interpack to Feature Circular Economy, Resource Management, and More

Even though there is hardly another industry that is as diverse as the packaging industry, there are persistent problems that equally affect the most diverse sections. At interpack 2023, several of these hot topics will be addressed.

Such issues include the circular economy, resource conservation, digital technology, and product safety; interpack is the trade show where you can discover all about pertinent solutions and cutting-edge technologies.

“Even if you have only a nodding acquaintance with the range of topics surrounding sustainability in industry, you will have come across this term: the circular economy. Although this model may be remarkably simple, it is also all-encompassing.

In the age of climate change, the important thing is to produce as little unusable waste as possible. The key term here is design for recycling. For example, how can we make the better part of a package recyclable so that it can later be reused as a recycled material? Reusable packaging is another aspect of the circular economy. To date, it has mainly been used in the restaurant and catering sector. What other areas of application are there for reusable solutions?

One thing is quite clear: The packaging industry can contribute a great deal to the circular economy.

The global economy is currently marked by supply bottlenecks and scarcity of materials. Worldwide, the focus is on climate protection.

So it’s no wonder that the packaging industry is concentrating on resource efficiency. How do production processes have to be reorganised, and how must material flows be adjusted? What role does efficient energy usage play, or switching to green energy? In addition to these questions, it is imperative that new materials, such as bioplastics, be investigated regarding their areas of application and that conventional materials, such as paper, be used in previously unusual areas.

Many things are changing, but that also involves a slew of new opportunities.

Many people are certainly sick of hearing it by this point, but that doesn’t change the fact that digitalisation is here to stay. Big data, augmented reality and remote machine maintenance have long since found their way into assembly shops and machine fleets.

Ever since the upheavals caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the field of e-commerce has become indispensable for most business models. But how can packaging firms reorganise their operations in order to keep pace with these changes? What exactly does the much-vaunted smart factory look like? What advantages and risks do increasingly digital and automated operations pose? And where can employees be meaningfully supported by digital solutions?

Track-and-trace technologies like the Holy Grail 2.0 system, which enables automated, correct sorting of packaging via a digital watermark, also play a large role, as do innovations like the digital twin. This area’s potential is far from exhausted.”

interpack 2023 will take place from May 4-10 at Dusseldorf.