For the 28th time, members of the packaging industry met for the Dresden Packaging Conference of the German Packaging Institute (dvi). Under the motto "A discussion on packaging - contradictions as a driver of innovation" around 200 participants, including manufacturers of packaging materials and packaging systems, users and representatives from the industry and research institutes, discussed the situation of the packaging industry on 6 and 7 December.
A new element, this year, was a tool that offered interactive questions via the smartphone. Thus, a passionate dialogue could take place seamlessly after each lecture. The fact that the industry does not shy away from innovations is very clear from these lectures: from the increasingly important use of recyclates through to additive manufacturing processes for prototypes to more and more efficient machines: the whole spectrum of current possibilities was presented. Innovative solutions such as laser marking for fruit and vegetables or ultrasonic sealing of packaging led thematically to the new Packaging Act from 1 January 2019.
Many more questions
With regard to the new Packaging Act, the participants agreed that mono-materials and recyclates are a tried and tested means of meeting stringent recycling rates and maximizing incentives for customer recycling fees. However, implementation will take a bit longer, because it is unsure which models for financial incentives will establish themselves. And is there enough recyclate for suitable, safe packaging films? The issue whether plastics really are such a big danger was hotly debated. It is questions like these that will occupy the industry well beyond the Dresden Packaging Conference and the well into the beginning of next year.
