Repak  

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Key decisions in the packaging production process are influenced by design and marketing requirements. In an effort to connect designers and marketers with manufacturers and retailers a joint forum was held in the Radisson Hotel, Golden Lane on the 4th of November. The initiative, called ‘Optimising Packaging – From Design to Delivery’ was co-sponsored by Design Business Ireland, Repak and Enterprise Ireland.

Nicholas Cloake, Chairman of Design Business Ireland (formerly the GDBA) introduced the forum and spoke about the initiative to connect interested parties from different areas of the packaging supply chain. Declan Martin, from Repak opened the forum and put it in context by speaking about the pressures packaging producers are now under to optimise their packaging.

Hugh Stevens, of Enterprise Ireland, chaired the discussion and introduced the rest of the speakers each of whom had a different perspective on packaging design. The speakers were John Curran, (Musgrave Group) Rory Dowling, (Huguenot), Ann Murray, (H.J. Heinz Co. Ltd.), Justin Burke, (Alert Packaging) and Pat Kinsley, (Neworld).

To stimulate discussion between the speakers and the attendees a Q&A format was used whereby each of the speakers spoke briefly about their interest and connection with packaging design. The forum was then opened to the floor where numerous questions led to debate on improving packaging design and consideration for environmental sustainability throughout the design process.

The ensuing discussion covered topics such as the definition of sustainability, clear marking of plastic material types, the balance of food waste versus packaging waste, the benefits of added functionality in packaging, and a debate on the benefits of using either simple or complex packaging.

Design Business Ireland - Optimising Packaging - Feedback