The group, formed in 2011, recently unveiled its Product Recovery Knowledge Map (PRKM) to form the largest known collection of information about the recovery of packaging materials.
"It has been an honor to serve as AMERIPEN's first Executive Director, and it has been a thrilling ride! I feel fortunate to have been in a position to help start AMERIPEN on its path to success, as it now works to address important issues that will have global impact," said Pierce.
"This experience has been a fitting capstone for my lifelong career in packaging, and I am grateful to AMERIPEN for affording me this adventure."
AMERIPEN hope to have a new executive director in place by the start of April.