Event organiser Easyfairs is introducing two new features to this year’s headline Packaging Innovations show, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham on 26-27 February.

The Visit the Future Hub and Innovation Showcase are designed to address the challenges faced by industry professionals at every point of packaging’s journey, from conception to consumer.

Specifically, Easyfairs noted that the packaging industry is under more pressure than ever before, with increasing demand from consumers to create options that balance functionality, price and aesthetics, with the sustainability agenda. Designed specifically to address the challenges met at every point in the packaging supply chain, the new interactive platforms will allow professionals to gain inspiration from pioneering designers, get tailored advice, and network with some of the best and brightest minds in packaging.

Visit the Future Hub will play host to a series of initiatives that bring together ‘cutting-edge designs and forward-thinking minds’, enabling visitors to discover how the packaging industry is evolving. This includes the new Design Innovation Stage, which will gather experts to bridge the gap between design and technical production, and the Start-Up Village, where six up and coming packaging companies will be showcased.

The Innovation Showcase is to present 12 new technologies and packaging options that can be found on the exhibition floor. The designs will be competing for the prize of ‘Most Innovative Pack’, which will be voted for by visitors and announced live on day two of the event.

Packaging Innovations 2020 will also see the return of the Education Hub, devised to celebrate the important role that young talent has to play in the industry. The feature, which debuted at Packaging Innovations London 2019, connects young people at the beginning of their careers with seasoned professionals, allowing them to explore the possibilities of a career in packaging, whilst helping brands discover the next generation of talent.

Victoria Blake, event director of Easyfairs’ UK Packaging Portfolio, commented, ‘Our interactive features have been designed to equip visitors with the insights and inspiration they need to take their own packaging concepts to the next level. Whether it’s discovering the latest trends or gaining tailored advice, Packaging Innovations 2020 will provide professionals with the tools they need to create solutions that work throughout the entire packaging journey in an industry that is constantly evolving.’

Read the January /February edition of Digital Labels & Packaging for an update on ‘designing for digital’; register at  www.dlpmag.com/register to make sure you receive it