The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) is excited to announce the release of “Thinking Outside the Box”, a brand-new activity collection developed in partnership with Project Learning Tree ® (PLT), an initiative of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). The release of this innovative resource marks the first major milestone in ICPF’s two-year partnership with PLT and aims to bring the world of corrugated packaging to K-12 classrooms, helping students see the industry as a vibrant, sustainable career path.
By integrating corrugated products, industry norms, and information about the box-making process into hands-on learning activities, “Thinking Outside the Box” reveals the impact of the corrugated packaging industry on the environment, economy, and consumers’ daily lives. The activity collection includes six interactive PLT lessons customized for elementary, middle and high school students in grades K-12.
Each activity is designed to give students and educators a fresh look at how corrugated packaging advances sustainability and supports a circular economy while incorporating relevant curricular standards and tools. Dedicated “career corners” throughout the collection also highlight ten in-demand careers across the industry, providing early exposure to potential pathways.
“This collaboration is about more than creating new resources that will excite both students and educators—it’s about breaking down barriers and elevating different entry points to the corrugated packaging industry, showing young people the kinds of meaningful, sustainable job opportunities that exist,” said Caitlin Salaverria, President of ICPF. “By partnering with experts in environmental education at PLT, we’re planting the seed early, so future generations can see the endless career opportunities our industry has to offer.”
The release of “Thinking Outside the Box” brings about the second phase of ICPF and PLT’s partnership, which will support targeted professional development opportunities for educators and counselors to amplify the reach of these materials on a national scale. In addition, on June 18-20, 2025, representatives from ICPF and PLT will be exhibiting and presenting at the National Career Development Association (NCDA) Global Career Development Conference in Atlanta, GA to promote these resources to career counselors and career service practitioners across the United States.
To access the complete activity collection, Green Jobs Fact Sheets, academic standards and more, visit www.plt.org/icpf or https://www.careersincorrugated.com/connecting-students-with-corrugated/.
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About the International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF)
International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) The International Corrugated Packaging Foundation (ICPF) is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to growing the labor force of the corrugated packaging industry now and into the future. Co-sponsored by AICC – The Independent Packaging Association, and the Fibre Box Association (FBA), ICPF partners with students, universities, and industry companies to bring a talented workforce of motivated, qualified graduates to the corrugated packaging industry.
About Project Learning Tree ® (PLT)
Project Learning Tree (PLT) is committed to advancing environmental education, forest literacy, and green career pathways, using trees and forests as windows on the world. Our award-winning resources offer a lifetime of learning from early childhood through adulthood, and our wide and diverse network provides professional development for educators and opportunities for young adults to explore forests and green careers. Together, we are growing future forest and conservation leaders.
PLT is an initiative of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, a non-profit charitable organization with the mission of advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaboration.