The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) has reported a busy time at the recent Foodtech Packtech show in Auckland.
Nerida Kelton, executive director of AIP, says, “Once again, AIP proved its commitment to by taking a lead role in running quality training and education programmes as a part of FoodTech Packtech
“Over the three days the AIP provided much needed education and discussions on key issues that are challenging the food and beverage industries including Fighting Food Waste, Save Food and Sustainable Packaging Design, the issues within end-of-life recycling facilities and a better understanding of lifecycle analysis.
“What was clear is that the conversation has only just begun, and the industry has many unanswered questions. It is evident that there must be a truly collaborative approach across government, industry and academia to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and outcomes.”
The AIP had a joint stand with Packaging New Zealand that showcased all the 2018 Packaging Innovation & Design Award winners for both Australia and New Zealand and the WorldStar Packaging Awards. Kelton says, “The Save Food Packaging & Sustainable Packaging Design winners were well-received with a number of the 2018 winners being New Zealand companies who also spoke at the seminar. The exhibition stand achieved heavy foot-traffic during the three days.”
AIP also hosted a full house for the new half-day training course on the Role of Packaging in Minimising Food Waste with attendees from Frucor, Fonterra, Danone, Confoil, Multivac,Goodman Fielder, Stratex, NCI Packaging, FreshPork, Snell Packaging and Totally Wrapt Packaging. The course provided participants with an introduction to the seriousness of food waste in Australia and New Zealand and how we can all make a difference as team members of the product-packaging design process to this issue.
It also covered packaging design criteria for Best-Practice Save Food Packaging Design developments that should be considered. With hands-on and practical case studies participants learned learn how designing packaging to save food actually saves food. Attendees then had the opportunity to visit the AIP stand to see the latest round of Save Food Packaging and Sustainable Packaging Design winners and their innovations.
Kelton says the Seminar on Fighting Food Waste, Save Food and Sustainable Packaging Design had standing room only, with 10 speakers covering a broad range of topics including Fighting Food Waste, the new Fight Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, Save Food and Sustainable Packaging Design, what packaging does – not what packaging is, the Australasian Recycling Label and the PREP Tool.
Speakers included Deborah Manning, chief executive officer, KiwiHarvest; Scott Porter, NZ sales manager, Sealed Air Corporation; Don Railton, operations compliance manager, Fresh Group; Apoorv Mehrotra, account manager, Oji Fibre Solutions; Ben Rennell, founder, Feed My Furbaby; Lars Ljung, special projects coordinator, Planet Protector Packaging; Sharon Humphreys, executive director, Packaging New Zealand; Alejandra Laclette, Recycling Label programme manager, Planet Ark Environmental Foundation; Simon Musgrave, manager, Health Brands Trust; and Keith Chessell, director, Sustainable Packaging Design. AIP ran the seminar in conjunction with Packaging New Zealand and it was the most well-attended at the show.
Kelton adds, “The Australian Institute of Packaging looks forward to being a partner of FoodTech PackTech 2020.”
