Is the worst over?

18 June 2009

“The recession is over” – that’s been a screaming headline across many newspapers and magazines this month. One of the UK’s most respected think tanks, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), revealed that the economy hit rock bottom in March but registered growth in the following months. The Office for National Statistics in the UK has confirmed this, pointing out that the overall industrial production has gone up by 0.2 per cent in March and April.

Despite these reports, doubts remain over the extent and strength of this surge, with proponents of ‘W-shape’ economic recovery arguing that we are nowhere near the end of the recession.

Clearly, there are signs of recovery but predicting the exact nature of the economic growth for the next four quarters will be the subject of many inconclusive debates. While figures will continue to be erratic, we can at least say the worst is over.

In the June print issue of Packaging Today, we present a survey that highlights the views of buyers and suppliers regarding the timescale of this economic recovery and their most pressing concerns.

We also look at how a focus on the food and drink market is shielding the cartons sector from economic downturns and how the cartons industry is promoting itself as environmentally friendly.

Green issues have also been at the centre of many discussions in the recent years. Advocates of plastics packaging argue that polyethylene, in recessionary times, is a not only a more cost effective method of packaging products but is also more environmentally friendly compared to metal or paper. And as the packaging industry looks to minimise its carbon footprint, returnable transit packaging (RTP), in the form of plastics trays and containers, is also becoming a trend.

Sonali Advani

Group Editor


Sonali Advani



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