Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London due to take place at Olympia on 8 & 9 December 2020, has been cancelled due to the ongoing unforeseeable global scope of the Coronavirus pandemic.
This decision has been made following consultation with the packaging industry and the UK Government reviewing its decision to allow live events to run from 1 October, further contributing to the continuing Force Majeure situation.
Renan Joel, divisional director for Easyfairs UK & Global’s packaging events, stated, ‘We had been working closely with our exhibitors and key stakeholders to secure the best possible option to run the event and provide the industry with an opportunity to meet and do business this autumn, and as such we have worked tirelessly to put in place numerous safety measures to ensure we can deliver a safe event to the highest possible standards. However, with the Government’s continuing social distancing measures and push-back on the go live date for exhibitions, it has become increasingly clear that it is impossible to run the December 2020 edition.’
Therefore, to ensure the highest quality and a successful event for the market and also guarantee the health and safety of all involved, Easyfairs has decided to cancel the 2020 event in order to deliver a safe environment in which the entire community can feel confident and focused on business, networking and engagement. With this move, Easyfairs also reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the industry has this valuable opportunity to gather and reignite business opportunities as the world emerges from the Coronavirus pandemic.
Easyfairs has already been running a series of online digital Innovation Talks under its Packaging Innovations, Luxury Packaging, PCD, ADF and PLD brands since the Spring, which continue to keep the industry informed and provide inspiration in a year in which it faces new challenges. It has also recently announced a dedicated online Discovery Day on 15 October bringing together select exhibitors, a product gallery, a powerful series of seminars and panels including the very popular Big Carbon Debate, case studies, a showcase of the industry’s 30 stars under the age of 30 and a meeting platform to facilitate networking and business between all attendees and suppliers.
Mr Joel added, ‘2020 has been a very unusual year: the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on everyone’s lives, and specifically in the exhibitions industry on the ability to bring people together to run live events over the past months. Although we are currently in challenging times, it has not only highlighted the potential of the digital world but also the true value humans place on meeting and interacting with one another in person. This gives us a very exciting opportunity to revitalise our event offering and reignite other opportunities through an increased digital – and even hybrid – presence.’
