More than 200 people registered for the event held at the Wairakei Resort this week, which included a day of golf and a line-up of international and local speakers.
UK environmental issues consultant, David Perchard told today’s audience that any number of EU or other individual European Government reports on sustainability were likely to reach New Zealand, but it was impossible to predict which one or whether any of them were likely to be implemented here.
He says sustainability is a hot issue in Europe and he expected New Zealand to follow some of the EU’s findings and recommendations at some stage.
The packaging and printing industries must therefore be proactive and ready when and if the various reports now being issued reached New Zealand’s shores, he said.
“You need to be aware of the issues around sustainability and ready to take the appropriate action to ensure your paper value chain has a good story to tell to keep your customer in favour with you,” he said.
“In other words, cover all your bases and be ready with the good news stories about your company and your industry.”
Many of the conference speakers also urged those attending to keep abreast of new trends and to look for ways of leveraging their niche qualities into new business opportunities.
