Herndon, Va.; Oct. 24, 2024 – PACK EXPO International 2024 (Nov. 3–6; McCormick Place, Chicago), will showcase a wide array of innovations to help brand owners minimize energy consumption, waste, and carbon footprint and address circularity.

New and expanded education and show navigation resources will help 45,000 attendees efficiently meet their sustainability objectives as they traverse more than 1.3 million square feet of floor space housing 2,700 exhibitors.

“With consumers and regulators paying more attention to sustainability, brand owners must step up their efforts to set and meet goals to increase the sustainability of their operations,” says Laura Thompson, vice president of trade shows at PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and producer of the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows. “Attendees at PACK EXPO International will be able to walk away with the information they need to set and achieve sustainability goals.”

Show resources include the launch of Sustainability Central, the Sustainability Solutions Finder, the PACK EXPO Green program, The Showcase of Packaging Innovations®, and free educational sessions.

Sustainability Central in the West Hall (Booth W-21020) will explore packaging sustainability and what it means to brands. This new show floor destination will provide a look at actionable, sustainable solutions in manufacturing, materials, recovery, logistics, analytics, and design. With over 20 educational sessions, the Sustainability Central stage will deliver critical insights. On Sunday, Nov. 3, at noon, PMMI experts Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development, and Rebecca Marquez, director, custom research, will present Navigating Packaging Materials Transitions, an update on PMMI’s 2023 Packaging Compass report and the related Material Transitioning Dashboard, an on-line tool illustrating materials consumer packaged goods companies are using, what they are phasing out, and their likely replacements over the next five years.

Sustainability Central also will feature presentations from experts at Amazon, Conagra, Clorox, Dow, Merck, and the Consumer Brands Association and others, as well as opportunities to learn about the latest planet-friendly innovations, research, and best practices from Virginia Tech, University of Florida, Clemson University, AMERIPEN, and more.

Educational sessions related to sustainability also will be presented at the Reusable Packaging Learning Center (Booth LU-6737) in the Reusable Packaging Pavilion, the Innovation Stage (Booth N-4560, N-4580, and N-4585), the Processing Innovation Stage (Booth LU-7147), and Industry Speaks (Booth N-4544). Topics include technology and materials innovations, the use of recycled content and renewable materials, transformation of waste, circularity, refill/reuse options, life cycle assessment, sustainable package design, reduction in emissions, extended producer responsibility, and data collection.  

At the Reusable Packaging Pavilion, members of the Reusable Packaging Association will demonstrate ways to reduce waste, cut costs, and gain supply chain efficiency. Visitors to the pavilion also will be able to explore reusable transport packaging products and services as well as learn about innovative reuse options.

Showgoers can locate sustainability resources quickly by using the Sustainability Solutions Finder kiosk located in Sustainability Central. This professionally vetted and searchable tool identifies exhibitors with environmentally friendly products and machinery. Sustainable materials and machinery suppliers and service providers also are identified by the PACK EXPO Green icon signage on the show floor. The logo also indicates which educational sessions explore sustainability topics.

Real-world examples of sustainable packaging from around the world may be found at The Showcase of Packaging Innovations®, sponsored by Smurfit WestRock and located within the Containers and Materials Pavilion in the West Hall (Booth W-21030).

At the venue, PMMI is working with Dow, the Official Sustainability Partner and the Official Sponsor of Show Floor Recycling at PACK EXPO International, to minimize the environmental impact of the event and divert as much waste as possible from landfills. Recyclable items include paper, paperboard, and corrugated; metal cans; unbroken glass containers; 01-PET and 02-HDPE containers; and name badges (look for badge collection bins at shuttle bus areas). PMMI also proudly notes that McCormick Place itself has been recognized for its innovative strategies to reduce its carbon footprint and has received official acknowledgment by independent third-party organizations such as LEED, APEX, Green Seal, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Learn more about PACK EXPO International’s Sustainability Commitment here. For more information and to register for the show, visit packexpointernational.com.

There are trillions of bacteria in the human gut microbiome. When we eat fruits and vegetables, some of these bacteria break down the dietary fiber and provide us with metabolites, small molecules our body can use for energy or cell repair.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to study a particular bacterium commonly found in the gut of people who eat a plant-rich diet.

The specifics of how bacteria break down our food is still a “black box,” according to Dr. Harry Brumer, the UBC professor who led this research. “Our team is trying to determine what molecular machinery the bacteria have that give them the unique ability to break down dietary fiber,” he said.

Using ultrabright synchrotron X-rays at the CLS and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource in California, Brumer and colleagues determined the three-dimensional structure and function of the proteins and enzymes this bacterium uses to break down food, and the details of that process.

“The CLS made it possible for us to study these mechanics on the atomic level,” said Brumer. “It's really cool to understand how gut bacteria perform those complex processes and contribute to our health.” The team published their findings in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

As scientists continue to learn more about how the microbiome works, says Brumer, they might uncover how to influence it to improve health.

“Ultimately, we’d like to know how to alter a diet to increase the population of good bacteria, perhaps to the detriment of harmful bacteria,” Brumer said. “There's a huge population of bacteria like the one we researched that might eventually make good probiotics. And by changing their abundance in the gut, we might be able to make people healthier, reduce disease, and improve nutrition.”

Tampa, FL (October 23, 2024) -- Signode, a leading global manufacturer of a broad range of transit packaging equipment, tools, consumables, automation and support solutions, is highlighting new equipment and industry-leading technologies at PACK EXPO International 2024. Held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois from November 3-6, visitors to booth S-3100 will have the opportunity to see live equipment demonstrations and explore the latest additions to the expansive Signode portfolio of end-of-line transit packaging solutions.

“At PACK EXPO 2024, we are excited to demonstrate how innovation drives every aspect of our end-of-line packaging solutions, from automated equipment to packaging consumables,” said Mike Wolf, Senior Director of Signode Technologies. “The new solutions we’re introducing at the show highlight our commitment to creating easy-to-use, adaptable systems that align with the evolving challenges facing today’s manufacturers.”

New Innovative Products Highlights at PACK EXPO
For the first time at PACK EXPO, Signode will debut several new innovations in its portfolio of plastic strapping solutions including equipment, tools and consumables. Representatives will be on site to demonstrate how these advancements can add efficiency and improved productivity to your unique operation. 

Among these innovations is the fully automated SGP-5330 strapping bundler. The latest addition to the SGP series, it expands on the capabilities of its predecessor, now offering a smart touchscreen HMI and advanced IoT integration for real-time equipment monitoring and proactive maintenance.

Live Integrated Solution Demonstrations
Signode will also host live demonstrations of an integrated packaging system featuring the new GCU-3 strapping unitizer and the fully automatic Octopus® S Series stretch wrapping machine - a combination that streamlines end-of-line operations while improving load integrity throughout the distribution cycle. Equipped with up to six modular heads for enhanced flexibility and maximum throughput, the GCU-3 uses sensitive compression and variable head tension to enable the strapping of highly delicate loads. The Octopus S Series uses an “S” wrap pattern to optimize load containment and minimize film usage, enabling it to wrap up over 100 loads per hour.

The integrated demo will also incorporate custom protective packaging through Signode Engineered Solutions, such as leading Multi-Wall^TM, PDM^TM and Reddi-Pac^TM brands. Lightweight, durable, and fully customizable, Signode’s turn-key packaging solutions aim to improve output, minimize waste, and maximize efficiency for the most demanding jobs.

Signode will also be running live demos of its fully customizable Simplimatic® Robotic Palletizing Systems and Simpli-flex® Conveying Systems. Engineered for ultimate versatility, these systems provide flexible options for loading single or multiple pallets, with both multi-axis and collaborative configurations that adapt to a variety of product lines. Integrating a Simpli-flex conveyor system upstream in your operation helps set the stage for a continuous flow of materials throughout each phase of the distribution cycle, enhancing overall throughput and operational efficiency.

Signode’s comprehensive approach is further strengthened by a diverse portfolio of protective packaging, dunnage, and transit packaging solutions, all designed to elevate our customers' operations and reinforce our commitment to their ongoing success. These and all Signode offerings are backed by industry-leading service and support. Customizing solutions to meet transit packaging needs, Signode has expanded its offering to include total support through its Packaging Plus Reliability Services programs, leveraging IoT capabilities for remote monitoring and service, alongside on-site support from the Customer Experience Center in Roselle, IL. 

To learn more about Signode and the benefits of long-term partnership, visit Booth S-3100 at PACK EXPO, or visit www.signode.com.

More than ever before, consumers are paying more attention to the labels of the foods they are purchasing. Starting January 1, 2026, most prepackaged foods sold in Canada will be required to display a front-of-package (FOP) symbol that will help shoppers to identify products that meet or exceed thresholds for saturated fats, sugars and sodium.

Key points of interest:

• The Front-of-Pack (FOP) nutrition labelling regulation was introduced in 2022 by Health Canada as part of amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR).
• Impacted prepackaged foods include deli meats, soups, frozen meals and desserts, puddings, salad dressings, cereals and more.
• There are some exceptions, including whole or cut vegetables and fruits, select dairy products and foods with a healthy fat profile.
• The FOP nutrition symbol, presented in both English and French, includes a magnifying glass and will complement the Nutrition Facts table on the back of the package.

NSF, a leading public health and safety organization, is leading efforts to help Canadian businesses navigate the new regulation. Our support services include product reformulation, package label reviews and label redesign. On October 29 at 1PM ET, NSF will host a free webinar to explain the new regulation in depth.

"This regulation is the first of its kind for our nation and will impact thousands of food businesses," says Michelle Anstey, Regulatory Affairs Manager at NSF. "Though the Front-of-Pack symbol will not be required until January 1, 2026, many businesses are already adapting to the new regulation in order to meet production timelines and ensure on-time compliance."