April 2013 eNewsletter

AIP NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013

Join the AIP on

MEMBER INTERVIEW Noel Havill MAIP Havill PackPrint Developments

Q

Why did you join the AIP? What benefits do you believe the AIP offers all their members?

As I have seen over my thirty-six years in printing and packaging, ours is a dynamic industry, a powerhouse of innovation and I could see no better way to keep myself better informed, connected and my industry knowledge current than by joining the AIP. At the same time I feel I may be able to learn even more about other packaging I am not so familiar with by networking with the relative experts. The AIP with its educational focus and its extensive member network, offers significant industry interaction for professionals that would struggle to interact without an institute such as this.

Q

How long have you been in the industry? What are your areas of expertise?

eventually into business on my own as a consultant. I ran this business for seven years. As a packaging and printing consultant I was exposed to all aspects of the industry including plastics and some Point-of-Sale production.

I enjoyed it and learned something new each day.

I became interested in the development of digital printing, especially high volume document production and distribution; as well the developments of digital pre-press for offset and packaging.

Wanting to re-enter the packaging industry, I moved to Melbourne and into Litho-Laminate sales through Glama Pak (a division of Visy). Extensive exposure to large format offset printing, point-of-sale display work and retail-ready packaging projects are a legacy of my time with Glama. Now coming almost full circle back to consulting, I feel I have more to offer my customers than just a narrow focus within one segment of the packaging industry. I am looking forward to growing my business based on my diverse industry experience, a solid network and a wide range of personal, independent services.

Q

What is your current job role and what are your responsibilities?

I started thirty-six years ago in folding cartons with AHI in Auckland New Zealand. AHI subsequently became Carter Holt Harvey. I moved within that company into sales in both folding cartons and corrugated packaging. I left CHH after twelve years and entered the general printing industry, moving later to a large print consultancy and

I have started Havill PackPrint Developments to offer packaging and printing development assistance to companies needing a greater control over the technical processes and risks involved. I am responsible for all aspects of the business.

AIP MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

NEW MEMBERS

Just a friendly reminder that AIP membership renewals are now due.

Should you need another copy of your invoice please email mark@aipack.com.au

Limited spots available so book your spot today!

The AIP would like to welcome the following new Members...

Malcolm Allchin Jason Breen Shelley Giaccotto Katherine Lim Virginia Perdomo Hiren Shah

Associate Associate Associate Associate Associate Member

VIC VIC VIC NSW VIC NZ

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PACKAGING (AIP) NATIONAL TECHNICAL FORUM THURSDAY 9TH OF MAY 2013 Sydney Showground, Alongside AUSPACK PLUS 2013

AIP National Office 34 Lawson Street Oxley QLD 4075 Australia  +61 7 3278 4490  +61 7 3009 9916  info@aipack.com.au  www.aipack.com.au

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DON’T MISS OUT ON THE LATEST AIP ACTIVITIES FOR 2013

ALL MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND ANY EVENTS ACROSS AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

To register to attend any of the events simply email info@aipack.com.au or visit the events page on www.aipack.com.au

NSW When: Where: Time:

Tuesday 9th of April Bells Line of Road, North Richmond 5.45 pm arrival AIP visitors will get an opportunity to see the complete carton manufacturing process including structural design, pre-press, materials handling & sheeting, printing, die-cutting and folding gluing.

VIC When: Where: Time: Speakers:

AIP SITE VISIT HANNAPAK

Michael Grima MAIP Design Director – Structural Packaging (AU/NZ) Outerspace Design Michael will provide a top line review of his findings via samples and photos from Tokyo Pack 2012. The presentation will touch on the different approach manufactures have in Japan to the R&D process and the influence Japanese tradition and culture has on the way packaging is designed and delivered to the consumer.

When: Where: Time:

www.4spe.org/a.nz

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When: Where: Time: Presenter:

AIP TECHNICAL DINNER in conjunction with the AIFST

Wednesday the 10th of April Box Hill Golf Club 6.00 pm for a 6.30 pm start Keith Chessell FAIP Selecting the Right Packaging Supplier and the Sustainability challenge? FMCG companies today face many challenges in ensuring their brands and products are ranged by customer and purchased by consumers. What do FMCG companies look for in selecting and contracting packaging suppliers to support them in meeting this challenge? Where does sustainability fit into this selection process?

NSW

INTRODUCTION TO FLEXIBLE PACKAGING & BIOPLASTICS HALF-DAY TRAINING COURSE in conjunction with PakNZ

AIP NATIONAL TECHNICAL FORUM When: Where:

When: Where:

What:

AIP NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013

NSW

Thursday the 9th of May Novotel Sydney Olympic Park Olympic Boulevard NSW 2127 The WorldStar Packaging Awards are owned and organised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). The WorldStar Competition, now in its 45th year, is one of the major events of the WPO and last year attracted 243 entries from 32 countries around the world. WorldStar illustrates the continual advancement of the state of packaging and creates a living standard of international packaging excellence from which others may learn.

AIP SITE VISIT LION JUICE PLANT When: Where: Time:

NSW

Thursday the 9th of May Somerville Room, Sydney Showground With the theme ‘Global Packaging Trends’ and international speakers from the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) coming to present from Brazil, Austria, India, South Africa, Indonesia and the United States, the AIP National Technical Forum is a must-attend on the 2013 calendar.

WORLDSTAR PACKAGING AWARDS Hosted by the AIP

SPE NSW TECHNICAL DINNER in conjunction with the AIP

Wednesday the 10th of April Dooleys Catholic Club 5:30 pm for 6:00 pm Start The program includes presentations by: • Niche Creation Network, Kevin Diviny, on ‘Improvement in barrier technologies using EVOH materials’.

• Wacker Chemicals Australia, Garry Miller on ‘Siloxane Polymers as processing aids’.

• EcoLogic/USA , James Rooney on ‘EcoLogic: New Additives for Packaging improving Sustainability’.

• Emery Oleochemicals, Koji Suzuki, South East Asia on ‘Introduction of Renewables based ester lubricants for Packaging and PVC Applications’.

Thursday the 11th of April BNZ Highbrook Partner Centre, East Tamaki 10.00 am arrival Richard Smith MAIP Flexible packaging is a complex and dynamic area of packaging. Flexible packaging utilises a wide variety of materials, a broad range of processes for manufacturing, producing films and laminates all of very different properties and applications.

QLD

Wednesday the 22nd of May 102 Trade St, Lytton 4178 9.15 am arrival Site visit attendees will have the opportunity to see rotary bottle fillers, cup filler, combi filler, gable top carton fillers, bottle depalletisers, bottle unscramblers, self adhesive and shrink labelling, automatic and manual case packing and palletising. Visitors will also see chilled and hot filled juice batching and blending operations.

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE LATEST AIP ACTIVITIES FOR 2013

ALL MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND ANY EVENTS ACROSS AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND To register to attend any of the events simply email info@aipack.com.au or visit the events page on www.aipack.com.au

VIC

PACKAGING SPECIFICATION HALF-DAY TRAINING COURSE

Wednesday the 26th of June REVISED Viewpoint Centre COURSE 10.00 am for a 10.30 am start Emeritus Professor Harry Lovell OAM, FAIP

When: Where: Time: Presenter:

The AIP are offering a half-day course dealing with the preparation and role of specifi cations across a variety of packaging materials. The different types of specifications and their functionality. Specifying requirements in detail and their relationship to product and packaging lines.

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INTRODUCTION TO PACKAGING ECONOMICS HALF-DAY TRAINING COURSE Wednesday the 24th of July BNZ Highbrook Partner Centre 10.00 am for a 10.15 am start Pierre Pienaar MSc FAIP This half-day Professional Development session provides a comprehensive and nonmathematical introduction to the economics of packaging – reviewing the main drivers of packaging costs including material selection and importantly, how and what to look out for in achieving cost savings. Covering primary and secondary packaging, this course will assist you not only with driving efficiencies across existing packaging formats but will assist in new product development.

VIC

AIP 50TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION DINNER

VIC When: Where: Time: Presenter:

PACKAGING FOR PRODUCT LIFE EXTENSION HALF-DAY TRAINING COURSE

Wednesday the 25th of September REVISED Viewpoint Centre COURSE 10.00 am for a 10.30 am start Emeritus Professor Harry Lovell OAM, FAIP The extension of shelf life using modern packaging techniques plays an important role in food packaging. The course examines a range of integrated technologies with the emphasis on the packaging operation, the materials used and their selection.

INTRODUCTION TO NANOTECHNOLOGY HALF-DAY TRAINING COURSE When: Where: Time: Presenter:

VIC

Wednesday the 27th of November Viewpoint Centre NEW 10.00 am for a 10.30 am start COURSE Terry Turney

AU

INDUSTRY EVENT

COME AND SEE THE AIP ON STAND 220

PACKAGING + PROCESSING + MATERIALS

2013

Australia’s Premier International Exhibition of Packaging and Processing Machinery, Materials and Associated Technology

Tuesday 7th - Friday 10th May 9.00 am until 5.00 pm Sydney Showground Sydney Olympic Park

When: Where:

Time: What:

Thursday the 12th of September The Chapter House This striking building built in 1891 is adjacent to St Paul’s Cathedral and is one of the CBD’s most imposing function settings. A truly historic and unique setting for the AIP’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

6.30 pm arrival The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) is proud to be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in September. Come and join us for a mostmemorable evening with old and new colleagues, mentors and friends!

REGISTER FREE TODAY TO VISIT www.auspackplus.com.au owned and presented by

Celebrating 30 Years

AUSPACK PLUS APP NOW AVAILABLE AT

auspack.mobi

AIP NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013

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YOU ARE INVITED

Don’t miss out on attending the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) National Technical Forum which will be held alongside AUSPACK PLUS 2013. With the theme ‘Global Packaging Trends’ and international speakers from the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) coming to present from Brazil, Austria, India, South Africa, Indonesia and the United States, the AIP National Technical Forum will be a must-attend on the 2013 calendar.

Limited spots available so book your spot today!

Patrick Farrey Executive Director Institute of Packaging Professionals ECONOMICAL, SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL ASPECT OF PACKAGING AND AMERICAN MARKET POTENTIAL Keith Pearson General Secretary World Packaging Organisation DISCOVERING THE MISSING LINK: SUSTAINABLE ADVANCES IN THE PACKAGING SUPPLY CHAIN

Luciana Pellegrino Executive Director ABRE – Brazilian Packaging Association PACKAGING AND MARKETING - GLOBAL APPROACH

Dr. Johannes Bergmair Head of Life Science Food Packaging Pharmaceutical and Medical Products ofi Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology PACKAGING AND FOOD SAFETY - GLOBAL APPROACH

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PACKAGING (AIP) NATIONAL TECHNICAL FORUM THURSDAY 9TH OF MAY 2013 Somerville Room, Sydney Showground

Prof. Narayan Saha Director & Principal Executive Officer Indian Institute of Packaging ECONOMICAL, SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL ASPECT OF PACKAGING AND INDIAN MARKET POTENTIAL

Thomas L Schneider, CPP President World Packaging Organisation WPO – A GLOBAL ADVANTAGE

Ariana Susanti Business Development Director Indonesian Packaging Federation GLOBAL TRENDS IN PACKAGING IN INDONESIA AND WITHIN THE REGION

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

Alongside AUSPACK PLUS

MEDIA PARTNERS ASIA PACIFIC PACKAGING

PACKAGING + PROCESSING + MATERIALS

2013

Owned and Presented by APPMA

Tuesday 7th - Friday 10th May

2013 WORLDSTAR PACKAGING AWARDS

PROUDLY HOSTED BY

THURSDAY THE 9TH OF MAY

AUSTRALIA & AIP TO HOST 2013 AWARDS The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), a member of the WPO, have been invited to host the 2013 WorldStar Packaging Awards. This is a oneoff opportunity for the Australasian packaging industry to be a partner in this international event. With countries already lined up to host the next awards it will be many years before this event returns to Australia. With the AIP celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2103 it is apt that the WorldStar Packaging Awards are hosted in Australia. Join the AIP and the WPO.

WHEN:

Thursday the 9th of May

WHERE:

Novotel Sydney Olympic Park Olympic Boulevard NSW 2127

WHAT:

The WorldStar Packaging Awards are owned and organised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). The WorldStar Awards are administered on behalf of WPO by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3), UK. The Institute, through its division, the Packaging Society, is a leading body for professionals involved in packaging. Founded in 1968 the World Packaging Organisation is a non-profit, nongovernmental, international group of national and regional packaging institutes and associations, federations and interested parties including corporations and trade associations. The WPO is on the roster of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. WPO provides networking opportunities and links among developed and developing nations.

The WorldStar Competition, now in its 45th year, is one of the major events of the WPO and last year attracted 243 entries from 32 countries around the world.

WorldStar illustrates the continual advancement of the state of packaging and creates a living standard of international packaging excellence from which others may learn.

TIME:

6.30 pm arrival Cocktail wear for the ladies and suits for men

COST:

Individual tickets Corporate Table of eight

$187 inc GST $1496 inc GST

Proudly Sponsored by ALONGSIDE

Celebrating 30 Years

PACKAGING + PROCESSING + MATERIALS

Z

2013

Owned and Presented by APPMA

Tuesday 7th - Friday 10th May Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park

AIP QLD LION SITE VISIT

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IP Queensland Branch recently had the opportunity to attend LION Milk manufacturing plant at Crestmead. During the visit members had the opportunity to see the milk processing (raw milk through pasteurisation/homogenisation etc) to filling, packaging and despatch.

Visitors also saw state-of-the-art crate picking and palletising and the water treatment plant (producing biogas for their boiler). A most memorable visit with LION kindly providing lunch afterwards for all of the guests. A special thank you must go out to Peter Finn and Rajeesh Singh for their hospitality and also to the fantastic staff who were the tour guides for the day. This is an extremely impressive site.

INTRODUCTION TO FLEXIBLES COURSE

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ichard Smith MAIP recently went to Queensland to run the Introduction to Flexible Packaging and Bioplastics half-day training course. Attendees came from across Australia for the day and we once again thank Richard for his support of packaging education and training.

AIP CONGRATULATES The AIP National Board would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Elke Minkevicius MAIP on the birth of her first child Tilman on Friday the 22nd of March. Please join with us in wishing Elke and her husband the best during this very magical time.

AIP PARTNERS

Find out how your company can become a partner of the AIP by emailing info@aipack.com.au

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AIP NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013

19/9/11 3:47:10 PM

PERFORMANCE ENHANCING PACKAGING Written by Michael B Halley FAIP

The life cycle analysis of packaging is often completed in isolation when it should be considered as part of the life cycle of the product which it encapsulates. Packaging plays an important part of the life cycle of goods in agriculture and retail as well as food.

Packaging needs are dynamic and will always be evolving to cater for trends and demographic considerations. It needs to inform and protect but be available in different sizes for single households or large families. Consumption can be random and packages need to be in tune with what the consumer purchases. But above all the packaging technologist needs to be conscious that packaging is taken for granted.

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Helen Williams, Claude D’Amico and Robin Tuckerman

he commencement of the 2013 year activities of Australian Institute of Packaging in Victoria was shrouded in the stories about football teams and performance enhancing supplements.

But apart from the fat and sugar hit delivered by the meal none of the presenters showed a need to enhance their performance. Each in a connected way showed that packaging can enhance performance of products and the product packaged.

Dr Helén Williams, the Senior lecturer in energy and environmental systems Karlstad University, Sweden and visiting academic at RMIT, Melbourne was the lead speaker and advised that there is a bright future for packaging brought about by the global increase in population and the emergence of a larger middle class. The latter have a higher demand for resources but conversely focus more on the environmental and social aspects.

In her extract of the presentation Dr Williams stated “In order to develop better packaging from a sustainability perspective it is important to increase understanding about service dimensions of packaging, what packaging does. The prerequisites for service that packaging function provide for influence environmental and social outcome both in supply chain and households. It is often environmentally sound to invest in better packaging if amount of food waste is reduced; however these trade-offs need to be calculated upon. In general packaging prevents food waste but the design can sometimes be a cause of food waste in the consumer user phase.”

Dr Williams expanded upon all of the salient points contained in her extract, but emphasised that feeding the worlds populous will be a continual problem. She showed concern that a trend to use foodstuffs for products other than food is becoming an entrenched practice.

Dr Williams explained that although a consumer will take for granted that a package will contain the product through the supply chain until ready to be used at home; such a packaging attribute will not influence consumer satisfaction, whereas reseal-ability was considered attractive by consumers and may therefore increase satisfaction if provided. Many attributes of the package that consumers consider to be important may influence the amount of food waste being generated. Breaking a package down into technical, ergonomic and information segments was a novel way to educate about aspects such as the shape and ease of opening.

Helén then discussed the issues of recycling and reuse but reinforced the need for environmental balance. For instance in developed countries around one fifth of food sent for sale is wasted whereas in places where the supply chain is of another era it can be as high as fifty per cent.

Generally more bread is wasted than meat and this could be because packaged bread is 'one size fits all' whereas meat is often supplied exactly to order or in more convenient pack sizes. The price of the food also influences how well consumers take care of and make sure to consume the food before it become too old.

We were shown how the climate impact of ketchup packaging is relatively higher, (about 30%) canned ketchup has a higher environmental effect than that packaged in plastic bottles.

The advice that a considerable volume of yoghurt sold in paperboard packages is not delivered in the same way as a more liquid foodstuff (can be as much as 10% undispensed) was something for folks to reflect upon if considering a package for gelatinous material.

Robin Tuckerman FAIP Consultant and principal of RT Consulting has been involved with the Australian Packaging Covenant since 1990 and is considered within the industry as the guru able to decipher the guidelines and key performance indictors contained in the overarching document.

AIP NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013

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PERFORMANCE ENHANCING PACKAGING Cont'd...

Written by Michael B Halley FAIP

A key reporting obligation for signatories to the Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) is to implement the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines, a reporting requirement that assists in the design, manufacture and end-of-life management of packaging. As well as a requirement to answer a series of up to 70 questions on each packaging type supplied to the market, a signatory must also address the issues of Design, Recycling, and Product Stewardship in relationship to its products over the life of the Covenant.

Robin explored the relationship between the requirements of the Australian Packaging Covenant and the ready availability of materials with appropriate environmental credentials in conjunction with an interactive audience. The session became more of an exchange of issues arising in dealing with the Guidelines than an address to the unfamiliar.

The APC is more or less mandatory for any brand owner that has more than $5million annual turnover. More or less is used for if a company does not sign up it comes under the regulations administered by the various Environmental Protection Agencies which are draconian.

But, for the few misgivings, the APC has protected Australia from becoming a satellite of the European Union which in administering packaging has rules and regulations that would simply send many manufactures to the wall.

It was deduced that many retailers are now using versions of the APC sustainable packaging guidelines in tender documents for supply of goods. The brand owners present were reasonably comfortable with this approach but it was obvious that some retailers are asking for more proof than the APC require.

OPPORTUNITY

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Claude was representing the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) and gave a polished presentation covering the range of issues around end of life opportunities in a still developing technology. The end of life composting of bio-plastic materials is becoming a major part of the activities at the one hundred and twenty (120) composting establishments in Australian that broke down 5.8 million tonnes of material during the last year monitored.

Not all of these establishments are accepting bio-plastics but an interesting statistic delivered was that in the 2011 census 46% of households claimed to be composting at home.

Question time covered not only the subjects covered by the presenters but wandered into technologies that are common in other countries and enhance the opportunities to recycle packaging materials.

A knock on the door at night by a regulator is unlikely if you use the prescribed methods of enhancing the performance of your packaging. This can be achieved by following the product stewardship laid down in the APC and newer environmentally materials that carry the ABA seedling logo.

Llewellyn Stephens made a presentation to each of the experts that engendered performance enhancing thoughts within us all.

Hosted by

2013 WorldStar Awards Thursday the 9th of May Novotel Sydney Olympic Park

DON’T MISS OUT

IN-A-LIFETIME

Robin gave Claude D’Amico MAIP Market Development Manage at Innovia Films a lead into the address about the end of life opportunities for compostable bio-plastics.

The WorldStar Packaging Awards are owned and organised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). The WorldStar Competition, now in its 45th year, is one of the major events of the WPO and last year attracted 243 entries from 32 countries around the world. WorldStar illustrates the continual advancement of the state of packaging and creates a living standard of international packaging excellence from which others may learn.

Visit www.aipack.com.au for the booking form

ON THIS ONCE-

That is not to say that the 820 signatories due to report by 31 March can be liberal with the facts as random auditing is a prerequisite of the APC.

Proudly Sponsored by ALONGSIDE

Celebrating 30 Years

AIP NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013

PACKAGING + PROCESSING + MATERIALS

Z

2013

Owned and Presented by APPMA

Tuesday 7th - Friday 10th May Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park

BUSINESS

Packaging

business set to T

HE global packaging industry will swell to almost US$820bn by 2016 predicts Smithers Pira in a new market forecast.

Driven mainly by increasing demand for packaging in emerging and transitional economies, a three per cent per annum growth rate will focus on board products and rigid plastics, with $40bn and $33bn in cumulative predicted growth respectively to 2016.

This growth is being driven by a number of broad trends such as growing urbanisation, investment in housing and construction, a burgeoning healthcare sector and the rapid development still evident in the emerging economies, including China, India, Brazil and some eastern European countries. An increase in personal disposable income in the developing regions fuels consumption across a broad range of products, with consequential growth in demand for the packaging of these goods.

For instance, increased demand for white goods, like washing machines and dishwashers, driven also by growing time pressure on consumer lifestyles, leads not just to a growing demand for packaging for the machines themselves, but also for associated products such as the household care products needed to operate these machines, thus stimulating demand across a range of packaging media.

More specifically, robust growth in demand for rigid plastic packaging, especially in sectors like drinks, cosmetics, toiletries, and household and personal care products, is stimulating packaging consumption. Similarly, flexible plastic packaging materials are receiving a boost from sectors like perishable foods, healthcare,

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convenience foods and various industrial markets. Corrugated board consumption is being egged on by the processed food sector and a number of non-food applications including personal and household care, chemicals, electrical goods and others. At the same time, folding carton consumption is benefiting from the growth found in healthcare products, electrical goods, and frozen and chilled foods.

According to the Smithers Pira, the US was the largest consumer for packaging in 2010 with a demand of US$137bn; China was close behind at US$80bn. China is anticipated to surpass the US by 2017, and India will enter the top 10 packaging countries, with its demand set to almost double in the next five years to US$24bn.

Technological developments in packaging are seeing an upswing in the consumption of bio-polymers in both rigid and flexible applications, improved value adding in products with functional and barrier coatings, as well as enhanced graphics, resource reduction by way of continuous lightweighting across all materials, and other developments.

Board products account for the biggest sector of the packaging market, totalling some US$210bn in 2010 and maintaining their leading position into 2016 when the sector will be worth US$40bn more at nearly US$250bn.

Rigid plastic is the second largest slice of the whole, at over 21 per cent or US$144bn in 2010, expanding to over US$200bn by 2016, while the flexible packaging market will increase from US$130bn in 2010 to over US$163bn by 2016.

The consumption of metal packaging represented over 15 per cent of the 2010 market but will be

losing market share to competing products, especially rigid plastic, to enjoy only 14 per cent of the 2016 market, while demand for glass containers is also anticipated to slow down over the medium term, increasing from some US$45bn in 2010 to around US$53bn by 2016.

A further survey by the market research company reveals that global folding carton production has grown by around 2.5 per cent per year since 2005 – to 43 million metric tonnes of board in 2010 – and this upward trend will continue. Asia alone accounts for 45 per cent of the total volume, while the remaining 55 per cent is spread evenly between the United States and Europe.

Germany’s folding carton industry is the largest in Europe, accounting for around 25 per cent of the entire European market with a production volume of 860,000 metric tons. Italy and the UK follow, each with an EU market share of approximately 14 per cent, and France with roughly 12 per cent.

According to the German Folding Carton Manufacturers’ Association, the industry enjoyed recordbreaking growth of 4.5 per cent in 2011 with a production value of €1.9bn. Confectionery, ready meals, frozen food, tobacco, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals are all key product segments for the folding carton industry.

In the opinion of industry experts, folding carton producers, who are looking to benefit from the dynamic growth of Eastern European and Asian countries, need to combine state-of-the-art supply chain management with purchasing, sales, and marketing strategies focused on profitability if they are to keep pace with developments on the packaging market – such

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The global packaging industry is expected to reach US$820bn by 2016, up from the US$670bn in 2010, according to Smithers Pira

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grow as increasing variety and greater competition at the point of sale.

Smithers Pira research shows that food and healthcare packaging will continue to be the biggest end uses in global packaging, with the food and drinks industry growing by almost US$43bn combined to 2016.

The study shows that health care packs will grow 4.5 per cent each year to reach a total of US$34bn.

Cosmetics packaging should grow 4.2 per cent per year to reach $24bn.

The main purpose of packaging is to help persuade customers to buy a product, and end consumers’ purchasing decisions are increasingly being influenced by environmental aspects. Good packaging helps extend the shelf-life of food and thereby also makes better use of resources, since less food needs to be thrown away.

What’s more, packaging will be used for more than simply protecting the contents and for security purposes in the future. According to a study by the Pro Carton industry association, packaging helps customers reach a decision at the point of sale, provides information about quality and eco-friendly manufacturing processes, advertises the actual product, and also creates a link to online media. The main challenge for packaging printers is to influence the purchasing decision at the point of sale, for example, with a striking packaging design and attractive surface finishing.

Technology trends involving electronics that can be integrated into or even printed onto packaging – such as light elements in the form of organic LEDs (OLEDs, organic light-emitting diodes) – could be used for marketing purposes at the point of sale, because their huge impact encourages customers to buy.

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These new technologies also open up new market segments in what is known as smart packaging. The main purpose of smart packaging, though, is to provide additional functions that offer added value for consumers such as freshness indicators, improved handling, or interactive electronic functions. In the future, further developments in track and trace technology will not be restricted to the fresh meat and pharmaceuticals sectors. Product tracking along the entire supply chain is set to become a lasting trend.

For packaging printers, suppliers such as Heidelberg are becoming increasingly important, especially with the total end to end solutions they offer. The Heidelberg portfolio offers some unusual surface finishing options for eye-catching packaging that stands out at the point of sale along with special configurations designed specifically for packaging printing. Large-format packaging presses are ideal for the cost-efficient production of large repeats and long print runs.

Heidelberg says it offers maximum production efficiency with an end-to-end packaging workflow. Virtually all segments of the packaging industry are highly industrialised. With new customer

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requirements emerging all the time, the industry’s innovative ability is constantly being pushed to the limit.

It is vital for the entire process to be efficient – and this efficiency can only be improved further using a central, standardised workflow.

Seamlessly interlocking process steps, consistently high print quality, short makeready times, minimal waste, and an optimum overview of all processes are the starting point for the Prinect Packaging Workflow – which Heidelberg says is the only solution to combine packaging design, management, prepress, press, and postpress in a single endto-end workflow.

The Prinect Packaging Workflow optimises administration, data handling, and business management in packaging production – from the design stage all the way through to the finished folding carton.

Heidelberg says that by ensuring consistently high print quality, short makeready times, and minimal waste, Prinect lays the foundation for fully integrated, efficient packaging printing that is geared toward sustainability.

Data from the individual processing steps – from MIS to postpress – is used throughout the system and therefore never needs to be entered twice. This saves time and eliminates errors and misunderstandings. Precise reports of all process steps are available for actual costing and process optimisation. Heidelberg is responsible for all interfaces involved in the the entire system, which means it is possible to calculate the total costs of process integration from start to finish.

The Future of Global Packaging Market and Technology Forecasts to 2016 provides market sizes and forecasts broken down by packaging product, end-use sector and geographic market, in a comprehensive overview of the status of the packaging industry in 50 countries globally. The study is based on an in-depth combination of primary and secondary data gathered during Smithers Pira’s extensive research program for the global packaging industry.

The Future of Global Packaging is available now. For more information, visit www.smitherspira.com.

Asia alone accounts for 45 per cent of the total global volume of folding carton packaging

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AIP NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013

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What happens when that sturdy packaging protects your goods so well you can’t actually get them open? Kate Browne unpacks a troubling trend

H

ave you ever bought something, taken it home and unsuccessfully attempted to open it? It might have been a jar of pasta sauce that refuses to budge no matter how hard you twist, or electronic equipment sealed in a hard plastic container that can only be opened with some sort of weapon. Or, perhaps it was a toy for an impatient child who grew increasingly hysterical as you struggled to free the item from layers of cable ties, wire, plastic and sticky tape.

Sadly, most of us have been there.

In fact, it’s so common there’s a name for this modern affliction – “wrap rage”. And with wrap rage comes trouble

– everything from total frustration right through to injuries and visits to casualty and, in some cases, even malnutrition.

Ouch!

themselves on packaging at one time or another while trying to open a package, and 64% of the respondents suffered injuries such as deep cuts, bruises, broken or chipped teeth. That’s a high price to pay just to open something you’ve bought!

The perfect storm

People’s battles with packaging can end in injury. While Australia doesn’t record injury statistics related to packaging, when the UK government conducted a study on the topic in 1997, the results were alarming.

The report estimated 67,000 people in the UK visit hospital casualty departments every year due to an accident involving food or drink packaging. And a further survey revealed only 35% of all packaging accidents are reported to hospital, with the remaining

While packaging accessibility is an issue that can affect us all, it’s understood a large percentage of the accidents caused by packaging impacts those affected by a disability and the elderly, who particularly have problems with reduced eyesight and hand strength.

Fergal Barry, partnerships manager of Arthritis Australia, which promotes accessible packaging, says this problem will continue to grow as our population ages. “There are about 6.4 million people with arthritis or a disability in Australia, seven million people are 50-plus and 1.7 million who have problems with their eyesight,” he says. “Combine the over-50s

65% being treated at home or by GPs. The experts CHOICE spoke to believe similar statistics would be reflected here in Australia.

In December last year, Reader’s Digest commissioned a survey of 500 people in Australia, NZ and Malaysia on this issue.

All those surveyed said they had injured

with the number of people with arthritis or a disability, and that means one in two people are facing some kind of restriction with opening packages.”

When it comes to packaged food, Barry also sees more problems on the horizon.

“With an ageing population and society changing, never before have so many people lived alone or not in a traditional

ImageS: ShutterStock

with the number of 0s -5 er ov e th ne bi om “C disability, and that a or is rit th ar ith w le peop le are facing some means one in two peop opening packages” kind of restriction with

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AIP NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013

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Accessibility

67,000

examples of family. More of us are packaging that we’ve eating at different people in the uK visit hospital found hard to open.” times to each other, casualty departments every However, Williams eating alone and year due to an accident says that while dining on preinvolving food or manufacturers and prepared meals and drink packaging retailers are under pressure single-serve packages, to keep reducing prices in a which can be particularly demanding market, he difficult to access.” disagrees with criticism The growing levelled at the industry popularity of singlethat it’s often at the serve portions also price of accessibility. affects young “If people can’t open consumers. Many your product, they’re schools have had of all packaging accidents not going to buy it,” to remind parents to are reported to hospital he says. While he send kids to school only concedes it can be difficult with packaged food their for the industry to balance child can open easily, as competing needs, Williams says some teachers report that school if consumers don’t like something it’s vital lunches occasionally go uneaten simply to speak up. “Get in touch with the brand because the child can’t open them. owner, or get in touch with the APC (see

35%

Access denied

Wendy Favorito is a board member and consumer representative of Arthritis Australia, and has suffered from severe arthritis since she was a child. She says she struggles to open packaged goods every day, and without the help of her family, life would be extremely difficult.

“Packaged food items are the worst.

Ring pull cans, jars – not having that hand span to grip or the strength to break the seal are just some of the restrictions for me and for many others, especially older people.”

However, Favorito is positive about the initiatives taken by some companies who are working with Arthritis Australia (see above right). “Before I was involved in this project I hadn’t realised packaging was an issue for so many others and didn’t think it could be changed. What I see now is that it’s an issue that affects a lot of people, and there are solutions.”

online retail giant Amazon, this has proven to be a successful selling point.

When Amazon launched its “Frustration-Free Packaging” range in 2008, it started with just 19 items. Now, the range stocks more than 80,000 goods that are free from wires, plastic and the usual trappings, and shipped in a plain brown box with minimal protective filling.

In Australia, Arthritis Australia has developed the Ease of Use certification program and worked with industry and government to review products and provide recommendations on improving accessibility. So far, the organisation has worked with more than 125 products and collaborated with more than 40 organisations, including Nestlé, NSW Health, Goodman Fielder and Amcor.

Gumnut Country Bakehouse, a small Victorian biscuit manufacturer, holds a contract with NSW Health supplying biscuits to hospitals for patients, many of

School lunches occasionally go uneaten simply because the child can’t get into them page 18) and let them know you want to see change.”

Innovation underway Despite plenty of packaging horror stories, there are some initiatives working towards increasing the “openability” of some products. And, in the case of US-based

The industry responds Gavin Williams, CEO of the Packaging Council of Australia, says ease of use in packaging is gaining more attention in the industry. “Of course accessibility is an issue, and I’m sure we’ve all had

whom are elderly. The Garling Inquiry, released in 2008, heard elderly people were struggling to open and eat their food in public hospitals. Mathew McAlpin, Gumnut’s CEO, concedes he was initially apprehensive about participating in Arthritis Australia’s program, particularly due to the costs

CHOICE staffer Angela recently had an encounter with a difficult yoghurt container that left her with a substantial cut on her thumb.

While she admits the yoghurt is one of her favourites, it certainly “wasn’t worth losing skin over”.

Angela emailed the company to tell them about her experience.

To her pleasant surprise, she received a swift reply and a promise they would look into who supplied the packaging and investigate the issue further.

CHOICE.COM.AU February 2013 /// 17 THIS ARTICLE WAS RE-PRODUCED WITH PERMISSION FROM CHOICE.COM.AU

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AIP NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013

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