PETnology, an information platform for international PET packaging industry, has chosen ALL4PACK Paris 2018 to holds its 22nd European conference for the first time between November 26 and 29.
According to a press release by Akin Akinbola, managing director/CEO, Promosalons Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon, ALL4PACK trade show is in association with the European Brand & Packaging Design Association (EPDA), as the show this year seeks to exceed ALL4PACK Paris’ €4.55 billion turnover generated in 2017.
Akinbola said the focus of this year’s conference would be on Technology, Sustainability and Partnerships, as “PETnology Europe will shine a light on technical and technological developments of thermoformed and stretch blow molded packaging systems.”
Also, Barbara Appel, managing director, Petnology, said in an interview, “The latest developments are a response to the omnipresent market requirements, in particular, circular economy, sustainability, digitisation and eco-design. The general theme of technology is supported by networking, which functions as a catalyst by accelerating developments.”
Appel said more and more manufacturers of consumer goods, food, and beverages were entering partnerships with packaging producers and recycling companies as well as environmental and humanitarian organisations.
“This is a response to the demands made in the markets for more environmentally friendly packaging and sustainable secondary use. PETnology Europe 2018 will be focusing on just that,” Appel said.
The benefits of networking will be in evidence at the conference, which will highlight technologies and products that aim at conserving resources and producing environmentally friendly and sustainable PET packaging products.
“Rather than being incinerated and ending up in landfills, such products are recoverable and will be reused, because they make ideal recycling materials,” as stated in the press statement.
The decision to hold the conference in Paris underlines the event’s increased internationalisation, Appel said.
More so, from the press release, 22 designers and 16 Europeans and North African countries on the challenges that lie ahead for packaging sector carried out a survey.
The challenges listed include: population aging, resource depletion, development of artificial intelligence, and increased mobility in autonomous vehicles, as far as into space.
On population aging, improving the readability of packaging is quite simply essential. People in their 40s start having eye defects which then worsen over time.
On resource depletion, educating people remains the best solution to distribute good practices regarding environmental protection. The Europeans surveyed call for more obligations and more encouragement. They would like to see non-recyclable packaging and over-packaging being banned.
On the development of artificial intelligence, “this technological progress should help to make packaging more responsible,” Amelie Huvelin, press office, ALL4PACK Paris 2018, stated.
Also, in the view of both European Baby Boomers and Millennials, artificial intelligence will be best employed by helping to sort and recycle used packaging better and by helping to reduce waste by alerting consumers to use by dates, for example.
On increased mobility in autonomous vehicles and as far as into space, the recyclability of packaging and how easy it is to open and reseal without the risk of leakage are two factors that matter more to people when they travel as opposed to consuming at home.
“It can be observed that the packaging sector is in a state of constant flux. Driven by innovations such as artificial intelligence or new forms of mobility, packaging will continue to remain at the forefront, and is certain to be more environmentally friendly and attentive to the needs of people,” Huvelin concluded.
However, the company is looking forward to welcoming a large number of new exhibitors from this sector, this month.
Newcomers to the show include firms working in robotics such as Fenwick Robotics or Universal Robots; also those dealing in warehousing equipment such as AR Storage Solutions, Bito Systèmes and Norsud. All4Pack will also see the debuts of Flexlink Systems, Blume LMC, Schunk Intec, KNS Lease, Manu Systems, Alpa Manutention, OMS, Megadyne SPA, etc.
Across all of its sectors, more than 95 percent of the available surface area of ALL4PACK Paris is already booked up. 30 percent of exhibitors are new to the show compared with the last event in 2016, and 38 countries are represented.
PETnology is an information platform for the international PET packaging industry with its first PET Technology Conference in 2001.
ALL4PACK is an international exhibition for the packaging, processing, printing & logistics ecosystem.
