Page 17 - Packaging News Magazine Nov-Dec 2018

AIP EXPANDS TRAINING PROGRAM IN NZ MARKET
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THE AUSTRALIAN Institute of Packaging (AIP) cemented its commitment to the New Zealand food and beverage industry by taking a lead role in running quality training and education programs as a part of FoodTech Packtech. Over the three days the AIP provided education and discussions on key issues challenging the industry including Fighting Food Waste, Save Food & Sustainable Packaging Design, the issues within end-of-life recycling facilities, and a better understanding of lifecycle analysis. What was clear is that the conversation has only just begun, and the industry has many unanswered questions. It is evident that there must be a truly collaborative approach across government, industry and academia to ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and outcomes.
The AIP had a full house for the new half-day training course on the Role of Packaging in Minimising Food Waste with attendees from Frucor, Fonterra, Danone, Confoil, Multivac,Goodman Fielder, Stratex, NCI Packaging, FreshPork, Snell Packaging and Totally Wrapt Packaging.
AIP executive director Nerida Kelton said, “The course provided participants with an introduction to the seriousness of food waste in Australia and New Zealand and how we can all make a difference as team members of the product-packaging design process to this issue.”
The course also covered packaging design criteria for Best-Practice Save Food Packaging Design developments that should be considered. With hands-on and practical case studies participants were able to learn how designing packaging to save food actually saves food. Attendees then had the opportunity to visit the AIP stand to see the latest round of Save Food Packaging and Sustainable Packaging Design winners and their innovations.
Key takeaways from attendees:
• ‘A new focus on what our business needs
to do to improve our packaging design’. • ‘A clearer view that better packaging is a
solution to reducing food waste’
• ‘To try and re-design packaging to reduce
food loss and waste’
• ‘Time to review our packaging designs’
ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE PEAK PROFESSIONAL BODY FOR PACKAGING EDUCATION & TRAINING IN AUSTRALASIA?
JOIN THE AIP TODAY TO BE A PART OF A GLOBAL PACKAGING COMMUNITY
INFO@AIPACK.COM.AU WWW.AIPACK.COM.AU
November-December 2018 www.packagingnews.com.au TECH SPEAK
means less waste?
Packaging NZ executive director Sharon Humphreys (left) and AIP executive director Nerida Kelton on the joint
stand displaying the PIDA winners.
of Packaging NZ, touched on the poor per- ception packaging has in the community and reflected on various ways the global industry has reduced its environmental impact, from the obvious lightweighting to the more valuable and innovative adapta- tion of a circular economy mindset.
The highlight was Humphreys’ focus on a cucumber packaging case study, conducted by Cryovac Sealed Air, which presented an example of positive change in behaviour once consumers were “educated” on the role packaging plays in reducing food waste.
By simply applying a label on the wrap that draws attention to the cucumber’s in- creased shelf life and quality, the buying be- haviour leaped from a low 40% unmarked, to 70% when marked – a great example of how brand owner messaging is so powerful in value education. With the increasing bat- tle for brand real estate on packs, this is a simple lesson on market share ROI if focused on “education versus selling”.
Humphrey’s passion was clearly evident in her defence of the value of packaging and
delivered one of the memorable quotes of the session: “Stop looking at what packaging is and start looking at what packaging does”.
CHANGED BEHAVIOUR ONCE EDUCATED
On the consumer education piece, Planet Ark’s Alejandra Laclette explained how the organisation is in the final stages of prepar- ing its “Right Label Right Bin” consumer ed- ucational campaign, commencing late Octo- ber. This will focus on the Australian Recycling Label (ARL) and help consumers make better choices and improve recycling habits. Currently Australian Packaging Cov- enant Organisation members have direct ac- cess to create an ARL for their packaging once they have completed a Packaging Recy- clability Environmental Portal (PREP) re- port to determine its suitability for kerb-side recycling in Australia and New Zealand.
Laclette highlighted that since PREP’s launch in March, 112 companies now have access and since the ARL’s launch in May, 49 companies have completed theirs on pack. The final session moved from industry bod- ies and specialists to an exciting array of new brands and start-ups who have leveraged the value of packaging and its performance char- acteristics to launch Packaging Innovation & Design Award winning innovations. Presented were myriad successful product and packaging examples incorporating food waste minimisation, sustainability, innova- tion, human-centred design and the Circular Economy ethos – all displayed on the AIP and Pack NZ stand at the show.
What was clear to me from the seminar, and the show overall, was that once we col- lectively pick up our game in measuring, understanding and communicating pack- aging's role, and not only educating the consumer but changing behaviour, the planet will thank us across the board. ■
ABOUT THE WRITER:
Michael Grima (MAIP) is direc- tor of Packaging Design con- sultancy qDesign Enterprises and a concerned human who has buy-in on leaving a better, sustainably minded world for
his growing children. Contact him at: mgrima@qdesignenterprises.com