“ From a food and drink perspective , how we make our products , how we grow them , how we ship them , and how we sell them is all changing , and how we package them is changing at the same pace . Every element of our food system is transforming , and you can really feel that when it comes to the packaging . You see it in the supermarkets , particularly where you walk around and it feels very different . I think we ’ ll see different materials , things like seaweed , coming into packaging and a lot more paper being used than plastic . I think people ’ s mindset is in the right place but it ’ s now about having the clarity of the rules and making sure that we got the right investment going in .”
The true measure of innovation lies in the satisfaction of its end users . In the packaging industry , this often means experimenting with various materials until finding a solution that works well for consumers and manufacturers alike . For largescale producers , such as major crisp manufacturers , the demand for stable , reliable packaging is immense . The challenge is not just in developing sustainable options but also in securing a consistent supply of recycled content . According to Bligh , it ’ s crucial for producers to work with other stakeholders and
52 FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk
for governments to help facilitate the development of a more robust market for recycled materials .
“ There ’ s more to it , I think , than just being sustainable , but that ’ s an important driver ,” he continued . “ I think one of the problems that we face as producers is the supply of recycled content has not been consistent . There are only a couple of factories in Europe that produce , for example , chemically recycled plastic that you can use again as food-grade packaging . They do not produce anything like enough for the global demand that exists . They don ’ t produce enough for the European demand that exists . So , it ’ s hard to make the big changes you want to make with enough content to make it happen . What we need to do as producers is to challenge the other players in the ecosystem to create enough supply because there is really enough demand and that ’ s where I think the government can come in to try and co-facilitate the market .”
Bligh was keen to praise manufacturers and the packaging sector for their advancements , stressing the need for a circular economy and underscoring the importance of future generations by advocating for packaging that prioritises sustainable materials .
“ It ’ s really exciting to be part of this panel and to see the innovations that are happening and to see everybody coming together to celebrate ,” he said . “ I think where the industry is at and how it ’ s transforming will make for a fantastic process . We ’ ve got some brilliant brands involved in the panel , some real deep experts who are leading the change and to be among them is a great opportunity for me and the FDF as well to help move us on as an industry and to get a lot more sustainable as we change in the next few years .”
As the packaging industry strides towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future , the journey ahead is both challenging and promising . But with leaders like Bligh advocating for innovation , collaboration , and regulatory clarity , there ’ s optimism for significant progress in the years to come .
The first London Packaging Week Innovation Awards winners will be announced on the second day of the show , September 12 . Find out more about the awards at www . londonpackagingweek . com / innovation-awards