Our Team
Michele Bianchi
President
Horst Bittermann
Director General
Winfried Muehling
Director of Marketing & Communication
Pro Carton, the European Association of Carton and Cartonboard manufacturers, is a non-profit organisation representing over 40 cartonboard mills in 13 different European countries and North America, supplying more than 90% of Europe’s demand, as well as the carton converting industry across Europe.
Pro Carton promotes the functionalities and benefits of cartons and cartonboard as a renewable, recyclable and competitive packaging material to brand owners, retailers, designers, the media and EU policymakers.
The natural and most preferred choice for responsible users.
Pro Carton continues to build on the leading role of cartonboard as a circular packaging material, highlighting its multiple, true recycling loops, ability to protect the environment and to ensure the safe delivery of products to consumers.
Pro Carton members fully support sustainable forest management as an important pillar to mitigate climate change, preserve biodiversity and forest growth.
Pro Carton provides its members with high-quality, detailed, monthly market statistics and informs them about industry developments and consumer perceptions based on European surveys.
Pro Carton is a natural hub for networking, a link to other trade associations and international organizations, and advocates for the industry’s interests on sustainability and European legislation.
Pro Carton highlights innovative applications of cartons and cartonboard by students, designers and brands through its annual awards programmes, attracting young talents to our green industry.
Carton Associations, Paper and Board Associations and Other Interesting links:
DIRECTOR GENERAL : JORI RINGMAN
Jori Ringman, Director General, CEPI
Jori Ringman is an expert in sustainability, environment, circular economy and consumer protection. Jori was appointed Director General by CEPIs Board in June 2019. Prior to joining CEPI as Recycling Director in February 2005, he was a civil servant in the European Commission. He has also worked in the European Parliament Environment Committee as a political advisor (1999 – 2004), as a journalist and editor in Finland, and as Secretary General of a parliamentary group in the Finnish National Parliament in Helsinki. Mr. Ringman has a background in Economics, Econometrics and Business Management and broad experience in communications, public administration and politics. He also holds an MSc in Environmental Decision-making.
You can contact Jori in English and Finnish.
Phone number: +32-2-627.49.19
Email: j.ringman@cepi.org
Twitter: @RBJori
SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR: ANNA PAPAGRIGORAKI
Responsibility: Environment, Food Contact, Packaging.
Anna is currently Sustainability Director, responsible for issues relating to environment and consumer protection, with particular concern for packaging and food contact. Prior to joining CEPI in December 2019, she worked as a senior EU Advisor in Brussels.
You can contact Anna in English, French and Greek.
Email: a.papagrigoraki@cepi.org
RAW MATERIALS DIRECTOR : ULRICH LEBERLE
Responsibility: Recycling, secondary raw materials, certification, standards, forest issues.
Ulrich joined the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) in November 2005. Having held several positions in the area of raw materials at CEPI, his responsibilities in his current role of Raw Materials Director include the availability of raw material both from forestry and recycling and the policies impacting them.
You can contact Ulrich in English, French and German.
Phone number: 32-2-627.49.23
Email: u.leberle@cepi.org
Responsibility: Finance, administration, membership
Phone number: 32-2-626.98.38
Email: info@citpa-europe.org
DIRECTOR: KRASSIMIRA KAZASHKA
Responsibility: Management of Environment and Product Safety Committees and related projects
Phone number: +32 (0)2 6269836
Email: info@citpa-europe.org
Responsibility: Member of Management Team of Executive Committee, Secretary of Association Development Committee and Business Development Committee
Phone number: +44 7789 397615
Email: mturner@ecma.org
OPERATIONS MANAGER: BARBARA GINTER
Responsibility: Secretary of Marketing & Communications Committee
Phone number: +31 70 312 39 11
Email: bginter@ecma.org
TECHNICAL ADVISOR: JAN CARDON
Responsibility: Secretary of Technical Committee
Technical Advisor
Phone number: +31 70 312 39 11
Email: jan.cardon@ecmabel.be
President
Director General
Director of Marketing & Communication