Trends and statistics

Maurizio Cacciamani

Increasingly less predictable demand, increasingly “green” products requested by the market and recurring supply chain issues are forcing manufacturing companies to review their production systems with various strategies, technologies and business models in order to rapidly adapt to the market while optimizing costs and reducing environmental impact.

The life cycle analysis of packaging was the focus of the conference titled “Wood and Cork Packaging between Tradition and Innovation: From Raw Material to Recyclability and Compostability,” one of the most engaging initiatives at Ecomondo, the international trade fair dedicated to environmental responsibility.

Sun Chemical’s 14th Sustainability Report: the latest edition highlights the leading role of the global manufacturer of inks, pigments, and coatings for printing, graphics, and converting in priority areas such as sustainability and social responsibility.

Steel is the most recycled material in the world, capable of being reused countless times without losing its intrinsic properties. Italy is one of the key players in the processing and recycling of this material, boasting collection and recycling rates that reach 87%. This achievement far exceeds the 80% target set by the European Union for 2030.

Guala Closures, one of the world’s leading producers of closures for the spirits, wine, water, beverage, and edible oil markets, has been awarded the Gold Medal by EcoVadis, a global platform dedicated to assessing corporate sustainability based on international standards.

Ambienta SGR, one of Europe’s leading managers of funds focused on environmental sustainability, has recently announced the acquisition of Parini by Previero, a leader in the design of solutions for recycling plastic materials.

The Aware group (Assessment on WAste and REsources) from the Politecnico di Milano has recently released a study in the journal Waste Management & Research titled “How does plastic compare with alternative materials in the packaging sector? A systematic review of LCA studies.”
This study explores how plastic can be a valid and sometimes superior ecological choice compared to other available alternatives in the packaging sector.

On August 1st 2024, IMA Group, through the new established IMA Sarong, completed the closing for the acquisition of the Packaging Machinery and Packaging Materials divisions of Sarong, both based in Reggiolo (Reggio Emilia), Italy.

Tosca, a leading company in reusable packaging solutions, has unveiled a new, state-of-the-art service centre in Ingolstadt, Germany. This facility, focused on downstream operations, features solar panels for sustainable energy use and advanced technological capabilities, designed to support Germany's largest retailers with efficient, data-driven services.

On first August the acquisition of Illig by the German financial investor Orlando Capital was completed. Following the signing on July 17, the agreement on the transfer of the company to Illig Packaging Solutions became formally effective on 31 July.