opportunities within the Centre of Excellence team, and active participation in regional initiatives spanning multiple countries. The company invests heavily in professional growth offering exposure to pioneering projects at the intersection of technology advancement and environmental responsibility. Competitive compensation packages further enhance the appeal while collaborative leadership ensures every team member feels supported in achieving their career aspirations.
What's next:
If you are ready to make a meaningful impact on sustainable packaging innovation while advancing your career within a supportive environment then this opportunity is perfect for you!
Apply today by clicking on the link provided—take the next step towards joining an industry leader committed to driving positive change.
Due to the high volume of applications we are experiencing, our team will only be in touch with you if your application is shortlisted.
