Tech Fest Preview: Global Packaging Mega Trends with BOBST

The FuturePrint Tech Fest is a celebration of print technology taking place on the 29th-30th June 2021, where experts will provide updates on new technological developments, innovations and stories of how the print technology community is bringing to life new ideas that create new possibilities. Nick Copeland, R&D Director, BOBST, shares a preview of his keynote session, ‘Global Mega trends in Packaging Materials and the Advance Towards Sustainability’.

Nick Copeland, R&D Director, BOBST

With the rising challenge of tackling global plastic waste, sustainability and the aspiration to move towards a circular economy are key topics for any business within the value chain of packaging materials. In Europe, around 40 % of the plastic waste originates from plastic packaging and around 20 % of the total EU plastic packaging is flexible consumer packaging. Although a large part of this is potentially recyclable, redesign of many flexible packaging materials is required in order to fulfil the sustainability pledges of international retailers, brand owners, convertors and raw material producers, who have committed to using 100 % recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging materials by 2025. 

Flexible packaging solutions to address these targets include mono-material polyolefin based materials as well as compostable/biodegradable polymers and paper-based packaging structures in conjunction with vacuum deposited and wet applied barrier layers to ensure material performance and required shelf life. 

With Nick’s contacts in the big retail brands and his knowledge and understanding of the science behind available materials and substrates for packaging, he is able to give us some amazing insight into the mega-trends that will impact on retail, manufacturing, packaging and print in the next few years.

 Register for BOBST’s session, ‘Global Mega trends in Packaging Materials and the Advance Towards Sustainability’, here.

View the full FuturePrint Tech Fest schedule here.

Find out more about BOBST here.