While visitor figures had not yet been published at the time of writing, the two-day event, which was held at London’s ExCel on Wednesday and Thursday (11-12 September) this week, was said to have hosted “thousands of visitors” and over 190 exhibitors.
Senior marketing manager at Easyfairs UK, James Montero MacColl, said: “Moving the show back to Wednesday-Thursday has been a real success for us. You can tell people are engaged in the content and conferences, and all of the stages have been really busy. The exhibitors are delighted, and lots of high-level conversations are happening.
“Overall, it’s been a real success, and as the organiser, we’re incredibly happy with how it has turned out. Our happiness stems from the happiness of our clients, the exhibitors and the quality of visitors, which make it attractive for exhibitors to come to London Packaging Week.”
Dates for the 2025 event have already been set – the show will return to the ExCel on 15 and 16 October next year.
Margaret Bates, who heads up government agency Defra’s Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging Scheme, was involved in a conversation with Foodservice Packaging Association executive director Martin Kersh, which asked if regulation is stifling creativity in the packaging industry.
Speaking after the session Bates said: “If anything, the opposite is true; innovation is being prioritised in order to respond to new and evolving regulations.”
Paper-based material suppliers Holmen Iggesund and Tullis Russell both had conversations about developing and transitioning to sustainable packaging options.
Tullis Russell again partnered with Notpla to showcase their joint development of sustainable foodservice packaging options made out of seaweed and plants, and also showed off other developments in its product range for labels and consumer packaging.
Holmen Iggesund, meanwhile, presented its Touching Tomorrow sample box – a portfolio of materials, techniques and designs with the future of packaging firmly in mind, as well as showcasing its partnership with Yangi, to explore the opportunities of bio-based and renewable packaging for the cosmetic and beauty industry.
Dayfold was at the show on the Fedrigoni stand, the businesses joining forces to showcase innovations in luxury packaging. Verwood, Dorset-based printer Dayfold had used some of Fedrigoni’s latest exclusive materials to produce eye-catching presentation boxes, complete with black/white foiling on all.
The inaugural London Packaging Week Innovation Awards honoured designs including Bowmore ARC-52 Mokume, Highland Park's 54-year-old decanter, Coca-Cola’s label-free Sprite Naked, and Altra’s Altra Box.
On the event’s second day, yesterday, Easyfairs revealed this year’s Exhibitor Innovation Gallery winner as the Daisy Top Refill System by Meadow.
Hybrid Software used the event to announce the formation of a new business unit to provide hosted artwork management and “3D visualization solutions” for brands and consumer packaged goods companies.
Hybrid Software BrandZ will be based in Gent, Belgium with dedicated sales and support teams based in western Europe and North America.
The flagship product for the BrandZ unit is Artflow, a comprehensive, SaaS-based artwork management offering that Hybrid Software said helps brands and retailers manage their large portfolios of complex graphical projects.
Artflow provides 2D and 3D visualization and approval technology based on Hybrid Software’s ProofScope software, combined with brand-specific tools for detailed briefings, project scheduling, and more. Artflow can be integrated with ERP, CRM, or DAM systems through its core API.
Dedicated 3D products including Capture3D and iC3D round out the BrandZ product offering.
Igor Vandromme, VP/GM of Hybrid Software BrandZ, said: “Our year-long partnership with TGS has shown that brands and retailers have many unmet needs for artwork management and visualization tools, both for flat artwork and 3D.
“Being part of Hybrid Software gives us access to a wide software portfolio and technology stack, allowing us to address those needs.
“For example, our recent collaboration with Diageo for point-of-sale printing of unique custom labels on Johnny Walker bottles was a strong success that will be repeated in the future.
“With thousands of brands who do not have their own solutions for artwork management, we expect rapid growth in this segment as we add additional sales and support resources around the world.”
Jenny Stanley, managing director of creative technology studio Appetite Creative, was at the show to celebrate the launch of her new book, Connected Packaging: The Game-Changing Marketing Tool, which is available to buy now from Amazon.
The book provides an extensive exploration of connected packaging that bridges the gap between physical products and digital experiences.
Spanning nine chapters, it covers everything from the historical evolution of connected packaging and future trends to regulatory and ethical considerations.
It also includes insights and advice for those navigating the recent wave of change on packaging legislation, especially in the European Union, which has been reformed substantially since 2018.
“Connected packaging is not just a trend; it’s the future of brand-consumer relationships,” said Stanley.
“This book aims to demystify the technology and showcase its immense potential for marketers and brands alike.”
In the book, Stanley offers readers a blend of practical insights, case studies, and future projections. It also includes a glossary of terms and a comprehensive list of resources for further reading.
It features contributions from industry leaders, including executives from AIPIA, Domino, GS1, Digimarc, PolyTag, Avery Dennison, Koenig & Bauer, Laava, Amazon, and Packaging Europe to offer readers a well-rounded understanding of connected packaging’s applications across various sectors.
