Packaging Innovations and Empack 2024 claims to have hosted a record 454 suppliers split across its three February events: Packaging Innovations, Empack, and Contract Pack and Fulfilment.
Easyfairs, who organised the event, also confirmed that 6900 people visited Halls 6, 7, and 8 of Birmingham’s NEC across the two days.
Naomi Stewart, marketing manager at Easyfairs stated, ‘Feedback has already been so positive from exhibitors and the visitors who turned out in their droves.
‘2024 proved that the offer to see things, talk directly to manufacturers, network and listen to the latest trends remains a huge pull.
‘More exciting plans are already afoot for 2025, and we will announce those in due course, but for now, we are all ears to feedback, as listening has always been at the core of our ability to serve the packaging community better.’
Monica Batistella, sustainability manager at exhibitor Taghleef Industries, commented, ‘I used to come here even prior to us having our own booth, and I’ve always found it fantastic.
‘The level of conversation and discussions you have here fully reflects what is going on in the UK, and we need to look at all the stakeholders to understand what customers in the market expect from us and how we can help them.
Another exhibitor, Josephine Coombe, Nulogy’s Chief Commercial Officer, added, ‘Packaging Innovations is a key event for us in our calendar, and we’ve been here every year for many years and always enjoy the show.
‘There’s so much high-quality content on stage, and lots of our community come out to either visit or exhibit, so it’s a great platform for us.’
Some exhibitors used the show to launch new packaging products and solutions, while the three dedicated stages hosted no less than 71 speakers across the two days. Key speakers included ex-Dyson principal engineer Ben Edmonds with his talk on innovation in the workplace, while Steve Lister, sustainability consultant to global brands and retailers, spoke about the key stages of sustainability for packaging, why sustainability matters, how sustainability has evolved and the key trends in 2024.
Elsewhere, Leipa Group’s Papair, the first bubble wrap made from 100% paper, was crowned winner of the Innovation Gallery and the most innovative packaging project of the past 12 months, while Lucy Boston, head of marketing and communication at Carlton Packaging, Chris Yapp, director at Tri-Locker, and Abigail Sawyer-Parker, packaging technologist at ProAmpac, each walked away with a Future Trailblazer award.
