The international packaging, printing and logistics trade fair "All4Pack" will be held in Paris / France from 26-29 November 2018. All4Pack stems from the trade fairs "Emballage" and "Manutention", which were restructured into one trade fair that covers the whole production chain. Around 1,500 exhibitors from the packaging, processing, printing and handling sectors are expected at the upcoming trade fair, with around 50% coming from abroad. All4Pack organiser Comexposium (Paris; www.comexposium.com) is expecting 87,000 visitors in 2018, with 35% of them visiting the fair from abroad.

Highlights at the event include talks on Industry 4.0, sustainability, sorting and recycling as well as the "Creative Lounge". The "Startups Lab" will highlight innovations from companies new to the packaging sector.

For the first time, the two-day PET conference "PETnology Europe" (www.petnology.com) will take place during All4Pack 2018 – from 26-27 November at the "Parc des Expositions, Paris Nord Villepinte" venue (www.viparis.com). According to the organisers, the decision to hold the 21st edition of the event in Paris indicates PETnology Europe's greater internationalisation and the importance of PET materials in the packaging industry. The event will bring together the entire PET processing chain. PETnology Europe's programme focuses on technology and sustainability topics.

For the fourth time, packaging associations Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen (IK, Bad Homburg / Germany; www.kunststoffverpackungen.de) and Elipso (Paris; www.elipso.org) are awarding the "PackTheFuture Award" (www.packthefuture.com). The winners will be announced on 27 November 2018 at a ceremony in Paris during All4Pack.

Out of 48 submissions, the jury of experts selected 30 innovations on 12 June for this year's award. The jury consists of consultants, journalists, scientists and packaging experts, who on 27 June nominated the winners in four categories – "Ecodesign", "Product protection", "Social benefit" and "Fight against food waste". The competition highlights the importance of innovative and sustainable packaging for Europe's plastic packaging industry. Jury chairman Horst-Christian Langowski, from the German Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, said, "The broad participation of the candidates reflects the dynamism and importance of innovation in the activity of this sector and the increasing consideration of the circular economy."

About the PackTheFuture Award

Founded in 2014, the PackTheFuture Award is based on an initiative by French and German plastic packaging associations Elipso and IK, respectively. The packaging prize aims to promote plastic packaging innovations across Europe and has established itself as the European benchmark in the packaging market. The award offers Elipso and IK member companies a platform to promote sustainable packaging solutions. In addition, the award is recognised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois / USA; www.worldpackaging.org), and winners are qualified to participate in the WPO's "WorldStar Awards".