Parkside hosts event on the future of circular flexible packaging

Parkside marked the beginning of Recycle Week by hosting a day focused on the future of circular flexible packaging.

For the event, titled ‘Welcome to a Flexible Future,’ Parkside opened the doors of its Normanton HQ to thought leaders from across the packaging sector and decision-makers from consumer brands. In addition to a networking lunch and a tour of Parkside’s flexible packaging production facilities, the event featured talks on the future of packaging.

Speakers included Thomas Baker, plastics specialist at WRAP, who hosted a presentation on film circularity. Olga Munroe of the Retail Institute spoke about how to achieve systemic change to benefit the future of packaging, and Paul Jenkins of PackHub gave an overview of packaging trends. Ian Bates of Two Sides delivered a presentation on the future of flexible paper packaging.

Several of the Parkside team also delivered talks. Paul McKeown, group sales director, spoke about Parkside’s 70-year history, while Joshua Swann, technical director, presented on Parkside's technical capability and materials portfolio.

'We pride ourselves on working at the cutting edge of packaging innovation,' said Julia O’Loughlin, group marketing manager at Parkside. 'This forward-thinking presentation outlines our optimistic view of the future, and of packaging’s place in a truly circular economy.'

Attendees included representatives from packaging industry suppliers like Multi-Plastics, Proseal, TNA Solutions and Moore and Buckle. Other attendees were from household name brands like Betty’s and Taylor’s of Harrogate and Two Farmers chips.

Thomas Baker, plastics specialist at WRAP, said: 'What stands out is the innovation being driven by the packaging industry, particularly best-in-class monopolymer designs seen today at Parkside Flexibles that meet functional, sustainability and regulatory requirements at once. This helps to make sorting and recycling that much easier. That is a positive step towards creating a viable closed-loop waste system that processors and recyclers can engage with in future and is what the UK Plastics Pact strives for with recyclability.”

Paul Jenkins, founder of the PackHub, said: 'It’s been a hugely positive open house. There aren’t enough of these events taking place in my opinion – it’s been a valuable experience for all of us to see how it really works at the cutting edge of packaging development, and to network with the people who are making it happen.

'I’ve always been impressed with Parkside’s output. Their award-winning compostable pouch for Dark Woods Coffee was their 50th entry onto the PackHub Innovation Zone – a remarkable achievement for any business.'

Olga Munroe, head of the Retail Institute, said: 'It was an informative event filled with packaging insights and recent innovations. The FMCG packaging sector in particular is thought-leading in terms of developing solutions for the sustainable transition. Events like this show Parkside’s willingness and openness in collaborating with stakeholders from across the supply chain to make the transition to green economy feasible.’