PRO2PAC 2017: A DECISIVE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR THE PACKAGING INDUSTRY
The Pro2Pac food and drink packaging exhibition at ExCeL London last week has been hailed ‘an overwhelming success’ with more than 120 exhibitors demonstrating the very latest pioneering technology and cutting-edge innovation.
Global names such as Tetra Pak, Fischbein-Saxon, Coveris, Henkelman and Rapid Action Packaging were amongst the high profile exhibitors while thought-provoking and hard-hitting topical debate came from from speakers including Dick Searle, CEO of The Packaging Federation, Benjamin Punchard, Global Packaging Insights Director at Mintel and Martin Kersh, Executive Director of the FPA (Foodservice Packaging Association).
“It’s been an exhilarating event which in every aspect has reflected the fast moving pace of the food and drink packaging sector,” commented Nick Piper, Event Manager. “The range and quality of exhibitors – including increased international representation this year - has been amazing.
“At a time when issues such as sustainability, food safety and food waste are all in the spotlight, visitors have been able to experience the very latest developments – and discover a whole host of packaging solutions – all under one roof.”
Pro2Pac took place alongside Waste-Works, the only waste and sustainability event dedicated to the food industry, and the UK’s largest food and drink event, IFE. Together the three events covered the full food and drink supply chain, from ‘Farm to Fork to Fertiliser and Fuel’, and brought together key decision makers from the entire industry to offer unbeatable business and networking opportunities.
New Technology
Exhibitor highlights included the Foodjet Printing System from JJA Pack, which enables tailor-made and high-viscosity edible decorations to be digitally printed directly on to mass-produced food products, new linerless print technology from Coveris, and eco-friendly edible packaging from Ecolotec.
Ravenwood Packaging also chose Pro2Pac to reveal its latest game-changing technology, the VXR, combining vision, x-ray and seal check technology. The new compact and high-tech arrangement provides an all-inclusive process for the seamless production of sleeving, contaminate detection and sealing of trays.
Pro2Pac was also the venue for the UK debut of the revolutionary new Meson Technology pp thin-wall injection, stretch blow-moulded hot and cold cup by Mark Crawley of Imagine Technologies, whose presentation attracted a packed audience including representatives from Costa Coffee, EAT and Pret A Manger.
The new double-walled cup has been billed as the solution to the coffee cup issue as it’s totally recyclable within existing waste streams. Made from ultra-thin pp, it keeps hot drinks hot and hands comfortable, and cold drinks cold without condensation – a big issue in the US and Australia.
The cup, said Mark, is not yet in production but has had a positive reception from some key global retailers while product trials over the next few months will prepare the product for commercialisation.
Outside the Box Speakers
The event’s ‘Outside the Box’ speaker programme tackled a wide range of issues ranging from how the packaging industry will fare post-Brexit, to reducing food waste through packaging innovation to the role of augmented reality in packaging design. At the lively ‘Storm in a Coffee Cup’ debate there was standing room only as the panel of experts discussed the latest thinking on the coffee cups issue.
Speakers included Martin Kersh, executive director of the FPA, Adrian Pratt, marketing manager of Benders and vice chair of the PCRRG, Dr Chris Sherrington, Principal Consultant, Eunomia Research & Consulting, Henry Chown, Campaign Manager, Friends of the Earth, Joanna Gilroy, head of sustainability at Bunzl Catering Services, and Peter Goodwin, Director, Simply Cups.
The consensus was very much that the supply chain needs to work together to find workable solutions for all stakeholders and the industry must work together to ensure the issue is addressed or government will be inclined to intervene.
Both Friends of the Earth and Eunomia felt that government intervention would be effective and should not only cover a coffee cup charge but also ban single use cups in some environments. The panellists all agreed that a lack of product life cycle analysis made it difficult to compare the environmental impact of single use cups with reusables, and also that there is no single solution to the issue as the right solution very much depends on the environment in which the cup is used.
Chris Sherrington from Eunomia said consumption should be reduced to prevent waste in the first place and that a charge on cups is the right way to go, while Joanna Gilroy (Bunzl) said understanding consumer attitudes to recycling and littering was critical to making progress.
In a separate debate on how the packaging industry will fare post-Brexit, speaker Andy Barnetson (Director of Packaging Affairs, Confederation of Paper Industries) said leaving the EU would present a number of challenges and that faced with uncertainty over currency exchange and the threat of having to import more raw materials could unsettle industry.
Dick Searle, CEO of the Packaging Federation, said the packaging industry imported almost all its raw materials and in the light of recent swingeing price increases, it would remain to be seen how those costs would be passed through. All panellists agreed that over the next two years of Brexit negotiation, the industry needed to focus on the issues that made sound economic sense and ensure that its views are heard.
Pro2Pac Design Challenge
The UK’s ‘grab & go’ food market is estimated to be worth more that £20bn this year so students taking part in the 2017 Pro2Pac Design Challenge were asked to design an initiative whereby the recycling aspect of on-the-go packaging was encouraged through graphic or structural design. As part of the brief from Sanjay Patel, Global Innovations Connector at Coca Cola, their designs had to tackle the issue of excess packaging generated by on-the-go products.
At a presentation on the opening day, Rhys Howell, a 24 year old final year graphic design student at Leeds Beckett University, was named the winner for his ‘Cyclegram’ app design. The app, which allows people to share and sell upcycled rubbish, satisfied the judges’ criteria on design and functionality as well as consumer benefits and marketability, and earnt him £250 and a work placement at brand and packaging agency Hurricane Design.
“It was an exciting opportunity to get involved in a real life project, working within real timescales to an actual brief,” said Rhys.
Jayne Cunningham, also from Leeds Beckett, was highly commended for her reusable drink packing solution, and all shortlisted designs were on show during the three day event.
The winners were chosen by Sanjay Patel, Simon Oxley, formerly Food Packaging Technologist at M&S, and senior lecturer Andrew du Feu.
“Many of the entries explored an app-focused solution as the students wanted to create a way to challenge consumer attitudes to recycling,” said Sanjay, who also mentored the students during the design process. “It’s so important to have creative people involved in the future of packaging.”
Waste-Works
New technology on display at Waste-Works included Power Knot’s innovative solution to waste, the LFC (Liquid Food Composter), a fully enclosed automatic bio-digester which turns most food waste into grey water within 24 hours, and the BioWhale food waste management unit from Organic Waste Logistics. Sustainability was also a feature of the Willen Biogas stand, which demonstrated the benefits of treating food waste through anaerobic digestion and revealed details of its fully operational London-based 1.MW AD plant, which turns food waste into valuable biofertiliser and green energy – enough to power 2,600 homes.
Green Earth Appeal
Underlining both Pro2Pac and Waste-Works commitment to sustainability, organisers Fresh Montgomery partnered with the Green Earth Appeal to help offset the event’s carbon footprint by planting a fruit tree in Africa for each of the 120 exhibitors.
The initiative, which gives individuals in developing countries a chance to create a sustainable future for their community with help from businesses in more economically developed countries, aims to combat climate change and poverty while protecting the natural world.
'One in five people will choose a brand that made their sustainability credentials clear on their packaging,” said Marvin Baker, managing director of the Green Earth Appeal. “It's important to put customers in touch with sustainability.”
Testimonials
“It’s been a really worthwhile day and I’d definitely come again. We’ve been really interested in the packaging side, but also picked up lots of ideas in bakery and frozen food.”
David Martin, The Lodge Coffee Shops
“Thanks so much for an interesting show. I found there to be lots of flow and a positive rhythm and vibe all round.”
Dee-Dee Zaine, GreatWineDirect.com
"Great atmosphere and a diverse range of organisations."
Matthew Orman, Director, 6butterfiles
“We’ve had a really good day, we’ve seen a lot of new companies and interesting ideas and technologies.”
Phil Kirkby, Business Development Manager, Offset Print & Packaging
“It exceeded my expectations. We met a number of great companies who had serious interest and budget. One order will pay for our investment ten times over.”
Paul Sutcliffe, Managing Director, Redzone Production Systems
"It's very much an industry get together as well as something that we are participating in terms of revealing some of the new things that we are doing as a business"
Ian Williamson, Business Development Director, Tetra Pak
"Great buzz in the hall. Good organisation and lots to learn and look at. Best show in town."
Inder Poonaji, 6butterflies
"Pro2Pac is phenomenally important really, if you look at packaging it's the second biggest employer globally after customer service."
Sanjay Patel, Coca-Cola
