At the start of 2023, the Swiss Packaging Institute takes a look at the current situation in the industry, the annual agenda for the association’s activities and the general topics that will accompany us in the packaging year 2023.

Energy

Securing the industry’s energy supply will be a dominant topic in 2023. Philippe Dubois, who represents the Swiss packaging industry as Head of “Pack” on the committees of the Federal Office for National Economic Supply (FONES) and can build on the very positive crisis management from the coronavirus period for the industry, is leading the way at the SVI. It is an achievement of the SVI that the federal government and the cantons no longer just ask whether there is enough food available, but also whether there is enough packaging available. We are strongly committed to ensuring that the packaging industry is exempt from impending energy shutdown measures due to its systemic relevance. This advocacy comprises a significant part of our activities, but largely takes place in the background and is therefore less visible from the outside, such as events, training courses and the Swiss Packaging Award.

New packaging regulation from the EU Commission

The EU Commission’s proposal for a new packaging regulation dated December 1, 2022 will have serious consequences for the entire European packaging industry if it is adopted and implemented in its current form. The EU’s overarching goal is to reduce packaging waste by 15 percent per member state and per capita by 2040 compared to 2018. To this end, so-called waste-intensive packaging is to be banned and reuse and recycling promoted. The SVI will follow the progress of the discussion in the EU and keep companies in Switzerland informed of the results. Wherever possible, we also want to influence the decisions. To this end, we are working together with the Association of the Plastics Industry and the Wood Packaging Association. The SVI regrets that the cardboard associations and the corrugated cardboard industry are not involved to the same extent.

Training and skills shortage

In the SVI ACADEMY’s training and continuing education area, the aftermath of the pandemic and the reluctance caused by the mood of crisis due to the war in Russia and the feared recession are being felt strongly. The reluctance of potential participants was particularly noticeable on longer courses. The number of participants in the practice-oriented and compact basic packaging seminar remained pleasing. One-day seminars also enjoyed good attendance figures. 2022 was the first year in which the SVI was able to boast that it could offer everything from basic training to academic continuing education. Even though the CAS FH Packaging Experience could not yet be held last year, we are confident that the investment will pay off and that we will be able to offer further packaging training with our university partner Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences Switzerland.

As an umbrella organization and topic leader in our industry, we pass on the necessary knowledge. The SVI offers a comprehensive and broad program for those who want to counteract the shortage of skilled workers. The SVI calls on all employers in the industry to support employees who are interested in further training. Lamenting does not help against the shortage of skilled workers, but the SVI courses do.

Swiss Packaging Award

The registration phase for the Swiss Packaging Award 2023 began on November 1, 2022, and a lot of packaging was submitted right at the start of the campaign. We are confident that we will receive around 50 or more entries by the closing date on January 15, 2023. The Swiss Packaging Award will be presented in the categories: Sustainability, Convenience, Design, Marketing, Technology / Construction / Machine Systems. In addition, there is the Young Talent Award and the Audience Award as special categories. The special jury prize will be awarded for the first time. The winning packaging from the 2022 competition will be exhibited at Empack from January 25 to 26. Voting for the Audience Award will take place from February 15 to March 30. The judging days will take place on March 16 and 17. The festive award ceremony for the Swiss Packaging Awards 2023 will take place on June 2.

Events

The annual conference planned for January 17 has been postponed to March 28. The majority of the program can be carried over, the remaining presentations will be replaced by current topics. In general, we want to offer more smaller information events on current topics, such as webinars as a service for members.

Tradefairs

The SVI supports Easyfairs’ Empack as the only national packaging trade fair in Switzerland and continues the cooperation with full support. The trade fair offers us the best opportunity to speak directly with members and potential members. The SVI also supports the regional Rendez-Vous events in western and German-speaking Switzerland organized by Verpackungs-Event GmbH.

Swiss Recycling

The SVI will continue to participate in the planning and implementation of the circular economy. In doing so, we will represent the legitimate interests of our industry.

administrative office

The SVI does not see itself purely as an association, but as a service provider for the packaging industry in Switzerland. We make a difference in the interests of the industry. This is increasingly being honored by the
companies and we were able to record a net increase in membership in 2022. Our new members in 2022 are: Bigler AG Fleischwaren, Flyerline Schweiz AG, Kurz Schweiz AG, Läser AG and Schweizerisches Konsumentenforum kf. Bachmann Forming AG is a new supporter of the sponsoring association.

Swiss Packaging Institute SVI