Full agenda

Before introducing new packaging for any product, it is worth checking whether its shape, colors or function do not infringe any third party’ rights. A clearance search performed by a patent attorney can help answer the questions:

• Is it risky when a new packaging is similar to previously existing packaging on the market?
• How similar can the packing be to the competition?
• Is the shape/appearance protected by the rights of other entities/competitors on the market?

Due to its wide range of recipients, the packaging industry can be treated as a kind of barometer of the economic situation. On the other hand, the diverse range of products and packaging recipients makes this sector relatively resistant to turmoil in the macroeconomic environment. In the presentation, Bank Pekao experts will present the impact of last year's slowdown on the condition of the packaging industry and its individual segments, as well as the main challenges and prospects for the coming quarters in the face of the latest macroeconomic forecasts.

Presentation in Polish.

During the presentation, we will discuss examples of labels placed on packaging. We will look at labels that indicate the possibility of recycling, compliance with environmental standards, and the materials used in production. We will try to answer whether these labels fulfill their role and how they align with the principles of the circular economy. We will also talk about greenwashing and analyze what solutions the Green Claims Directive proposes to combat this practice.

The presentation will focus on the benefits of eco-design and, consequently, the increase in the scope of recycling and reusing materials, as well as the impact on the transformation and adaptation of production processes based on clean technologies and environmentally safe materials.

Environmental awareness and the implementation of the development strategy for the circular economy is no longer just a mission, but a requirement of today's times enabling long-term planning in all areas. The guide dedicated to the packaging industry is part of several activities of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) and the Polish Chamber of Packaging aimed at increasing this awareness. The Polish version of the guide "Designing packaging for recycling" was prepared by the Polish Chamber of Packaging - a member of WPO in cooperation with our speaker.

A pilot test project is running in Belgium with Carrefour to replace single-use beverage packaging with reusable packaging on supermarket shelves. This case was presented at this year's World Circular Economy Forum in Brussels as one of the best practices for a circular economy. This time it will be presented at the PACKAGING Innovations Conference.

The talk will focus on the fascinating issues surrounding packaging design and the innovative solutions that have been applied to students' and Professor's projects.

Presentation in Polish.

Food packaging must meet a number of requirements resulting from food law regulations. These rules will change soon. What are the present requirements? How will they change and when? We will talk about it during the lecture so that the participants can better prepare for the upcoming changes.

The presentation will focus on the mechanisms of protecting industrial designs through registration in the relevant patent offices in Poland (UP RP) and Europe (EUIPO) and on interesting and inspiring examples of disputes concerning packaging design.

Presentation in Polish.

What are the biggest limitations in today's packaging production, and how can we address them? How do advancements in machinery and automation contribute to significant time savings, cost reductions, and improvements in product quality in the packaging industry? Let’s explore the efficiency and innovation behind modern packaging production techniques at every stage – from sheet to box.

Presentation in Polish.

Producers and users of packages seem to be much exposed to new legal regulations. Even though changes in law are systemically desired and accepted by societies, they trigger severe practical, logistic and financial challenges.

This also raises a number of questions, the answers to which are not always as simple and straightforward as they might seem.. Recently, a so-called plastic tax (from the Single Use Plastics Directive) has to be paid upon sale of takeaway packaging and cups - what practical pitfalls do its payers encounter? The deposit system will be launched on 1 January 2025 - is it realistic? What packaging will enter the closed loop as a result? Is an aluminum bottle a metal can? The same date applies to the introduction of European regulations on combating deforestation - is this the end of placing products in wooden boxes? And finally, will the amount of packaging used by producers be reduced if a final legislative consensus on extended producer responsibility can be reached?

Presentation in Polish.

CANPACK Group is one of the largest producers of aluminum beverage cans in the world. Supporting the circular economy is one of the key sustainability pillars at CANPACK. Bartłomiej Wojdyło – Sustainability Director Europe at CANPACK will talk about the importance of this topic among packaging producers, examples of implementation and the engagement of the entire supply chain.

Presentation in Polish.

Assoc. Prof. Tomasz Nitkiewicz, a professor at the Częstochowa University of Technology, and an expert of the NATUREEF Association will present the issue of the environmental footprint of a product during the Packaging Innovations Conference in the part of the program focused on updating regulatory changes and the resulting obligations for the packaging industry. The presentation of the guide dedicated to the packaging industry will be preceded by an explanation of the differences between the environmental footprint and the carbon footprint, and all key issues necessary to collect data needed to estimate the environmental footprint will be discussed. In addition to recommendations, methodologies, and standards for calculating the environmental footprint, examples of calculating the environmental footprint, including various packaging materials (case studies) will also be presented.

Presentation in Polish.

Presentation of the product resulting from the implementation of the NCBiR project. Description of the project and presentation of the new product - pro-environmental cardboard packaging with a metalized layer without a protective film. Product features and possibilities of its use.

Presentation in Polish.

We are currently observing far-reaching legal changes in the field of packaging. The plastic tax, the deposit system, the mandatory share of recycled materials in bottles, and the new Packaging Regulation (PPWR) are just a few examples of upcoming regulations. They are also accompanied by new obligations related to reporting on sustainable development (ESG) and significant market changes, such as increased costs related to extended producer responsibility. It is worth noting that these fees differ significantly between EU countries, and in the case of plastic packaging, they can amount to up to EUR 1,200 per tonne. Although these fees are currently lower in Poland, we note their rapid increase here.

All these changes encourage producers to take a new approach when choosing packaging. In addition to classic criteria such as product protection, functionality, and marketing, ecological and economic aspects related to new regulations and trends in the area of ​​sustainable development are playing an increasingly important role. Is ecological packaging a fad or already a necessity? What features of packaging affect the costs of their settlement? What does the extended producer responsibility system look like in Poland and other EU countries? How do reports submitted to BDO relate to all this?

Using the example of compostable plastics from the envifill® brand, we will present the challenges faced on the path "from idea to commercialization" and what the implementation of a new product line, not necessarily identified with the company's current business profile, looks like in a large enterprise.

Presentation in Polish.

The debate is divided into presentations and a panel.

The first speaker, Dr. Hab. Eng. Ewelina Jamróz, professor at the University of Agriculture in Krakow, will discuss the potential of using bioplastics in the area of ​​packaging for the food industry from a scientist's perspective, based on her research. The next speaker, Magdalena Pantoł - Head of the Biopolymers Department of the Implementation Center at the Corporate Department of Strategy and Development of Grupa Azoty S.A. - will present the issues of implementing compostable polymer materials on the market as a business representative. Both speakers, as well as Dr. Hab. Joanna Kulczycka, professor at AGH / PAN, will take part in the discussion panel, and its moderator will be Dr. Hab. Eng. Agnieszka Cholewa-Wójcik, professor at UEK. Of course, there will also be time for a Q&A session.