Avery Dennison has launched AD Stretch, a global labels industry partnership program which aims to engage with startup innovators to solve key challenges around sustainability, customer experience, and value chains.
The program, which was rolled out on 8 February 2022 and starts in the Asia Pacific region ahead of a global launch, is aimed at engaging with startups across the world to disrupt and evolve the labels and packaging industry and strengthen its innovation capabilities.
The goal is to address some of the industry’s most urgent business challenges by collaborating with promising startups in Asia Pacific, leveraging them to Avery Dennison’s experience and size so both can grow.
“From our first day in business nearly ninety years ago, Avery Dennison has a long and proud heritage as an innovator,” said Anil Sharma, vice president and general manager, Labels and Graphic Materials Asia-Pacific, Avery Dennison.
“AD Stretch will help us stay on the cutting edge of innovation by reaching out to the brightest talent and startups, working together to realise shared goals and value and solve the key challenges of the next decade.”
Following its launch in Asia Pacific and Latin America, the program will roll out in Europe and the United States later this year. With the end goal of solving a particular problem, each group of startups will have a region-specific brief that draws on regional challenges.
It is being run in partnership with venture studio Highline Beta, and following a period of review and consultation, the applicants will be narrowed down to 10 finalists that will go on to execute a pilot project.
The core themes of the program will focus on connecting consumers to brands through new experiences; creating sustainable, responsible and efficient value chains (SRE); and the development of materials and packaging 2.0.
Specifically within Asia Pacific, areas the AD Stretch teams will focus on include solutions that help brands connect with end users more effectively, new biodegradable labeling and packaging products and materials, and solutions that help perishables survive the last leg of the supply chain in emerging economies.
