The Trends Showcase, duraing the latest edition of the Emballage tradeshow

In accordance with the ongoing changes in the sector, the two complementary shows, Packaging and Handling, will now be united under a new name, All4Pack Paris, which actually covers a broader spectrum of activities: Packaging, Processing, Printing, and Handling. According to the organizers, this new trademark reflects the global dimension of the event, makes its offering clearer, and represents the new potential of the show created in 1947.

If, as usual, the show will be guided by creativity, All4Pack Paris still aims to highlight innovation: “the main changing aspects of the sector will be tackled, and so will the themes of active and connected packaging, automation, smart warehouses, digital and 3D printing”, Véronique Sestrières promises. A new commercial policy is also announced, and the area will be larger and organized differently, thanks to the addition of Hall 7.

Confident buyers and manufacturers

Just like every year for 10 years, the show’s Observatory has provided an accurate, instantaneous picture of the sector’s players’ perception: buyers, packaging suppliers, and components manufacturers.

The Packaging Observatory (now All4Pack Observatory) relies on the data provided by Goodlink/MRCC, who conducted an online survey of 565 respondents in September – 15% of buyers in cosmetics, perfumery and hygiene –, in partnership with ASLOG (French association for the supply chain and logistics) and CISMA (union for construction, infrastructures, steel, and handling).

The results highlight a certain optimism on the part of all players when it comes to production prospects for 2016/2018. As a matter of fact, 63% of buyers and packaging manufacturers are considering increasing their production within the next three years (compared to 60% and 58% in 2014, respectively). The figure rises up to 75% for cosmetics, perfumery, and hygiene buyers, who come second behind e-commerce/mass distribution. This optimism is obviously enhanced by the fact that calm has been restored as regards the cost of materials and the stability of operating margins: 65% of manufacturers remain confident on these aspects, compared to 49% in 2013. As a consequence, prospects are better in terms of employment, as 35% foresee a rise, compared to 28% in 2014, and investments (28% vs 14%).

Closeness and the Made in France label remain important criteria, as 42% of buyers approach French players. France is followed by Germany and Italy.

Innovation, a fundamental differentiation factor in a tense economic climate, remains the main concern: 63% of all players are working on projects for 2015-2016, and 89% are committed to luxury projects. And life cycle in terms of marketing and product development tends to take less long – about 2 years right now.

The innovation essentials given by respondents are design, which is back at the top, in particular in the beauty sector, where it represents a major lever on which 69% of buyers are willing to bank for the two years to come, followed by convenience (55%), and recyclability (45%). It should be noted that connected packaging is growing: 15% of buyers have allocated specific means to it in 2015, and 26% of them are thinking about it.