La Spanish Technological Platform for Container and Packaging (Packnet),In collaboration with hispack, organized an in-person conference at the Tajamar School (Madrid) on March 12. On this occasion, she was oriented to the circularity in packaging and its journey towards a sustainable future, an issue addressed by the three round tables made up of sector professionals belonging to partner entities of the Platform, who analyzed and developed the issues raised.
Need to apply a global approach to eco-innovation as a vector of circularity
In the first round table, with Ignasi Cusí (general director at Graphispack) as moderator, different entities participated, represented by their speakers: María Segura (head of Food Safety and Environment at ACES), Joaquín Fernández (director of Strategic Development at AFCO ), Paula Cinto (Public Affairs Manager at Ecovidrio), Marga Romo (Marketing Manager at MM Nekicesa), Pablo Narváez (Chain of Custody and Brand Development at PEFC) and Josu García (Sustainability Manager at Ulma Packaging). During the interventions, deadlines were evaluated, the greatest operational challenges were defined, the influences of consumer realities, artificial intelligence as a tool, optimization strategies and initiatives that are being implemented.
Future scenarios for the reuse of containers and packaging: challenges and derived opportunities
The round table at the halfway point of the day was moderated by Juan Ramón Meléndez (general director of the Beverage Cans Association). The interventions included Juan Ros (Director of Projects and Development at AEVAE), Concha Bosch (Packaging Technologies at AINIA), María Martínez-Herrera (Director of Sustainability at ASEDAS), Jose María Carrasco (CEO and CFO Iberia at Cartonplast ), Tinixara Mesa (Large Account Coordinator at Ecoembes) and Aitor Peña (Head of Marketing & PR at Vidrala). The professionals delved into issues such as how to confront the unstable economic climate regarding the supply of raw materials, specific models that are being developed to adapt to legislative change, infrastructures necessary to facilitate reuse systems, the changes that are expected or measures already implemented.
Advances and recycling technologies that facilitate the transition towards the circular economy in terms of containers and packaging
The third table was moderated by Belén García (director of Packnet) and comprised of Luis Palomino (general secretary at Asegre), Nicolás Molina (technical director at FER-Spanish Recovery Federation), Miriam Lorenzo (project manager in the Technological Area of Recycling and Waste Recovery at Itene), Irene Mora (head of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Plastics Europe), Carmen Sánchez (General Director at Procircular) and Víctor Borrás (CCO at Knauf Industries). The speakers investigated aspects such as the obstacles that are identified when meeting deadlines, technological innovation as a determining factor, anticipations, definition of the most avant-garde technologies, participation in new agreements, the role of the citizen or proposals for alternative raw materials .
After the end of the third round table, the day was concluded, where the synergy between industry leaders and experts translated into a transformative exchange of ideas. An event that acted as a meeting point between professionals, but, above all, as a catalyst for innovation.
