Packaging Summit Europe ‘achieves new highs’

Over three hundred packaging professionals gathered recently at Packaging Summit Europe 2007 in Amsterdam to take part in two days of lively debate, where speakers and delegates tackled the big challenges facing the industry. The conference and adjoining exhibition saw a 50 percent increase in attendance on the inaugural event held in 2006.

Building on the success of the first event, delegates attended not only from all over Europe but also from Asia and the US, showing the summit's growing reputation for tackling tomorrow's most challenging packaging issues.
Many internationally recognized packaging experts presented their detailed insights to the delegation on topics ranging from consumer trends, effective packaging innovation to response and retailer perspectives. From the first day, the theme of sustainability became the dominant topic, demonstrating that this is the key focus area for most brand packaging strategists across Europe.

Richard Inns, chairman, Unilever Packaging Group, said: ‘The conference and exhibition provided a fantastic forum for the industry to get together to discuss and debate the key challenges facing the sector in the short- and long-term. The environment and sustainability are clearly at the heart of many future brand owner strategies and consequently the packaging industry must continue to adapt and innovate in order to meet these ongoing requirements.’

Delegates labeled the event a resounding success with major brands such as Cadbury-Schweppes, Carrefour, Friesland, GSK, Kraft, Marks & Spencer, Metro, Musgrave Budgens Londis, Procter & Gamble, Philips, Sara Lee, Unilever, United Biscuits and Wrigley, attending the conference and confirming the importance of this event in the packaging industry calendar.

This positive sentiment was not restricted to the conference floor as delegates took this opportunity to meet with over thirty suppliers showcasing their latest products and services for more effective brand packaging. Ian Bates, CEO of PortaBrands, a first time exhibitor at Packaging Summit Europe, said: ‘The event was very informative and had an excellent agenda and good networking opportunities.’

Andrew Furness, event director for Packaging Summit Europe 2007, said: ‘The success of this year's event confirms that Europe's packaging professionals need and want a forum which genuinely challenges established practices and therefore stimulates new thinking and change.’

He continued: ‘There is a growing recognition that packaging as an industry must adapt to new commercial and social norms and maintaining the status-quo is not an option. Packaging Summit Europe will continue to develop its role as an effective vehicle for packaging innovation and change in Europe. We look forward to returning to Amsterdam for the next summit on 1-2 July 2008.’