The APPMA 2019 Awards of Excellence gala dinner will focus on sustainability, with decorations, lighting and even the menu pushing the green theme.
The gala event, to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of AUSPACK 2019 in March, will have a strong emphasis on sustainability from start to finish, said Mark Dingley, APPMA chair. “From the bubble-wrap ‘red-carpet’ entrance right through to the food on the menu, every element of the evening has sustainability at its core,” he said. “This reflects both how intrinsic sustainability is to the operation of our industries and our commitment to it.”
Recycled paper and cardboard, both important materials in packaging, will be used throughout the room; the décor will also be sustainably sourced.
“All the cardboard and paper products used will be created from a combination of responsibly sourced kraft liner and 100% recycled paper,” said Dingley. “Table centrepiece decorations will feature recycled copper, with lines referencing barcodes, while the lighting will all be low-energy LED.
“Even the plants used will returned to the nursery after the night, and the floral arrangements will be given to a local nursing home if guests don't take them home.”
The three-course meal will be sourced through online surplus food marketplace Yume Food, which connects suppliers with buyers to save edible food from landfill. “This is something we’re also very proud of because we’re deliberately working to reduce food waste,” said Dingley. “The menu will be designed in partnership with Yume, rescuing top-quality, brand-name surplus food that may have otherwise been discarded.”
Tickets for the gala event, which will be held at MCEC on 27 March 2019, are on sale now. For more information, visit www.auspack.com.au/awards.
