The French Packaging and Processing Machinery Trade Association, the GEPPIA, has launched the book “Packaging Trends: The future of manufacturing” which is a collective work written by close to twenty experts and key international players such as Nestlé, Coca Cola, L’Oréal, Pernod-Ricard, and Carrefour. Arcil, Gebo Cermex (Sidel), Luceo (Tiama), Mecapack (Proplast), Serac Group, Sleever International, Schneider Electric and Fanuc Robotics are the other contributors.
The growing industry of packaging must comply with an increasing number of barriers and its future highly depends on the development of recycling as well as value addition. Keeping in mind the immense evolutions driving the sector, the book draws the attention to the fact : “Packaging Trends: The future of manufacturing” by offering a wide range of perspectives through insights shared by executives and experts from the consumer goods, retail, packaging and processing industries.
Most of the western countries agree to the basic trends: reducing the environmental footprint, avoiding food waste, protecting consumers, economizing raw materials and optimizing used materials: “providing value addition at minimum cost” (Coca Cola).
Stylish packaging is the selling point by each passing day. More and more companies are adopting the art of packaging according to the focus group; “Premium packaging” for Pernod-Ricard for example. “Intelligent packaging” is also featured, designed to be “economical, ecological and meaningful”. For food products, cosmetics and medicines, traceability is a crucial factor of development ensuring the interactivity with clients (L’Oréal). Customized packaging can also play a pivotal role to prevent counterfeiting. Paradoxically, premium packaging co-exists with traditional cupboard box.
Regarding processing equipment, industry experts’ aim at improving ergonomics, developing intelligent human machine interfaces, as well as focusing on flexibility in line with the growing client demands. “We must manufacture simpler, easy to clean, and reliable machines” said by one of the expert.
