Conference tackles sustainable plastics packaging

Key members of the packaging supply chain will discuss sustainability, one of the most pressing issues facing the packaging industry, at a London conference this autumn.

Sustainable Plastics Packaging 2008 is the second conference organised by PRW and European Plastics News. It takes place on 7-8 October at the Wellcome Conference Centre in London.

Plastics packaging has become the battleground for public debate over sustainability, with arguments variously focusing on “overpackaging”, recyclability and use of finite oil-derived resources.

The conference will explore the issues and regulatory developments and how companies in the industry are solving problems for their customers.

Presentations providing the perspective of retailers will be made by Asda packaging buyer Shane Monkman and Boots polymers technical consultant Dr Steve Owen. Both groups are at the forefront of the drive to improve the environmental performance of consumer product packaging.

Packaging companies responding to the challenge with new products will have representatives speaking at the conference: Mondi, Klöckner Pentaplast, Sharp Interpack and Nampak.

Wrap and the European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations will make separate presentations on plastics recycling.

The important role that good packaging design plays in reducing waste will be the subject of presentations by Martin Bunce from Tin Horse and Luke Vincent from Dragon Brands.

Other companies and organisations speaking at the event are: Microflex Technologies, Newcastle Business School, Reverse Vending Corp, Edge, CarbonAided, BioBag International and International Food Partners.

The conference is sponsored by Mondi, Klöckner Pentaplast, Sharp Interpack, Linpac and Nampak.