The Active and Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA) will hold its third World Congress alongside PACK EXPO International 2014. The collocated events (along with Pharma EXPO) is expected to bring 50,000 processing and packaging professionals together to hammer out common problems and share emerging technologies.
Applied technology
AIPIA director Eef de Ferrante told FoodProductionDaily.com said that bringing AIPIA’s intelligent packaging will open up new possibilities to food manufacturers in using packaging to tackle challenges like food waste.
“We want to show that high-tech solutions for packaging are for example a solution to food waste,” he said. “We want to show that technology can turn a complete industry upside down.”
Active and intelligent packaging uses a broad range of technologies to increase packaging's functionality. It can include tags that tell consumers when a product is spoiled, labels with smartphone interaction to educate consumers about food origins, and other features.
Future thinking
In addition to inviting top experts in intelligent packaging, the AIPIA World Congress will invite suppliers offering an array of recent and emerging technologies.
“We will bring tags, software, indicators, oxygen scavengers, conductive inks, nano technologies, active labels, telecom and so on to a market which five years ago never realized this would come,” de Ferrante said.
de Ferrante told FPD that the 2014 World Congress theme, “Active and Intelligent Packaging: Routes to Implementation,” signals the organization is dedicated to helping food professionals use packaging to improve products and serve consumers.
“This means that we will talk about how those new technologies must be implemented in packaging,” he said. “We are 100% convinced that the technologies will be in use in the near future, and we will try to push them forward.”
Practical application
According to de Ferrante, that the AIPIA has four primary goals. These include reducing waste, increasing supply-chain efficiency, fighting counterfeiting and increasing profitability.
“We believe that technology is the ONLY solution to make this happen,” he said. “Interaction between consumers and packaging is on top of the list.”
de Ferrante said that technology sometimes strikes fear into the hearts of consumers, but it is vital in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of packaging.
“Technology can enhance the reputation of packaging,” he said. “It has a bad name, but technology can show the consumers how valuable packaging is.”
The AIPIA World Congress will run from Sunday, Nov. 2–Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, and will include a display area in addition to its conference sessions. Delegates will receive complimentary registration to PACK EXPO International and Pharma EXPO.