In an exciting move for the UK packaging sector, Easyfairs has launched London Packaging Week – a vibrant new home for collaboration, discovery, and innovation for the capital’s packaging community.

Taking place on 21 and 22 September at London Olympia, the new-look event is a major evolution of the long-established Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London event and will combine four targeted exhibitions: Packaging Première for the luxury products market, PCD for the perfume, make-up and personal care sectors, PLD for the premium and luxury drinks market, and Food & Consumer Pack.

Josh Brooks, Marketing and Community Director for Easyfairs’ packaging events, explains how the changes to the capital’s premier packaging event will provide the perfect platform to support future design and innovations.

1. This is a big change for the show. What was the catalyst?

We first launched Packaging Innovations & Luxury Packaging London over 10 years ago as a unique new meeting place for packaging designers, technologists, and suppliers in the capital. That format provided an excellent breeding ground for innovation in the FMCG and luxury sectors, but the needs of the market have evolved significantly in the past decade, and it is time to begin a new chapter for London’s packaging community.

A major part of the background here has been the growth of our portfolio with the acquisitions in 2016 of ADF & PCD Paris, which was and still is the world’s leading annual packaging event for the beauty and aerosol sectors; and then in 2019 of Packaging Première in Milan, a fast-growing exhibition for the luxury products sector. We then launched PLD Paris, for the premium and luxury drinks markets, in January 2020 alongside ADF & PCD in Paris; and a new edition of PCD in Milan. We have found that the targeted nature of these co-located events makes them even more attractive and effective for both suppliers and buyers; so, the changes to our London event are the final piece in that puzzle and will bring a new experience to the whole community of packaging buyers, designers, and developers in and around London.

2. What will be different at London Packaging Week compared to Packaging Innovations and Luxury Packaging London?

Rather than talking about London Packaging Week, we should see the event as four targeted events – Packaging Première, PCD, PLD and Food & Consumer Pack. This is the biggest change, and each event is designed to bring a sharp focus on packaging design and development for the capital’s key luxury and FMCG markets.

Packaging Première will showcase the pinnacle of luxury packaging, with a particular focus on fashion, accessories, fine food, and luxury retail.

PCD is the home of the world’s most exquisite perfume, cosmetics, and personal care packaging solutions, whilst PLD will showcase new possibilities in packaging for premium and luxury drinks, from wine and spirits to premium beers and soft drinks.

Last but certainly not least, Food & Consumer Pack is dedicated to driving packaging innovation across the £200bn market for FMCG products, including food and drink.

Together, these four events will offer brands an unrivalled forum to source the best packaging solutions, meet new suppliers, overcome their biggest innovation challenges, and do business.

3. What’s new for 2022?

So much!

The first thing visitors will see is our beautiful new look, which has been designed by Butterfly Cannon and is now shared across our family of events in London, Paris, and Milan. We think it’s beautiful and feedback so far is that it really expresses the purpose of the events, to drive innovation in the specific markets they cover.

Alongside that, we’re working hard to ensure a show experience that creates connections and inspiration and drives business for both brands and suppliers.

The event is in a beautiful venue with PCD, PLD, and Packaging Première grouped on the lower floor and Food & Consumer Pack on the upper balcony floor. More than anything, our shows are about sourcing and in all there will be more than 180 packaging suppliers exhibiting across the four events so there will be a huge range of options in innovative primary and secondary packaging, materials, and formats as well as design and filling services on show.

To create real inspiration, the event will host three galleries. The Pentawards gallery will showcase the best in global packaging design, while the Innovation Gallery will show a range of the most innovative new packs from exhibitors’ stands. Finally, a new gallery showcasing winners of the 2022 PCD and PLD Innovation Awards – which were first presented at our Paris event in June – will be at the event. All of these galleries will give visitors the perfect reference point for their own designs and innovations.

Networking is a key element of course and the event will feature a Prosecco Bar, a Networking Bar, and a beautiful VIP Lounge, as well as multiple opportunities to meet new and existing business partners.

4. Packaging Innovations is well-known for its seminar content, will this remain at London Packaging Week?

Yes, absolutely – there will be three stages across the event. In Food & Consumer Pack, the FMCG Future Makers stage will host talks on design and innovation from leading innovators and designers in the grocery and FMCG markets. The Lifestyle & Luxury Unboxed stage, situated in Packaging Première, will bring innovators from jewellery, fashion, and gourmet food brands and luxury retailers to the stage to give insight on how they are solving their packaging challenges. Finally, the Beauty & Drinks Innovators stage, situated alongside PCD and PLD, will bring the latest thinking design and innovation in the beauty and drinks markets.

One thing we’re very excited about is a series of sessions that the Pentawards, the world’s biggest design competition, will be hosting under the badge ‘Capital of Design’. London is a global capital of packaging and branding design, and these sessions will showcase some of the best work and top agencies from the city.

5. Is there anything else to add?

An exciting new development is that London Packaging Week will extend beyond the four shows at Olympia. On Thursday 22 and Friday 23 September, the Pentawards will hold its first face-to-face Pentawards Festival, bringing together top speakers from the global design and branding community. The two-day conference will culminate with the Pentawards Gala Ceremony at the Royal Opera House on the Friday evening – an incredible way to finish the first London Packaging Week.

As you can see, we’re working hard to create an event for whole London packaging community – all the innovators and creators who are part of the world of design agencies, brands, and suppliers that make London’s packaging scene so exciting. We can’t wait to welcome everyone there.

To register your interest to attend London Packaging Week, please visit www.londonpackagingweek.com or to enquire about exhibiting, contact the show team on +44 (0) 2088 438 800 or PackagingUK@easyfairs.com.