Dignitaries to be annouced 

Sustainability, in all its many guises, will be the key theme for packaging industry 2021/2022. The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated how vulnerable companies are in terms of staff with key skills, disruption of supply chains and the need to quickly re-orient production, sales and marketing to compensate for lost business.

The packaging industry has been coming up with different technological innovations such as safe closures, flexible handling or easy portioning. All these assets help extending the packaging portfolio of this industry. Stakeholders must take a holistic view on the post pandemic packaging business, current environmental issues, trends, opportunities and its future

The purpose of sustainable packaging varies both by product and package type, but maintaining product safety and having an environmentally conscious end of life are key. Sustainable food packaging is especially challenging because it must keep products fresh and safe while also serving its unique purpose at each stage of its life cycle. Sustainability efforts, including packaging initiatives, is a crucial part of a company’s overarching mission to operate as a responsible business. The broad appeal of sustainability among diverse customer groups will also drive brands to focus on sustainable packaging’

Despite the global crisis and economic slowdown, product packaging will always be in demand. Pharmaceuticals and FMCG businesses are relatively less impacted. Delivery services now are indispensable at times like these. However, there will be changes when it comes to packaging design. Even after the pandemic subsides, the consumer, as well as the entire supply chain, will have to be careful with product purchase and shipment. Suppliers of packaging equipment, materials, containers, labels, and other technologies will need to step up to the plate with a wide range of solutions to meet with the ever-changing needs of the consumer

Irrelevance is the most dangerous future a business can face. Often the result of unmet consumer demands and ignored trends, it is the death knell of a company. Just ask many of the "leading" companies that have ceased to exist in the last decade. Industry and consumer trends are useless if those findings are not integrated into the business strategy. Information on trends helps companies better understand their consumers and manage expectations from the marketplace. When we better understand the consumer trends driving innovation and act on them, we position our businesses to capitalize on them – and stay relevant. This is why it is critical that the packaging Industry discovers ways to meld trend insights and drivers to support innovation in packaging .  

Food packing in West Africa – automate production, enhance productivity

The food industry in West Africa is rapidly growing, with an ongoing shift from unpackaged to packaged food products. This is mainly driven by the rising urban population, disposable income levels and sophistication of Nigerian consumers. This is driving the need for higher production output, SKUs, pack quality, production flexibility and lower operating costs.

In this session, we will look at how food producers can select the right automated packaging system to transform market challenges into opportunities.