Jean-François Roche is Vice President Sales, Consumer Packaging Europe at Graphic Packaging International, he’s an exuberant Frenchman with a clear vision to lead ECMA into the next decade.

Annual Pro Carton Trends Report : Consumers have more power than ever before. They are also prepared to spend more money on genuine added value.

It’s been an eventful few months since our Christmas newsletter. The backlash against plastic waste continues unabated and, as a consequence, seems to be having a positive effect on the carton market as brand owners and retailers look to review their packaging choices.

Most of you will have seen on TV, or read about in the press, the problems that plastic packaging is causing, particular in polluting our oceans.

What are your expectations for your industries over the next 12 months?
RR - All indicators for private consumption are positive in Europe so the demand for FMCG packaging will grow. This will help to fill some of the spare production capacities. Changing shopping behaviour to a diversified omni-channel shopping environment and digitalization will both create new opportunities. I feel that industry consolidation will help create stronger, more cost efficient and innovative businesses which can fulfil our customers’ requirements and, importantly, be profitable.
AB – Volume should be good over the next year as the economy is picking up. Margins, however, remain under pressure since raw material prices are up and hard to recover. I don’t expect to see much further consolidation or largescale rationalisation in the short term as many companies have been through a period of change which is often followed by a period of integration and stability.

A new independent study from Smithers Pira, commissioned by Pro Carton, amongst major brand owners and retailers in 5 key European markets has shown resounding evidence of the importance of sustainability in packaging. Folding cartons were perceived as the most sustainable packaging but there is still some confusion about the whole issue of the circular economy and what makes packaging sustainable.

One of the key roles of Pro Carton is to promote the benefits of cartons & cartonboard and we could hardly have better environmental credentials. I believe however that we need to be more outspoken in communicating our message to all our key target markets. Last year we started a new PR campaign in Germany based around the principle “Cartons don’t create plastic waste” which gained a lot of media coverage. It’s this sort of slightly more provocative message that I believe we need to get across.

In a recent presentation in Vienna, brand consultant Prof. Dr. Karsten Kilian had the following to say about brand management: a focus on more than one of the senses, allows for successful differentiation from competitors.

Sustainability generates up to 13 per cent of sales in terms of explanatory content. This is confirmed by a new study conducted by Serviceplan Corporate Reputation communication agency.

New catering and retailing concepts in the skies require new marketing concepts.

In response to the question, "Sustainability yes, but how?!", Martina Hörmer, Managing Director Private Labels, REWE International, gave a clear answer.

The world is one big shopping centre. POS is everywhere. Pro Carton has looked at the 10 most important international trends.

The Touchpoint study demonstrates the high contact frequency of packaging and proves its value for marketing in figures.

"It is generally acknowledged that cartonboard is the most sustainable type of packaging. We have intensified our efforts to expound on this advantage." Roland Rex, President von Pro Carton, summarises the situation and takes a look at the future.

Pro Carton a urmărit dezvoltarea comerțului online încă de la început și a aruncat o privire mai atentă strategiei celui mai inovativ retailer din business-ul alimentar.

Vânzările multi-channel schimbă structura retail-ului – și asta afectează de asemenea ambalajele. În consecință, Pro Carton a cerut Institutului de Retail EHI să facă un studiu.

În fiecare an Pro Carton adună la un loc cele mai importante trend-uri ale principalelor institute de cercetare în domeniul ambalajelor.

Toți vorbitorii de la Congresul ECMA Pro Carton au căzut cu toții de acord: toți partenerii din lanțul de aprovizionare trebuie să lucreze împreună intens și repede pentru a porni această dezvoltare.

„Noi nu trebuie să facem mai bine, trebuie să fim foarte buni”, a spus Tim „Mac” Macartney la Congresul ECMA Pro Carton: doar sustenabilitatea în procent de 100% în toate domeniile va schimba viitorul copiilor noștri.

As part of a world tour "World Tour by SIAL“ by the French Food Fair SIAL, 28 media from across the globe have determined three food trends in their regions. From these, the French retail expert, Olivier Dauvers, has distilled eight global trends for innovation in the food sector. Pro Carton is privileged to present them here.

With the Interpack due from 8. to 14. May in Düsseldorf we asked Pro Carton President Roland Rex about the current situation in packaging. His summary: this year and the coming years the Packaging Supply Chain will face major challenges, and they will be accompanied by considerable opportunities for cartonboard and cartons.

In the coming years nothing will remain the same for the online business, particularly in the grocery sector. The UK market – which has led the market in Europe for a long time – is presently looking to find the perfect combination online and stationary. 2014 will be a crucial year in deciding who will come out ahead in future years. Pro Carton spoke to Lisa Byfield-Green, Senior Analyst at the renowned Institute of Grocery Distribution, about the future and about packaging.

People want to feel better in 2014. Two topics will have a major influence on the market for packaging: sustainability is one and includes the manufacturing of products, the other is the revolution in the retail trade due to the continued boom in mobile technology. Pro Carton has summarised the current forecasts of international trend agencies and added its own comments.