New legislative framework accelerates demand for more sustainable packaging
Hispack showcases the power of packaging to innovate industrial processes and consumer habits
The packaging industry, whose solutions are essential for the development of any productive, industrial, logistical and commercial activity, will once again display all its innovation at Hispack. From 24 to 27 May, the major Spanish packaging trade fair organised by Fira de Barcelona brings together more than 600 direct exhibitors and 1,100 brands represented to showcase concrete results and new applications in sustainability, digitalisation and the user experience of packaging. This year’s objective: to help any industry or consumer sector to improve and transform their processes and products thanks to packaging.
With the presence of leading manufacturers and distributors, Hispack will fill halls 2 and 3 of the Gran Via exhibition centre with packaging technology, materials and solutions, taking into account its entire life cycle and its connections with other production processes and the supply chain. Sustainability will be the main theme of this edition, accelerated by new legislative changes affecting packaging and greater social eco-awareness. It will also be seen how automation, robotisation, connectivity and Industry 4.0 technologies are entering fully into the packaging industry.
Thus, 60% of Hispack’s offer corresponds to equipment and machinery for packaging, bottling, labelling, coding, traceability, process, automation, robotics and logistics. Meanwhile, the remaining 40% of exhibitors present materials, finishes, POS and specific packaging elements for different industrial and consumer sectors, as well as for distribution, e-commerce and retail.
This year Hispack is being held at the same time as Graphispag, the graphics and visual communication industry show, which will occupy Hall 1 and which, in turn, brings together almost another hundred exhibitors. This alliance will make it easier for brands and printers of packaging, containers, labels and Point-of-Sale Advertising to find out about the latest developments in graphic technology, personalisation, prototyping, designs, shapes and print finishes, as both shows can be visited with the same visitor’s pass.
Internationality
For Hispack, internationality is a strategic objective and one of the bases of its future growth. Considered one of the top three European packaging trade fairs, it is the gateway to the Iberian market, as well as a commercial bridge to Mediterranean and Latin American countries.
After Spain, the country contributing the most companies to this year’s list of exhibitors is Turkey, followed by Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Portugal. A quarter of the direct exhibitors at Hispack 2022 are international, from 19 countries.
In terms of visitors, 10% of the 25,000 expected attendees are expected to come from abroad. To this end, Hispack has carried out promotional activities in around fifteen countries, mainly in Europe, the Mediterranean area and Latin America. In collaboration with amec, the fair has selected and invited 146 professionals with projects for prospecting or purchasing solutions directly through its “Hosted Buyers” programme, who will participate in meetings with exhibitors whose offer meets their requirements. Likewise, an agreement has been established with Chile as guest of honour to attract a trade mission to the fair that will contribute to increasing trade relations and Spanish exports in this market. It is estimated that more than 2,000 business meetings with invited professionals will be held at Hispack’s International Business Centre.
From challenges to achievements
Hispack is turning the focus of its 60 planned knowledge activities to around 200 speakers. After several editions talking about the challenges of the packaging industry, this year the focus will be on explaining and sharing the concrete results of applying the innovation proposed by packaging. Thus, in each pavilion there will be an area of activities called Hispack Unboxing in which there will be seminars, conferences and presentations of success stories that can inspire other brands and companies to use more efficient and profitable packaging solutions that respond to the new needs of customers and consumers.
Among the topics on the programme are: branding, personalisation, differentiation through packaging design, premium packaging, eco-design, recyclability of packaging, reuse strategies, reintroduction of recycled material, bioplastics, traceability solutions, smart warehouses, results of machine automation and advanced connectivity or life cycle management of equipment. Also of note are the sessions dedicated to the impact of the new regulatory framework on the packaging industry and compliance with the packaging recycling targets set by the 2030 Agenda.
Hispack has also launched the “Boosters” programme through which leading companies from sectors such as food, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, among others, will explain their strategies and relationship with packaging when it comes to innovation at the Hispack Unboxing presentations. Beam Suntory, Nestlé, Flopp – Careli, The Body Shop, Ferrer, Pastas Gallo, Unilever, Mahou, Nueva Pescanova, Casa Ametller, Danone, Henkel, Codorniu, Freixenet, Puig or Mercabarna are some of the companies that will participate.
Hispack’s training proposals will be complemented by other technical seminars and conferences promoted by professional associations, organisations and publications. Of particular note is the 4th Barcelona Perfumery Congress, a scientific and technical event bringing together professionals from the fragrance industry organised by the Beauty Cluster; the Packaging Cluster’s knowledge space with talks and presentations of experiences on collaborative models for innovation in the sector, knowledge transfer, talent management, and an elevator pitch to meet new companies. For its part, AERCE will be holding Procurement Day Catalunya 2022, to bring the strategic role of packaging closer to purchasing professionals.
At the same time, Hispack, under the title “Best in class”, will dedicate an exclusive day to five European success stories, examples of true revolution in terms of business transformation based on packaging. These include the Danish company Grow up farm, which grows micro-vegetables and thanks to a disruptive packaging has begun to export part of its production; Bakkafrost, a company from the Faroe Islands that has implemented an innovative traceability system thanks to the packaging of the aquaculture products it sells; and Cubers, a manufacturer and packer of ice that is leading the market thanks to a new packaging proposal.
In addition, within the framework of Hispack, the Liderpack Awards ceremony will take place, the most important packaging and POS awards given in Spain, corresponding to the 2020 and 2021 editions. Finally, in this edition of reunion and sectorial impulse, Hispack will also celebrate the packaging night, a social event designed to promote networking in a relaxed atmosphere in order to enhance opportunities to expand the network of professional contacts.
Barcelona, May 2022