The Big Debate and the Sustainability Trail are designed to address the challenges being faced by industry professionals at every point of the packaging journey, from conception to consumer.
The event’s headline feature, The Big Debate will take place across both days and will seek to voice new perspectives on the government’s latest packaging regulations affecting suppliers, manufacturers, and consumers.
The panel will be made up of names including OPRL’s executive chair and director Jane Bevis, the UKRI’s challenge director of smart sustainable plastics packaging Paul Davidson, and head of compliance at Clarity Environmental, Martin Trigg-Knight.
Key challenges around reducing the industry’s carbon footprint will be addressed by the Sustainability Trail feature. The guide will provide visitors with an ‘eco-roadmap’ of the most innovative green products from the show floor. Only qualifying exhibitors that have been vetted by judges and fulfil a host of sustainable criteria will feature.
Other features at the show will include The Innovation Showcase, where 12 new concepts will compete to win Most Innovative Pack, with the winner chosen via a public vote.
The event will also host an improved seminar programme set across three stages, featuring speakers from Ocado, Nestlé, and HP.
Sustainability will be the central focus of the Ecopack Stage, where experts will explore ‘the win-win of sustainably designed packaging’ and Extended Producer Responsibility.
In addition, the Ecopack Challenge will see participants seek to create “a novel and sustainable packaging solution”. Meanwhile, the Innovation and Design Stage will discuss how to turn bespoke packaging into R&D tax credits, and The Refills Forum will focus on the key factors in delivering refillable and reusable packaging.
Finally, the Empack Technology Stage will cover topics ranging from packaging for e-fulfilment, and how to embrace digital technology changes within a business, through to using technology to maximise sustainability in a growing packaging market.
Easyfairs’ divisional director Renan Joel said: “The interactive show features at Packaging Innovations and Empack are something our visitors look forward to year-on-year and are a key part of what sets us apart from other industry events.
“Our new features, the Sustainability Trail and The Big Debate, showcase our industry’s central pledge to reduce its environmental impact and how we can achieve this. Meanwhile, our seminar programme contains a glittering array of industry names, poised to share their wisdom and know-how to our visitors across three stages.
“Every session will aim to educate and inspire our guests, as our panels and speakers tackle the challenges and developments affecting our industry right now. The packaging landscape is changing so quickly, and we are delighted to have such a broad range of sessions suited to every possible packaging need, from the design stage through to the shelf.”
Packaging Innovations will be held at Birmingham’s NEC on 25 and 26 May. Registration is open at: packagingbirmingham.com.
