Exploring Innovation and Sustainability: Insights from the PPMA Show

MDS trainee Andrew Barnes recently attended the PPMA Show at the NEC in Birmingham, exploring the latest innovations in food packaging technology and gaining valuable insights into sustainability challenges. Here’s Andrew’s experience from the event.

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of attending the PPMA Show on behalf of MDS. This annual event is the largest processing and packaging machinery exhibition in the UK, showcasing the latest innovations in the food packaging industry. Walking around the stands I reflected on the diverse array of companies I have encountered so far on my MDS secondments. Notably, witnessing the packaging technology from Ulma and Yamato with developments which address issues I remember encountering in the packhouse on my first secondment.

The variety of tech on display was great to see, but the highlight for me was the seminar theatre. As someone who is still new to the industry, the talks here allowed me to get some insights into the future of the industry. The first talk I attended, ‘The Second Barcode Revolution’, provided a comprehensive overview of the ongoing transition from 1D Barcodes to 2D QR Codes. This seemingly simple yet revolutionary shift has the potential to embed far more information within the code, enhancing regulatory visibility, facilitating more thorough life cycle analyses for Net Zero initiatives, and creating more inclusive packaging for visually impaired consumers.

The next talk I attended was a key reason for my visit to the show. In my current role as a Sustainability Specialist at Chemetall, I found the talk on Climate Change by Huel’s Sustainability Director, Jessica Sansom, to be particularly inspiring. It offered valuable insights relevant to my current role and sparked new ideas for my sustainability engagement projects. The talk highlighted the challenges with sustainable packaging, the argument against demonising plastic, and discussed the benefits of increasing plant-based options in our diets.

In summary, attending the PPMA Show was an enriching insight into the industry, which also reinforced the importance of sustainability in the agricultural and food industry. MDS has provided opportunities to increase my knowledge and skills through a variety of methods, and I look forward to applying the knowledge from this experience into my current secondment and future roles.