From 30 January to 2 February 2022, the supplier fair ProSweets Cologne in Cologne/Germany will be placing the focus on “Sustainable Packaging” for the snacks and sweets industry. The industry is extremely interested in switching over to eco-friendly materials such as paper or recyclable mono films and related packing processes.

Packaging is playing a more vital role than ever in the battle to win over the favour of the consumers at the point of sale. Recycling-friendly design will become of key importance in the advertising and communications segment once the EU ’s “Green Deal” comes into force at the latest – a trend which will be reflected at ProSweets Cologne 2022.

The 3R principle – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – is firmly anchored in the strategies of the industry, because the latest progress includes both savings in material as well as the implementation of new packing materials as well as intelligent designs for the recycling. A current trend in the packaging development is evident here: In the meantime, paper or cardboard is being implemented instead of plastic where possible.

The packaging machine builders are also faced with a challenge: they have to unite the technological and economical aspects with each other while finding alternatives for plastic. Tailor-made modular systems, the consistent implementation of robotics and flexible retrofitting that allows adaptions to new packaging materials are paving the way towards more sustainability. In many of the presented packaging lines for sweets and snacks, both plastic as well as carton packaging can in the meantime be processed.