Key packaging influencers at AmorePacific, Diageo, Moët Hennessy, Kendo Brands, LVMH and Dermalogica among more than 100 speakers who will tackle the key issues in sustainability, design and innovation for packaging in the year to come 

PARIS, 7 December 2023 – Paris Packaging Week organiser Easyfairs has lifted the lid on its exciting conference programme for the January 2024 event, bringing together eminent industry experts to reveal exclusive insights from across the beauty, luxury, premium drinks, and aerosols markets. 

The programme will see more than 100 expert speakers take part in a wide variety of talks, awards, and debates held throughout Paris Packaging Week on 17 & 18 January at Paris Expo Portes de Versailles. The show will host a new line-up of stages focused on the key packaging challenges – the Circular Economy Stage, the Future Innovation Forum, the Pentawards Design Stage and the Global Aerosol & Dispensing Summit.

The Circular Economy Stage focuses on all things sustainability and plays host to several important debates on the EU’s impending Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) reform – set to be a hot topic of discussion that impacts virtually every market sector going forward. It will also host a keynote from Kay Lee, the General Director of AMOREPACIFIC Europe and Goutal, while other speakers include experts from brands such as Yves Rocher, Rémy Martin, Moët Hennessy, and L’Oréal.

“PPWR is the most impactful topic for cosmetics companies,” explained Stéphanie Lumbers, Sustainable Development Director at La Fédération des Entreprises de la Beauté (FEBEA) – one of the participants in the first roundtable of the programme. “PPWR, just like the French AGEC law, is an ambitious project that will determine the way cosmetics brands operate. Some packaging will be banned, and there are challenges around recyclability, size, and so on. I’m delighted to be part of the discussion on this important topic.”

The Future Innovation Forum will a must-see for anyone keen to get inspired by advancements from the cutting edge of packaging. The stage will featuring debates and talks on the latest tech, material innovations, start-ups and technologies such as AI for innovation, giving a true vision of the future of packaging innovation. Highlights will include keynote talks from Jeremy Lindley, global design director at Diageo on the neuroscience of product design plus talks from brands and influencers including Dermalogica, LVMH, the design agency De Baschmakoff and more.

A particular highlight of this stage will be the Future Leaders panel on Thursday afternoon, which brings together ten inspiring young people from across the world to share insights from their work to transform the future of packaging.

Stépane Amarsy, CEO of tech consultancy The Next Mind, spoke ahead of his talk titled “The Future is Already Here”, saying, “What I see amongst small and large companies is a collective denial of reality and where we’re at in terms of technology. My objective is to make them realise that, change their mindset, and make them active instead of passive. Packaging isn’t dead – it just has to to transform itself, and it’s my mission to drive that transformation.”

The Pentawards Design Stage focuses on design, branding and consumer trends for the year to come in a programme curated by the Pentawards, the world’s leading packaging design competition and community.

Among a range of talks from design agencies and brands, highlights will include a keynote from Nicolas Loufrani, CEO of the iconic Smiley Company; a panel discussion on inclusive design featuring Catherine Lee, VP of packaging design at Fenty Beauty; and a case study from Carla Brevet, senior brand manager for Eminente rum at LVMH. Talks from agencies and designers such as Vincent Villeger, BETC Design, Maison Linéa, WeWantMore and DCA Design will complete the line-up.

The fourth stage, The Global Aerosol & Dispensing Summit, is hosted as part of the ADF show and brings together key influencers to discuss sustainability and innovation issues in the international aerosol sector. Produced in partnership with the FEA, the European Aerosol Federation, it features talks on regulatory issues and new innovation opportunities, notably in terms of sustainability, with talks from key packaging suppliers, associations and brand owners including Beiersdorf, Coty and Kao.

Christelle Anya, Content and Community Director at Paris Packaging Week, said: “Our stages aim to offer informative and inspiring talks from the world’s leading experts; and to equip everyone involved in developing packaging to understand the issues and create the best possible packaging for their products. The talks will give a true vision of packaging today and for the future and I can’t wait to see them.”

Paris Packaging Week is made of four showcases, each running concurrently on the same show floor – ADF for the aerosol and dispensing market, PCD for the beauty and personal care sector, PLD for the premium drinks market and Packaging Première for the luxury market.

With more speakers and events still to be announced and a sold-out show floor bringing 650 exhibitors to Paris, this year’s event is set to be the biggest Paris Packaging Week yet.

Visitors can view the full conference programme and register for a free ticket by visiting www.parispackagingweek.com.