First packaging company ever to receive top global food safety honor

Charter Next Generation (CNG) has been recognized as the BRCGS Certificated Site of the Year – Americas (2025) — the first packaging company ever to receive this prestigious distinction. The award was announced at the BRCGS Connect Americas Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, and celebrates CNG’s industry-leading commitment to product safety, quality, and continuous improvement across its operations.

Setting the Standard for Excellence

Every CNG facility holds BRCGS certification, achieving Grades AA (announced) or AA+ (unannounced) year after year — among the highest ratings globally. Earning Site of the Year marks an even greater achievement, recognizing CNG as a benchmark for food safety performance and a trusted partner to leading brands across the Americas.

“This is truly a pinnacle moment — it feels like winning the Super Bowl after years of honing our processes and continuously improving along the way,” said Laurie Ford, Director of Product Safety at CNG. “But this is not something you can do alone. Our people have been at the heart of this journey — coaching, leading, and upholding our standards every step of the way. This award belongs to every one of us.”

A Culture Built on Ownership and Quality

CNG’s food safety excellence is powered by its people. With a distinctive, broad-based employee ownership culture, every CNG team member plays a critical role in safeguarding the products our customers trust most — from food packaging to medical and specialty films.

The company’s ownership culture drives accountability and pride in every process, aligning safety and quality standards with CNG’s broader purpose: Enhancing Lives for a Better World.

Beyond BRCGS: A Broader Commitment to Quality

The BRCGS award reflects just one part of CNG’s comprehensive approach to operational excellence. Across its North American manufacturing network, CNG maintains globally recognized certifications such as ISO 9001:2015, FSSC 22000, Kosher, UL, SMETA, IMS and ISCC PLUS — each reinforcing its dedication to safety, sustainability, and ethical business practices.

Together, these standards ensure that CNG’s sustainable material science solutions meet the highest benchmarks worldwide — protecting products, preserving freshness, and strengthening the integrity of the global food supply chain.

A Milestone for the Packaging Industry

This recognition not only celebrates CNG’s achievements but also highlights the growing importance of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in packaging. As the first company in its field to earn this honor, CNG is helping raise the bar for what’s possible in product safety and material science.

“We’re honored by this recognition,” added Ford. “It reflects our shared values, the dedication of our people, and our ongoing responsibility to deliver products that make a meaningful impact — safely and sustainably.”

Pictured (left to right): Amy Ivy, Senior Product Safety Manager, and Laurie Ford, Director of Product Safety, proudly accept CNG’s BRCGS Certified Site of the Year – Americas (2025) award at the BRCGS Connect Americas Conference in Charlotte, NC.

Read more about the 2025 BRCGS Award Winners on BRCGS.com