Chairman of the Board
Tahsin Dag is the founder and CEO of PAPACKS®, an internationally active technology platform for fiber-based materials, industrial packaging solutions, and scalable production systems.
Since 2013, he has been consistently driving the transformation of the fiber casting industry. In less than a decade, he has developed PAPACKS® into a globally oriented platform that integrates technology, material development, and industrial production. This includes multiple production sites, proprietary raw material and coating technologies, and an international licensing model for rapid scaling in global markets.
At the heart of his work is the development of a new industrial infrastructure that makes sustainable materials available on a large scale and fundamentally transforms existing supply chains. With a clear focus on standardization, modularization, and scalability, Tahsin Dag develops solutions that go far beyond traditional packaging approaches.
With the founding of the European Moulded Pulp Producers Association (EMPPA) in 2022, he has created a central platform for the European molded pulp industry. As president, he aims to strategically unite the industry, establish industrial standards, and actively shape the dialogue between industry, politics, and research at the European level.
Under his leadership, EMPPA is evolving into a leading voice in the industry and is helping to actively shape regulatory frameworks, innovation cycles, and market structures.
More than 120 patent families and numerous international awards reflect the technological excellence and innovative dynamism of his work.
Today, Tahsin Dag is regarded as one of the leading figures in the European fiber casting industry. He advises companies, institutions, and decision-makers on the transition to scalable, sustainable material and production systems.
Vice Chairman of the Board
Marthijn Broeils brings extensive experience in sustainable packaging technology and international business development. As Vice President of EMPPA since November 2025, and active within Inmaco Solutions, a Dutch machine builder of fibre-based packaging equipment, he combines strategic insight with a hands on mentality, built on years of collaboration with manufacturers, engineers and partners across the packaging value chain.
His passion lies in advancing fibre based packaging as a scalable and future proof alternative to plastic. Inspired by rapid developments in circular materials and production technologies, Marthijn is committed to accelerating the transition towards fully recyclable and resource efficient systems.
Marthijn believes collaboration is key to progress, uniting material developers, machine builders and brands to create solutions that are both sustainable and economically viable.
Treasurer
Michael is an executive leader with experience across manufacturing, agri-tech, and financial services. He currently holds executive roles at PAPACKS, Ukrainian Hemp, and the Ukraine Recovery Investment Fund. With a strong focus on mergers and acquisitions, he is dedicated to creating value through strategic partnerships, innovation, and operational synergies.
In his role as Treasurer at EMPPA, Michael supports the organization’s daily operations through disciplined financial management and forward-looking strategic planning. Michael holds a degree in Business Administration from Webster University and a diploma in Organizational Management from Stanford.
Assessor, Member of the Board
Richard is Director of Research & Development at Kiefel, where he leads innovation in packaging machinery with a strong focus on sustainable fiber-based solutions. With over 11 years of experience in product development and manufacturing, he drives the development of technologies from concept to industrial application.
Since joining Kiefel in 2017, he has held various leadership roles across R&D, product management, and technical sales, contributing significantly to the advancement of fiber thermoforming technologies and the establishment of integrated development capabilities across product design, processes, tooling, and materials.
His work focuses on enabling the transition from plastic to sustainable packaging solutions by combining engineering expertise with a deep understanding of materials and industrial processes.
Assessor, Member of the Board
Sergii Rudkovskyi is the CEO of SEM ECOPACK, a company specializing in the production of eco-friendly molded fiber packaging and the development of solutions that enable the transition from plastic to sustainable materials.
He is a co-founder and driving force behind several initiatives focused on green transformation, including Pulp Master, Blue Ocean Solutions, and the PAGL Constructor, as well as other projects advancing sustainable materials and recycling technologies.
Sergii brings over 25 years of experience in manufacturing and production management, including more than 15 years in the paper packaging industry. He also played a key role in the establishment and development of the Zhytomyr Cardboard Factory.
In addition to his executive role, he actively contributes as a participant and expert in professional platforms and working groups dedicated to sustainability and the circular economy, while also developing innovative technological solutions, several of which are protected by patents.
Assessor, Member of the Board (co-opted)
Rüdiger Weiler has many years of experience in barrier coatings and the application of additives in paper production. With this expertise, he and his team see themselves as development partners for the moulded fibre industry and are keen to actively contribute their knowledge to its further development.
“In many areas, the moulded fibre industry is still in a pioneering phase. This makes the exchange of experience and a strong platform such as EMPPA all the more important. Flexibility, speed, pragmatism and a solution-oriented approach are exactly what our industry needs at this stage.“
Assessor, Member of the Board (co-opted)
With a deep Commercial background in the paper, packaging and fibre industries, this executive brings a unique combination of strategic leadership, market insight and hands on transformation experience to the moulded fibre sector. Over a multi decade international career, he has led global sales, marketing and commercial excellence as well as general management functions, shaping customer centric strategies and driving business growth across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia Pacific. His achievements include building and steering high performing commercial organisations, leading complex transformation programmes, and developing global key account structures that strengthened customer partnerships and unlocked new business opportunities.
Known for an inclusive and communicative leadership style, he balances innovative thinking with structured execution—consistently enabling organisations to navigate change and accelerate growth. As the current Director for the Refined Fibre Business & B2B at the WEPA Group, he works at the forefront of fibre based innovation and sustainable material solutions. His perspective spans market development, customer needs evolution and strategic opportunity identification—expertise particularly relevant to an industry rapidly advancing toward circularity and next generation fibre technologies.
Executive Director
Michael Laermann is an independent business consultant and EU policy advisor specializing in the circular economy at the EU level.
As the managing director and founder of Reason & Rhyme in Brussels, he works at the intersection of business and policy, advising companies across the packaging, textiles, food, and recycling sectors on sustainable strategies and stakeholder communications. His areas of expertise encompass circular business models, lifecycle analysis, eco-design, impact assessment, and reporting. His business acumen is grounded in his prior career in marketing communications and commercial roles for international enterprises across different industries.
Principal I Operations Manager
Alexander has been involved since the early stages of setting up EMPPA and has been supporting the organisation, its development and networking efforts ever since.
Alexander is a political strategy advisor specializing in public affairs, government relations, and strategic positioning at the intersection of politics, industry, and regulation. With more than 15 years of experience, he advises corporations, startups, and industry associations on navigating complex regulatory environments across EU, federal, and state levels.