Packaging and Waste became an issue some 20 years ago. It was the time of ecological upsprings and packaging was simply declared to be waste and thus bad. Recycling was considered to help - at best, but it was always suspected to be only part of the solution. Often there was no idea, what packaging was needed for, and many activists thought the world can do without it. But things were more complex, so the amount of packaging in this world grew bigger and bigger.

A new age was starting in recent years, when much of the perception of packaging changed: Packaging is not considered to be just waste, but it can be a cure for the wasting of resources. Not only in food supply chains, but in all distribution systems packaging is deemed to prevent losses and damages, thus preventing waste of valuable packed good.

The IPI Sustainability Day 2011 will focus on the question, how to avoid waste through packaging. First in line is the question, what waste really means: waste of what? Which waste rates are appropriate? And does recycling answer all questions?

IPI and our guest speakers will elaborate on the food supply chain, because this is packaging's biggest market. Then we will look into low waste economical processes and supply chains. Peeking across the big pond will show the last developments in packaging sustainability in the US.

After dealing with the actual respective regulations in the EU, IPI will arrange three open workshops focusing on possible developments in the near future. The participants will be led to develop their individual scenarios for their businesses, regarding Packaging Materials, Packaging Machines and Sustainability Concepts.

Speakers are (among others) Ian Johnson, Secretary General, Club of Rome, Lars Lundquist, R&D, Nestlé, Joe Hotchkiss, Director School of Packaging, MSU, Jane Bickerstaffe, Director, incpen, Graham Houlder, Director Sustainability, EAFA.

IPI Sustainability Day: November 23rd, 2011, Hotel Rüden, Schaffhausen, Switzerland, more information: E-mail: info@ipi.eu