For example, McCormick Place and show organizer, PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, worked with Dow, the official sustainability partner and the official sponsor of show floor recycling at PACK EXPO International (PEI), to minimize the environmental impact of the event and divert as much waste as possible from landfills.

One of the strongest components of all PACK EXPO exhibitions is roster of educational sessions, and this year was no exception. There were myriad sustainability-related educational presentations at the show, which tackled topics such as sustainable technology and materials innovations, the use of recycled content and renewable materials, transformation of waste, circularity, refill/reuse options, life cycle assessment, sustainable package design, reduction in emissions, extended producer responsibility, and data collection.

In the Plastics Sustainability Through Collaboration session, Patrick Krieger, vice president, sustainability at the Plastics Industry Association (PIA), discussed how the packaging industry is evolving to develop solutions that are more circular and sustainable and how the plastic packaging value chain is coming together to promote innovative products and programs that address industry needs. Krieger said that with regard to sustainability, the plastics industry is focusing on three main areas:

• Promoting a circular plastics economy
• Eliminating plastic in the environment
• Using resources responsibly.

One of the PIA’s newest programs is Operation Clean Sweep, which promotes zero plastic loss, that is, making sure no resin is lost during manufacturing.

In the Sustainability Central pavilion, Amazon – which stated it has reduced packaging per shipment by 41% since 2015 – presented the Elevating Packaging for E-Commerce to Boost Customer Experience session. Amazon executives discussed how to enhance the customer experience while protecting products and minimizing packaging waste. “Shoppers want less packaging, they want it to be recyclable, and they are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging,” said Kirsten Freiheit, head of North America partner engagement, sustainable packaging at Amazon. She shared that although shoppers want reduced packaging, e-commerce packaging needs more protection.

Heather Smith, senior business development manager, sustainable packaging at Amazon informed attendees how companies can improve customer satisfaction with packaging design, so “you can build excitement with the ‘unboxing experience’.” She added that branded packaging enhances customer experience.

The Paper & Packaging Board, which was exhibiting in the Sustainability Central pavilion, highlighted its new campaign to help promote carton recycling. P&PB executives, noting that 89% of consumers prefer paper-based shipping materials, explained that food and beverage cartons are made primarily out of responsibly-sourced paperboard, a renewable, plant-based material, and contain some of the highest quality fiber available in the recycling industry. P&PB’s new program wants companies to add the recycling logo to their carton packages to remind consumers to recycle their cartons. Carton recycling is available to more than 62% of US households and that number is growing every day. Recycled cartons become paper towels, tissues, office and writing paper, and sustainable building materials to name just few of the many products.

There were also a number of sessions dealing with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) or Packaging Producer Responsibility. EPR is a public policy mechanism that requires packaging producers (generally product brand owners) to help fund the recovery of their packaging. How funding is set, what the program goals are and who manages the system differs across the various states that have passed legislation. In 2025, many packaging policies relating to EPR will take effect. For example, California’s EPR law includes specific source reduction requirements for plastic packaging. Several other states are also now considering source reduction requirements though legislation: Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Washington.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN) recently released the 2023 Packaging Compass: Evaluating Trends in U.S. Packaging Design Over the Next Decade and Implications for the Future of a Circular Packaging System, which identifies key trends in packaging design and materials and the implications of these trends on legislation and the recovery systems for consumer-packaged goods (CPG) companies.

The Packaging Compass, based on research and analysis conducted by PMMI and AMERIPEN, highlights the growing importance of sustainability in the packaging industry. This research strives to close the gap between design needs and recovery needs by beginning a conversation on trends, presenting forecasts for the coming decade, and recognising the role of multiple stakeholders in advancing a circular packaging system.

“By releasing this deep dive into the trends driving the circular packaging system, we hope to facilitate an industry dialogue that will help close the gap between design needs and recovery needs,” said Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development, PMMI, Herndon, Virginia.

Metal beverage cans, PET bottles, and flexible plastic wrap lead the overall compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in packaging materials, which has shown some fluctuation since 2021, but is projected to decrease to 1.3% CAGR by 2025. Based on the report findings, this slight slowdown reflects the movement within omnichannel commerce to design primary packaging for shipping, eliminating the need for secondary and, in some cases tertiary packaging, along with the return to retail as consumers head back to stores after Covid.

In terms of overall material usage, survey respondents indicate that 75% of CPG companies continue to use plastic, more than those who use paper, and significantly more than those who use metal or glass. However, the report indicates that over the next 10 years, shifts in packaging materials usage are expected as CPGs are increasingly looking to sustainable materials such as compostable, certified SBS paperboard, certified Kraft paperboard, bio-based bioplastics, and post-consumer-recycled content (PCR).

Based on materials changes proposed by the CPG community, the report forecasts growth in lightweight materials like flexible film pouches and food wrappers that are not yet widely recoverable. Compostables are currently viewed by CPGs as seeing a significant increase, although like flexible films, they currently lack a significant recovery system to ensure they are composted after use. Recycled content in packaging is expected to grow with many CPG firms identifying plans to increase PCR content in existing packaging.

The growing importance of PCR was on display at last year’s Pack Expo International (October, Chicago, Illinois) as packaging exhibitors showcased their efforts to reduce packaging waste, increase reusability and recyclability, and achieve a circular economy. The use of PCR plastic is growing because it can be up to 100% recyclable. “There’s really no way to completely get rid of plastic because of its convenience factor, but PCR plastics can help because they can be recycled over and over again,” Chris Kozak, sustainability marketing and communication manager, Amcor Rigid Packaging USA, explained to me at the show. Furthermore, he said that PCR plastics are actually more sustainable than aluminium and glass because they both have higher GHG emissions than PCR.

The PMMI and AMERIPEN report outlines key packaging waste and policy implications brought on by the following shifts toward a more circular packaging system:

•  Extended producer responsibility (EPR): Shifting financial and operational responsibility for end-of-life management of products to producers, instead of taxpayers and government. (Note: in this case ‘producers’ are CPG manufacturers, not farmers.)
• Universal Access: Providing all households with convenient and consistent access to recycling and composting services.
• Standardised Definitions: Clear recycling, composting, and other recovery definitions to reduce consumer confusion.
• Material Bans: Shifting from material bans to dialogues on the best ways to collect, sort, and reprocess materials to reduce environmental impact.
• Recovery Innovation: Federal investments into programs uncovering emerging science and data to drive efficiencies across packaging design and waste management.
• Data Collection: Consistent data collection to measure and benchmark the performance of a circular packaging economy.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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While the use of robots and cobots is nothing new, widespread disruption to production lines during the pandemic and subsequent disruption to supply chains together with labour shortages are driving consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to adopt automated solutions. A new report, The Future of Automation in Packaging and Processing, which was released during PEI (23-26 October) by show organiser PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, highlights how CPGs are looking to enhance and optimise their production, storage, and distribution processes using automated solutions including automated guided vehicles, industrial robots, collaborative robots, and mobile robots, with some of these technologies being supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced vision tools.

According to the report, e-commerce is fueling the automation trend, moving companies toward more responsive modes of distribution such as direct-to-customer, disrupting traditionally highly manual warehousing formats, and in some cases eliminating the need for warehousing.

Additionally, supply chain problems are impacting the availability and cost of raw materials and parts for packaging machinery. More than 90% of CPGs [in the report] say these problems are either extremely impactful or somewhat impactful and while most companies expect them to be resolved over the short term (within three years) at least 25% of companies anticipate them persisting over a longer time span, per the report.

Furthermore, 60% of companies [in the report] say that labour shortages are extremely impactful on their packaging and processing operations, pushing CPGs toward automation, and increasing the importance of developing a skilled workforce.

“The labour shortage is a significant problem, so the question is how to use technology to compensate for a reduced workforce,” said Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development, PMMI, during a conversation at PEI. “The challenge [for equipment manufacturers] is to provide machinery that can be operated by fewer people [often one person] but that also maintains high speeds and volume.” He added, however, that the key is making training accessible and employee retention.

The potential for automation and robotics to reduce the reliance on personnel and accommodate lower skilled workers was cited in the report, as was the possibility of reducing the amount of monotonous and less rewarding work that must be done manually. Common sentiments from PEI exhibitors regarding the use of automation included that it can reduce the ‘drudgery type work’ and it can replace labour so employees can be moved to more complex jobs.

At PEI in Universal Robots’ (UR) booth, Robotiq was demonstrating a palletising solution deployed with a UR20 cobot arm. Ryan Weaver, vice president, commercial at Robotiq said that robotic automation is very flexible as the machines can easily be changed from filling boxes to loading boxes onto pallets. “Automated palletising replaces manual palletising, which can help with labour shortages,” he said, adding, “it also helps to retain quality labour [employees] so they may be deployed to areas where their skills are better served.”

The roles of automation technologies are expanding in the packaging and processing industry as they are a strong strategy to help cut costs, improve productivity, and reduce dependency on personnel as skills and retention problems continue to plague companies.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in the beverage industry — it’s a major issue for consumers and, therefore, for producers as well. In terms of packaging, sustainability centers upon materials, including the material used for the container or package itself, and whether that material comes from recycled sources or if it can be recycled after use. The United States needs to recycle beverage packaging much more efficiently than it does today—according to a recent study by PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, only 25 per cent of plastic bottles in the US are recycled each year.

What will it take to boost recycling rates and achieve the Environmental Protection Agency’s goal of a 50 per cent recycling rate by 2030? And are there other strategies for beverage producers and manufacturers to improve packaging sustainability? Let’s take a closer look at what the industry is doing today, and what it can do in the future.

Developing better recycling programmes

To start, regularisation of what can and cannot be recycled will make the process easier for consumers, thereby driving more material into recycling streams. Organisations are indeed taking action to eliminate barriers to recycling. As part of its ‘Blueprint for America’s Recycling System’, for example, the Recycling Leadership Council (RLC), a group convened in 2020 by the Consumer Brands Association, calls for a national strategy on recycling and policy action, including a plan to standardise the recycling system.

“Currently, each programme collects different combinations of materials. With a standardised system, programmes can collect more volume, which allows for more and different types of materials to be collected and processed for post-consumer recycled content, keeping recyclable waste out of landfills and waterways,” explained Meghan Stasz, senior director, Sustainability at the Consumer Brands Association, in a recent blog post.

The beverage industry is already making important strides, take for instance the American Beverage Association, which is undertaking efforts to spur more recycling with its Every Bottle Back programme. This aims to improve recycling infrastructure, measure the industry’s plastic footprint, make 100 per cent recyclable bottles, add recycling-promoting messaging on packaging, raise awareness, and inspire action.

Similarly, the Can Manufacturers Institute is working to retrieve the 25 per cent of aluminium cans currently missorted and lost at material recovery facilities. Toward that end, it has established a grant programme to help install eddy current equipment and quality control robots that can identify and capture the cans that otherwise would be overlooked.

Materials matter

Just as recycling must increase, so too must the use of different materials for beverage packaging. For example, switching from virgin plastic to recycled plastic, known as rPET, is an increasingly common strategy for beverage manufacturers. In PMMI’s recent study, we found that 89 per cent of manufacturers interviewed are actively looking to incorporate more recycled material into their packaging, and 67 per cent are already transitioning from PET to rPET bottles.

Low plastic recycling rates, however, mean that the supply of rPET can be constrained. An obvious alternative is aluminium, which is considered highly sustainable thanks to its ability to be recycled almost infinitely. There is also growing interest in paper-based bottles, which one respondent to PMMI’s study called ‘the holy grail’. It’s important to note that the industry still needs to overcome some functional hurdles with paper bottles, such as preventing the packaging from leaching into the product and ensuring it can hold up to environmental stressors. But continued innovation in materials and packaging formats means that new and better solutions are in the process of being developed.

Finding sustainable solutions

Beverage producers, OEMs, and industry associations all need to work together to make a circular economy a reality for the beverage industry. Regularised recycling programmes, cutting-edge materials science, and a collaborative approach are all necessary to address the scale of the plastics waste issue and make the industry as a whole more sustainable.

Efforts to create a more sustainable world will be featured at Pack Expo International (23-26 October, Chicago, Illinois), where a Pack Expo Green icon identifies exhibitors that provide renewable, biodegradable, source-reduced, recyclable, and/or recycled-content packaging materials or technologies that reduce carbon footprint.

• Jorge Izquierdo is vice president, market development at PMMI, The Association of Packaging and Processing Technologies, based in Herndon, Virginia. PMMI organises the Pack Expo portfolio of trade shows, including the upcoming Pack Expo International. For more information and to register, visit packexpointernational.com. To learn more about PMMI, visit: www.pmmi.org.

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Featuring over 400 exhibitors, this biennial, three-day regional event provides beverage producers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies from the Northeast corridor an opportunity to explore the latest packaging and processing technologies in person, connect with suppliers and find solutions in a rapidly changing marketplace.

“Pack Expo East attendees get the best of both worlds—the ability to see a comprehensive range of packaging and processing technologies while still having time for in-depth discussions with suppliers to solve pain points and address challenges,” said Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. “This easily accessible regional event is the perfect opportunity for a day trip with your team to experience all these solutions first-hand.”

All three days offer free education on the show floor, allowing attendees to talk with suppliers and learn about best practices and industry breakthroughs. The Forum (Booth 1026) offers free, interactive presentations. It will feature 45-minute sessions on the latest industry trends, presented by the OpX Leadership Network, Institute of Packaging Professionals, Contract Packaging Association and PMMI Business Intelligence, followed by small group discussions and Q&A sessions. Also on the show floor, the Innovation Stage (Booth 2226) offers free, 30-minute seminars throughout the day presenting breakthrough technologies, innovative applications, and proven approaches from industry experts.

Pack Expo East also offers programmes and activities to get students interested in careers in packaging and processing. Attendees will see high school robotics teams from the Philadelphia area showcase their design, engineering and troubleshooting skills at the Future Innovators Robotics Showcase (Booth 525). Participating schools include Camden County Technical Schools, Egg Harbor Township Police Activities League, and Central High School of Philadelphia. Attendees also can meet students from PMMI education partner schools in the Workforce Development Pavilion.

Endorsed by top industry associations, the Association Partner Pavilion brings together a mix of professionals, encouraging connections and industry-wide collaboration. Participating associations include the Adhesive and Sealant Council, AIM North America, AIPIA, the Smart Packaging Association, CPA, The Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers, Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), F4SS, The Foundation for Supply Chain Solutions, Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP), OMAC – The Organization for Machine Automation and Control and the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA).

In addition to the show floor features, there will be networking opportunities. All attendees and exhibitors will gather and network during the Taste of Philly Pack Expo East Opening Reception (Monday, 21 March; 3-5 pm). Following the opening reception, young professionals in packaging and processing will connect at PMMI’s Young Professionals Networking Reception (Monday, 21 March; 5-7 pm) at SPIN Philadelphia and The Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) Reception (Tuesday, 22 March; 3-5 pm), sponsored by ID Technology, Morrison Container Handling Solutions, Polypack, Septimatech, SMC Corporation and WLS, will bring women in the industry together in a relaxed meet-and-greet setting.

Registered attendees can plan their visit before the show by utilising the My Show Planner feature on the packexpoeast.com website to identify and map out exhibitors to visit, search education sessions and more. The Pack Expo East show app, sponsored by ProMach, can be downloaded from the Apple App or Google Play Store to help navigate the show floor and find exhibitors easily while at the show.

For more information and to register, visit packexpoeast.com. To learn about the Pack Ready plan, visit packexpoeast.com/packready.

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The National Coffee Association (NCA) held its annual convention last week (5-7 March) in Austin, Texas. While attendance was down because several companies did not attend or sent less people, a significant number of attendees were present, and all exhibitors seemed to be there as well. Many attendees noted that they were the “last ones” permitted to travel before their companies’ mandatory travel bans started. All speakers/presenters attended so none of the sessions were affected.

At Coffee Fest New York (8-10 March), which is a small trade show to begin with, and which now co-locates with the NY International Restaurant Show, exhibitors commented that visitor attendance was good (typically low on the last day but maybe a bit lower this year) despite the circumstances. However, there were many empty booth spaces where more than a few companies chose not to exhibit.

Organizers of Natural Products Expo West (6-8 March, Anaheim, California) announced the show was being postponed just days before it was scheduled to open (new dates will reportedly be announced sometime in April).

Interestingly, Pack Expo East (3-5 March), which takes place every other year, was not cancelled or postponed. According to a press release I received from PMMI (The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies), which organizes PE East, this year’s event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania had “record-breaking 7,100-plus attendees. Not only was it the highest attendance ever, but it also featured a five percent larger show floor than 2018.”

Allegra Events, which organizes the London Coffee Festival (2-5 April) and UK Coffee Week, announced that the LCF was being postponed until the last week of July. CEO Jeffrey Young told The Standard, “We took the decision to be ahead of the game. It’s going to be quite financially damaging. We just thought it’s [coronavirus] going to get worse not better. We wanted to be part of helping to create a delay so the health authorities can delay the outbreak.”

However, the UK Coffee Week (27 April -3 May, London) is going ahead as planned. “We are currently following Government advice, and participating outlets will be advised to follow safe, responsible practices and put additional hygiene measures in place. Coffee shops are at the heart of our communities and we want to support our businesses at this challenging time. Local and regional events are being organized but there are no large gatherings planned as part of UK Coffee Week,” said Young.

Yesterday, show organizers for the Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE, 4-7 May, Melbourne, Australia), which features the 2020 World Barista Championship and World Brewers Cup, announced MICE has been postponed until 3-6 November.

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Expo, the largest pure coffee trade show in the world, is scheduled to take place 23-26 April in Portland, Oregon, preceded by the Re:co Symposium (21-23 April). I spoke with Yannis Apostolopoulos, the executive director of the SCA, during the NCA Convention, and he said (as of then), that the SCA planned to go ahead with Re:co and Expo. Yesterday, Apostolopoulos/the SCA, released the following statement:

“We can confirm that we are working with our partner venues in the United States and Poland to review options for postponing Re:co Symposium, the Specialty Coffee Expo and World of Coffee. [18-20 June in Warsaw, Poland]

“Since the initial concerns over the spread of Covid-19, we have been meeting daily with various vendors, partners, sponsors, and supporters of our main events, monitoring news and official advisories as well as the questions and concerns coming in from our community. We are grateful for the messages of understanding and support, and all the feedback we have seen and received. We recognize the diverse opinions and challenges of all our global communities.

“Currently, the Oregon Convention Center (OCC) and Travel Portland, which will be hosting Re:co Symposium and Expo, have informed us that despite the state of emergency declaration in Oregon, there is no new guidance on large gatherings and that events will move forward as planned. We are awaiting an update on this stance in light of the recent WHO decision to label the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic.”

Apostolopoulos added that the SCA will post updates as soon as possible. For continued updates on the SCA Expo, as well as Re:co Symposium and World of Coffee, visit: sca.coffee or for SCA Expo precautionary measures visit: https://coffeeexpo.org/covid19.

Of course, this statement was issued before President Trump announced last night that the United States is suspending travel from 26 European countries to the US for the next 30 days beginning Friday (13 March). As the SCA Expo begins 40 days after the travel ban will have been implemented, it still may be impacted.

While at the NCA Convention, conversation, naturally, centered around Covid-19 and whether or not the SCA Expo would take place. However, for several of the exhibitors, of greater concern was if Interpack –the largest processing and packaging trade show in the world, which occurs only every three years in Düsseldorf, Germany – would take place because of the sheer cost to exhibit alone. Many companies that plan to exhibit at Interpack are constructing booths that cost around US$500,000 and higher. In order to build the booths, companies would need to begin shipping booth materials as well as any machinery/equipment they plan to exhibit at Interpack soon.

As of today (12 March), Interpack is still scheduled to take place 7-13 May, which is surprising, considering that just this past Monday, the German government recommended cancelling all events with more than 1,000 participants. The Interpack website states the following:

“For Interpack there are no intentions to postpone the trade fair. We will re-evaluate the situation in good time in consultation with health authorities and partners in order to make the appropriate decisions.

“As exhibitors and visitors, you can expect a high level of hygiene, safety and good medical care at the Düsseldorf trade fair grounds as usual. Messe Düsseldorf is closely monitoring current developments and is in direct contact with the health authorities.

“According to the World Health Organisation, the Robert Koch Institute and the German authorities, the risk of infection with this new pathogen in Germany is currently moderate. The medical facilities at the Düsseldorf exhibition centre have the latest information at all times and are well prepared. There are clearly defined procedures for looking after anyone on the premises of the trade fair grounds who suddenly develops symptoms of a serious disease. These procedures were developed and tested at the time of SARS, the Influenza A (H1N1) virus and also EHEC.”

For more information on safety measures Interpack is putting in place, visit: https://www.interpack.com/en/For_Visitors/Information/Safety.

Tea & Coffee Trade Journal will continue to inform our readers about any 2020 conference, convention and trade show updates as news becomes available.

• Vanessa L. Facenda, editor Tea & Coffee Trade Journal. She may be contacted via vanessa@bellpublishing.com.

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