Throughout his 10-year career at Footprint, Collin Euteneuer (’15) has helped drive transformative packaging innovations with some of the world’s largest brands. The fiber-based technologies he has helped support and scale have reduced millions of pounds of plastic from entering landfills while also helping brands achieve their sustainability initiatives such as carbon dioxide or plastic reduction goals.
Now serving as managing director of consumer products, he is leading a global business unit focused on delivering transformative plastic-free packaging solutions to the market with leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands across the world.
Initially drawn to UW-Stout’s polytechnic approach and originally majoring in business, Collin soon discovered his calling in the packaging program. “It was the smaller, tight-knit feel of Stout and the engineering focus that drew me in,” Collin recalls. "Once I joined the packaging program, I quickly realized how packaging affects our everyday life and how I could make an impact in the industry." He credits the mix of real-world examples and applied learning, including lab experiments and project-based coursework, for preparing him to tackle complex challenges in a rapidly evolving field.
Collin joined Footprint, a startup committed to eliminating single-use plastics, immediately after graduation. He began in a dual role supporting both sales and design, managing projects, validating samples and coordinating with clients.
Over time, his responsibilities expanded to technical sales, operations planning and leading the company’s technology development and project management offices. Today, his work spans consumer goods focused on non-food packaging with teams in Arizona, Mexico and Poland.
Over his career, Collin has been instrumental in developing breakthrough packaging technologies. A notable example is the Walmart Mac & Cheese molded fiber cup: the first shelf-stable, microwavable cup made from plant-based fibers with direct-print capabilities.
“When you are able to partner with a leading brand to develop a new technology and bring it to the market together, it’s incredibly rewarding," he says.
Initially, Collin's work began with Footprint’s food packaging where he played a key role in bringing their supermarket trays to market with Beyond Meat and Shelf Stable Cups with Walmart. Over the years he has also partnered with leading CPG brands such as P&G, Gillette and Philips Oral Care to help transition away from single-use plastic into plant-based fiber technologies. In each case, his work enabled companies to transition from traditional plastics to sustainable fiber solutions, supporting measurable reductions in carbon dioxide emissions, energy use and plastic waste.
Leadership and mentorship are equally central to Collin’s story. Known for his hands-on approach and adaptability, he emphasizes supporting teams, delegating effectively and empowering colleagues to problem-solve while providing guidance when needed. “It’s about giving your team the tools to succeed and creating an environment where challenges can be escalated and solved quickly,” he says.
In the end, Collin's work is about creating solutions that don’t just perform, but make a measurable difference over time — for his family, his community and the planet.
When asked what being #StoutProud means to him, Collin reflects on the community and mindset that shaped his journey. “I’m proud of the tight-knit, family community that is Stout,” Collin says. “The polytechnic, hands-on environment goes a long way in the work environment. Especially in engineering, where it’s not just studying a book.”
That emphasis on real‑world impact embodies what it means to be #StoutProud: tackling real‑world challenges and driving meaningful change.
Looking ahead, Collin remains focused on driving the shift from plastics to sustainable fiber-based packaging. “I want to look back in 20 or 30 years and know that I was part of a transformational shift in the industry,” he says. “I hope my kids can walk down a grocery aisle and recognize that the packaging they see was designed to be recyclable, compostable and better for the planet and know that their dad was part of bringing that reality to life.”
