The packaging industry network met on 2 and 3 December 2021 as part of the German Packaging Institute's (dvi) Digital Packaging Days. Leading representatives from business, research, NGOs and start-ups shed light on the current situation regarding the circular economy, the use of recyclates, sustainability and digital technologies at the industry's big annual meeting.
“Thinking differently is playing a major role at the moment,“ welcomed dvi-Managing Director Winfried Batzke told participants at the 31st Dresden Packaging Conference, which was once again held this year in its virtual form as the Digital Packaging Days. “It's about transport without emissions, food without meat and Packaging without waste. Over the next two days, we will be discussing how we can implement a cycle without corners and edges for packaging, where we currently stand and which paths lead to our goal.“
On the first day, the conference covered a wide range of topics. The participants learnt from top experts from the cyclos Institute, the Central Packaging Register Foundation, the cirplus digital platform, the WWF and Compo GmbH, the current state of recycling in Germany, which processes have which advantages and disadvantages, and what the regulatory path into the future looks like, How to secure high-quality recyclate despite a massive surge in demand and how the different recyclates perform in practice. The overarching topics that met with great interest included the complex Bioplastics and chemical recycling.
On the second day, the conference then led its participants more into concrete solutions and best practice. “Because the future has already begun,“ says Batzke. “That's why we wanted to show how future topics are already being successfully addressed today and we wanted to take a look, which can help to avoid further burdening the earth and what exciting ideas there are.“
Top experts, scientists and founders of HelloFresh, Vytal, Metsä, EPL, CCL Label, Haepsi and the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB showed Innovations for reusable packaging, successful Design for Recycling, added value, convenience and Sustainability through digitalisation, environmentally friendly solutions for labels and laminate tubes, award-winning take-away solutions and Ways not to demonise CO2, but as a raw material for the production of plastic.
At the centre of the networking a digital matchmaking tool, which participants could use to discuss and exchange ideas individually or in groups. “The feedback on the event and the networking tool was very good,“ reports Batzke. „We have Making a virtue out of necessity. Nevertheless, we hope to be able to organise the Dresden event again next year in its usual form as an in-person event.“
The dvi Managing Director's summary of the content is also positive: „It has been shown, that the circular economy will certainly not fail because of packaging. On the contrary: our industry is a pioneer. Companies are innovating at an extremely high rate and quality.“
Source: dvi
