Global event company Easyfairs has launched London Packaging Week. The event will take place 21-22 September at the Olympia London exhibition centre.
The event is an evolution of the already established Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London event and will combine four targeted exhibitions: Packaging Première for the luxury products market; Perfume Cosmetics and Personal Care Packaging (PCD) for the luxury cosmetics market, Premium Drinks Packaging (PLD) for the luxury drinks market; and Food & Consumer Pack.
Josh Brooks, marketing and community director for Easyfairs’ packaging events, explains how the changes to the capital’s premier packaging event will support their future design and innovations.
This is a big change for the show. What was the catalyst?
We first launched Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London over 10 years ago as a unique meeting place for packaging designers, technologists, and suppliers in the capital. But the needs of the market have evolved significantly in the past decade.
We have found that the targeted nature of our co-located events makes them even more attractive and effective for both suppliers and buyers; so, the changes to our London event are the final piece in that puzzle.
What will be different at London Packaging Week compared to Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London?
Rather than talking about London Packaging Week, we should see the event as four targeted events – Packaging Première, PCD, PLD and Food & Consumer Pack. This is the biggest change, and each event is designed to bring a sharp focus on packaging design and development for the capital’s key luxury and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) markets.
Together, these four events will offer brands a forum to source the best packaging solutions, meet new suppliers, overcome their biggest innovation challenges, and do business.
What’s new for 2022?
The first thing visitors will see is our beautiful new look, which has been designed by Butterfly Cannon and is now shared across our family of events in London, Paris, and Milan. Alongside that, we’re working hard to ensure a show experience that creates connections and inspiration and drives business for both brands and suppliers.
In all, there will be more than 180 packaging suppliers exhibiting across the four events so there will be a huge range of options in innovative primary and secondary packaging, materials, and formats.
To create real inspiration, the event will host three galleries. The Pentawards gallery will showcase the best in global packaging design, while the Innovation Gallery will show a range of the most innovative new packs from exhibitors’ stands. Finally, a new gallery showcasing winners of the 2022 PCD and PLD Innovation Awards will be at the event.
Packaging Innovations is well-known for its seminar content, will this remain at London Packaging Week?
Yes, there will be three stages across the event.
In Food & Consumer Pack, the FMCG Future Makers stage will host talks on design and innovation from the grocery and FMCG markets. The Lifestyle & Luxury Unboxed stage will bring innovators from jewellery, fashion, gourmet food brands, and luxury retailers to the stage to give insight on how they are solving their packaging challenges. Finally, the Beauty & Drinks Innovators stage covers the latest in the beauty and drinks markets.
The Pentawards will be hosting under the badge ‘Capital of Design’ - these sessions will showcase some of the best work and top agencies from London.
What else can visitors expect?
On 22–23 September, the Pentawards will hold its first face-to-face Pentawards Festival, bringing together speakers from the global design and branding community. The two-day conference will culminate with the Pentawards Gala Ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House on the Friday evening.
We’re working to create an event for whole London community – for all the innovators and creators who are part of design agencies, brands, and suppliers.
