What’s on at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2024

The Foodservice Packaging Zone

After a successful introduction in 2023, the Foodservice Packaging Zone is back this year. Designed in collaboration with the Foodservice Packaging Association, this area is all about promoting inspiring collaborations between foodservice packaging specialists and brands. As the foodservice industry continues to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the post-pandemic market, this is not to be missed!

Conference stages

Our packed programme of talks and events is spread across three stages, meaning the insights you gain from the show can be as broad or as focused as you like. The Innovation & Design Stage looks at the shape of packaging to come, with speakers including Ben Edmonds, the former Principal Engineer at Dyson who will share his unmissable insights on innovation, and Paul Davidson of Innovate UK, who will discuss the potential of reuse and refill solutions.

The Supply Chain & Manufacturing Stage, meanwhile, is a must-visit for anyone looking to find efficiencies in their supply chains. It covers end-to-end supply chain processes, label and print, software systems, and more. Topics include the external supply chain network, insights on collaboration from Fraser Doherty MBE, co-founder of Beer52, and a timely roundtable on women in manufacturing.

Finally, all the burning issues around sustainability will be unpacked on the Circular Economy Stage. This stage hosts a must-see talk by Emma Bourne OBE, Director of Resources and Waste at Defra. Given the headlines generated by Defra’s continuing attempts to roll out EPR and other packaging regulations, this insight-packed half-hour presentation on the UK Government’s plans to work with the industry should be a highlight of the show. Other speakers include Margaret Bates, Managing Director at OPRL, and Felix Gruenewald, a Partner at McKinsey & Company, who will share crucial consumer insights on sustainable packaging.

Future Trailblazer event

The future of packaging will be shaped by the industry’s brightest young talent. Some of tomorrow’s biggest innovators may only have recently broken into the industry. Now in its second year, the Future Trailblazer event, held in partnership with IOM3 Packaging Group and Mercury Search & Selection, shines a spotlight on some of the brightest young talent in the industry, who haven’t let a relative lack of experience stop them from going above and beyond in their short careers so far.

The audience at the event, held on the Circular Economy Stage on Thursday 22 February, will learn insights and predictions about the future of packaging from the talented individuals who will go on to shape it.