Kalamazoo Faces Job Losses as Pactiv Evergreen Announces Closure

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Image showing the closed Pactiv Evergreen plant in Kalamazoo

News Summary

Pactiv Evergreen has announced the permanent closure of its Kalamazoo packaging plant, affecting 153 employees, with layoffs beginning in April 2025. This decision is part of the company’s restructuring efforts amid ongoing economic challenges. Union representatives are working on severance packages and organizing a job fair to assist displaced workers in finding new employment. The closure highlights the broader trends impacting the manufacturing sector, especially in light of changing consumer behaviors and pressures regarding single-use plastics.

Kalamazoo Faces Job Losses as Pactiv Evergreen Announces Plant Closure

In a turn of events that has many residents concerned and affected employees anxious, the Pactiv Evergreen packaging plant located at 2315 Miller Road in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is set to permanently close its doors. The closure will significantly impact a total of 153 employees, with layoffs beginning as early as April 11, 2025, and wrapping up no later than June 13, 2025. This news comes as part of the company’s plan to restructure and improve its financial standing.

Details of the Closure

The announcement was officially made through a WARN notice, which serves to inform employees of significant layoffs. Interestingly, most of the employees affected are members of the Printing, Packaging, Production Workers Union of North America. While employees in various roles including press operators, stackers, and inspectors brace for the change, management will continue to remain on-site until the plant officially closes its doors for good.

Who’s Affected?

This impending closure will impact workers in various capacities within the factory. Some roles that will be eliminated include:

25 press or assistant press operators
25 stackers
15 sealing operators
10 inspectors
8 managers or supervisors
70 other employees

Many of these employees have dedicated years of their lives to working at this plant, with some having been part of the workforce since the 1990s. The upcoming layoffs have left them with the stressful task of re-entering the job market, something quite daunting, especially for those who are not familiar with resume writing and job interviews.

Support for Affected Workers

To assist these loyal workers, union representatives are diligently negotiating severance packages and extended healthcare benefits to help ease the transition. Additionally, plans are in place for a job fair on the plant’s premises, specifically organized for those affected. This fair aims to connect displaced workers with potential job opportunities.

Current Economic Environment

The closure of the Kalamazoo plant is a reflection of larger trends that are affecting businesses and consumers alike. The pressures stemming from the ongoing debate around single-use plastics and shifting consumer behaviors related to restaurant and grocery sales have played a role in Pactiv Evergreen’s decision-making. Prior to the pandemic, the company employed more than 26,000 individuals, but that number has seen a significant drop, now resting between 14,000 and 15,000 employees across its operations.

What Lies Ahead for Pactiv Evergreen?

Kalamazoo residents may be relieved to learn that Pactiv Evergreen does have another plant located in the area at 4141 Manchester Road; however, this facility operates under distinctly different circumstances and does not include the jobs lost at the Miller Road location. Given the unique operational differences at this plant, transferring employees from the closed plant may not be a feasible option.

This move comes after Pactiv Evergreen acquired the Michigan facilities from Fabri-Kal back in October 2021. Regrettably, the company is now engaging in cost-cutting measures, such as these layoffs, as part of broader restructuring efforts. The objective is to streamline their manufacturing and warehouse operations in a bid to improve performance in challenging economic times.

As more information emerges, residents in Kalamazoo will surely be on high alert to see how this closure impacts both the local economy and the daily lives of those who will be transitioning to new employment opportunities.