Get a fresh perspective on waste at Pro2Pac
26/03/2013 Pro2Pac
The Packaging Federation and Marks & Spencer present newly published research for the first time at Pro2Pac 2013Pro2Pac gets the scoop as The Packaging Federation and Marks & Spencer confirm their session on 20 March will offer a first look at research findings from the recently published report on Consumer Attitudes to Waste and Food Packaging.
The report, produced in partnership with WRAP, INCPEN, The Packaging Federation, FDF, Kent Waste Partnership and the British Retail Consortium, accompanies Love Food Hate Waste's new initiative 'Fresher For Longer', which hit the headlines and social media channels last week.
Sustainability has been a key issue for the packaging industry and advances in technology, including intelligent materials, vacuum packing and resealable packs have all extended shelf life to decrease the amount of waste sent to landfill. However, the research has found that consumers often take food out of packaging once home, believing packaging may actually cause food to spoil more quickly.
At Pro2Pac, Dick Searle from The Packaging Federation and Simon Oxley from Marks & Spencer, will present highlights from the research and explore how consumer attitudes to packaging are in conflict with the advances in packaging technology that have been made over the years. They will also discuss how the results from the study have helped shape the Fresher For Longer campaign and what retailers, manufacturers and trade associations can do to promote the important role packaging plays in reducing the 4.4 million tonnes of food and drink wasted each year.
"The research shows the clear disconnect between perceptions about food and drink packaging and the reality - as little as 13 per cent of people realise that packaging can help products keep for longer," comments Dick Searle, CEO, The Packaging Federation. "The amount of food wasted each year is scandalous and the industry has a responsibility to educate consumers and help effect change. We are pleased to be supporting this important initiative and look forward to debating the issue with other industry professionals at Pro2Pac next week."
Christopher McCuin, Event Director, Pro2Pac adds: "The food waste issue is one close to my heart - the unnecessary amount of food thrown away absolutely astounds me. The packaging industry has done a lot to improve the preservation of food so it's important that we invest time and money into communicating this with consumers using initiatives such as Fresher For Longer. Pro2Pac 2013 has put sustainability at the forefront and I am delighted that this will be the first time the report will be presented to the industry."
For more information on the session, visit www.pro2pac.co.uk
Trade visitors registering in advance at www.pro2pac.co.uk will gain free entry to the event.
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