Engineering a More Sustainable Future: Lou Fenech's Journey of Innovation at Mondelēz

Friday, September 18, 2026

Lou is a packaging engineering and sustainability leader at Mondelēz International with nearly 20 years of experience in food packaging, packaging innovation and technical leadership. His career spans iconic brands including Oreo and Chips Ahoy, patented resealable packaging technologies, multiple product categories, and global packaging sustainability initiatives. In this blog, Lou shares his career journey, the role of packaging engineering in the food industry, essential skills for future engineers, technical leadership advice, and emerging trends shaping sustainable packaging.

Can you tell us about your career journey and what first sparked your interest in packaging engineering?

I graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology, which is where I studied packaging. I took an Introduction to Packaging course given by Fritz Yambrach, who would become my favorite professor during my time at RIT. His passion for the subject, particularly the food packaging course he taught, is what got me interested in a career in food packaging. Packaging is one of those fields that people rarely give much thought to unless they are frustrated by it, and most people probably take it for granted. After learning about the engineering, design, and food science aspects of the field (and the high employment rate coming out of college!), I became very interested.

My career started with one of the most iconic US brands; Oreo. After a few years on Oreo and Chips Ahoy, I moved into channels packaging (club stores, convenience stores), gaining experience across formats and materials. From there, I stepped into a global role focused on resealable packaging technology, spending several years developing new technology and earning 10 granted patents along the way. I then broadened my category expertise across gum, candy, powdered beverages, meals, and chocolate; rounding out the full Mondelēz portfolio. Each move brought new formats, materials, equipment, and product-specific knowledge.

Around 2018, I pivoted to packaging sustainability as corporations began setting voluntary targets. I built and honed my sustainability expertise across category roles, eventually becoming the R&D Packaging Sustainability Lead for North America. Industry collaboration in this space is crucial, and I've been able to contribute to or participate in many industry consortia including The Recycling Partnership, US Flexible Film Initiative, Sustainable Packaging Coalition, Circular Action Alliance, Consumer Goods Forum, Consumer Brands Association, and others.

Today, I also sit on the Mondelēz Technical Leadership Council (since 2023), own our global Design for Recyclability guidelines, and work on technology research for packaging development.

What skills do you believe will be most important for the next generation of engineers?

Critical thinking and problem-solving. Critical thinking will be essential for the next generation of engineers because they'll face unprecedented complexity. AI can be a helpful tool for engineers to increase efficiency and automate mundane tasks. However, technology has not evolved to a place where it can make decisions as well as expertly trained engineers. AI can process data, but weighing trade-offs, context, ethics, and nuance remains a distinctly human strength rooted in critical thought. Critical thinkers frame sharper questions, leading to higher-quality results.

For problem-solving, I firmly believe in the DMAIC methodology: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. For complex manufacturing processes with a lot of variables, a systematic approach to problem-solving is helpful for a variety of situations. You can understand and use this methodology without a Six Sigma Black Belt, and I think it's a great place to start building problem-solving skills.

What advice would you give to engineers who aspire to become technical leaders?

A mentor of mine once told me that if you are comfortable in your role, you are not learning. The packaging field is diverse, and there is always more to learn. One thing I coach our junior engineers on is to seek out opportunities that expand your technical knowledge based on project experience. This could be a move to a new product category, which comes with new materials, products, and equipment, or a shift to a research role to deep-dive into one technology or focus area. A lateral move to develop your technical strengths can be impactful in the long run.

I also advise people to ask questions when they don't understand something. Everyone has different backgrounds and experiences; it's okay to not be an expert on everything. Asking a colleague, supplier, or mentor to explain it is okay, and you'll find most people are happy to take the time to do so.

For those unfamiliar with the field, what role does packaging engineering play in the food and snacking industry?

Packaging is the first interaction consumers have with a product, and it often leaves a lasting impression. Packaging engineering is a discipline that ensures products reach consumers safely, stay fresh, and deliver a great experience; while being manufactured at scale. We design materials that protect against moisture, oxygen, and physical damage, and create functional features like resealability that solve genuine consumer needs.

When we make a change to our packaging, we need to ensure that shelf-life is preserved and food waste is avoided. Food packaging often only makes up about 5% of the total carbon footprint of a product, but if you get it wrong, all of the raw materials and processing go to waste.

Beyond protection, packaging engineers drive significant business value through material optimization and productivity initiatives. Increasingly, we are at the center of the industry's sustainability transformation; designing for recyclability, reducing virgin plastic, and navigating complex regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility laws.

What has been the most rewarding part of growing your career within one organization?

During my almost 20 years at Mondelēz, it has been rewarding to meet so many amazing people around the world. I have had the opportunity to travel and work in more than a dozen countries and build a network of colleagues across different cultures. Mondelēz, and packaging development within the company, are unique in my opinion. There are many people who have more than 20 years at the company, and several I can think of with more than 30 years. Growing my career here has made me feel like I am part of a family, and watching other people grow alongside me has been rewarding.

When you spend your entire career with one organization, you build credibility among those who work with you. It feels good to have that track record so you can focus on the work and let your experience speak for itself. I have seen many leaders come and go, and have experienced different organizational designs, technical approaches, and leadership philosophies. Being able to bring that experience into project work helps me when I run into challenges and helps bring perspective to the job.

What emerging trends do you believe will shape the future of packaging sustainability?

Government regulation is the most impactful trend currently and seems to be on a path to expand significantly over the next several years. EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) is a policy approach that shifts responsibility for the recycling and end-of-life management of packaging (collection, sortation, processing) from local governments and taxpayers to the producer.

These laws are changing the way producers think about and design packaging with the aim of increasing recycling rates and achieving better end-of-life outcomes for packaging. In North America, there is a patchwork of state laws that all have different rules, and this makes it extremely challenging for producers to comply, despite significant efforts.

As more states consider passing similar legislation, producers will need to design their packaging to be compliant with a varied set of rules in the absence of unified federal legislation.

What makes the culture at Mondelēz unique?

I remember when Mondelēz emerged from Kraft Foods as its own publicly traded company in 2012. There was a lot of conversation about the culture of the company and how the employees could shape it moving forward. I think that people truly took advantage of that opportunity and built the culture that I still value greatly today. The people here are one of the biggest reasons I've stayed here for the entirety of my career. We have built a culture where the human element is valued, and people truly care about each other’s well-being.

In my experience, people go above and beyond to help each other and are extremely generous with their time. We have had several new hires in packaging development over the last year, and I see how often people take time out of their day to help explain how a process works, or to coach them through a new one. It is always great to see celebrations for major life events (marriage, kids, birthdays, etc.), but what has really stuck with me is the support people receive from each other when they fall on tough times. The compassion and empathy shown by people here is exceptional, and it makes you feel like part of a family.

It also helps that we work on snacks, which is generally a fun field to be in!

Lou’s career demonstrates how curiosity, continuous learning, and a willingness to embrace new challenges can lead to meaningful growth and impact. Over the last 2 decades, he has helped advance packaging innovation while contributing to broader sustainability goals, proving that technical expertise can play a powerful role in shaping the future of the food industry.

His journey is also a reminder that careers are shaped by many roles and achievements rather than a single one. They are built through a series of learning experiences, collaborations, and opportunities to make a difference. For aspiring engineers, innovators, and sustainability professionals, his story highlights the value of staying curious, thinking creatively, and continuously looking for ways to improve the products, processes, and communities around us.