PACKAGING / NEWS PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine 20 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2025 - Issue 353 Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025, hosted by Easyfairs UK at the NEC Birmingham, has reported another successful show at the NEC in Birmingham. The annual event featured over 450 exhibitors showcasing their latest packaging solutions as well as more than 70 expert speakers across three stages, including talks from representatives of Google and McKinsey Design. At the show, machine manufacturer, Sovereign, unveiled its new label-making machine, which was made in response to customer enquiries for an entry-level range of machinery, offering an affordable and simple desktop labelling solution that does not compromise on quality. Zeus Packaging presented its new Apollo Pallet Wrapping System. The pallet wrap monitoring solution is designed to reduce plastic consumption by up to 60%, significantly reducing businesses' carbon footprint and scope 3 emissions. European packaging company, Coveris, made the UK’s EPR rules a focus of its offerings at the Birmingham packaging show, presenting a range of sustainable packaging solutions. Product highlights included Coveris’ MonoFlex, a range of lightweight paper alternatives including lids, trays, and a new range of wash-off labels designed for improved recyclability. Sustainable options also continued a big part of the show, especially for Saica Flex. The flexible packaging division of Saica Group presented a range of its sustainable packaging solutions at the event. The company said it aimed to use the trade show as a chance to demonstrate how it incorporates post-consumer recycled (PCR) content into its offerings, as well as its progress in reducing the use of virgin plastic. Another company exhibiting was Schumacher Packaging Birmingham which highlighted the integration of its new Koenig & Bauer Durst Delta SPC 130 press at its production facility. Schumacher demonstrated the output quality of its new press at the show and also invited visitors to its Open Day on March 13th to show the capabilities of its new machine. The Delta SPC 130 is an automated, productive, single pass water-based press suitable for food packaging. Another manufacturer, Highcon Systems, showcased a number of products at the exhibition, including the Highcon Beam 3, which is designed for folding cartons and micro-flutes. The Highcon Beam 2C for corrugated packaging and display, which was recently upgraded with a 15% faster running speed, was also on display. Focus on EPR and sustainability at Packaging Innovations Easyfairs, the organiser of Packaging Innovations & Empack, currently manages 110 events titles in 12 countries New Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) laws which were phased in during 2024 have now come into force. The new pEPR laws will hold businesses accountable for the full lifecycle of the packaging materials they use. Any business that uses, generates, or imports packaging materials will be required to cover the costs of sorting and recycling the packaging waste. The UK government’s Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) also published a Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) on December 23rd, 2024. Packaging Innovations & Empack hosted what it labelled as “one of the most consequential events in the recent history of the packaging industry” as PackUK, the UK administrator for its pEPR scheme, presented its vision for UK recycling live at the trade show. Packaging Innovations’ conference zone marked the first time PackUK publicly addressed the industry since its official launch at the end of January. The administrator was launched by Defra to deliver on behalf of all four UK nations. The new scheme administrator aims to shift the cost of managing household packaging waste from taxpayers and local authorities to businesses who use and supply the packaging, applying what PackUK labels as the ‘polluter pays’ principle. Alongside the pEPR scheme, the government’s packaging reforms also consist of its Simpler Recycling scheme and a Deposit Return scheme for drinks containers. Defra has estimated that alongside these schemes, pEPR will stimulate an additional £10bn of investment in UK recycling services in ten years as well as supporting up to 21,000 new jobs. There was a sizeable turnout at the PackUK talks at Packaging Innovations, with the seating completely filled and many people standing. Speaking at the event, Sebastian Munden, chair of the overall EPR scheme administrator, said: “This is an important milestone in the UK’s commitment to modernise packaging, waste management, and eliminate the idea of waste as we transition to a circular economy. PackUK debuts “Herculean” £10bn overhaul in UK recycling PackUK used Packaging Innovations as its public launchpad, which is predicted to have had more than 7,000 visitors attending By Jonathan Pert By Jonathan Pert
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