Packaging Innovations & Empack, Featuring Contract Pack & Fulfilment is set to kick off the packaging industry’s 2023 with a bang, after it announced the first batch of speakers hosting talks at the triple-bill event.

The timetable of talks, spread across three stages throughout the event at Birmingham NEC on 15 & 16 February, brings together some of the leading experts from the present and future of packaging. The first announcement of speakers lays the foundations of an engaging, insight-packed two-day schedule featuring influential names from all corners of the packaging industry including supply chain processes explained, future machinery solutions, contract packing & fulfilment services panel discussions, many leaders in the field of sustainable solutions, and more.

Those names include Martin Kersh, Executive Director of the FPA; Paul Jenkins, founder of ThePackHub; and Jude Allan, Chair of the IOM3 Packaging Group. Welcoming the announcement, Renan Joel, Managing Director, Packaging Division at event organiser Easyfairs said: “The line-up at Packaging Innovations this year is unmissable – there is something for attendees from every industry and job function. This is more than just a packaging event, it’s about the future – of packaging, yes, but also of retail, brands, and the supply chain that connects us all together.

“The theme of this year’s event is to offer solutions for every step of the packaging journey, from concept to fulfilment and everything in between. Even though this is only the first batch of speakers we’ll announce, we hope it’s a statement of intent for where we want the show to be.”

Fittingly for a triple-bill event, Packaging Innovations & Empack, Featuring Contract Pack & Fulfilment features three stages; Design & Innovation, Circular Economy, and Supply Chain. Topics on the stages include a keynote speech from Mark Van Iterson, Global Director Design & Sustainability at Heineken; a talk titled Circular Economy Defined from George Cole, Director of Resource Futures; and a headline speech from Jo Fairley, co-founder of chocolate brand Green & Black’s.

Other speakers are George Thompson, Robotic Systems Sales Manager at Güdel and Chairman of BARA; Steve Honour, Design Leader at Diageo; and Jane Bevis, Executive Chair of OPRL, who is also part of the on-going panel discussion, this year titled ‘The Big Responsibility Debate’. The discussion will be split into two parts across day 1 and day 2, delving into keeping the costs of EPR & DRS, under control, and how realistic delivery is by 2024.

“We have more announcements to come as we complete what is sure to be our liveliest speaking programme yet,” added Joel. “Our aim is to pack as much value as possible into each free ticket. A free ticket alone doesn’t automatically make an event worth attending – but a schedule packed with insightful talks and a show floor full of world-leading businesses to network with certainly does!”