PACKAGING SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL

Europe represents the world's largest packaging market and is valued at $129 billion. Average annual growth in Europe over the past seven years has been 3%-4% and some sectors, particularly in Eastern Europe have shown growth of almost 35% per annum.

In mainstream packaging materials, plastics still show strong growth over papers, boards, and glass. Plastics continue their rapid penetration in the food packaging arena because of the benefits they offer in terms of functionality and presentation.

Innovation is a key driving force in the industry and reorganisation for many of Europe's large packaging companies has helped them challenge an increasingly competitive operating environment, face strict new legislation and profit from new emerging markets.

Packaging Solutions International has been specifically designed to provide senior decision makers in the packaging industry with the latest information about important new developments in technology, advances in new materials, innovation in new systems, policy matters, environmental factors, management and financial considerations that affect the packaging industry in Europe.

EUROPEN, whose headquarters are in Brussels, is the recognized cross-sectorial European Industry and Trade organisation for packaging issues related to the environment. Membership is open to all partners in the packaging chain.

EUROPEN aims to achieve a fully accessible European market for packaging used for packaged products, whereby best use is made of the role, benefits and functions of packaging in society.

The organisation strives to influence European environmental legislation covering the marketing, sourcing, manufacture and distribution of packaging used for packaged products and the management of used packaging. EUROPEN supports legislation that is transparent, effective, and in proportion to the impacts of packaging and packaging waste and thus allows our members maximum scope to innovate, compete and operate in a resource efficient way.

Mary Murphy, Editor of Packaging Solutions International, has worked for The Times, consumer, packaging, health and food magazines. She has extensive journalistic, marketing, commercial and business experience. Mary has worked in the packaging industry for 16 years and was publisher and managing editor of the Packaging Magazine group. The publications within the Packaging Magazine Group included Packaging Innovation, Packaging Business, Packaging Environment and, of course, Packaging Magazine. Special reports that ran to more than 500 pages included World Packaging Companies, Global Drinks Packaging, European Food Packaging and a variety of other titles including Global Packaging Trends, and Safety and Security in Packaging.

Editorial contributors to date include:

• Julian Carroll, Managing Director, EUROPEN
• Gavin Williams, Chief Executive Officer – the Packaging Council of Australia
• Pauline King, Marketing and Account Manager - Faraday Packaging Partnership
• Terry Robins, Packaging Innovation Manager, Sainsbury
• Ann Stirling Roberts, Operations Director - Pira International
• Andrew Manly, Secretary General - Processing & Packaging Machinery Association