Reflecting the general trend in the packaging industry, the ecoPack systems conference concentrated on the sustainability of modern packaging. Time and again, the importance of sustainability was underlined: in the introductory speech, the panel discussion and throughout all seven sessions, which featured a total of 20 industry presentations.
As became clear, assessing the degree of sustainability is a highly complex procedure that needs to be undertaken separately for each packaging product. For example, a product made from renewable materials may not necessarily be more sustainable than one made from fossil fuel-based materials, as the amount of energy used in its production may be much higher.
A question mark remained over bioplastics, whose raw materials can also be used as food, and there was no real clarity over the issue of their availability.
On the other hand, the conference highlighted some very promising new packaging solutions, based on renewable materials, which have a significantly lower CO2 footprint.
According to speakers at the conference, conventional packaging solutions made from oil-based plastics could enhance their sustainability by reducing the weight of packaging while improving energy efficiency during production.
Sustainability was defined as a global concept covering environmental compatibility, energy consumption, reusability and recyclability. The participants therefore concluded that all those involved in the value chain, from the producers of raw materials and machinery through to packaging and food companies and of course the end user, had a responsibility to find effective and sustainable solutions.
There was also general agreement that packaging will continue to gain in importance, with around a third of all food still spoiling before it reaches the consumer.
Uniform guidelines are needed for the information given to consumers about each particular form of packaging and how it contributes to the drive for sustainability.
“The idea behind ecoPack systems was to extend our range of conferences for the packaging industry and offer another platform to exchange information in the growing packaging market alongside our well established PETnology Europe conference,” said Dr Otto Appel, managing director at PETnology. “Of course, we are delighted to have attracted 80 participants to the first of our new ecoPack systems conferences, but we are also very excited at being able to address different target groups from those who attend our PETnology event.”
Source: PETnology/tecPET GmbH
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