Join us on June 25-26, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH, USA to explore driving sustainable innovation and operational excellence for the FMCG rigid packaging value chain.

In the context of growing concerns about the impact of the slowing economy, surging inflation, high fuel and energy prices all impacting on profitability, it has been difficult to prioritise sustainability efforts. A recent progress report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation confirms that the 1,000 signatories to its Global Commitment will not meet their 2025 plastic reduction goals. Indeed, several leading brands have increased use of virgin plastic and are being criticised for it.

Europe has led the way on sustainability efforts and we are now seeing similar heightened sentiments in North America. Waning public support for plastics and legislation often favouring plastic alternatives has created challenges for the rigid packaging industry but strong innovation efforts and sustainability focus are showing meaningful change.

Lightweighting and other efficiencies remain top of mind for plastic packaging manufacturers squeezed between their high priced raw material suppliers and brand owner/retailer customers. Consolidation continues to achieve economies of scale and efficiencies. With the size and scale of the larger players, rationalisation may start to occur. M&A is taking place both horizontally but also into new verticals with plastic processors acquiring recyclers and capabilities outside their core material / plastics to add value and growth to their offering and support customers with their packaging requirements.

The market has changed significantly over the last five years towards more sustainable formats driven by legislation and plastics taxes, pressure from NGOs, brand owner/retailer sustainability commitments and consumer perception.

This has resulted in changes both in polymer consumed and seen a move towards formats perceived to be more sustainable including flexibles and fibre-based solutions.

There is unprecedented demand for mechanically and chemically recycled material and the availability of recycled content material needs to accelerate. Developments are taking place throughout the entire value chain to increase availability of and incorporate recycled material into rigid packaging.

Combining The successes of our well-established Thin Wall Packaging and Plastic Closure Innovation events in Europe, the Rigid Packaging Forum provides a focused platform for all players in the fast-growing industry to discuss market opportunities and challenges. Featuring two theaters, Rigid Container Innovations and Plastic Closure Innovations, the concurrent agendas investigate the two distinct markets to explore optimal ways to enhance innovation, functionality, operational excellence, and sustainability across multiple rigid packaging formats.

Expert speakers from across the packaging industry, including FMCG brand owners, packaging and closure producers will examine solutions to today’s challenges and development opportunities in material science and technology in rigid packaging. Their presentations will focus on thin-wall formats, pails, preforms, and bottle closure solutions.

The two-day agenda provides a unique platform to network, exchange knowledge and innovate. Examining cost and operational efficiencies through technology and material science, in the context of sustainable progress in thin wall containers, food service disposables, pre-forms, pails, caps and closure solutions, this is a must attend event.

Key presentations include:

Rigid Container Innovations

• Designing for sustainability in rigid packaging
  Steve Kapantais, Technical Director, Rigid Plastics, and Ashlee Larson, Senior Product Manager, Novolex

• Certified PCR content in PET food packaging
  Camilla Fangel, Director, Group ESG, Faerch

• Achieving sustainable material replacement with advanced polypropylene solutions
  Jonathan Cage, Director of Business Development, ICPG

• Generative AI for Rigid Container Design
  John Manderfield, Innovation & Design Fellow, Altium Packaging

• Trends in premium closures
  Sukhdev Saini, Global Packaging Lead, Toothbrush and Devices Category, Colgate-Palmolive

Plastic Closure Innovations

• Taking cross-functional external partners through Kraft Heinz condiment closure decision-making process
  Chris Max, Sustainable Innovation Packaging Lead, Kraft Heinz

• Product innovations: added value of liners and seals for rigid packaging containers
  Oscar Martin, Senior Vice President – Global Innovation, and Rafael Posada, Director, Global Sustainability / Consumer Division, TekniPlex

• Route to sustainability: lightweighting, tethered caps and the untapped circularity of HDPE
  Alessandro Falzoni, Laboratory Director, Rigid Packaging Technology Business Unit, SACMI

• Integrating PP and HDPE PCR into closures and rigid packaging
  Sandra Lewis, Manager of Business Development, Envision Plastics

Join us on June 25-26, 2024 at the Duke Energy Convention Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Click here to see the full agenda and book your place