Where is the sustainable packaging industry heading?
We essentially see three key trends: Firstly, reusable packaging, which is currently gaining ground and seeing new systems established. However, it will certainly take a little while longer for this trend to take hold and become established internationally. Secondly, there is the issue of paper or fibre packaging, as many people want to move away from plastics, which they have never questioned until now. And the third issue is regulations, which are currently driving the trend. Without these regulations, we would be stuck in the same place for another ten years.
How can sustainable packaging become the norm?
On the one hand, we need the legislation mentioned earlier. On the other hand, we need packaging companies that drive new innovations. Companies that show that not everything has to be made of plastic and offer solutions to this end. Thirdly, we need systems to be established. For example, reusable packaging is in demand not only in the consumer sector, but also very strongly in the transport sector, in the B2B sector. New systems must be established there too.
There will be a lot happening over the next few years. And that will be down to legislation – let us be quite clear about that. Twelve or thirteen years ago, I used to ask myself why everything always had to be banned and dictated. Then, for ten years, I saw that nothing was happening. That is why I have since become a supporter of legislation taking the lead here. You can see it happening worldwide too: other countries are adapting, bringing their laws into line, all moving in a similar direction.
Growing Tomorrow: Young Voices, Bold Visions – This is the theme of this year’s BIOFACH. How important is the younger generation to the packaging industry?
Sustainable packaging is set to undergo significant upheaval in the coming years. New legislation will bring about major changes for the packaging industry. This will require a large number of consultants. And there is a need for many people to enter the market with expertise in sustainability. There are two options: either you train those already established within companies, or you focus on young people fresh out of university and equip them with the relevant knowledge so that they can implement it within companies from the ground up. It is exactly the same on the consumer side. They say that children teach adults how to behave. So young people will have a major impact in the coming years.
