How Morocco went big on solar energy

Morocco has become famous for its vast, world-leading solar arrays. But these mega-projects are just the start of the action on climate change that Morocco could be capable of delivering.   Morocco has made a name for itself as a climate leader. Renewables make up almost two-fifths of its electricity capacity, some fossil fuel subsidies have been phased out and the country lays claim to some of the world's largest clean energy projects. The country has received much praise for its actions to decarbonise.   The country's reputation may be well deserved, but it still faces real challenges – its geographical position in a warming hotspot makes it vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. And even as it seeks to end its dependence on fossil fuels, its energy demands are rising fast.   Despite these challenges, Morocco has a huge natural potential to produce solar, wind and hydropower, and has taken significant steps to realise it. Morocco's national action on climate change dates back to the mid-2000s, when the country made the decision to become a regional leader in clean energy and to push forward massive renewables projects. The country's leaders bet on these major transformations as a way to be economically competitive in the future, as well as to reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports and ensure security of energy supply, says Mohamed Alaoui, the managing director of Africa Climate Solutions, a consultancy firm based in Casablanca.   Shining bright   In 2009, Morocco set out an ambitious energy plan which aimed for 42% of total installed power capacity to be renewable energy by 2020. The plan drove a strong expansion of both wind and solar over the following decade, with solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity increasing 16-fold (albeit from a low base) and wind six-fold by 2020. Morocco also built the Noor-Ouarzazate complex, the world's largest concentrated solar power plant, an enormous array of curved mirrors spread over 3,000 hectares (11.6 sq miles) which concentrate the Sun's rays towards tubes of fluid, with the hot liquid then used to produce power.   Ultimately, Morocco missed its 2020 target, with enough renewable capacity to produce 37% of the country's energy in 2020. Production of energy from renewables lagged behind a little, at closer to 20% of the country's total in 2019. But the country has come a long way. Morocco has since pledged to increase the renewables in its electricity mix to 52% by 2030, made up of 20% solar, 20% wind and 12% hydro. Compared with many other countries, Morocco is doing relatively well on climate action, with its policies and pledges close to being in line with limiting global temperatures to 1.5C, according to analysis from the research group Climate Action Tracker. The country also underwent constitutional reform in 2011 to address gender inequality, known to be a powerful tool in tackling climate change as well as social injustice.   In June 2021, Morocco updated its UN climate pledge with a promise to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 17-18% by 2030 compared with a business-as-usual scenario, with a stretch target of a 42-46% cut on the condition of receiving international support. It has also made a significant effort to decrease government support for fossil fuels, taking advantage of low oil prices in 2014-15 to successfully phase out petrol and fuel oil subsidies.   The country has been praised for using money saved from fossil fuel subsidies to increase funds for education and to implement a health insurance scheme. However, financial support for oil products is still around $3.4bn (£2.5bn), about two-thirds of Morocco's annual budget deficit.   While Morocco's emissions are small compared with many more developed nations, burning fossil fuels for energy and cement production are still a big source of emissions in the country. Morocco still imports most of its energy to meet its rising energy consumption, which increased at an average annual rate of 6.5% between 2002 and 2015. Much of that imported energy is generated from fossil fuels. Morocco relies particularly heavily on coal power, which it is expanding along with renewables, and around 40% of electricity in the country comes from coal. However, at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow this month, Morocco was among the 20 countries who made a new commitment to building no new coal power plants.   To reduce emissions, "quick and radical" transformation of industries, urban planning and infrastructure must be put in place immediately, says Fatima Driouech, associate professor of meteorology at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University and a vice chair at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.   "We must start reducing greenhouse emissions today if we are to limit warming to 1.5C and therefore the impacts of climate change," Driouech says. She notes that many of the impacts of climate change in countries like Morocco can still be avoided if we act in time. "We could hope for the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities if global warming were limited to 1.5C rather than 2C or more."   Think small   In addition to relying less on coal to reduce carbon emissions, there is an argument that decision-makers in Morocco should focus more on small-scale projects and not just mega-projects, allowing entrepreneurs to answer the specific needs of different regions. "If we compare ourselves to Tunisia or Egypt, we are very advanced in macro-projects but when we talk about energy for individuals and for industries, the regulation is lacking," says Alaoui of Africa Climate Solutions. "We have a climate law but we don't have decrees that would allow people and industries to [easily] implement renewable energy."     Others say that Morocco's large clean energy initiatives such as the Noor concentrated solar project have mostly benefited countries outside of Morocco, and not local people. Morocco is positioning itself as a clean energy hub with potential to export renewable power to Europe, and already has two electricity cables connecting it to Spain and plans for subsea connection to the UK. But mega-projects such as the Noor plant require extracting large quantities of water in a water-scarce region, says Mohammed Tazrouti, a campaigner for Greenpeace in the Middle East and North Africa. "When you're exporting energy, you are exporting water," Tazrouti says. "You're excluding other communities from these resources."   Greenpeace has also urged Morocco to reform and improve its renewable energy law to "make it less troublesome and bureaucratic for individuals to own and sell renewable energy". It has also pushed it to implement a law to enable the connection of small-scale renewable energy systems to the grid.   Water woes   Morocco itself is already beginning to feel the impacts of climate change. Mean annual temperatures in the country are expected to increase by between 1.1C and 3.5C by 2060, depending on global climate action. The North African kingdom is located in a climate change hotspot – the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry projects that temperatures in the Middle East and North Africa will increase twice as fast as the global average.   Greenpeace's Tazrouti says that the Global North needs to invest more in the countries of the Global South, including Morocco. "A lot of support is needed in southern countries and underdeveloped and poor countries that are suffering and are at the frontline of being affected by climate change," he says. Morocco was the eighth largest recipient of climate finance from richer countries in 2018 and 2019, receiving some $600m (£450m).   Countries that pollute the most are having a disastrous impact on the African continent, says Abdeladim El Hafi, who was Morocco's general commissioner during the United Nations climate conference held in Marrakesh in 2016 (COP22), and is now the high commissioner for water and forests. Many African countries do not themselves produce nearly as much carbon, but are already suffering the consequences of climate change.   "Plans and international financial help are needed to help vulnerable countries, islands, and poor countries," says Alaoui, citing water as a top environmental concern for the country. "In Morocco, we need policies to manage, recycle and reuse water. We need climate insurance for droughts and frequent fires, and we need sustainable and smart agriculture."   The World Resources Institute warned that Morocco's water resources were at high stress, as most of it is used for domestic agriculture and for its industries. By the end of the century, rainfall may decline by 20 to 30%.   Morocco's water shortage is hitting hard as water harvesting remains a major issue in this agriculture-intensive country, giving way to discontent and despair. In recent years, in places like the town of Zagora in southern Morocco, residents have been protesting about water shortages.   Broadly, there is a need for environmental reforms and actions that also take into account the country's rich biodiversity, says El Hafi. Initiatives also need to account for local contexts and needs, he says, adding that decades-long efforts have paved the way for a more solid plan.   "Policies around water [scarcity] in Morocco since the 1960s have been quite visionary," he says. For example, the decision to build a host of large dams allowed Morocco to go through periods of droughts without food shortages, he says.   Tangier-based environmentalist Hajar Khamlichi also believes adapting to climate change and solving the water issue is possible. Some Moroccan programmes are encouraging steps in the right direction, she says, including the use of sewage treatment plants to treat water for irrigation, the building of new dams and the desalination of seawater powered by renewable energy. "There are still policies in place and a vision," she says.   Khamlichi, the president and co-founder of the Mediterranean Youth Climate Network, which brings together different organisations of young people from Mediterranean countries, believes that mounting climate challenges in Morocco must be met head-on. "There is a lot of work to do and the challenges are great," she says. "As time goes, we notice more problems, but we are also coming up with solutions."   Rachid Ennassiri, a Moroccan environmentalist, founded the Moroccan Youth Center for Sustainable Energy in 2018. This national organisation counts among its members people from the region of Ouarzazate in the south, where many of the mega-projects, including the Noor plant, are located. Over the years, Ennassiri has worked on several climate change initiatives, including a project that aimed to make mosques more sustainable by using solar panels.   Morocco cannot simply continue to follow its initial plan for expanding renewables, Ennassiri says. "2021 is not 2009," he says, referring to the date of Morocco's first plan to cut carbon emissions and curb the reliance on fossil fuels. "In order to increase renewables, major reforms must be made."

Boots criticised over pill boxes for the elderly

Some pharmacies run by the High Street chain Boots have been criticised for telling some patients on multiple drugs that they can no longer have blister pack boxes, known as dosette boxes.Weekly pill organisers can help users keep track of their daily medication and stay safe.Pharmacists put the tablets into individual boxes in the trays, each one indicating when they should be taken.Boots said the aids were "not always the most appropriate option".The NHS says boxes are not always available for free on the NHS and they're not suitable for every type of medicine.The boxes, known in the industry as multi-compartment compliance aids (MCCAs), are delivered to patients'addresses.   They have seals which, when broken, indicate to a patient or their carer if the medication has been taken.Tracey Hobbs' mother, Pat Garner, lives at home with care visits.For several years, she has had MCCAs provided by her local Boots pharmacy. She takes more than 15 pills each day.   Tracey says she was phoned by Boots and told that from one month later her mother would receive all the drugs inthe original packaging, rather than organised into morning and night doses for each day of the week.Tracey told the BBC: "I pointed out that the blister packs were the only way we could know she had taken hermedication at the right time. Handing seven individual boxes with different instructions on each one was totallyunworkable and - quite frankly - dangerous".   A Boots spokesperson said: "The latest Royal Pharmaceutical Society guidance indicates that the use of multi-compartment compliance aids is not always the most appropriate option for patients that need support to taketheir medicines at the right dose and time.   "Pharmacists are speaking with patients who we provide with MCCAs to discuss whether it is the right way tosupport them, depending on their individual circumstances and clinical needs."Alternative support might include large-print labels and a medicines reminder chart. In many cases, MCCAs willremain the most appropriate option for the patient, and we will continue to support them in this way."   The Royal Pharmaceutical Society has said in guidelines drawn up before the pandemic that there are benefitsand disadvantages with use of the dosette boxes: "A multi-compartment compliance aid is one tool amongstmany to help with medicines use but other interventions also exist, which as part of a person-centred and qualityapproach, must also be considered."   It is not clear how many other pharmacy chains are withdrawing the boxes. The Association of IndependentMultiple Pharmacies says most of its members are continuing to supply patients with MCCAs if they are requested,even though the process is costly.Superdrug and Lloyds Pharmacy say they continue to offer MCCAs.   Prof Gill Livingston, an expert in elderly medicine at University College London, said she was concerned to hear thatsome patients and their families were being told the boxes were being scrapped.She said: "Blister packs enable people with mild dementia or some memory problems to take their own medicationand remain independent. They can check that they have taken it and they know they have taken the right thing,as it is already sorted out.   "Later on in dementia or with other disabilities, it enables paid carers and families to help them take theirmedication and remain in the community and remain as well as possible."Thorrun Govind, a pharmacist in Manchester and chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said it was a complex issue - particularly for care home residents.   "Patients on blister packs should be reassessed frequently to ensure it is an appropriate intervention for them as anindividual," she said."Just because a patient is in a care home does not mean they should automatically be provided with a blister pack and the underfunding of social care should be addressed by the government rather than being left for pharmacy teams workload."

Lithium batteries' big unanswered question

As the world looks to electrify vehicles and store renewable power, one giant challenge looms: what will happen to all the old lithium batteries?   s the quiet whirr of electric vehicles gradually replaces the revs and noxious fumes of internal combustion engines, a number of changes are set to filter through our familiar world. The overpowering smell of gas stations will fade away into odourless charge stations where cars can re-juice their batteries as needed. Meanwhile, gas-powered generator sites that dot the horizon may be retrofitted to house massive batteries that could one day power entire cities with renewable energy.   This electrified future is much closer than you might think. General Motors announced earlier this year that it plans to stop selling gas-powered vehicles by 2035. Audi's goal is to stop producing them by 2033, and many other major auto companies are following suit. In fact, according to BloombergNEF, two-thirds of the world's passenger vehicle sales will be electric by 2040. And grid-scale systems the world over are growing rapidly thanks to advancing battery storage technology.   While this may sound like the ideal path to sustainable power and road travel, there's one big problem. Currently, lithium (Li) ion batteries are those typically used in EVs and the megabatteries used to store energy from renewables, and Li batteries are hard to recycle. As demand for EVs escalates, as it's projected to, the impetus to recycle more of them is set to barrel through the battery and motor vehicle industry   One reason is that the most widely used methods of recycling more traditional batteries, like lead-acid batteries, don't work well with Li batteries. The latter are typically larger, heavier, much more complex and even dangerous if taken apart wrong.   In your average battery recycling plant, battery parts are shredded down into a powder, and then that powder is either melted (pyrometallurgy) or dissolved in acid (hydrometallurgy). But Li batteries are made up of lots of different parts that could explode if they're not disassembled carefully. And even when Li batteries are broken down this way, the products aren't easy to reuse.   "The current method of simply shredding everything and trying to purify a complex mixture results in expensive processes with low value products," says Andrew Abbott, a physical chemist at the University of Leicester. As a result, it costs more to recycle them than to mine more lithium to make new ones. Also, since large scale, cheap ways to recycle Li batteries are lagging behind, only about 5% of Li batteries are recycled globally, meaning the majority are simply going to waste.   But as demand for EVs escalates, as it's projected to, the impetus to recycle more of them is set to barrel through the battery and motor vehicle industry.   The current shortcomings in Li battery recycling isn't the only reason they are an environmental strain. Mining the various metals needed for Li batteries requires vast resources. It takes 500,000 gallons (2,273,000 litres) of water to mine one tonne of lithium. In Chile's Atacama Salt Flats, lithium mining has been linked to declining vegetation, hotter daytime temperatures and increasing drought conditions in national reserve areas. So even though EVs may help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over their lifetime, the battery that powers them starts its life laden with a large environmental footprint. We can no longer treat the batteries as disposable – Shirley Meng   If the millions upon millions of Li batteries that will give out after around 10 years or so of use   are recycled more efficiently, however, it will help neutralise all that energy expenditure. Several labs have been working on refining more efficient recycling methods so that, eventually, a standardised, eco-friendly way to recycle Li batteries will be ready to meet skyrocketing demand.   "We have to find ways to make it enter what we call a circular lifecycle, because the lithium and the cobalt and nickel take a lot of electricity and a lot of effort to be mined and refined and made into the batteries. We can no longer treat the batteries as disposable," says Shirley Meng, professor in energy technologies at the University of California, San Diego.   How to recycle Li batteries   A Li battery cell has a metal cathode, or positive electrode that collects electrons during the electrochemical reaction, made of lithium and some mix of elements that typically include cobalt, nickel, manganese and iron. It also has an anode, or the electrode that releases electrons to the external circuit, made of graphite, a separator and an electrolyte of some kind, which is the medium that transports the electrons between cathode and anode. The lithium ions travelling from the anode to the cathode form an electric current. The metals in the cathode are the most valuable parts of the battery, and these are what chemists focus on preserving and refurbishing when they dismantle an Li battery.   Meng says to think of an Li battery like a bookshelf with many layers, and the lithium ions rapidly move across each shelf, cycling back each time to the top shelf – a process called intercalation. After years and years, the bookshelf naturally starts to break down and collapse. So when chemists like Meng dismantle an Li battery, that's the sort of degradation they see in the structure and materials.   "We can actually find the mechanisms, [and] either using heat or some kind of chemical treatment method, we can put the bookshelf back [together]," says Meng. "So we can let those recycled and refurbished materials go back to the assembly line to the [Li battery] factories to be made into new batteries."   Improving Li battery recycling and ultimately making their parts reusable will reinfuse value into the Li batteries already out there. This is why scientists are advocating for the direct recycling process Meng describes – because it can give the most precious parts of Li batteries, like the cathode and anode, a second life. This could significantly offset the energy, waste and costs associated with manufacturing them.   But disassembling Li batteries is currently being done predominantly by hand in lab settings, which will need to change if direct recycling is to compete with more traditional recycling methods. "In the future, there will need to be more technology in disassembly," says Abbott. "If a battery is assembled using robots, it is logical that it needs to be disassembled in the same way."   Abbott's team at the Faraday Institution in the UK is investigating the robotic disassembly of Li batteries as part of the ReLib Project, which specialises in the recycling and reuse of Li batteries. The team has also found a way to achieve direct recycling of the anode and cathode using an ultrasonic probe, "like what the dentist uses to clean your teeth," he explains. "It focuses ultrasound on a surface which creates tiny bubbles that implode and blast the coating off the surface." This process avoids having to shred the battery parts, which can make recovering them exceedingly difficult.   According to Abbott's team's research, this ultrasonic recycling method can process 100 times more material over the same period than the more traditional hydrometallurgy method. He says it can also be done for less than half the cost of creating a new battery from virgin material.   Abbott believes the process can easily be applied to scale, and used on larger grid-based batteries, because they typically have the same battery cell structure, they just contain more cells. However, the team is currently only applying it to production scrap, from which parts are easier to separate, because they're already free of their casings. The team's robotic dismantling tests are ramping up though. "We have a demonstrator unit that currently works on whole electrodes and we hope in the next 18 months to be able to showcase an automated process working in a production facility," says Abbott.   Degradable batteries   Some scientists are advocating for a move away from Li batteries in favour of ones that can be produced and broken down in more eco-friendly ways. Jodie Lutkenhaus, a professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University, has been working on a battery that is made of organic substances that can degrade on command.   "Many batteries today are not recycled because of the associated energy and labour cost," says Lutkenhaus. "Batteries that degrade on command may simplify or lower the barrier to recycling. Eventually, these degradation products could be reconstituted back into a fresh new battery, closing the materials life-cycle loop."   It's a fair argument considering that, even when a Li battery is dismantled and its parts are refurbished, there will still be some parts that can't be saved and become waste. A degradable battery like the one Lutkenhaus' team is working on could be a more sustainable power source.   Organic Radical Batteries (ORBs) have been around since the 2000s, and function with the help of organic materials that are synthesised to store and release electrons. "An Organic Radical Battery has two of these [materials], both acting as electrodes, that work in concert to store and release electrons, or energy, together," explains Lutkenhaus.   The team uses an acid to break their ORBs down into amino acids and other byproducts, however, conditions need to be just right for the parts to degrade properly. "Eventually we found that acid at elevated heat worked," says Lutkenhaus.     There are a number of challenges ahead for this degradable battery though. The materials needed to create it are expensive, and it has yet to provide the amount of power required for high-demand applications like EVs and power grids. But perhaps the greatest challenge degradable batteries like Lutkenhaus's face is competing with the already well-established Li battery.   The next step for scientists pushing direct recycling of Li batteries forward is working with battery manufacturers and recycling plants to streamline the process from build to breakdown.   "We are really encouraging all the battery cell manufacturers to barcode all the batteries so with robotic AI techniques we can easily sort out the batteries," says Meng. "It takes the entire field to cooperate with each other in order to make that happen."   Li batteries are used to power many different devices, from laptops to cars to power grids, and the chemical makeup differs depending on the purpose, sometimes significantly. This should be reflected in the way they're recycled. Scientists say battery recycling plants must separate the various Li batteries into separate streams, similar to how different types of plastic are sorted when recycled, in order for the process to be most efficient.    And even though they face an uphill battle, more sustainable batteries are slowly but surely coming onto the scene. "We can already see designs entering the market which make assembly and disassembly easier, and it is probable that this will be an important topic in future battery development," says Abbott.   On the production side, battery and car manufacturers are working on cutting down on the materials needed to build Li batteries to help reduce energy expenditure during mining and the waste each battery creates at the end of its life.   Electric car manufacturers have also begun to reuse and repurpose their own batteries in a number of different ways. For example, Nissan is refurbishing old Leaf car batteries and putting them in automated guided vehicles that bring parts to its factories.   Speed bumps ahead   The steadily increasing market demand for EVs already has companies across the automobile industry spending billions of dollars on increasing the sustainability of Li batteries. However, China is currently the largest producer of Li batteries by far, and subsequently ahead when it comes to recycling them.   Widely adopting standardised methods for recycling Li batteries that include sorting streams for the different types will get them a big step closer. Meanwhile, using AI technology to refurbish the most useful parts, such as the cathode, could help countries with small supplies of Li battery components to not have to rely so much on China.   Developing new batteries that might rival the Li battery will also likely shake up the industry by creating some healthy competition. "I do think it does the world better if we diversify the portfolio for battery storage, particularly for grid storage," says Meng.   The advent of a less complex, safer battery that is cheaper to make and easier to separate at the end of its life is the ultimate answer to the current sustainability problem with EVs. But until such a battery makes an appearance, standardising Li battery recycling is a significant move in the right direction.   And in about 2025, when millions of EV batteries reach the end of their initial life cycles, a streamlined recycling process will look much more appealing to economies the world over. So perhaps, by the time EVs become the predominant form of transport, there will be a good chance their batteries will be gearing up for a second life.

Aiming at the trend and boosting the blowout development of the industry - a major upgrade of the 2022 Shanghai International Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Exhibition

Time：2026-06-15~2026-06-17

Location ：Shanghai, China

The food processing and packaging machinery industry is ushering in a new round of great development!   From January to July 2021, according to the data of the General Administration of Customs of China, my country's food processing machinery has exported a total of 4.91 million units, with an export value of 945 million US dollars, a cumulative increase of 86.5% and 62.9% over the same period last year; a total of 11.048 million packaging machinery exports, The export volume was 2.00 billion US dollars, a cumulative increase of 72.7% and 35.2% over the same period last year. The export volume of packaging machinery in the first half of this year has exceeded that of the whole of 2019!   It is not only exports that are prosperous, but domestic industrial upgrading is also promoting the great development of the machinery and equipment industry. At present, from production, processing, packaging, logistics to sales, the development model of the entire industry chain is undergoing profound changes. As an important link in the supply chain, the food processing and packaging machinery industry is an important promoter of industrial upgrading.   In the face of a rapidly developing industry, enterprises need to quickly obtain the latest development trends of the industry, establish close cooperation with upstream and downstream, and seize development opportunities. Therefore, participating in industry exchange events is a shortcut. The 2022 Shanghai International Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Exhibition (ProPak China & FoodPack China 2022) will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from June 22 to 24, 2022 with nearly 1,000 exhibitors and more than 39,000 visitors. meeting! The exhibition is co-sponsored by Shanghai Bohua International Exhibition Co., Ltd., China Packaging and Food Machinery Co., Ltd., and China Food and Packaging Machinery Industry Association. After three years of development, it has witnessed the vigorous development of the industry.   Aiming at industry trends and upgrading the exhibition sector   The scale of the joint exhibition area in 2022 will cover the four major exhibition halls of the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai) 5.1, 6.1, 7.1, and 8.1, and expand the themed exhibition areas of "Packaging Material Containers and Processing Packaging" and "Intelligent Manufacturing and Smart Logistics". Aiming at the safety, functionality, and sustainable development of packaging materials and containers, as well as industry hotspots such as intelligent production, intelligent factories and intelligent manufacturing standardization, we will comprehensively display new packaging materials, intelligent automation equipment, industrial robots, factory digital construction and other related technology applications. , to help production and distribution enterprises to enhance their brands, promote trade procurement, exchanges and cooperation. The range of exhibits in the joint exhibition covers food processing machinery, general food machinery, packaging machinery, robots and automation, packaging materials and products, labels and flexible packaging, and logistics packaging.     Intelligent manufacturing, enterprise upgrade technology first   The "Made in China 2025" proposed in 2015 is approaching. In recent years, domestic intelligent technology has shown a rapid development, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine vision, Internet of Things, big data, and blockchain have continued to develop and have been applied to in food processing and packaging machinery.   Advances in technologies such as flexible processing, digital integration, sensory IoT, and intelligent control have provided a strong impetus for the development of food industry robots, food intelligent manufacturing and processing systems, and smart industrial kitchens. In the field of packaging machinery, the emergence of palletizing robots and sorting robots has greatly liberated human labor and improved work efficiency and operation accuracy. The intelligent upgrade of the original production line, from raw material processing, feeding to packaging, testing, finished products and other links, realizes the whole process of intelligent control, which not only ensures the quality and improves the production efficiency, but also better adapts to the market of small batches and varieties. demand.   This year's joint exhibition created an intelligent automation exhibition area in Hall 8.1 of the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai). Intelligent manufacturing processing technology.     In this exhibition, on the basis of the great success of the "Intelligent Manufacturing" area in 2021, the entire Hall 8 will be upgraded to the "Intelligent Manufacturing and Smart Logistics" special hall, and the overall scale will be doubled compared with the previous exhibition . Gather the leading exhibitors of intelligent manufacturing in the industry to help the intelligent upgrading of the industry.   Green environmental protection, innovative development of packaging materials   Energy saving and emission reduction, green environmental protection is the general trend. On January 1, 2021, the strongest plastic restriction order in history was officially implemented. Since then, upgraded local regulations on plastic prohibition have been introduced in many places, ranging from packaging paper, lunch boxes, drink cups, and straws that are in direct contact with food, to portable and protective Strong and highly airtight outer packaging bags, outer packaging boxes and other aspects have made tough specifications. Packaging materials have become a hot spot in the industry. In this exhibition, a special hall for packaging materials will be set up to provide enterprises with more environmentally friendly options.   Food safety, packaging and testing equipment upgrades   Laser coding to increase product traceability; packaging automation to reduce manual links; quality inspection automation to avoid misuse; these are all important means to improve the safety of food in processing, production and packaging. In addition, the normalized prevention and control of the epidemic has made food safety testing and virus disinfection a normalized work. In this exhibition, X-RAY foreign body detection, metal detection, visual detection of packaging and sealing, visual detection of characters, visual detection of barcode printing, tubular UHT automatic sterilization, traceability system, ultrasonic food cutting, recycling and sorting system, CIP system, Color sorters, water spray sterilizers and many other exhibits will provide security in this regard.   Online and offline linkage to promote export growth   The blowout export market from last year to this year has boosted the confidence of the industry, and has also allowed the industry to accumulate experience in doing business with foreign businessmen on the cloud. During the epidemic, Shanghai International Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Exhibition held more than 350 online matching sessions, providing accurate matching services for more than 800 exhibitors to communicate directly with professional buyers online.     In 2022, the exhibition will further expand the accurate matching service on the cloud, and an independent supply and procurement docking service room will be set up on the exhibition site. During the exhibition period, the organizer used the huge data resources of the ProPak global exhibition to actively and accurately invite international buyers, so that countries from Russia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Pakistan, India, Malaysia and other countries have clear purchasing needs, but they are unable to visit the exhibition site. Overseas buyers. The company adopts the online "cloud" negotiation model, and directly communicates and negotiates through the 1-to-1 dedicated service supply and purchase docking service room.   Open up the upstream and downstream, and promote the exchange of exhibitors and visitors   Since 2019, the Shanghai International Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Exhibition will join hands with Bohua Exhibition Company's series of brand exhibitions on healthy raw materials, food ingredients, healthy nutritional products, starch industry, etc. to share the 7 major exhibition halls of the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai). , 170,000 square meters of exhibition area, is expected to have 2,000 domestic and foreign exhibitors and 100,000 professional visitors to participate in the grand event. After years of concurrent exhibitions, the whole industry chain layout has been constructed for exhibitors of the joint exhibition, more industry boundaries have been expanded, and competitiveness has been improved.   On June 22, 2022 at the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Shanghai), the 2022 Shanghai International Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Exhibition joint exhibition will be upgraded to boost the blowout development of the industry!

CCEP invests in Indonesian plastic recycling & pushes voluntary waste collections

Coca-Cola Euro-Pacific Partners (CCEP) has hailed the first food grade PET plastic recycling facility in Indonesia.   The Amandina Bumi Nusantara plant is a joint venture between CCEP and rigid packaging firm Dynapack Asia, and incorporates Mahija Parahita Nusantara, a non-profit foundation set up by both organisations.   The foundation supports the creation of collection infrastructure via the development of collection micro-enterprises which provide feedstock for the facility.   It also supports the informal waste-picker community via stable employment, vital social care and a focus on human rights principles such as eliminating child labour and providing safe work environments.   Data from Indonesia National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) – a multi-stakeholder collaboration, including the government, that aims to achieve 70% reduction in the country’s marine plastic debris by 2025, shows Indonesia generates 6.8 million tonnes of plastic waste every year with 61% remaining uncollected.   Of this, 8% comprises food and non-food bottles. In 2021, CCEP’s own PET plastic footprint in Indonesia was 37,000 tonnes.   Indonesia is also widely thought to be the second largest ocean plastic polluter, with 620,000 tonnes of generated plastic waste leaking into lakes, rivers and the sea.   Replacing virgin fossil-based plastics in packaging requires an increase in recycled content, and effective systems to collect post-consumer packaging, to be re-made into new packaging.   Jeff Maguire, director – packaging collection and recycling – Australia, the Pacific and Indonesia, told Packaging News: “Collection solutions vary depending on the legislative and socio-economic context in markets and learned consumer behaviours. For markets where collection infrastructure and legislation are less developed, like Indonesia, CCEP is taking proactive voluntary action towards both its own and the wider industry’s collection goals by directly funding and incentivising collection solutions.”   The Amandina facility – with a planned capacity of up to 25,000 tonnes per year by 2023 – will convert used plastic bottles into food-grade rPET pellets to be resold to Indonesia’s soft drinks industry to produce new bottles.   CCEP has already committed to buying at least 50% of the facility’s output and using the material in its 390ml carbonated soft drinks bottles in Indonesia this year.   To reach the 25,000-tonne capacity, Amandina needs around 32,000 tonnes of high-quality used plastic bottles.   With no formal waste management infrastructure in place, it is the informal sector and waste banks that will provide this valuable resource.   The existing, traditional value chain for PET feedstock in Indonesia is erratic and transactional, creating unstable pricing for waste collectors and inconsistent supply of PET for recycling.   CCEP said it is aiming to build sustainable, long-term partnerships across the value chain to drive collection with mutual benefits for all parties.   And it knows from The Coca-Cola Company’s previous successes in countries such as Mexico, that the ‘pull-incentive’ collection model can deliver real impact.   Maguire said: “Through this model, a supply agreement incentivises the recycler and this, in turn, flows through to the waste collectors which ‘pulls’ high-quality PET through the system, and ensures price stability for collectors.”   CCEP’s model provides social enterprise support to ensure better living standards and futures for the workers and communities in the informal waste sector.   Currenlty, 18 collection centres are part of Mahija, supported by 600+ collectors. CCEP is building the network to include a further 25 centres and 1,000+ collectors by the end of 2022. To date, CCEP has donated over US$300,000 in equipment and supplies.   Maguire said CCEP’s ambition is to go beyond collecting and recycling the equivalent of its own plastic packaging, towards an industry-wide vision that eliminates unnecessary plastic, innovates new materials and collection models, and creates a circular economy for plastic packaging.: “If you want to go quick, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”   CCEP works alongside the wider industry and the Indonesia Packaging Recovery Organization (IPRO) to drive packaging waste collection at scale, without relying on legislation.   “And with The Cola-Cola Company as participants on the government’s National Plastic Action Partnership NPAP, CCEP is also jointly developing a roadmap to achieve government targets on plastic waste, driving even greater partnership and collective action.”

Small candy makers forced to rethink their business strategies

For the manufacturer of Chick-O-Stick, Slo Poke and Mary Jane candies, it’s a good time to be in the confectionery business — if only they could get enough people to make their sweets.   While sales for Atkinson Candy’s offerings are up fivefold since 2019, staffing at the 90-year-old company has been cut in half during that time. Some mechanical workers, attracted by higher pay in industries including oil and gas, have left the family-owned business. Employees who make the artisanal treats have proven especially difficult to retain as they are drawn away by generous government aid programs, said Eric Atkinson, the firm’s 68-year-old CEO.   With fewer people, it can now take Atkinson up to three months to deliver an order to retailers and wholesale distributors, compared to two weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic — if it can even fill it. The labor shortage in 2021 was so severe that the company lost out on millions of dollars in sales simply because it didn’t have enough employees, its CEO said.   “It’s like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard,” said Atkinson of the stress from dealing with the lost sales.   Rethinking how to do business   Atkinson is not alone. Executives at small and mid-size candy companies said they are besieged by a slew of challenges weighing on their businesses, including higher shipping costs, labor shortages and commodities that often aren’t being delivered in the quantities they were promised.   “We’re in a different time where you have to rethink how you do business,” said Joe Colyn, a partner at JPG Resources, where he helps baking and confections clients procure ingredients.   For sweets makers, issues impacting their business, their bottom line and in some cases their outright survival, are nothing new. They have weathered wars, recessions, depressions and disruptions in supplies before.   But CEOs interviewed said the degree to which so many things are hitting them all at once is forcing them to rethink how they do business and overhaul key parts of their operations that have been largely unchanged for decades. They include everything from how they go about hiring and retaining workers to when and how much of an ingredient or packaging they purchase in advance.   Small and mid-sized chocolate and candy companies make up a significant portion of the National Confectioners Association’s 600 member companies, about half of which are manufacturers. These include all kinds of operations, from multigenerational companies that have been in families for decades, to new ones just getting started.   “There’s no question that the challenges faced across the industry — supply chain, inflation, labor shortages, broad pandemic impact and more — have disproportionately affected small and mid-sized companies compared with their larger counterparts,”  Carly Schildhaus, a spokesperson for the trade group, said in an email.   Daniel McCarthy, an assistant marketing professor at Emory University, suggested some smaller players in the category play defense by raising capital through investors or taking on manageable debt while they have the opportunity. These companies also should be prudent stewards of their balance sheet by carefully watching their spending, and raising prices like their bigger CPG competitors are doing, he said.   “The good thing that they have going for them that other larger [industries] would not is the fact that the [cost for their product] is so low,” McCarthy said, noting a 20% increase for a candy bar is far easier for consumers to digest than a similar increase on an item like a car.  “In that sense, it’s a more defensible position that they are in.”   Atkinson, whose candy business is facing higher costs for everything from sugar to peanuts — which have seen costs increase more than 20% — has passed on some of its higher expenses to consumers through price hikes. The most recent one took place last week. “We try to maintain a modicum of a profit and most of the items were under water or headed there,” he said.  Despite the hardships infiltrating the industry, chocolate and candy sales remain robust, helping to at least partly offset higher expenses and labor challenges. Chocolate and candy sales were up 11% in 2021 from the prior year, according to NCA’s State of Treating report, and Schildhaus noted the segment is “seeing strong performance” again this year.   Back to the future   For many smaller candy makers, the current environment has forced them to plan further ahead or look for alternative solutions — some of which may not be ideal.   At Boyer Candy Company in Pennsylvania, the Mallo Cup and Clark Bar maker is thriving in the current environment. The company is ordering ingredients earlier and tapping into the decades of experience amassed by top executives, many of whom have been at the 86-year-old business for decades, said Anthony Forgione II, Boyer’s president and CEO.   “It’s just more anticipation, more forecasting,” said Forgione, who noted sales are up 36% so far this year. “If you plan accordingly, it’s really not” that bad.    Boyer used to order corn syrup two weeks in advance, he said. Now it’s securing supply three months ahead based on historical projections. The company is making similar advance purchases for sugar and peanuts.   Colyn with JPG Partners said the firm is encouraging smaller businesses to engage in more frequent contact with their ingredient suppliers — as often as once a week — to maintain the relationship and better communicate their long-term needs amid a volatile and uncertain environment for some materials.     “There’s no question that the challenges faced across the industry — supply chain, inflation, labor shortages, broad pandemic impact and more — have disproportionately affected small and mid-sized companies compared with their larger counterparts.”  Carly Schildhaus,Spokesperson, National Confectioners Association   Atkinson said shortages tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have caused his company to cut down on its consumption of sunflower lecithin from that country used to make its caramel, taffies and peanut butter candies.    He’s hopeful the company can get the ingredient from other places, including India. If Atkinson can’t, it might have to switch back to soybean oil, which it stopped using because it is an allergen. Changing the formula now would require new packaging that lists the ingredient — which would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to reprint, Atkinson said — and throwing unused wrappers out.    To save money, Atkinson has purchased more ingredients that don’t expire. Its efforts have also extended into packaging, where it has stocked up on wrappers, boxes and plastic wrap. Still, he said, in many cases the candy maker is left to pay the prevailing market price for his ingredients.   “In times like these you can’t bother with the costs of ingredients,” Atkinson said. “You buy them no matter the cost because the alternative is shutting down and that is not an option for us.”   Stuart Selarnick, CEO of Philadelphia-based Frankford Candy, said suppliers have occasionally failed to deliver the promised amount of commodities like milk chocolate, forcing him to make new arrangements with other firms to fill the missing demand.   The shortage of milk chocolate — the result of surging consumer demand and challenges at its supplier, including a labor shortage and difficulty sourcing raw materials — is highly unusual. It is the first time he’s had trouble getting the ingredient since he started at the company in 1987, Selarnick said.    “You have to move on. You have to be resourceful and find other sources, other opportunities, other suppliers,” Selarnick said. “That’s what we’re really good at because we’re nimble. We can move quickly.”   Help wanted   Andrew Schuman, the owner of Hammond’s Candies in Colorado, has taken a similar approach to purchasing ingredients and packaging. So far, the 102-year-old maker of candy canes, lollipops, taffy, chocolate and other sweets has “weathered the storm pretty well,” he said.    But like countless other businesses of every size throughout the country, Hammond’s has faced its fair share of challenges recently, particularly when it comes to finding and keeping workers.   “It’s a buyer’s market in labor because they’re buying the job from you,” Schuman said. “And they can go anywhere they want.”   Hammond’s employs about 160 people. While about 80 people have been the core of the company’s workforce for 15 or more years, Hammond’s has struggled to keep the rest of the positions filled during the last three years. Schuman estimated the other 80 workers who do everything from package candy to cook marshmallows have turned over two to three times a year since the middle of 2020.    In May, the business brought in a full-time recruiter for the first time in its history and currently is doing an average of 25 interviews a week to court prospective workers. It could turn to a temp agency for help, but that costs 35% more, Schuman said, and the workers who come often don’t care as much in the long run because they are not as invested personally in the business.   To coax workers into staying, Hammond’s has paid random quarterly bonuses, offered surprise lunches and snacks, and provided flexible work schedules for doctors appointments or picking up children from school. “We’ve done everything we can to keep employees,” he said.   A labor of love   Small candy and chocolate makers contend one advantage they have over deep-pocked CPG giants such as Hershey or Mars Wrigley is their ability to pivot quickly.    Forgione with Boyer credits his company’s experienced executive ranks. With many people having been with Boyer for several years — including his mother and brother — they have a better feel for positioning the business and what future demand for their products will be several months out.   “We have used our experience to stay ahead of the market,” Forgione said.   Selarnick said Frankford’s unique and ever-changing product mix has played a vital role in helping it to navigate the market turmoil. Its portfolio includes more than 100 branded items, such as Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Flavored Jelly Beans, Hot Chocolate Bomb varieties and Krabby Patties gummy treats. These help Frankford stand out from its competitors, while providing it with the flexibility to prioritize those offerings with higher margins.   Unlike some of its competitors, Selarnick said Frankford’s stable unionized workforce has largely negated any threat to availability of workers. But he remains concerned during the next 12 months about the future as he braces for higher expenses for everything from shipping to fuel.        “It’s a family-owned company. It’s going to sink or swim. We have no issue with ordering millions of dollars in commodities because one of two things are going to happen the company is doing to thrive, or we’ve going to struggle, one way or the other.” Anthony Forgione II ,CEO, Boyer Candy Company   “When you build your business model ... you have to build in X amount for what you think [your expenses are going to be,” Selarnick said. “In this environment, it is X-plus because you have to make sure you’re covered.”   With many smaller candy companies operating under the same family for years, ensuring the business survives is as much about personal pride as it is preserving a deep family legacy.   Atkinson conceded that while there are “easier ways to make a buck,” keeping the business thriving after taking over from his grandfather “is really a labor of love.”    At Boyer, CEO Forgione said the company has little choice but to adapt.    “It’s a family-owned company. It’s going to sink or swim,” Forgione said. “We have no issue with ordering millions of dollars in commodities because one of two things are going to happen: The company is going to thrive or we’re going to struggle, one way or the other.” 

India bans single-use plastic to combat pollution

New DelhiIndia on Friday imposed a ban on single-use plastics on items ranging from straws to cigarette packets to combat worsening pollution in a country whose streets are strewn with waste.   Announcing the ban, the government dismissed the demands of food, beverage and consumer goods companies to hold off the restriction to avoid disruptions.   Plastic waste has become a significant source of pollution in India, the world's second most populous country.   Rapid economic growth has fueled demand for goods that come with single-use plastic products, such as straws and disposable cutlery.   But India, which uses about 14 million tons of plastic annually, lacks an organized system for managing plastic waste, leading to widespread littering.   Streets across towns are littered with used plastic goods that eventually choke drains, rivers and oceans and also kill animals.   India's ban on single-use plastic items includes straws, cutlery, ear buds, packaging films, plastic sticks for balloons, candy and ice-cream, and cigarette packets, among other products, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government said in a statement.   PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, India's Parle Agro, Dabur and Amul had lobbied for straws to be exempted from the ban.   In a relief to consumers, the government has for now exempted plastic bags but it has asked manufacturers and importers to raise the thickness to promote reuse.   Other than the food and beverage and consumer goods companies, plastic manufacturers have also complained about the ban that they say did not give them adequate time to prepare for the restriction.   Some experts believe that enforcing the ban might be difficult. The government has decided to set up control rooms to check any illegal use, sale and distribution of single-use plastic products.   According to the United Nations, plastic waste is at epidemic proportions in the world's oceans, with an estimated 100 million tons dumped there. Scientists have found large amounts of micro plastic in the intestines of deep-dwelling ocean mammals like whales.

FHA Food & Beverage – Asia's leading F&B trade show to be held annually from 2022

Singapore, 18 May 2022 – Originally a biennial show, FHA – Food & Beverage will take place annually with immediate effect. This is driven by the industry’s strong demand for a quality annual sourcing platform in Asia and Informa Markets’ commitment to create value for our customers by delivering a highquality trade event for the Food and Beverage industry.  Following the 2022 edition in September, ProWine Singapore - the international trade fair for wines and spirits will return alongside FHA – Food & Beverage  from 25–28 April 2023 at the Singapore EXPO every year.     “We realise the need to embrace the new normal within the F&B industry. By pivoting FHA-Food & Beverage to an annual platform, we can better cater industry professionals who needs a year-round solution to meet a larger audience in the fast-changing industry.  It is a very exciting development, and we look forward to work closely with our partners and customers as FHA – Food & Beverage evolves into its new calendar cycle,” said Ms Janice Lee, Event Director, Hospitality, Food & Beverage - Hong Kong & Singapore, Informa Markets.   “I am very pleased that we are able further intensify our cooperation with FHA – Food & Beverage. That the co-location of the fairs is ideal and offers the Southeast Asian market a complete range of top-quality products. We are sure that also the wine and spirits industry will welcome the new rotation”, said Michael Degen, Executive Director, Messe Düsseldorf.   “Singapore is delighted to host FHA – Food & Beverage annually from 2023. This exciting development could not have come at a better time, as industry players grow their businesses and find new ways to address the customers’ needs as markets recover from the pandemic. We are certain that the food and beverage industry, both local and abroad, will benefit from the rich discussions and vibrant connections made annually during FHA – Food & Beverage,” said Mr Poh Chi Chuan, Executive Director, Exhibitions & Conferences, Singapore Tourism Board.   In the past 21 months, FHA – Food & Beverage has pivoted digitally to offer new ways to engage customers no matter where they are, including the launch of the FHA Match - a series of sector-focused virtual platforms for business matching and product discovery. As part of the event’s continual commitment to adapt to the evolving landscape and keep pace with customers’ needs where businesses are recovering and resuming, annualising the event is a response to the changing landscapes of the F&B and hospitality industries in Singapore and beyond.     FHA-Food & Beverage 2022 will officially resume this year, where industry professionals in Asia congregate to connect, trade and discover latest industry trends. 2,000 exhibitors and 35,000 international attendees are expected to be present at the four-day in person event from 5-8 September 2022 at the Singapore EXPO.   Preliminary bookings for FHA-Food & Beverage 2023 are now open, and an early booking promotion will be running until the final day of the FHA-Food & Beverage 2022 edition.     FHA-Food & Beverage’s sister show, FHA-HoReCa, will remain biennial. The upcoming FHA-HoReCa will be held from 25-28 October 2022 and the next edition will be in 2024.  

French plastic packaging ban for fruit and veg begins

A law banning plastic packaging for large numbers of fruits and vegetables comes into force in France on New Year’s Day, to end what the government has called the “aberration” of overwrapped carrots, apples and bananas, as environmental campaigners and exasperated shoppers urge other countries to do the same.   Emmanuel Macron has called the ban on plastic packaging of fresh produce “a real revolution” and said France was taking the lead globally with its law to gradually phase out all single-use plastics by 2040.     Spain will introduce a ban on plastic packaging of fruit and vegetables from 2023. For years, international campaigners have said unnecessary plastic packaging is causing environmental damage and pollution at sea.     From New Year’s Day, France will ban supermarkets and other shops from selling cucumbers wrapped in plastic, and peppers, courgettes, aubergines and leeks in plastic packaging. A total of 30 types of fruit and vegetables will be banned from having any plastic wrapping, including bananas, pears, lemons, oranges and kiwis.     Packs over 1.5kg will be exempt, as will chopped or processed fruit. Some varieties, including cherry tomatoes or soft fruits such as raspberries and blueberries, will be given longer for producers to find alternatives to plastic, but plastic packaging will be gradually phased out for all whole fruits and vegetables by 2026.     With an estimated 37% of fruit and vegetables sold wrapped in plastic packaging in France in 2021, the government believes the ban will cut more than 1bn items of single-use plastic packaging a year. The environment ministry said there must be curbs on the “outrageous amount of single-use plastic in our daily lives”.     Fruit and vegetables wrapped in layers of plastic have exasperated consumers not only in France but neighbouring countries. Nearly three-quarters of British people have experienced “anxiety, frustration or hopelessness” at the amount of plastic that comes with their shopping and 59% think supermarkets and brands are not doing enough to offer refillable, reusable or packaging-free products, according to a poll commissioned by Friends of the Earth and City to Sea in June.     An Ifop poll for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) France in 2019 found that 85% of people were in favour of banning single-use plastic products and packaging. More than 2 million people have signed a WWF petition calling on world governments to stop the plastics pollution crisis. In angry posts on social media, shoppers have complained of what they deemed absurd wrapping such as coconuts in several layers of plastic or single bananas in individual plastic bags.     Moïra Tourneur, an advocacy manager at the NGO Zero Waste France, said the French law was a “good and appropriate” move, although she questioned what she called the “surprising” list of exempt fruit and vegetables given a longer transition time of at least another year before going plastic-free. These include brussels sprouts, spring onions, green beans, broccoli, mushrooms, peaches and apricots, some of which are already sold loose in many shops. Tourneur said: “The ban is fair and fitting … Giving more time for certain fruit and vegetables is a bit of a shame. There is a climate emergency. People are conscious of the need to act urgently on this issue.”     WWF France, which has campaigned on the impact of plastics on biodiversity and marine life in the Mediterranean and across oceans, said it was important to welcome the law as “a positive step in the right direction”, while reminding governments there was more work to be done to end plastics pollution, including on microplastics.     Pierre Cannet, its director of advocacy and campaigns, said the law sent a positive message and “puts plastics at the heart of the national debate”. He added: “We need to stay humble and vigilant by saying there is still a lot to do. We’re still very far from an economy without plastic, and from all the steps needed to eradicate plastics pollution.”     Camilla Zerr, a plastics campaigner at Friends of the Earth for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, said: “I think it’s a very good approach and I would hugely urge the UK to be doing the same and not to lag behind.”     She said that in the UK fruit such as bananas or apples wrapped in plastic packages were sometimes cheaper than those sold loose, which was “very problematic”.     Zerr added: “It is interesting to note that in the UK the main brands sell fruit and vegetables wrapped, but at corner stores you can find a lot of loose fruit and vegetables on sale, which proves it is possible to go without plastic.”  

THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2022 concludes with trade visitor numbers exceeding expectations and top trends in the F&B industry revealed

THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2022 food and beverage trade fair has reported over 51,535 trade visitors attended the event since it opened Tuesday, 24 May, as it came to a successful conclusion on Saturday, 28 May. The event also highlighted top and emerging trends in the F&B industry.   Bangkok (31 May 2022) – Asia's leading food trade fair has reported that trade visitor numbers at THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2022 have exceeded all expectations, with over 51,535 trade visitors from 111 countries welcomed between 24 and 28 May.   The pandemic has forced the F&B market to make drastic changes, with industry operators adapting their businesses quickly. THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2022 welcomed both local and international trade visitors to IMPACT Muang Thong Thani across the week, with top industry players showcasing their unique product innovation approaches and meeting consumer needs.   Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director of Koelnmesse Pte Ltd, said: "The challenges of Covid-19 have severely impacted the F&B industry. As a globally acclaimed F&B tradeshow, THAIFEX - Anuga Asia purposefully solves some of these challenges by providing a platform for creating new enterprises to bring their goods to market, boosting their brand and market exposure."   "At the same time, as guardians of industry standards and leading exponents of developing opportunities in this business area worldwide, it is our responsibility to build platforms of growth for the new age by linking small and big F&B businesses with trade visitors, buyers, investors, and enabling them to promote economic success in a conducive atmosphere. This will likely result in increased diversification, new growth prospects, innovations, operational optimization, and stakeholder value creation."   The fully realized hybrid event format achieved maximum build-up, remote connections, and engagement from show-goers. Exhibitors, visitors, and buyers were also pleased to meet face-to-face as the F&B sector moves towards an era of positivity and boundless growth through innovation.   One of the exhibitors, Norbert Back, Bangkok Bureau Chief at Polish Investment and Trade, said: "Despite the backdrop of a very turbulent year and the challenges of Covid-19, trade between Poland and Thailand exceeded a record 1.5bn USD last year. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of PolishThai diplomatic relations, we see a huge amount of potential, so it's been very exciting to have the Poland National Pavilion at THAIFEX - Anuga Asia. Together with the National Support Center for Agriculture from Poland, we already see a good outcome of this year’s event and we are looking forward to the next edition of THAIFEX – Anuga Asia."   Hosted buyer, Prajith Moorkoth, Managing Director of Golden Praxis (Dubai) said: "This is my first time in THAIFEX - Anuga Asia. It's a well-organised show with many innovative products at the showground. As a hosted buyer, I'm very satisfied with the number of international business contacts that I’ve gathered in the past few days. I know it will translate to revenue growth for my company in the coming days."   The 2022 "restart" brought 1,603 exhibitors across 9 halls of exhibition space at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, which is more than double the number of exhibitors present for the last event in 2020. Despite travel regulations affecting participants from some countries, the event attracted 6,898 international trade visitors, especially from Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea and India.   Visitor, Qurrata Ayuni, from Indonesia, said: "THAIFEX - Anuga Asia took me on an exciting journey into food innovation. I particularly enjoyed exploring some of the upcoming trends in food that we're likely to see more of in the future, and it's been so nice to visit in person, talk to the exhibitors and see their products with my own eyes."   As the pandemic has focused consumer focus on health and sustainability, THAIFEX - Anuga Asia 2022 has also revealed some of the leading and emerging trends following the show: Halal: All regions have recorded a growing trend of halal product launches in the past five years. Halal also had the biggest showcase at THAIFEX - Anuga Asia showcase with 386 exhibitors. Sustainably produced and packaged: In the five years ending 2021, launches of food and beverage using upcycled ingredients rose at a CAGR of 63%, compared with 20% for products using recycled materials, 46% for products with water-saving claims, 30% for products carrying carbon emissions claims and 35% for palm oil-free products. Clean labels: Around half of consumers globally consider the absence of additives and use of only natural ingredients to be at the heart of "clean" eating, ahead of organics and sustainability. Plant-based: There is an annual growth of 46% (CAGR, 2018-2021) with food and beverage launches with a plant-based and premium & indulgent claim. Alternative protein, including edible bugs: Two-thirds of consumers globally state that they eat meat substitutes, while almost a quarter (23%) consume them at least once a day.   Mr. Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit, Director-General of Thailand's Departmentof International Trade Promotion, one of the organisers of THAIFEX – Anuga Asia said: "THAIFEX - Anuga Asia 2022 has attracted the attention of both Thai and foreign F&B buyers and businesspeople even more than expected. They came to visit the event to source new products, negotiate with trade representatives, and do business matching with exporters and manufacturers. It proved that Thailand's food and beverage industries have gained theconfidence to be an essential resource for global foods. Future Foods has received much attention, considered to be a new business-solution idea that assures food safety and resilient food system in the future."  

Polypropylene Curbside Recycling to Improve for Millions of Americans with Seven New Grants Awarded

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — FALLS CHURCH, Va. (April 6, 2022)  – The Recycling Partnership today announced its fourth round of grant funding through its Polypropylene Recycling Coalition (“the Coalition”), issuing nearly $1.6 million in catalytic grants to advance polypropylene recycling in the U.S. These funds will improve curbside polypropylene recycling access for approximately 6.9% of U.S. households when combined with prior grants. Launched in July 2020, the Coalition is a cross-industry effort supported by steering committee members Keurig Dr Pepper, Braskem, NextGen Consortium, and the Walmart Foundation, along with other members of the polypropylene value chain.   Through this latest round of grant funding, the Coalition will provide an additional seven grants to Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) across the U.S. – a total of 19 in just over a year – to boost sortation of polypropylene and support recycling education efforts. These investments will increase the recovery of polypropylene by an estimated 22 million pounds annually for established end markets such as consumer packaging and automotive parts. Polypropylene, sometimes referred to as No. 5 plastic, is an important packaging material increasingly used for various food and non-food products; it is estimated to be the third most prominent plastic in the residential recycling stream and is in strong demand as a recycled material.   "The impact the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition has made in just over a year to improve recycling for approximately 7.2 million households in America is an incredible effort in driving rapid and measurable change. This outcome highlights the power of collaboration, especially when combined with the strategic expertise of the Partnership team," said Sarah Dearman, Vice President of Circular Ventures at The Recycling Partnership. "This is the type of meaningful investment all materials need to improve their packaging circularity. We continue to encourage all companies that use polypropylene to become part of the solution to ensure greater and better capture of this valuable recyclable material."   The Coalition awards grants to MRF candidates that face significant challenges in their ability to effectively sort and recycle polypropylene. With this strategic expansion, polypropylene will now be accepted curbside in more communities and residents educated as to what is and isn't accepted in their recycling programs, resulting in more material captured and made into new products. These endeavors further strengthen polypropylene's position as a valuable recycled material and accelerate the shift to a circular economy.   The newest grantees include: Napa Recycling in Napa, Calif. Cedar Ave Recycling and Transfer Station in Fresno, Calif. SOCRRA in Troy, Mich. Republic Services in Oberlin, Ohio Baltimore County in Md. Recycle Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, Mich. City of Phoenix, Ariz. (incremental funding provided by Keurig Dr Pepper) The combined geographic reach of the first four rounds of grantees includes MRFs across the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western regions of the U.S. The widespread interest and commitment from MRFs across the U.S. to growing the collection and sortation of recyclable polypropylene clearly demonstrates the market strength for this material nationwide.   The Coalition received a strong response to the first four rounds of requests for proposals and continues to accept grant applications to further its efforts to advance polypropylene recycling and reduce plastic waste. The next grant proposal request is due May 31, 2022. MRFs interested in sorting polypropylene are encouraged to apply. The mission-driven work of the Coalition is supported by contributions from organizations representing all segments of the material's value chain.   In addition to the aforementioned steering committee members, other members of the Coalition include Campbell Soup Company, EFS-plastics, The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, KW Plastics, LyondellBasell, Merlin Plastics, Milliken & Company, Nestlé, PolyQuest, Procter & Gamble, St. Joseph Plastics, and Winpak. The Polypropylene Recycling Coalition is advised by industry leaders including: Association of Plastic Recyclers, Closed Loop Partners, Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners, Sustainable Packaging Coalition, and World Wildlife Fund. The Coalition is part of The Recycling Partnership’s Pathway to Circularity, an initiative creating scalable solutions to packaging and system challenges to accelerate the shift to a circular economy that uses fewer finite resources.   To learn more about the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition, its members, and how to get involved in supporting its goals, visit recyclingpartnership.org/polypropylene-coalition. For MRFs interested in applying for a grant, the application is available on our website.      

ISHIDA COMMITS TO CARBON NEUTRAL EXHIBITION STANDS

Packing line specialist Ishida Europe has committed to a partnership that will allow it to use carbon neutral exhibition stands, in a drive to reduce the carbon footprint of its trade show activity. The company is working with German live communication specialist "mac. brand spaces" in the design and building of stands that focus on key sustainability criteria such as reduce, reuse and recycle.   For each trade show, a carbon footprint will be calculated. Afterwards, the amount of carbon dioxide created by the stand will be neutralised through compensation projects. "mac. brand spaces" works only with reforestation projects certified under the Golden Standard for the Global Goals.   Ishida's forthcoming participation at IFFA and VIV Europe will the company's first stands designed to these principles.   "Exhibitions are a vital part of the global packaging and food markets, and we know our customers value the opportunity to assess our equipment and discuss their specific requirements will our experts face-to-face – especially after the two years of the pandemic," comments Steve Jones, Ishida Europe's Marketing Director.   "Nevertheless, we realise that such activities also have environmental consequences and we therefore wanted to play an active role in minimising the impact of our participation as part of our wider sustainability commitments."   For each stand, the mac. design team will consider the need for every component in order to reduce the use of new materials, as well as seeking to replace items with sustainable alternatives wherever possible. Components are also now designed to be reused and retained for future events, while used elements are sent for recycling.   Examples for Ishida stands include multiple-use two-piece ceiling signs, fabric to replace printed panels for the backwalls, recyclable floor tiles and the reuse of decorative elements.   Where Ishida shares a stand with a third party and cannot validate its full carbon impact at an exhibition, reductions in carbon footprint will be made to achieve as close to carbon neutral as possible, by focusing on opportunities to reduce, replace, reuse or recycle materials.     "This new improved approach, founded on sustainability, will reduce the carbon footprint of our exhibition attendance whilst continuing to evolve the established Ishida identity, it's a clear win win" said Steve Jones.     Sustainability continues to be a critical criterion in the design of Ishida equipment. The company's most recent multihead weigher range offers a power consumption reduction of approximately 20% over previous generations, while its X-ray inspection systems have a built-in feature that puts the machines into stand-by mode following spells of inactivity. The latest Ishida tray sealers have been designed to reliably handle new sustainable pack formats, and the company's Inspira VFFS technology for snacks bagmakers helps to eliminate packaging waste by ensuring consistent machine set-up.     Ishida's commitment to sustainability is also reflected in its recent accreditation with ISO 14001.  As explained by David Cleaver, Ishida's Environmental, Health & Safety, Facilities Manager, "ISO 14000 is a range of standards related to environmental management that exists to help organisations minimise how their operations negatively affect the environment, comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally tailored requirements. Ishida was recently awarded the 14001 standard and is committed to maintain the ISO 14001 accreditation via internal and external audits."      

THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2022 to address the needs of food industry operators as they adapt to a critically changed F&B market

The event will feature 11 food segments, 1200 exhibitors, 2,500 high-profile buyers, some 40,000 expected trade visitors, as well as special shows dedicated to entrepreneurs, product innovation and responding directly to buyer needs.   Bangkok (28 April 2022) —THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2022 preparation is in full swing as Asia’s leading food trade fair gears up to host local and international participants at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand, from 24-28 May 2022. This is the most comprehensive event dedicated to the food and beverage industry in the region. The event will bring together key leaders, exhibitors and buyers from the F&B sector to discuss new products, market segments and opportunities, rising levels of product innovation, and emerging & growing trends in the post-pandemic era.     This year, THAIFEX – Anuga Asia is focused on catering to food exporters' and importers' needs, providing them with a standout networking and high-quality business exchange platform. The event will feature 11 food segments, approximately 1200 exhibitors, c.2,500 high-profile buyers, some 40,000 expected visitors, as well as sessions dedicated to entrepreneurs, product innovation and responding directly to buyer needs.     Besides the wide range of F&B products and solutions across 9 halls at THAIFEX – Anuga Asia, the organisers have also launched a newly created segment, THAIFEX - Anuga Future Food Market. This segment is made up of exhibits that feature potentially revolutionary products and services that address buyers’ needs for ground-breaking innovations that will influence and positively impact this fast-paced industry.     The Hosted Buyer Programme and the Priority Buyer Club are back by popular demand. “In the last Hosted Buyer Programme, our buyers seized up 1.7 million ÚSD worth of purchases from new suppliers alone. And they have also forecasted 27 million USD in sales revenue for the next financial year. We are expecting no less this year! With 2,500 top buyers from companies like BGF Retail and Circle K who have already registered, we anticipate some exciting news to unfold at this year’s event!” said General Manager of Food Tradeshow, Koelnmesse Singapore, Wendy Lim.   Riding on the theme of ‘Hybrid Edition’, the physical trade fair will be enhanced by digital elements. This includes an online networking platform for attendees to network even before the show begins, and remote booths and hosted buyer meetings for exhibitors and buyers who are not able to join in person. There will also be live streaming sessions from our Future Food Experience stage, where key industry experts, regional and global thought leaders and trade professionals will gather to exchange ideas and provide actionable insights. This year’s topics include the top 10 F&B trends, digital transformation, sustainability, and so on. The stage will also be supplemented with THAIFEX – Anuga Start-Up pitches, where entrepreneurs pitch their innovations to a captive audience such as venture capitalists, investors, and future business partners. Several of these sessions will be live-streamed on social media channels (details below).   To make the show a safe and successful business platform for all physical participants, the organisers have also introduced new measures in accordance with rules and regulations issued by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).   THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2022 is organised by Koelnmesse, DITP and TCC. For more information, please visit https://thaifex-anuga.com/en/. To view the Live Stream during the event cast, please follow https://www.facebook.com/thaifexanugaasia/. -ENDS

V-Shapes Sachets for Innovative Single-Dose Packaging

Next generation solution for single-use packaging and sampling a new growth opportunity for the company.   V-Shapes, an innovative supplier of vertically integrated products and services for convenient, hygienic and sustainable single-dose packaging, today reported that visett, a leading provider of branded and white label cosmetics and body care products, has added V-Shapes sachets to its packaging mix. The company currently has a V-Shapes PRIME single-lane fill and seal packaging/converting machine for on-demand production of unique single-dose sachets that can be opened with a single gesture using one hand, as well as a Trojan Label T2-C printer. The company is using a combination of printing on demand and pre-printed flexo substrates to meet the widest possible range of customer needs. visett, located in Germany and in business for two decades, offers its products via white label, B2B and B2C. B2B business for the company, which has nine employees, has grown in 50 countries over the last decade.   "We have historically offered a whole range of packaging for our products, including bottles and tubes," said Michel Raad, Owner and Managing Director of visett, "We had never offered sachets before because many of our competitors did. But as an innovative company, when we learned about V-Shapes, we saw it as the next-generation solution, a differentiator for us, and we didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it."   The V-Shapes PRIME has been so successful for visett that the company is currently in the process of seeking a larger facility in order to add two or three V-Shapes ALPHA six-lane packaging machines. Since based on volume, some substrate is preprinted with flexography, the company will likely configure one of its machines as an AlphaFlex with in-line printing and use pre-printed flexo rolls for the others. "In this way,"  Raad said, "we will have the ability to produce relatively large quantities with on-demand printing, but for the largest quantities, we can still leverage our flexo fleet as well."   Currently, sachets comprise less than 10% of visett's overall volume, but that share is expected to grow dramatically once the ALPHA units are installed. For visett, sachets represent an add-on offering, building on its overall growth rather than replacing any current production.   "As we have introduced these innovative sachets to the market,"  Raad added, "we have found a number of unexpected uses. For example, for sampling, we don't need to ship large containers anymore, which reduces our sampling costs significantly. In addition, customers who might previously have purchased a full-sized container of a product now are frequently asking for full sets of 10 to 20 sachets in addition to the full-size container for more convenient use. For example, they might take sachets with them when they travel and prefer not to carry the full-sized container with them, or for handing out to their customers as samples to encourage those customers to purchase the full-sized containers. Sometimes customers find the single-unit sachets more convenient overall. A good example is our cream make-up removal. Some customers would prefer to purchase 10 or 20 single-use sachets rather than a pot of the product."   The other opportunity is in restaurants and at events, Raad points out. "The Health Department has told us that as we come out of the pandemic, most certainly, large multi-use containers on tables in restaurants and bars, as well as at events, will be forbidden. So the demand for single-use sachets will continue to grow. And the V-Shapes sachets are so much easier, cleaner and more hygienic to open and dispense than traditional single-serve packages."   Raad has also been extremely pleased with the support he has received from V-Shapes, noting, "It's been a very good relationship, they are easy to work with and very supportive. Their response time is also very fast. I have two phone numbers to use with WhatsApp … if the first one doesn't answer right away, the second one usually does, which means I literally have 24/7 service." He also notes that, like his own company, V-Shapes is very proactive. He says, "At visett, once we have a good product range, we start selling it. But in the background, we are also developing new products and upgrading existing ones. V-Shapes has that same philosophy, and they are very proactive in communicating to us about upgrades or new developments. For example, they have already notified us we should expect to have another equipment upgrade soon, and we are also looking forward to implementing substrates made from recycled feedstocks. V-Shapes stays on top of all of that for us to make sure we are delivering the best product possible to our customers."  

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON FOR THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA 2022!

THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2022 preparation is in full swing as Asia's leading food trade fair gears up to re-imagine the future of food and presents more in-person and virtual collaboration opportunities this year.      THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2022 in-person event is confirmed to take place at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand from 24-28 May 2022. With Thailand's reopening and the relaxation of entry schemes by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), local and international participants are looking to THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2022 as Asia's F&B business networking platform and a driving force for new products, market segments, and trends in the post-pandemic era.    Launching a brand-new market segment, 'THAIFEX – Anuga Future Food Market' is set to connect F&B players who are boldly reimagining how future food is made. Radical products and services will be featured to address ground-breaking innovations that will influence the fast-paced industry.    The prospects for this year's event are very promising. With an estimated 1,200 exhibitors, 2,500 high-profiled hosted buyers, and some 40,000 visitors reconnecting under one roof, it underlines that physical contact and networking remain to be essential business tools. Iain Eaglesham, Managing Director of Fortis, said, "After a two-year break in sourcing new products because of the pandemic, it's important for us to take advantage of the opportunities THAIFEX - Anuga 2022 offers. This year we will be placing more emphasis on sourcing new suppliers from within the Asia region due to the current global supply chain situation. The event has always been one of the biggest and well organised food and beverage shows in Asia, and this year it gives us a fresh opportunity to source new F&B products both from around the region and internationally in the most productive way possible!"   Treading on the path of hybrid theme, the physical trade fair will be further enhanced by the digital element, including pre, during, and postshow online networking site, pre-show webinars, and live streaming sessions.    To make the show a safe and successful business platform for all physical participants, the team has also implemented comprehensive safety measures in response to COVID-19. With preparation in full swing, now is the time to register for this must-attend event!  For more details, please visit https://thaifex-anuga.com/en/.