Europe’s leading multi-material packaging manufacturer, British-based LINPAC Packaging, will present a series of mini ‘Fresh Thinking’ seminars on global trends and their impact on the packaging industry at FachPack 2012 in Germany.
The executive team from LINPAC Packaging – which manufactures products for the protein, bakery, fresh produce and foodservice sectors – will comment on how the industry can respond and adapt to economic volatility throughout Europe in order to remain efficient and competitive. They will also discuss changes in the retailing landscape, affected by changing demographics, and how this impacts on product and materials innovation – now and in the future.
FachPack is one of the biggest packaging exhibitions in Europe, with more than 1,400 exhibitors expected to take part and some 35,000 visitors. It runs from 25 to 27 September at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre, Germany, and brings together individuals and organisations from every corner of the packaging world.
LINPAC’s exhibition seminars will include excerpts from the successful ‘Fresh!’ events, which were held across Europe in autumn last year and marked the launch of the company’s ‘Fresh Thinking’ strategy. The Fresh Thinking philosophy has been applied to every aspect of LINPAC Packaging’s operations, both internally and externally, and is about creating optimal ways of thinking and doing things to build a sustainable business that has a forward direction and ‘future focus’.
René Christensen, LINPAC Packaging’s Managing Director and General Manager North West Europe, said: “Innovation – not only in our product development, but also in the way we work with customers, employees and suppliers – has been put at the forefront of our long-term strategy. FachPack presents us with a great opportunity to engage with the wider supply chain to offer our particular take on what’s in store for the industry and also to gauge the opinion of others.
“While the industry has already seen a great deal of change, it is clear that more is on its way. In 2011, the global consumer packaging market was worth approximately $400 billion globally, and was dominated by the food and beverage market (69%). Forecasts show that this sector will grow by at least 4% by 2015. Change within the plastics industry is coming at a faster rate than ever before. With new product introductions, changing legislation and the rapid advancement of new technologies, just keeping up is becoming a monumental task. Managing the implementation of these major changes is a must to survive in today's highly competitive environment.”
René went on: “Add to this changes to some of the key trends that drive our business – the rise in single-person households, an ageing population, a rise in consumer awareness of issues like food safety and security, a drive to reduce costs across the supply chain, and environmental factors – and we realised that we could not expect to operate in the same way that we have always done if we are to stay ahead of the competition. Developing and implementing our Fresh Thinking strategy has injected new methods, products, ideas and innovation into LINPAC Packaging’s business.”
Senior executives at the company have recently warned that the packaging industry is failing to communicate the crucial role packaging plays in modern society. Director of Innovation, Alan Davey, speaking at the European Plastics and Composites Innovation Days, organised by the European Plastic Converters Association, told delegates: “We have a very good case to make for plastics and plastics packaging, but as an industry we are punching below our weight and need to work harder to show retailers and consumers the benefits of packaging for preserving and storing food – at a time when food waste is one of the biggest environmental issues facing Europe.
“We need to address the challenges facing the industry, including the changing requirements of the market, the effectiveness of packaging, the need to drive down food waste, and to deliver environmental benefits.”
Between the seminars, visitors to LINPAC’s stand will be able to see some of the latest products to be developed by the company, including its range of split packs which allow contents to be divided into separate portion-size compartments in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). These allow consumers to store food in the fridge for longer without compromising food safety. Also on show will be the Rfresh MB/LINtop Star – the ultimate film/tray combination for sustainability and performance. The Rfresh MB trays are made of rPET and contain up to 95% food grade post-consumer recyclate, while the LINtop Star range of films represent a new generation of premium quality high-barrier shrink-lidding films.
LINPAC may be found on stand 635 in Hall 9 at FachPack 2012, Nuremberg Exhibition Centre, 25-27 September.
