P
ackaging continues to grow in importance, across the globe, across
all economic strata. Once the demographics are released by Messe
Düsseldorf and Interpack Management, I would not be surprised to learn
that attendance by visitors from developing nations is up significantly. And
the deepening commitment to the Save Food Initiative by FAO, UNEP, Messe
Düsseldorf and Interpack, along with many leading for-profit and not-for-profit
organisations around the world (including WPO!) is proof that developing nations
have their place at this premier event. Save Food’s most recent meeting took
place in Düsseldorf just prior to Interpack. Luciana Pellegrino, vice president
of Marketing & Communication, represented WPO at that event and she has
reported to the board on the meetings.
WPO once again held successful Working Group and Board meetings. Our
secretary Keith Pearson will be sending the minutes out in a few weeks. But I
can report to you that our organisation is more active and forward looking than
ever. Our education committee has its hands full with requests for funding for
education projects in several parts of the world. And our marketing group has
produced some great work, particularly as related to our website. Finally,
Sustainability has entered the realm of normalcy. Sustainability in packaging
is no longer a concept; it is part of our reality which is a very good thing.
On a special note, leadership of the Education Committee changed hands at the
board meeting. Gordon Stewart, longtime leader of the committee has announced
his retirement and we have regrettably accepted his resignation. Gordon took
WPO’s education program to the next level and we will be forever grateful for his
great efforts in this regard. He will be missed by everyone, including me, as he
has become a good friend with a remarkable sense of humor, always willing to
tell funny stories, even about himself.
So, when one door closes, another one opens. The Board of Directors took this
occasion to approve a new vice president of Education, Pierre Pienaar. Pierre, an
Aussie, representing the Australian Institute of Packaging, has been involved with
WPO for several years now and has become one of our most active members on
the education side. I am confident that Pierre will lead the committee to even
higher levels of performance in the coming three-year term. We are fortunate
to have someone so well prepared to fill Gordon’s ample shoes.
A note of thanks to all of WPO’s Sponsors: GPC/Salfo Group (Diamond), China
Packaging Federation (Platinum) and Pack Expo International (Platinum) for their
support. Special thanks go to Pack Expo International as our lead sponsor of the
WordStar awards ceremony held during Interpack. WorldStar Awards were, once
again, well attended by about 350 people as about 95 awards were distributed.
Speaking of sponsors, WPO is excited to announce that we have a brand new
sponsor. It’s Ecobliss, located in Echt, The Netherlands. Our thanks to Ron Linssen,
managing director, and his team for his commitment to WPO as a Silver sponsor.
Find them at
More thanks go to EPIC and to
Packaging Today
for their financial support and
also to Michaël Nieuwesteegand and his team from NVC Netherlands Packaging
Centre for organising and sorting out the logistics of the Messe for us, along with
making sure we were well fed and watered.
Finally, a personal note. Serving as president of WPO for the last two-and-a-half
years has been one of the greatest highlights of my 40+ years in packaging. The
honour is quite unique and it has afforded me the opportunity to say that I have
friends in more than 40 countries. Negotiating with all of our different cultures is
not always easy, but it is always fun… a great challenge sometimes, but always
fun. So now I must thank the WPO Board for showing their confidence in allowing
me to continue as president for another three-year term, through 2017. I pledge
to do my best to continue to drive WPO forward to even greater heights, with
everyone’s help. Thanks!
Amemorable Interpack:
a great future for packaging industry!
Once again, Interpack has come, and then just as quickly, gone. So many people spend
so much time and money preparing for this great event in packaging. And then, in a mere
seven days, it’s over. But what a great seven days it was! According to Messe Düsseldorf,
the fair management, approximately 175 000 people attended this year’s event.
And there is an important message in that attendance figure.
Vol 4 Issue 3 • A MEMORABLE INTERPACK: A GREAT FUTURE FOR PACKAGING INDUSTRY!
By Thomas L Schneider (CPP), president of the World Packaging Organisation
Thomas L Schneider (CPP), president of the
World Packaging Organisation
28
I
The GAPP
magazine
www.
thegapp
.co.za
