PACKEXPO Las Vegas 2023, which will be held September 11 through September 13, will highlight sustainability efforts through a new dedicated section of the annual trade show.
Sustainability Central will provide expert speakers and examine sustainable solutions in manufacturing, materials, recovery, logistics, analytics, and design, according to the show’s producer, Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI).
Panels and presentations will cover a range of topics on the Sustainability Stage, including:
- “Leveraging Sustainable Packaging to Engage Consumers” at 1 p.m. on September 11. “Understanding consumer sentiment can be difficult while balancing other aspects of packaging design,” says the session description. Mike Pasciuto, co-founder of Scrapp, will give the 30-minute presentation.
- “Packaging Labels: Chasing the Right Marks, Words, & Messages” at 4 p.m. on September 11. “In this rapidly changing regulatory environment, do you know what you can and can’t say on your packaging with regards to recycling or composting guidance?” says the session description. Moderating this discussion will be Dan Felton, executive director of AMERIPEN—the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment.
- “New Bottle, Same Sprite” at 11 a.m. on September 12. “As of 2022, Sprite, Seagram’s, Fresca, and Mellow Yellow have transitioned from a green to clear PET bottle in North America,” says the session description. “This move marks Coca-Cola’s commitment to a World Without Waste by making it easier to recycle PET (polyethylene terephthalate) packaging back into new bottles, thus supporting a circular economy.” The session will be led by Noah Wigington, global packaging development and innovation sustainability lead at Coca-Cola.
- “Intentional Design for Sustainable and Recyclable Packaging” at noon on September 13. “We will discuss how to transition from film-based substrates to fiber-based substrates that will enable improved end-of-life options for final structures in existing recycling streams—all while maintaining excellent barrier performance,” says the session description. Talia Colins, manager of global research and development at Michelman, will give the presentation.
Dow is the show’s official Sustainability Partner and will contribute its expertise in promoting sustainable practices.
“Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ but a necessary part of any company’s business strategy and growth,” said Victor Zapata, Dow’s commercial vice president of packaging and specialty plastics in North America, in a statement. “Yet, no one company can do it alone. Enabling a circular economy requires all of us to work together to advance collective solutions.”
Other Programs
Other sustainability features will include the Reusable Packaging Pavilion sponsored by the Reusable Packaging Association and the Reusable Packaging Learning Center, which will feature presentations and panel discussions on various topics related to sustainability and reuse.
The theme of PACKEXPO Las Vegas 2023 is “Expect Innovation,” and the event is expected to be the largest in the show’s history, organizers say.
“This reflects the growth in our industry as well as the need for our attendees to find new solutions, expand their knowledge, and build their network,” said Jim Pittas, PMMI president and CEO, in a statement. “A thriving industry allows for great opportunities as well as challenges—and we’ll be addressing critical issues such as sustainability, workforce, and automation to name a few.”
The three-day event also will include an expanded Processing Zone; the newly formatted Healthcare Packaging Pavilion; and the Logistics, PACKage Printing, Containers and Materials, Reusable Packaging, and Confectionery pavilions.
Networking opportunities will include one for young professionals and one for new attendees. The Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network breakfast is being held with a program titled, “Brewing Success: How Manjit Minhas Turned an Idea into a Beer Empire.”
The Forum, which has been a part of past shows, will include discussions of trends such as digitalization, cybersecurity, sustainability, automation, and the integration of cobots into manufacturing, PMMI says. The 45-minute sessions start with a presentation; then, participants can join small roundtables to further discuss issues.
For more information on the overall show, which includes about 2,000 suppliers, go to packexpolasvegas.com.