Podcast

Tariffs, the Price of Corrugated & Future of the Box Industry with Ryan Fox

In this episode of "Beyond Packaging," hosts Laura Foti and Matthew Wright discuss the complexities of corrugated packaging with Ryan Fox of Bloomberg Intelligence, focusing on the challenges posed by fluctuating tariffs and the importance of automation. Ryan introduces his corrugated box cost index, offering valuable insights for planning and navigating industry trends.

Posted on 
April 22, 2025
Laura Foti
Chief Customer Officer, Specright

In this episode of "Beyond Packaging," hosted by Laura Foti and Matthew Wright, the focus is on corrugated packaging, featuring a detailed discussion with Ryan Fox, a corrugated marketing analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Corrugated Packaging and Tariffs: Ryan shares insights on the complexities of tariffs affecting the packaging industry. A discussion on fluctuating tariffs highlights how businesses struggle with unpredictability, especially when tariffs change daily.

2. Packaging Industry Challenges: The podcast discusses the impact of tariffs on various sectors, including the cosmetics and agricultural industries. Emphasis is placed on the need for agility and understanding of cost structures at a granular level.

3. Automation and Workforce: Automation's role in addressing workforce challenges in packaging manufacturing is examined. The importance of modernizing operations and moving away from outdated practices is highlighted.

4. Corrugated Box Cost Index: Ryan explains the corrugated box cost index he developed, aimed at providing transparency and predictability in pricing. This tool is designed to help businesses plan for future cost scenarios.

5. Industry Trends and Predictions: The episode touches on industry consolidation, the necessity for data-driven decisions, and the ongoing revolution in automating front-end operations in packaging businesses.

You can connect with Ryan Fox on LinkedIn.

Beyond Packaging is presented by Specright, the leader in Specification Management.

Feel free to connect with Laura Foti and Matthew Wright on LinkedIn

To listen to previous episodes click here or subscribe to our YouTube playlist.

About 

Laura Foti

Laura is the Chief Customer Officer at Specright, where she leads teams across professional services, customer success, and support to ensure customers thrive. 

She also co-hosts the “Beyond Packaging Podcast,” with Matthew Wright, where they discuss industry trends, interview leading innovators, and discuss the history of different types of packaging.

Prior to Specright, she led advertising and analytics at GE Digital, GE’s Industrial Internet software business. Before that, she was a consultant at Deloitte Digital working in enterprise digital transformation. Laura was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for marketing and advertising and Brand Innovators 40 Under 40 and 100 Women to Watch lists. She graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

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