This year’s PACK EXPO International 2024, held from 3-6 November at McCormick Place, Chicago, will spotlight sustainability through new and expanded resources designed to help brands reduce energy consumption, minimise waste, and lower their carbon footprint.
Making its debut at the event, Sustainability Central will serve as a focal point for discussions on packaging sustainability. It will feature expert speakers and actionable sustainable solutions across manufacturing, materials, recovery, logistics, analytics, and design.
Companies like Amazon, Conagra, Clorox, Dow, Nestle, and the Consumer Brands Association will share best practices in over 20 educational sessions.
In addition to industry insights, Sustainability Central will showcase innovations from Virginia Tech, the University of Florida, Clemson University, PMMI Business Intelligence, and AMERIPEN, highlighting their latest research and sustainable practices.
Attendees can efficiently navigate the show’s 1.3 million net square feet of exhibition space with the help of expanded resources from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. The Sustainability Solutions Finder, an online tool launching in late July, will help locate exhibitors offering environmentally friendly products and machinery.
On-site, the PACK EXPO Green icon will identify sustainable materials and machinery suppliers and related educational sessions.
Laura Thompson, vice president of trade shows at PMMI, stated, “We’ve intentionally partnered with companies, exhibitors, and vendors to integrate sustainability into every component of PACK EXPO International, including educational programming, show features, and how we do business as the largest packaging and processing event this year.”
Returning features at the event will include sustainability-focused educational sessions at the Innovation Stage, Processing Innovation Stage, and Industry Speaks. The Reusable Packaging Pavilion, hosted by the Reusable Packaging Association, will demonstrate sustainable packaging solutions aimed at reducing waste, cutting costs, and improving supply chain efficiency.
The Showcase of Packaging Innovations, sponsored by WestRock and located within the Containers and Materials Pavilion, will display award-winning packaging from around the world.
PMMI is collaborating with Dow, the official sustainability partner and sponsor of show floor recycling, to minimise the environmental impact of the event.
McCormick Place, the venue, has been recognised by organisations such as LEED, APEX, Green Seal, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its strategies to reduce its carbon footprint.
For more information on PACK EXPO International’s sustainability commitment and to register for the show, visit packexpointernational.com.
