Naomi Stewart
Marketing Manager, Easyfairs UK
Few industries are changing at the pace of packaging. Learn about the event providing a valuable snapshot of where the industry is today and where it could be tomorrow.
Every year, the packaging world descends on Birmingham as Packaging Innovations & Empack takes place at the NEC. The show has taken on a renewed level of importance as businesses across the world look for the latest technology to overhaul their packaging lines.
Packaging event highlights industry changes
The co-located event combines the Packaging Innovations show — covering innovation in primary and secondary packaging — with Empack, which focuses on supply chain, smart manufacturing and automation technology. Both events are supported by a programme of talks from brands, industry stakeholders and academics that focus on issues within the packaging industry.
This year’s event is critical for the packaging industry and businesses across the world. New legislation, such as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR), promises to fundamentally change the nature of packaging by legally enforcing design for recycling principles and setting new restrictions on many categories of plastic. Other measures, like the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) place exacting new standards for supply chain transparency and ethicality onto businesses.
This year’s event is critical for the packaging
industry and businesses across the world.
Advancing through collaboration
Complying with regulatory challenges, fulfilling sustainability goals and delivering on consumer preferences while keeping costs low pose a challenge. It requires the whole industry to come together and share new ideas to drive necessary change.
In recent years, the performance of innovations like paper-based packaging has improved significantly, thanks to new structural designs and innovative water-based barrier coatings. This means recyclable paper packaging is now a viable option for more applications.
AI drives integrated packaging approach
Breakthroughs in AI and automation bring the industry closer to a fully integrated Industry 4.0. AI-powered supply chain management, small-footprint packing and filling machines and smart pallets collecting granular data help the industry adopt a more comprehensive view of packaging. This approach not only considers the materials used but also clarifies their environmental impact. These are just small steps on a longer journey. Events like Packaging Innovations & Empack can provide the inspiration needed to complete it.
