The curtain has just fallen on a successful second edition of Packaging Speaks Green, the international forum promoting the culture of sustainability and circular economy, held in conjunction with Ipack-Ima and Greenplast. As shown by the figures, it was a much wanted and much awaited event: over 400 participants and 46 speakers, including 20 from abroad, enlivened the proceedings with panel discussions, debates and case histories. The aim of the forum was to furnish new tools and methods for the design, use, recycling and re-use of sustainable packaging.

“Now in its second year, Packaging Speaks Green again proved to be a valuable networking opportunity and a chance for international operators to get up to speed on the important topic of sustainability in packaging supply chains. Our main aim was, and is, to educate on the concept of supply chain sustainability, providing a comprehensive and rational overview of all the elements that contribute to the circular economy; in other words, to show the state of the art to suppliers, consumers and large retailers. This year’s forum was particularly special, as it coincided with two events, namely Ipack-Ima and Greenplast, that are the ultimate expression of green technology applied to production processes and packaging”, remarked Gian Paolo Crasta, project director of Packaging Speaks Green.

The meeting attracted high-profile guests to the Fiera Milano exhibition centre. These included Alec Ross, technology policy expert, entrepreneur and author, whose curriculum includes the role of senior advisor for innovation to Hillary Clinton during her time as US Secretary of State, Yamilín González Milián, who is Cuba’s deputy industry minister, and Gian De Belder, technical director, R&D packaging sustainability at Procter & Gamble, to name just three.

Packaging Speaks Green 2022 was organised by Pack-Media with the support of Ucima (Italian Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Association) and Amaplast (Italian Plastics and Rubber Processing Machinery and Moulds Manufacturers’ Association). The initiative was supported by several of the most outstanding names in the packaging machinery manufacturing world: Ima, Marchesini Group, Robopac and Ocme. In addition to these international players, it also had the support of IIP-Italian Plastics Institute. The event was organised under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Agenzia ICE.

As announced during the event, the third edition of Greenplast will take place in 2023. In the meantime, stay up to date through packagingspeaksgreen.com, which will continue to promote and provide information about sustainability in the packaging industry.