All positive at Packaging Innovations

Packaging Solutions

This year’s Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London had it all, with speakers from the House of Commons to the Los Angeles packaging design community, visitors from the world’s leading brands and retailers, and exhibitors launching everything from innovative new packaging products to brand new packaging companies. With visitor numbers up it really was a case of quality and quantity.

Visitors to the show included Lucozade & Ribena Suntory, Harrods, Dairy Crest, Burberry, Adidas, Avon, and Chanel, with many exhibiting and visiting brands booking stands live on the show floor, resulting in an 84% uptake for next year’s show.

The event opened with a keynote session by Mark Pawsey, MP and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Packaging Manufacturing Group, who commented: ‘The UK packaging manufacturing industry has a turnover of £11 billion, generating 85,000 jobs, which is 3% of the UK’s total manufacturing workforce. This shows just how important the role of packaging is within the UK, it does not get the credit it deserves, so I am here to stand up and say well done.

‘Looking around it is clear to see just how fantastic the level of innovation on show is. We have innovative products, high end and high quality offerings, which to me shows the industry to be in great health. One of the greatest challenges the packaging industry faces is turning these ideas into mass market products. This show is a fantastic shop window into the future of packaging, but we must ensure these innovations go on to change the way we work.’

Meanwhile, the first ever UK edition of The Dieline Conference explored a mixture of packaging and branding topics, from major names including Coca-Cola, The Hershey Company, Wagamama and Elmwood, all presenting the very latest cutting-edge subjects currently challenging the world of design.

With innovation at the heart of the show, it was no wonder that The Great Innovation Debate was packed out. Chaired by Stefan Casey, business innovation manager at The Retail Institute, commented on the debate: ‘Once again sustainability has come across as a big part of innovation, as consumers are looking for simplicity in design combined with honesty. They want to know where their products are coming from – are they ethically made and environmentally friendly – as a result brands are trying close loop recycling, and by applying circular economy principles from the onset to product design and packaging, it is driving brands to be more innovative giving them a competitive edge.’

More than 170 exhibitors presented their latest products and services with over 100 new product launches.

Gerry Sherwood, event director of the Easyfairs Packaging Portfolio, concluded: ‘We couldn’t be happier with how this year’s show turned out – the attendance figures and feedback off exhibitors and visitors has been incredible – all I can say is bring on the NEC in March!’

The next Packaging Innovations show will take place on 1 and 2 March 2017 at the NEC, Birmingham.