Sustainable Packaging
Industry Experts discuss all the new materials and ways that packaging can be more sustainable and how we can do our parts to help recycle and reuse. Sustainable Packaging is and will continue to affect us all in our daily lives. We have lots of fun and get down to the real data of what's working to help our planet!
Sustainable Packaging
Are you a future leader? Paris Packaging Week (Karen Abarian and Lucie Le Flanchec)
Are you a future leader or do you know on who deserves this title? apply here:
https://www.parispackagingweek.com/en/future-leaders-form/?
Deadline is the 30th of August 2024!
Paris Packaging Week is one of the top shows for packaging and I highly recommend attending. Hope to see you there!
Check out our sponsor Orora Packaging Solutions
https://ororapackagingsolutions.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-connors/
I'm here to help you make your packaging more sustainable! Reach out today and I'll get back to you asap.
This podcast is an independent production and the podcast production is an original work of the author. All rights of ownership and reproduction are retained—copyright 2022.
Welcome to Sustainable Packaging with Cory Connors. Today's guests are my friends, Karen and Lucy from EasyFares. I'm going to ask them to each introduce themselves, but they are right in the middle of the Olympics now in Paris, and it's a very exciting event in France, and we're going to be talking about Paris Packaging Week. But, Karen, let's start with you, if you don't mind. Introduce yourself and tell us what you do at EasyFares.
Karen Abarian:Sure. hi everyone. Hi Corey. I'm Karen Avarian. I'm the marketing manager at Paris Packaging Week. I've been with the company now for four years. I support Lucy to run the Future Leaders program, as well as running the marketing campaign for Paris Packaging Week and making sure we are really connecting with our community and bringing them all to our show.
Cory Connors:Well, you do a great job and I'm, so excited to work with you and help promote this show and this event. It's, one of my favorites, all year long. We look forward to it. Lucy, now your opportunity. Please tell us about yourself.
Lucie Le Flanchec:hi, Corey. Hi, everyone. So I'm Lucy, I'm working as a marketing executive at Paris Packaging Week. So my main role is to bring together the community of packaging and my main project include working on future leaders. conferences and of course, talks. Yeah.
Cory Connors:Great. So
Lucie Le Flanchec:yeah, all the show.
Cory Connors:Well, again, you're doing, you're both doing amazing work. It's really, one of the top tier shows in the world, in my opinion, and, which makes sense for Paris, that's what you expect from such a wonderful city, right? Yeah. Yeah, exactly.
Karen Abarian:it is a great city and, that's a very great testimonial, Corey. Thank you. Yeah, of course. Well,
Cory Connors:this, I think this, this next year will be my fourth year in a row going and I'm very much looking forward to it. But before we go too far, Karen or Lucy, can you tell us what is Paris Packaging Week?
Karen Abarian:yeah, sure. So as you said, Paris packaging week is the biggest festival of packaging innovation. The event in 2025 is taking place in Paris, the current city of the Olympics, on the 28th and 29th of January, it encompasses four co located shows. So we have ADF, which focuses on innovation in aerosols and dispensing systems for sectors, such as personal care, household, pharmaceuticals, and industrial products. PCD is all about the future of beauty packaging, covering perfume, cosmetics, skin care and hair care. PLD focuses on the future of premium and luxury drinks packaging within the wine, spirits, champagne and premium soft drink sectors. And we've got Packaging Premier, which focuses on the wider luxury packaging sectors such as fashion, accessories, fine food. It's quite an international show, as you said. So we have visitors from over 80 countries, including France, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, the US, China. We're expecting in 2025 over 750 packaging suppliers and around 13, 000 brand owners and design agencies to visit us. Previous brands who have attended include the likes of Chanel, Sephora, Dior, Birkenstocks, Stella McCartney, Panerica, White Tennessee, L'Oreal, etc. And The sort of main objectives for attending Paris Packaging Week is to find new or connect with existing packaging suppliers. So we recover a range of packaging suppliers. We have companies who are glass manufacturers, who work on caps and closures, who work on pumps and valves, tissue paper, shopping bags, ribbons, Everything, people come to discover packaging innovations and trends, discover what's new, what's breakthrough in the industry. we have talk theaters and we cover, regulations, PPWR, design. And of course it's a great opportunity to network with the whole packaging community.
Cory Connors:Yeah, well said. And it's an opportunity, I think, to be inspired. Yeah. No matter what your role is in the industry, this, things can get stale. Things can get boring or, tedious. And when I go to your event in Paris, I am totally Invigorated by packaging again and, educated by, like you said, the talks, the people at the booths that, they're selling their wares or explaining new opportunities to be more sustainable. It's incredible what's offered there. And, yeah, so very well said.
Karen Abarian:Yeah, exactly. And, and that's why we have, we say full co located show, the inspiration doesn't just come from your sector. a lot of our visitors come to get inspiration from if they're working the drinks market, they'll get inspiration from the beauty market or the wider luxury market, or even aerosols, which is more technical. But absolutely, it's all about that cross sector inspiration as well.
Cory Connors:Very exciting. Can't wait for January. let's talk a little bit about this exciting new program. It just started last year. I believe, the future leaders can 1 of you explain to us what that is and who should apply or be nominated for such a cool, program.
Lucie Le Flanchec:Yes, of course. yeah, we have launch. it's last year, the future leaders program. So at Paris Packaging Week, our motto is really to create, the future of your brand. So we wanted to recognize the future of, our community and to celebrate young talents. And so we were inspired to create, and promote specifically for them. The program, it aims, to provide visibility and opportunities for those emerging talents. anyone under the age of 30, has the future of packaging will be shaped by a new generation of skilled innovators, designers, and entrepreneurs. So The benefits of participating in the future leaders programs include the opportunity to meet and network with some influential leaders in our industry to gain recognition, has an emerging talents within the packaging sector and join the both our community and the future leaders community, of course. We are looking for anyone involved. In the packaging from designers to marketers to even people in the supply chain. our, future leaders will not only help the future of the show, but the program also serves has a significant springboard, for them. So we really hope to, it will inspire and motivated, all those who are involved in the packaging industry.
Cory Connors:That's such a cool program. Very exciting. I've interviewed a few of your winners from last year and or from this year. I should say, and, they were totally overwhelmed by how they were treated. well, they were, Like kings and queens of the show and, I think that's what we need to do to our future generations of packaging and innovators and, people that are taking this, taking the reins from. From people like, like me that have been in the industry for a long time, it's time to turn over, our wisdom to this next generation and learn from them as well. I was excited to, to hear some of the ideas from some of these future leaders. So you need to be 30 years old or younger. And you need
Lucie Le Flanchec:to be 30 or under. Yeah.
Cory Connors:Okay. And, so you don't. You can nominate yourself or you can have someone else nominate you. Is that? Yeah. Yeah.
Lucie Le Flanchec:Yeah. Someone nominates you. Yeah.
Cory Connors:And where do you go to do that? Is it on the Paris Packaging website?
Lucie Le Flanchec:Yeah, it's on our, on our website. So, parispackagingweek. com. You have a, Specific page, future leaders, and you will find the form on this page. And, it's very quick and free. it's only takes less than 10 minutes, I would say to, fill out the form and, of course it's an international competition, so everyone can, can apply and yeah, you can be, You can nominate yourself or nominate someone. And, yeah, our, deadline has been extended to 13, 30 August.
Cory Connors:This is great news for people. they have a few more weeks to do this. we'll get this podcast out right away so they can hear the news. And, yeah, that's really, exciting. I think last year there were seven or eight. Is that right?
Lucie Le Flanchec:in total, so it, they were 11,
Cory Connors:11. Oh, okay. That's great. And, yeah, that's 45
Lucie Le Flanchec:or 45 entries last year. it was crazy. And this year it's a, it started very well as well. So yeah, we're
Cory Connors:exciting times in packaging and in Paris. I think we have some big news about your event. I think, Karen, maybe you can talk about how, this event is growing, and moving to a new larger building in the same area. But, you want to talk to that point?
Karen Abarian:yeah, sure. absolutely. We are, we're still in the same venue. Porte de Versailles in Paris, but we are moving halls. it's hall 1, which is the biggest hall in the whole, city. complex. we're really excited about this because as you said, it highlights the growth within the industry as well. And we always say, this is not our event. It's your event. It's an event for the packaging community. We've spent, we spend all our time really listening to our community and getting feedback into what you guys want from us. at Paris Packaging Week. that's why we've made this decision and that's why we have introduced loads of new features and areas at the event to entice the community from across the globe and really make it an international event.
Cory Connors:It is an international event. It is a melting pot of wisdom. I think, for people all around the world, they come to Paris to, to learn the latest, it's, it's similar to, Paris fashion week, I think is always what I think about and, but for packaging.
Karen Abarian:Exactly. Exactly. It
Cory Connors:has a very young and very cool feel to it and very latest and greatest innovations. so it's a, to me, like I said, very inspiring, very exciting.
Karen Abarian:Yeah, absolutely.
Cory Connors:So what else can we expect at this event this year? Maybe something different than the last few years.
Karen Abarian:So we have. So many exciting new features and we've enhanced a lot of features that we already have. We have four talks theaters, focusing on key themes and packaging such as design, circular economy, future innovation, and then aerosols, PPWR and regulations. we have loads of networking areas. We've got the champagne bar, the cocktail bar, VIP lounge, the chill lounge and new for 2025. We've got a beer bar. And a coworking lounge and space to go have your meetings and charge your laptops, et cetera. again, new for 2025, we've got the full service zone. So this is responding to the growing demand from large and small brands for contract manufacturing and filling suppliers alongside R and D and formulation services. So that will sit in the PCD area. We also have again, a new feature called the discovery zone. So this is where we are hosting a true vision of the future, which is what we are all about. And it will be, a pod of startups, showcasing new materials and products, new technologies, shaping the sectors such as AI and smart packaging. we also have our innovation awards ceremony. This is always really fun and really busy. It takes place during Paris Packaging Week, and we celebrate and hand out awards. To the best packaging in aerosols, beauty, and drinks. We also have really exciting news, Pentawards, which is the world's leading packaging design community and competition. For the first time in January, 2025, they'll host their Pentawards Design Festival at Paris Packaging Week. so this collaboration will combine, we'll have a village of top design agencies. They're going to have a gallery of 100 of the world's best packaging design. And they will also be looking after the design stage that they'll bring some globally influential design speakers, to the show as well. I could go on. There's so much more, but I would recommend everyone just to go onto our website, Paris packaging week. com. And you can see everything that's happening at the show there.
Cory Connors:Exciting. I got to interview Adam, that runs the Penta Awards and he is a, brilliant, young man and just, full of ideas and concepts and the latest, innovators in packaging are applying to win and vying to win the Penta Awards. So you're going to see the best in packaging. You're going to see the latest and greatest. And I do want to commend you on something for your event, One thing about your event that makes it so enjoyable is all of the places that you can sit. Oh! As somebody like me that's trying to meet with people and learn from people and make connections, there are so many places to have a quick 15 minute sit down with somebody and really get to know them. You're not standing in the corner in a busy area. fending off, people walking by you have lounges and areas that make you feel like you're in your living room and it's comfortable and, yet there's, hundreds of people around, if not thousands. But it feels like you're in your friend's living room.
Karen Abarian:Oh, Thank you so much. Yeah. yeah, that's what, that's what events are about. You want to create a safe space for the community. And we always think about the biggest things, but also the smaller things such as seating. and that's what our, lounges are full, but it's also a great place for you guys to connect with each other. Like there's so many conversations you have and, our champagne bar is renowned for the champagne party that we do every year. And again, people love it because you connect with people that you wouldn't have, you meet someone who lives across the world and you share inspiration and yeah, it's great. And I'm glad. I'm glad you, you approve of the seating.
Cory Connors:it's a huge relief to not have to stand all day long. Yeah. these events are big. There's a big building. You're trying, you're rushing back from event to event and speech to speech. And because you want to, there's so much to absorb and you don't want to miss them. But, yeah, you've done a great job with that. So I'll add links to the show notes to apply for the future leaders program, and to attend, Paris Packaging Week. But how do people get in touch with you two, specifically?
Karen Abarian:so for me, Karen or Barry, and you can connect with me on LinkedIn. If you've got any questions at all, please do message us, drop us a message on LinkedIn. We're more than happy to answer any questions, or just have a chat as well about future leaders or Paris Packaging Week. quick note to say also we'll officially be launching registration in October. To register for the events, it's completely free, but in the meantime, you can find out more on our website and also drop us a like and follow on LinkedIn Paris Packaging Week. We are, that's where we're really closest to our community on digital, the social platforms. that's where we post the most. So give us a follow and you'll be up to date with the latest industry news and all the event updates. And when we launch new speakers, agenda launches.
Lucie Le Flanchec:Yeah. And for my side, all the same, I would say, so you can reach me, on LinkedIn. And of course, we're looking forward to receive your application. And, if I may add one more thing is that, so for Paris Packaging 2025, our future leaders will have their own panels. So we are very excited for this as well. they will be, Together with the class of 2024. So we really wanted to create something progressive and powerful for the next year. And, we also have our prestigious selection selective panel. So the judges that would be, also here and, here to mentor also our next, panel. The next generation of, of future leaders. yes, we are very excited for this and can't wait to, to looking, to looking forward for your application.
Cory Connors:Thank you, Lucy. Thank you, Karen. This is a very exciting and what a great idea to have last year's class of future leaders come and meet with this year's, or I should say next year's, class of future leaders. A brilliant idea. very exciting. Can't wait to see you all in Paris in January. Thank you.
Karen Abarian:Yes. Thank you. See you soon. Thank you very much. Thank you. Bye.
