It’s Not Just a Bag: Innovation in Packaging Drives Ag Sector Forward
- Michelle Pelletier Marshall
- 19 hours ago
- 5 min read
By Michelle Pelletier Marshall, Women in Agribusiness Media, & Commercial Packaging Team (December 16, 2026)
It’s more than just a bag. In agriculture, packaging is the quiet backbone of a fluid supply chain — ensuring grain, feed, seed, nutrition products, and countless ag inputs move from place to place without failure. From woven polypropylene bags for feed and pet food, to multi-wall kraft bags protecting staples like sugar and flour, to durable FIBCs and stand-up pouches that keep animals and crops supplied, the packaging behind agriculture is essential.
This is the world of Commercial Packaging, a family-owned company established in 1983 and headquartered in Central Illinois — at the heart of American agriculture.
“We are much more than a packaging company,” said Rebecca Allen, sales executive with Commercial Packaging, and WIA Member since 2023. “We support 70–85% of the agricultural import segment, and our solutions keep the supply chain moving. Everything in ag — from seed and corn to beef, baby formula, animal nutrition, and crop inputs — requires the right packaging to move safely from one destination to another without compromise.”
Allen brings 11 years of experience within Commercial Packaging and a decade before that in the food manufacturing sector, where she specialized in process improvements, global supply chain, project management, customer relations and contract packaging. Having worked extensively on the buying side before transitioning to sales, she understands what procurement needs, what corporate teams aim to achieve, and what plant floors actually require to operate efficiently.
“Every customer challenge is a puzzle to solve,” Allen added. “I love digging into plant-level needs, understanding equipment limitations, and finding packaging that truly fits. Our goal is always to add value — through knowledge, transparency, and long-term partnership.”
And, this organization of more than 50 employees is certified woman-owned by WBENC.
The Commercial Packaging team offered these answers to WIA Today’s questions.
1). Tell us more about the products offered by Commercial Packaging. Who do you service in the ag sector and what volume of product is moved annually?
Answered by Rebecca Allen, sales executive.
Commercial Packaging’s offerings span four major product categories — woven polypropylene, FIBCs, multi-wall paper, and flexible packaging. These solutions support agricultural seed and feed, pet food, crop inputs, fertilizers, chemicals, and food-grade products destined for human consumption.
The company has a network of packaging suppliers, warehouses and dedicated logistics professionals, all working to reduce inventory costs and lead times while ensuring products reach their destinations safely. Commercial Packaging also invests in cutting-edge R&D projects, bringing innovative packaging solutions to the market.
Long-term partnerships are central to the company’s philosophy, with some customers relying on Commercial Packaging for over 20 years. From initial artwork to final delivery, the company provides a full-service, end-to-end experience for its clients.
But the support doesn’t stop there. In 2010, the company introduced technical services, giving customers direct access to field engineers who troubleshoot packaging-equipment issues at the plant level. This service has since expanded internationally, ensuring quality and technical support at partner plants worldwide.
2). Commercial Packaging was a sponsor of the 14th annual Women in Agribusiness Summit 2025 as an exhibitor. Please talk to the fit for your organization attending this event, and the connections developed.
Answered by Rebecca Allen, sales executive.
Packaging changes the way you see the world — you never walk a grocery aisle the same way again. At the WIA Summit, Commercial Packaging connects with both current customers and individuals discovering the packaging side of their business for the first time.
“It’s rewarding to help people connect the dots,” Allen said. “Packaging is integral to the final product that ends up on a retail shelf, especially in agriculture. Helping someone understand that connection for the first time is one of the best parts of being at WIA.”
3). Becoming certified as a woman-owned business is an arduous process that one must renew yearly. What is the benefit and ROI of this undertaking?
Answered by Janette Egbers, chairwoman, president and CEO.
Commercial Packaging employs 50 dedicated professionals and is certified woman-owned by WBENC, the most widely recognized national certification for women-owned businesses in the U.S. This distinction not only opens business opportunities but reinforces the company’s commitment to mentorship, advocacy, and building strong business communities.
The certification process is an undertaking, and it is worthwhile in many ways. The potential return on the investment initially seems that it will be primarily one of monetary gain. In actuality, the ROI comes in many forms. When a company goes beyond just getting certified but gets involved in the understanding the importance of developing, mentoring, building relationships, and advocating for other women and minority owned businesses, the reward is much greater. We have formed many relationships throughout our business community by connecting contacts who are interested in advancing the efforts of minority suppliers by partnering together to provide opportunities for companies that offer superior services and understand the value of certification. It is the relationship and community building that truly pays off and equates to additional business along the way.
4). What about innovation? How has bag technology transformed through the years and with what benefit to the ag sector?
Answered by Janette Egbers, chairwoman, president and CEO.
One of the hallmarks of Commercial Packaging is that the company doesn’t ask customers to fit a mold — they aim to fit into the customer’s unique needs. Sometimes this requires creating a customized packaging solution that doesn’t yet exist in the market. For example, in the FIBC line, a customer needed more product flow without compromising structural strength. The Commercial Packaging team developed a modified baffle feature, allowing product to flow freely into the bag’s corners. The result: a more efficient fill and a more uniform shape during loading.
In addition to engineering solutions, the company has embraced technology to improve operations and communications. Since 2005, Commercial Packaging has developed its proprietary platform, CPAK, which has evolved into a core resource for production planning, real-time transportation tracking, document retention, and customer interactions. The platform is constantly updated, making it essential to daily business operations.
5). Tell us more about your career in ag, and what advice you might have for young women starting out in the field.
Answered by Hailey Gould, director of operations.
Agriculture is deeply personal for me. My mother spent over 40 years in the industry, working at The Anderson’s grain elevator in Champaign, Illinois, starting in accounting and finishing as a grain buyer.
“The farm builds character — you must have a strong work ethic,” Gould shared, recalling her mother’s advice. “I would also recommend attaching yourself to a good mentor. There is a lot of tribal knowledge that just can’t be learned in a book. She worked with some really wonderful, smart individuals who took her under their wing and molded her into the professional she became.”
Gould noted that these lessons are reflected in her own work at Commercial Packaging — bringing dedication, insight and mentorship to her subordinates, colleagues and the ag sector as a whole — as she recommends any young woman in the sector consider employing in their career.
