Dr Michael Okoroafor is among the sustainability experts who will reveal industry-transforming innovations at the inaugural AUSPACK Business and Industry Conference, which kicks off in four weeks.
With the 2025 National Packaging Waste Target presenting one of the largest challenges today, the packaging and processing industry is poised to be a leader in sustainability, conference organisers say.
Among the key speakers driving the sustainability conversation are Dr Michael Okoroafor, vice president of Global Sustainability and Packaging Innovation at McCormick (USA) and Craig Reucassel, writer and presenter of ABC’s War on Waste.
Dr Okoroafor will give the conference’s opening keynote presentation – an industry outlook on key insights driving the future of packaging for FMCG. (See PKN's recent interview with Dr Okoroafor here).
“Dr Okoroafor, who was inducted into the Packaging and Processing Hall of Fame at last year’s PACK EXPO International, is an innovation leader with more than 40 patents to his name,” said Mark Dingley, Chairman of the Australian Packaging & Processing Machinery Association (APPMA), which is presenting the two-day inaugural conference as part of Packaging and Processing Week 2019.
“He’ll share his insights on using transformational packaging innovation and a re-aligned supply chain to drive FMCG industry growth. He’ll look at how sustainability needs will push the circular economy and shape innovations in the future for FMCG companies, giving some examples of successful innovations that are transforming not only the industry, but society as a whole.
“Dr Okoroafor will be followed by a panel of CEOs from leading Australian sustainability organisations talking about what's good for the planet being good for business, and working through the opportunities surfacing from the 2025 National Packaging Waste Target.”
The panel’s facilitator is Craig Reucassel, the writer and presenter of ABC’s War on Waste, and his fellow panellists include Brooke Donnelly, CEO of the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO); Steve Lapidge, CEO of the Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre; and Paul Klymenko, CEO of Planet Ark.
“It’s been said that the 2025 National Packaging Waste Target is giving industry one of the biggest challenges we’ve seen in modern times. However, it’s important to recognise that in every challenge there really is an opportunity, so this expert panel session will focus on the potential now in front of the packaging and processing industry to be a leader in sustainability,” Dingley said.
“They’ll look at the role packaging has in minimising food waste, innovations as we both move away from single-use packaging and reduce food waste, plus the potential of the circular food economy. The implications for industry and for consumers of the 2025 National Packaging Waste Target will be an interesting discussion point for many too.”
Dingley said there was much value to be gained from inter-organisation collaboration, which the panel would also tackle.
“Collaborating with others gives businesses an economy of scale and broadens their available skill sets to find solutions that they most likely just would not find by working on their own.”
The AUSPACK Business and Industry Conference will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Tuesday 26 March to Wednesday 27 March, 2019.
