The AIP would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Cyprian Mashego MAIP, CPP, Senior Packaging Technologist, Lactalis New Zealand, on successfully achieving the Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation. The CPP program has been accepted as the global recognition as a packaging professional and therefore the CPP designation has now become the leading mark of excellence internationally and a must-have recognition of industry proficiency and achievement for packaging professionals.

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We invited Cyprian to share with us what attaining the Certified Packaging Professional Designation means to him…

1.  How long have you been in the industry?  What are your areas of expertise?

Cyprian:

I have over 20 years of experience as a Packaging Technologist across multiple industries, including pet food, culinary sauces, confectionery, dairy, and alcohol. I also worked on the supplier side as a Product Development Specialist, developing bag-in-box solutions for both fresh and aseptic applications. This diverse
experience has provided exposure to a wide range of packaging materials, technologies, and machinery. Based in New Zealand, my on-going professional interest is barrier packaging and shelf life preservation through both material innovation and packaging equipment.

2. What made you apply for the Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) Designation?

Cyprian: 
I pursued the Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation to formally validate the knowledge and experience I have gained throughout my career while strengthening my connection to the wider packaging profession. While much of my role focuses on solving day-to-day packaging challenges and delivering practical solutions, I wanted to broaden and test my understanding of packaging disciplines beyond my immediate area of expertise.

“Achieving the CPP designation recognises my professional capabilities and reflects my commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and maintaining high industry standards.”

3. How important is attaining the CPP designation to you as an individual?

Cyprian:   
Attaining the CPP designation is important to me because it’s a demonstration my commitment to continuous professional development and enhances my credibility as a packaging professional. I believe it will help me contribute more effectively to strategic packaging initiatives while supporting my long-term career growth. It provides exposure to a growing number of CPP’s available for knowledge sharing and industry best practice exchange.

4. How important is the CPP designation for the greater recognition of people in the packaging industry?

Cyprian:
The CPP designation is important for raising the profile of the packaging profession. I believe it helps showcase the value packaging technologists bring and positions packaging as an attractive career for new talent. As a globally recognised credential, the CPP represents a strong commitment to technical excellence and professional development and gives every packaging technologist something to aspire to.

5. Were there any new learnings or takeaways that you gained from the experience?

Cyprian:    
Over the years, working with a wide range of materials and packaging technologies has given me valuable practical experience. The Fundamentals of Packaging Technology textbook helped deepen my understanding of the science behind many challenges I have encountered and reinforced solutions I had successfully applied in practice. It also provided greater clarity on technical areas often managed by suppliers. By bringing together the fundamentals across a broad industry, the textbook connected concepts from different disciplines and highlighted the importance of a strong technical foundation in packaging.

6.  What next for your career?

Cyprian:    

I look forward to continuing to contribute to my role through involvement in strategic packaging initiatives, particularly around sustainable packaging. As the industry continues to evolve, I remain committed to continuous learning and staying current with emerging technologies, regulations, and best practices.

“Achieving the CPP designation is an important milestone, and I plan to maintain my certification through ongoing professional development, with Lifetime Certification as a long-term goal.”