Exploring NZ’s food and packaging landscape

The foodpro and FoodTech Qld team spent last week in Auckland for the Foodtech Packtech trade exhibition.

It is great to see food industry events thriving globally with New Zealand’s food manufacturing buyers returning to Auckland’s Showgrounds to meet the exhibiting suppliers from across the food and packaging industries at Foodtech Packtech 2023.

Product Manager, Felicity Parker and Sales Manager, Leanne Dawson visited many of our very own exhibitors on their booths including the likes of J.L. Lennard, Rollex, Wipotech, IMCD, Vemag, Carmi Flavors and Cuddon Freeze Dry.

Education on business growth, food design and sustainable packaging

Alongside the exhibition, there were many opportunities for learning via the seminar and workshop series. Business growth, food safety and sustainability were the main themes of the forums supported by the NZ Institute of Food Science & Technology, the Australian Institute of Packaging, The Packaging Forum, the NZ Food Innovation Network, New Zealand Food Safety and Plastics NZ.

Talking on the business models shaping the future of FMCG, Marshall Bell of the NZ Food Innovation Network opened with the alarming statistic that nearly 40% of CEOs think their company will no longer be economically viable a decade from now, if they continue the current path. *

Bell explained, “The way businesses are built and operate today requires a holistic approach”, meaning that it is no longer just about making a product, it is about how we make it, the way the staff who are making it are treated and the impact that the process has on the planet.

Continuing the theme of redesigning for the future, Louise Nash, Founder of NZ circular economy agency, Circularity spoke on circular design in food. “More than 100 billion tonnes of resource being extracted from our earth each year, 21% of which is for food and over 30% of emissions globally coming from our food-systems”, Nash explained, making a case for a move to more sustainable food production.

She continues, “80% of environmental impact is determined at the design stage”, encouraging the audience of food professionals at Foodtech Packtech to incorporate circular thinking from the start of the product journey and not just considered as end of life potential.

Time for the industry to think circular

Circular economy, recovery of materials and recycled content were also covered as part of the AIP packaging sessions featuring the likes of Pact Packaging NZ, who have integrated PET recycling capability at their plant to enable the production of recycled packaging onshore in New Zealand.

Congratulations to the Foodtech Packtech team for a brilliant event packed full of insight and thank you to all our exhibitors and partners for your ongoing support.

We look forward to seeing the food production community at events around the world in the future and make sure you subscribe to our email communications and follow us on LinkedIn for more updates.

*Source: PwC’s 26th Annual Global CEO Survey