Industry association Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE, Düsseldorf / Germany; www.flexpack-europe.org) said Alexander Baumgartner, CEO of Constantia Flexibles (Vienna / Austria; www.cflex.com), has been elected as its chairman. In his acceptance speech, he said that priorities for the association include recyclability, resource efficiency, sustainability, food waste and food safety. Baumgartner takes over from Gérard Blatrix of Amcor (Hawthorn / Australia; www.amcor.com), who served two terms.

Flexible packaging consumption in Europe grew by 2% to nearly EUR 14.5 bn in 2018, said FPE, citing research by Wood Mackenzie (Edinburgh / UK; www.woodmac.com) – see Plasteurope.com of 13.08.2019. Consumption growth was modest in Western Europe, at 1.8%, while growth was 3% in Eastern Europe. Total annual production from Europe last year exceeded EUR 15.6 bn, of which 78% was located in Western Europe, with 22% coming from Eastern Europe.