Symposium on sustainable packaging: protecting products and the planet

This Royal Society symposium on Sustainable Packaging will bring together key stakeholders from the packaging industry to highlight the cutting-edge technologies that are making packaging more sustainable.


Programme

13:45-13:50
Opening Remarks

13:50-14:10
Operational challenges for new packaging materials

14:10-15:25
Emerging disruptive technologies

15:25-15:40
Break

15:40-16:00
Compostable plastics: unlocking existing barriers to systems change

16:00-17:00
Panel: Influencing consumer attitudes and behaviour towards packaging


Background

Packaging has transformed the manner and extent to which we can safely transport and store goods, but our current system is failing. Studies suggest that only 14% of plastic packaging used globally is collected for recycling and only 10% of all plastic recycled has been so more than once. Around 40% currently ends its useful life in landfill.

Tackling waste and establishing a circular plastics economy will play a vital role in making the packaging industry sustainable.

From designing effective and affordable materials to mining discarded plastic, this event will showcase global disruptors and policymakers who are working to reduce, reuse or revolutionise plastic at every level of the packaging life cycle.


About the conference series

This scientific meeting is part of the Royal Society’s Transforming our Future conference series generously supported by AstraZeneca. These meetings are unique, high-level events that address the scientific and technical challenges of the next decade. Each conference features cutting edge science from industry and academia and brings together leading experts from the scientific community, including regulatory, charity and funding bodies.