After more than 40 years in the flexible packaging industry, Joe Foster is launching a new independent venture, Foster Packaging, returning to his entrepreneurial roots following a recent leadership role in Australia’s packaging and recycling sector.
Foster, who founded Foster International Packaging in Cape Town in 1998 and built it into a globally connected supply business, said the relaunch reflects a return to the fundamentals that first drove his entrepreneurial journey.
“Getting back to basics and doing what I love is my biggest driving factor,” Foster told PKN. “Relaunching Foster Packaging is an exciting new chapter for me.”
More recently, Foster served as CEO of Close the Loop Group, later transitioning into the role of chief operating officer. After that period in corporate leadership, he is now returning to independent entrepreneurship with the launch of Foster Packaging.
Reflecting on the transition, Foster said periods of change often force entrepreneurs to reassess their direction.
“You look at your skillset, what got you here in the first place, and then you plan accordingly,” he said.
“One minute you can be running a million miles an hour and have been operating at that pace for some time. Then suddenly your situation changes without warning. That’s when you step back, reflect and decide how you move forward.”
The new venture will draw on Foster’s long-standing international supply relationships and focus on flexible packaging solutions supported by established manufacturing partners.
The business will operate as a flexible packaging sourcing and advisory platform, connecting brand owners with international manufacturing partners while also supporting local production, mock-ups and short-run digital packaging.
“It’s about giving brands the best of both worlds,” Foster said. “Access to international manufacturing capability, while still having the flexibility of local support and shorter-run options.”
Foster’s career began in the 1980s, when flexible packaging was dominated by materials such as cellophane and poly-cell laminates and packaging was often viewed simply as an overwrap for products. Over the decades, he has seen the sector evolve into a highly engineered system designed to extend shelf life, enhance product protection and deliver improved food safety.
“Packaging has come a long way,” he said. “In the early days, something like potato chips might have had a three-month shelf life. Today, with high-performance films and barrier technologies, that can extend to around a year.”
His career has taken him across several markets, including Ireland, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia, working across engineering, production, technical roles, R&D, sales and marketing. Along the way he has built businesses across multiple regions and navigated significant industry changes, from global supply chain disruption to the growing sustainability agenda.
His contribution to the sector has also been recognised with major industry honours, including the Australian Institute of Packaging’s Industry Packaging Professional of the Year award in 2018 and the WorldStar Packaging Award Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
Adaptability, Foster says, has been central to that journey.
“When things change, you adapt and you build again,” he said. “Packaging is constantly evolving, and entrepreneurs have to be prepared to rethink their approach and move forward.”
He also believes the flexible packaging sector still faces significant challenges around recycling and sustainability.
“Recycling systems for materials like glass, paper and aluminium are well established,” he said. “Flexible packaging is far more complex, and the commercial model for recycling soft plastics is still evolving. There’s still a lot of work to be done across industry and government.”
One lesson Foster says has remained constant throughout his career is the importance of strong relationships across the supply chain.
“Customer service and long-term partnerships remain fundamental,” he said. “Success doesn’t come from one person – it comes from teams, suppliers and customers working together.”
As he launches Foster Packaging, Foster says the focus will remain firmly on his core area of expertise.
“One thing experience has taught me is to stay in your lane,” he said. “When companies move too far outside their core capabilities, they can lose focus.”
Looking ahead, he believes the industry will continue to play an increasingly strategic role for brand owners seeking both commercial and sustainability solutions.
“More and more brands are looking to the packaging industry for solutions – not just commercially, but to help manage supply and sustainability challenges,” he said.
“For me, packaging has always been a passion. After four decades in the industry, I still have the drive to get back to the grassroots of the business and build something again.”
