It was a “packed” couple of days at the NEC Birmingham for this year's Packaging Innovations Show. Held on the 12th and 13th of February, it was an excellent opportunity for packaging businesses to showcase their products, hear from industry experts and meet customers old and new.
The Packaging Innovations Conference Agenda
The show talks included a wide selection of discussions and presentations over three stages; Manufacturing & Supply Chain, Circular Economy and Innovation & Design.
One of the hottest tickets was the PackUK Launch on Wednesday morning. PackUK is the scheme administrator for the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) programme.
There were government representatives from each of the devolved parliaments, as well as Sebastian Munden, Chair at PackUK.
The show marked the launch of PackUK
There were a few common themes mentioned by the panel about the purpose of pEPR;
- To move towards a circular economy
- To incentivise recycling investment and infrastructure
- To create sustainable economic growth
- To improve the resilience of our material supply
Beyond the conference stages, there was a chance to discover new products and fresh approaches to packaging, processing and automation.
Sustainability and Material Innovation
Sustainability was still the buzzword on many stands and it remains the biggest driver of new packaging products.
The growth of plant-based polymers as an alternative to single-use plastics is gaining traction, particularly in the food sector. More sustainable options on display included sugar cane bottles, bamboo plates, paper crisp tubes (yes Pringles!) and recyclable wax wrappers.
Recycled plastic containers and biodegradable soft wraps were also in evidence as the market continues to evolve in response to government environmental taxation policy and consumer concerns about single-use plastic.
The innovation gallery provided an opportunity for a closer look at some of the new products that are coming to market including; grass fiber paper packaging, a plastic-free barrier and bio-plastic cap wraps. Show-goers could vote for the winner with a swipe of their visitor's pass, and it was a popular section of the show.
The Innovation Gallery included bio-degradable cap wraps
Robotics and Packaging Systems
The rise of robotics and automation was everywhere from labelling and box-filling to wrapping and packing, and many companies brought working machines and production lines.
There were also small automation specialists offering tailored solutions for online warehouse-based businesses. These robots could select and pack goods with finger-tip precision, offering the potential to improve speed and efficiency in the B2C sector.
Automated box packing
Protective Packaging for Shipping
The growth of the online marketplace has also seen an increase in demand for packaging that protects.
The holy grail is a product that has the lightest weight for the maximum protection, and for many companies that meant air-filled packaging.
A bio-plastic airbag wrap
The variety of airbags on show included bio-plastic and paper options. These airbags had the advantage of being lightweight whilst also having excellent cushioning properties, making them an ideal packaging filler.
Engineered paper, corrugated card and custom-moulded pulp were showcased as viable eco-friendly replacements for polystyrene. Whilst they arguably do not offer the same degree of shock-absorption as polystyrene they are environmentally much more sustainable.
Polystyrene is not recyclable and breaks down into small micro plastic pieces that are harmful to the environment making it one of the least sustainable materials out there. The shift to alternative materials is a welcome trend that is likely to continue.
The Future of the Packaging Industry
The record-breaking attendance and number of stands at this year's show indicate that the packaging sector is thriving.
The panel discussions and launch of PackUk highlighted that environmental taxation is here to stay on a local, national and international level. And the onus is on packaging manufacturers and suppliers to respond with more sustainable solutions.
Innovation in materials, increased recyclability of packaging and producer responsibility are likely to be the key drivers of change in the industry, and there's no doubt it's an exciting time to be in packaging!
