Rickinson told journalists last month that, despite "some initial concerns" over the "fit" between the two organisations, over 2,000 of the Institute of Packaging's former 2,150 membership have renewed their annual subscription to the new IOP: The Packaging Society body. He explained: "Packaging has been an important IOM3 area for many years; we already had a packaging division among our sixteen. Now our packaging membership represents our third biggest 'community'."
Rickinson said IOM3 will aim to give IOP: The Packaging Society members "everything they received from the IOP, plus significantly more". The Society will focus particularly on strengthening its overseas links and trade association connections, "better networking", more effective lobbying and education and training.
Business development manager Annette Bigglestone is keen to develop new Starpack Awards categories including ones highlighting good packaging design for the disabled, material innovation in packaging, packaging training and the best packaging advertising campaign. A high profile will also continue to be given to the School/Student Starpacks.
Gordon Stewart, acting IOP ceo since last September (he will now head up the Packaging Industry Awarding Body Company alongside maintaining a strong packaging overview within IOM3), says the Institute's Chartered Status also gives former IOP members the opportunity to become chartered scientists. "Achieving chartered status for the IOP was always something we wanted, but it would probably have taken us 6-7 years," he explained.
