The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) is heading to Sydney in late August to host a number of packaging sessions during the Australasian Waste Recycling Expo (AWRE) Seminar Program, run the Future of Flexible packaging training course, and have an exhibition stand (B37) for people to come and visit.
Returning to the AWRE in 2022, the free-to-attend Seminar Program tackles the industry’s most challenging and compelling issues today, and into the future, through a program of carefully curated seminars and panel discussions.
Covering critical topics impacting the future of waste and recycling in Australia, the AWRE Seminar Program will include discussions of key industry actions, insights from across policy and regulation, and trends and insights to practical and tangible solutions from innovators shaping the future direction of the country.
Spotlight on AIP Packaging Sessions
Day 1: Wednesday 24 August
11:30 – 12:30pm
Save Food Packaging Design
The most innovative and intuitive save food packaging (SFP) uses design features that can contain and protect, preserve, extend shelf life, easily open and reseal, provide consumer convenience and portion control, all while meeting global sustainable packaging targets.
Opportunities for packaging design to minimise food waste can include better facilitation or communication around portion control, date labelling, extension of shelf life, protection, resealability and openability, serving size, food safety/freshness information, information on storage options, and improve communication on packs.
The AIP has been working on guidelines that will help to design SFP to minimise food waste from paddock to plate using innovative and intuitive design features, and this session will showcase some award-winning best practice examples of what good looks like.
Australia needs to build a sustainable food system that delivers food security, considers social, economic and environmental impacts, and no longer sees food waste heading to landfill. This is where innovative SFP design has a role to play within the food system.
Speaker: Nerida Kelton, executive director, AIP; and vice-president, sustainability and save food, World Packaging Organisation (WPO).
2:15 – 3:15pm
Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) program: new opportunities for SMEs
Since launching in 2018, the ARL program has continued to go from strength to strength, welcoming hundreds of members, and enjoying international recognition as a best practice labelling program.
During this session, join the APCO team for a deep dive into the upcoming ARL SME Program, in which APCO and partners will work to support small and medium-sized businesses to adopt the ARL on their packaging.
Developed alongside key industry associations the AIP, the Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC), and the National Retail Association (NRA), the Program is designed to help smaller businesses fulfil their responsibility to tell their customers how to recycle correctly – and help push Australia towards achieving the 2025 National Packaging Targets.
The session will feature a dynamic panel discussion looking into the Program, outlining how the process will be made easy for small businesses to drive uptake of the ARL. This includes the upcoming launch of the ARL Marketplace, a new and simplified way for SMEs to purchase sustainable packaging that contains the ARL.
Join this session to find out more, including how you can work with your supply chains and stakeholders to help facilitate ARL uptake, and drive the development of a true circular economy for sustainable packaging.
Speakers: Barry Cosier, director of sustainability, AFGC; Lesley Fox, partnership and project officer, APCO; and Nerida Kelton.
Day 2: Thursday 25 August
2:15 – 3:15pm
Circular and Sustainable Packaging Design, including SPGs
The purpose of this session is to discuss how companies can integrate sustainable packaging design into the right business areas, to achieve the optimal outcomes for packaging functionality, and to collectively work to meet local and regional government regulations, such as the 2025 National Packaging Targets, the Plastics Plan, Single Use Plastics Regulations, and more.
This session will help you to understand how to start applying sustainable packaging design in your business, and will enable attendees to gain a better understanding of how using and applying packaging design principles can help any sized business to lower their environmental impacts, reducing packaging and products waste, and meet regulation.
This session will also include best practice examples from across the globe in sustainable and circular packaging design.
Speaker: Ralph Moyle, education coordinator, AIP
Flexible Packaging: Now & Into the Future Training Course
The AIP will also be running an in-person version of the Flexible Packaging training course on Wednesday 24 August.
One of the fastest growing segments of the packaging industry, flexible packaging combines the best qualities of plastic, film, paper and aluminium foil to deliver a broad range of protective properties, while employing a minimum of material.
Typically taking the shape of a bag, pouch, liner or overwrap, flexible packaging is defined as any package or any part of a package whose shape can be readily changed.
Leading the way in packaging innovation, flexible packaging adds value and marketability to food and non-food products alike. From ensuring food safety and extending shelf life, to providing even heating, barrier protection, ease of use, resealability and superb printability, the industry continues to advance at an unprecedented rate.
The lifecycle attributes of flexible packaging demonstrate many sustainable advantages. Innovation and technology have enabled flexible packaging manufacturers to use fewer natural resources in the creation of their packaging, and improvements in production processes have reduced water and energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and volatile organic compounds.
The Flexible Packaging training course will cover the basic fundamentals of flexible packaging, its benefits, how you chose the specific structures to match the product, its performance, marketing challenges, and how the packaging is manufactured.
With the latest challenges facing us regarding sustainability in packaging, the course will discuss the options, pros and cons of compostability versus recyclability, as well as other alternative materials now available.
As an add on, the course will be looking at the future plans for flexible packaging and available recycling options to meet the 2025 National Packaging Targets.
The objectives of the course are to provide participants an understanding of:
- A good broad understanding of the benefits of flexible packaging;
- The process of manufacturing;
- Where the future lies with flexible films and the changes ahead;
- Snapshot of some of the latest packaging trends and what are the driving forces; and
- Understanding the challenges facing us with sustainable packaging.
To book your spot for either the Seminar Sessions or the Training Course, click here.
