Throughout the Embalagem do Futuro project, 79 entities linked to cardboard, glass, plastic, wood and other areas of the packaging value chain joined forces to develop solutions that none could have created alone. The aim is for this shared space to continue to exist beyond the project’s time horizon, open to the entire sector and able to give it a common voice, as disclosed in a press release.
According to the same source, with this objective, the Embalagem do Futuro consortium proposes to create conditions to establish an alliance for the packaging sector in Portugal, similar to what already happens internationally. The alliance intends to bring together the different players in the value chain, regardless of material or technology, as well as the associative entities that already represent producers of the various types of packaging.
The challenge was launched on October 27, at LogiPack, at the Lisbon Congress Centre, during the debate “Packaging Sector in Portugal – Future and Challenges”, promoted by the Mobilizing Agenda. Embalagem do Futuro invites all companies and entities interested to join this process.
The proposal comes at a demanding moment for the industry. The European Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste (PPWR) requires the entire value chain to adapt, with new requirements for recyclability, reuse and waste reduction. For a business fabric composed largely of small and medium-sized enterprises, meeting these requirements in isolation is difficult.
That was the starting point of the debate, moderated by António Ferreira Dias, Head of Digital & Innovation at SGS Portugal. On the panel were Carlos Vieira, co-founder and CEO of Freshwood, the company coordinating one of the Agenda’s subprojects, Délio Raimundo, responsible for Quality, Food Safety and Innovation at Campotec, and Amaro Reis, CEO of Sacos 88 and president of APIP – Portuguese Association of the Plastic Industry.
The debate touched on the impact of the PPWR, on innovation as a driver of competitiveness, and on the role of traceability and digitalisation. The session also included the presentation of Super Bock’s innovation case, by Tiago Brandão, Director of Research, Development and Innovation of the Group.
“Over the years, Embalagem do Futuro has shown that companies that compete with each other can work together when the challenges are common. We do not want this to end the project. The association will be created with everyone’s help and we want every company in the sector to feel that it has a place there,” says Pedro Costa, manager of Embalagem do Futuro.
NERLEI CCI, a partner of the Mobilizing Agenda, is following Embalagem do Futuro’s presence at LogiPack, which includes a stand with project results and meetings with potential stakeholders.
Structured into 19 subprojects, Embalagem do Futuro develops solutions ranging from new materials to sensing, traceability, manufacturing processes, waste valorisation, certification and training.
