Registrations open for Australasian Packaging Conference

Early-bird registrations are now open for the biennial Australasian Packaging Conference, coordinated by the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP).

To be held from 6–7 May at the Sofitel Sydney, Wentworth, the 2025 Australasian Packaging Conference is open to all packaging professionals across Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

Covering the theme ‘Reimagine Packaging Design’, the 2025 edition has been designed to provide a range of plenary sessions, panel discussions and concurrent breakout sessions with over 70 speakers and leading experts in their field covering a broad range of topics, including reducing chemicals of concern such as PFAS and consistent on-pack labelling for consumers.

The conference will also discuss the current and future state for packaging design in the Australia/NZ region, including reviewing how packaging can meet the founding principles of the 2025 National Packaging Targets but also be design-ready and recycle-ready to meet the incoming Mandated National Packaging Design Standards.

Key topics will include:

• Moving packaging design towards and beyond 2030
• Preparing your packaging design for Extended Producer Responsibility looking at global best practice such as PPWR
• Looking at eco modulation for kerbside collection and the flow-on for new design standards
• The incoming Mandated National Packaging Design Standards and why you need to be ready
• The shift towards mono materials
• The reduction of chemicals of concern within packaging such as PFAS
• The elimination of PVC, PVDC, PETG, oxo-degradable and landfil-degradable materials in packaging
• Increasing the use of recycled content in your packaging and why this is important for the circular economy
• Reducing evidence-based problematic and unnecessary packaging
• Avoidance and reduction of all packaging (primary, secondary and tertiary)
• Emptiability of the pack and ensuring no product waste through intuitive packaging design
• Reduction of the weight of packaging without impacting product protection or shelf life
• Reduction of materials that are seen as contaminants to recycling systems in Australia and New Zealand
• Plastics packaging to be recyclable through kerbside collection or alternate pathways such as the Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia/Curby or chemical/advanced recycling
• The ability for packaging to be recycled or reprocessed in Australia and/or New Zealand
• Implementation and expansion of models for reusable packaging (primary, secondary and tertiary)
• Understanding materials recovery facilities (MRF) and how they link to design
• Consistent on-pack labelling for consumers and best practice consumer education campaigns from across the globe.

The conference will also cover future pathways in Australia and NZ for chemical and advanced recycling, soft plastics recycling, container deposit schemes, single-use plastic regulations, alternate pathways and collection programs for non-kerbside recyclable packaging.

The annual Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Awards will also be held as a part of the conference on 6 May. All conference delegates will receive a complimentary ticket to the gala awards dinner.

With concurrent sessions being held during the two days, the AIP recommends booking a number of people from your team to attend. Group discounts are available. The conference will attain a high amount of Certified Packaging Development (CPD) points towards the Certified Packaging Professional designation.

Early-bird rates close on 4 April 2025. Visit the conference website to register.

Image caption: 2025 AIP Conference. Image supplied.