The World Packaging Organization (WPO) called on stakeholders and players in the packaging and manufacturing industries to educate people better about sustainable food consumption to minimize the environmental footprint of packed food and help nature generate resources faster.
“We are serious about saving food through better packaging, about reducing packaging waste and promoting sustainable packaging. But the core at the WPO is the drive to educate more people about the effectiveness and correctness of packaging,” said WPO president Pierre Pienaar at the formal opening of ProPak Philippines Wednesday.
WPO is a non-profit, non-governmental, international federation of national packaging institutes and associations, regional packaging federations and corporations and trade associations to encourage the development of packaging technology, science, access and engineering; contribute to the development of international trade; and stimulate education and training in packaging.
Pienaar noted that the global packaging industry needs technical expertise or “we will have a void in our industry in the next 5 to 10 years”.
Propak is a 3-day trade event that started Wednesday, February 1, 2023 and culminated Friday, February 3, 2023 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City. It is platform for market trends, investments and industry networking through product exchange and a variety of conferences, seminars and technical workshops offering sustainable solutions for the country’s enterprises. Packaging education helps ensure that the world’s resources are used as effectively and economically as possible.
About 250 leading local and international exhibitors from 25 countries and regions gathered at ProPak Philippines to showcase the latest technologies in manufacturing, packaging and processing.
“I encourage each one of you to do your part about educating your people in your region. Propak Philippines is an outstanding learning platform because the industry needs to make significant contributions to improving knowledge and expertise,” said Pienaar.
ProPak Philippines held free workshops conducted by the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) and a paid training course. The trade event hosted conference sessions from different partner associations such as the Active and Intelligent Packaging Industry Association, WPO, Philippine Printing Technical Foundation, Philippine Association of Food Technologists Inc., and Production and Operations Management Association of the Philippines etc.
Propak Philippines was organized by Informa Markets with support from the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Philippine Association of Food Technologists Inc. (PAFT), Philippine Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA), Production and Operations Management Association of the Philippines (PROMAP), Philippine Printing Technical Foundation (PPTF), the Association of Laguna Food Processors Inc. (ALAFOP), the Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI), the Filipino International Franchise Association (FIFA), One Town, One Product (OTOP), GS1 Philippines, and the British Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, University of the Philippines – Institute for Small-Scale Industries, Philippine Coconut Authority and also being supported by international organisations such as Australian Institute of Packaging, WPO, and Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association.