Another year has gone by quickly and what a year it has been. The successful Olympics and Queen’s Jubilee seem a distant memory but it has been an interesting year for the packaging industry. I will assess PN’s top 10 stories of the year below.
1) SCA sells packaging ops to DS Smith in £1.4bn
In January, the packaging world found out that DS Smith was set to become Europe’s second-biggest corrugated business after it announced a £1.3bn deal to buy SCA’s packaging business. The firm has recently said that its takeover of the division is on track.
2) SAICA kicks off production at £300m paper mill|video
At the start of the year, paper production kicked off at SAICA’s £300m mill in Partington, marking a major milestone in the Spanish group’s growing impact on the UK corrugated sector.
3) M&S develops ‘revolutionary’ pack to help reduce food waste
Food waste is a major and growing problem – it is also moving quickly up policy, corporate and consumer agendas and should be a hot topic next year. In January, M&S claimed it was first retailer in the world this year to use, what it calls, revolutionary technology to keep food in top condition and reduce waste. Other retailers are quickly following M&S’ example.
4) H&M creates new Philadelphia-Cadbury pack design
Holmes & Marchant (not H&M the clothing retailer) created a cool pack for this brand. It made me want to buy one.
5) Kit Kat chocolate bars fitted with GPS for Nestle competition
Big bro is watching you – only joking. Nestlé fitted its Kit Kat chocolate bars with GPS enabled devices to support its latest competition. I wasn’t one of the lucky winners for this competition but this is an innovative product in my opinion.
6) Ma’amite shows love for Diamond Jubilee
This pack is self-explanatory really.
7) MMP announces closure of Bootle factory
Mayr-Melnhof Packaging informed staff, in March, that it planned to permanently close the Bootle carton printing facility that had been out of action since February as a result of an industrial dispute.
8) UK Packaging Awards 2012: shortlist announced
What a great night!
9) DS Smith to sell facilities after winning EU clearance for SCA buy
10) Designer creates Heineken cube concept
It may be difficult to drink from but a cute idea.
May I take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Liz Gyekye is news editor at Packaging News.
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