A brief interview with Guido Aufdemkamp, Executive Director, Flexible Packaging Europe

Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) is the European Forum for the Flexible Packaging Industry. FPE members represent companies that manufacture all types of flexible packaging including pouches, sachets, liquid packaging, confectionery and pharmaceutical packaging applications, and much more. Guido Aufdemkamp, Executive Director of Flexible Packaging Europe, has given AlCircle a heads up on the flexible packaging industry in Europe with special reference to aluminium packaging in the below interview.

AlCircle: Can you brief us on the objectives and activities of Flexible Packaging Europe?

Guido Aufdemkamp: Flexible Packaging Europe’s (FPE) core activity is representing the European flexible packaging industry at a European level and on the international stage. FPE comprises more than 80 small and medium sized companies as well as the major European producers of flexible packaging for all materials. 

FPE deals with a wide range of issues relevant to the flexible packaging industry, most notably food contact, sustainability and environmental issues. Here you will find relevant information about flexible packaging and the work the industry does to ensure responsible and innovative strategies which provide effective and sustainable flexible packaging solutions to its customers and the consumer.

AlCircle: Please give us a heads up on the aluminium flexible packaging industry in Europe?

Guido Aufdemkamp: It should first be specified that the aluminium flexible packaging industry is the part of the flexible packaging industry which is processing aluminium foil as a raw material, used alone or combined with other materials (polymers, paper), with aluminium representing the major component of the flexible structure (e.g. chocolate foil, yogurt lid….) or a minor one (e.g. pet food pouches, coffee bags…).

The aluminium flexible packaging industry in Europe is currently facing a stable demand from the consumer side but is also confronted with uncertainties and risks due to global trade issues and political imponderabilities.

AlCircle: Flexible packaging consumption in Europe grew by 2% to around €14bn in 2017. What was the consumption rate in 2018? Which segment registered the highest growth?

Guido Aufdemkamp: The consumption of Flexible Packaging in Europe grew by 2.2% to €14.4 bn. Pet food, snacks, ready meals and pharmaceuticals performed above the average growth of flexible packaging.

AlCircle: Has Flexible Packaging Europe identified any challenge in the current European market?

Guido Aufdemkamp: There are many challenges. One of them is to prove compliance with the continuously evolving requirements of the relevant regulation on food safety. Another important one is to provide evidences of performances in the Circular Economy.

AlCircle: A new toolkit has been recently released by Flexible Packaging Europe. What is its purpose?

Guido Aufdemkamp: Flexible packaging is very resource efficient as it uses a very small amount of material to achieve the requested functionalities, and its overall environmental impact is limited, generally lower than alternative packaging solutions. However, this is rarely recognised because the very small amount of material contained in the pack is generally less easy to recycle and, today, recyclability is the key driver of the public perception for packaging sustainability.

The purpose of the toolkit is to provide a comprehensive information package with facts and figures to explain about flexible packaging and sustainability looking at the big picture. The toolkit is available on-line (www.sustainability.flexpack-europe.org) and is aimed at people working in the fields of flexible packaging and products packed in flexible packaging but also the general public.

AlCircle: How does aluminium flexible packaging material fit into the framework of a circular economy?

Guido Aufdemkamp: A circular economy aims at minimising the use of resources and the generation of waste. Aluminium flexible packaging that offers high functionalities (especially high barrier) with a very small amount of materials used – 5 to 10 times less than for alternative rigid solutions – supports a circular economy. It generally generates less material losses throughout its lifecycle than alternative solutions. Moreover, it is increasingly collected and sorted for material recycling, fitting even more in a circular economy.

What we also should not forget is that the ability of aluminium flexible packaging to prolong shelf life for a variety of perishable goods contributes to reduce the risks of food waste, which is another key factor supporting a circular economy.  

AlCircle: Which end user sector has the highest demand potential for aluminium flexible packaging?

Guido Aufdemkamp: We believe that the positive trend in the sectors pet food, ready meals and convenience products as well as pharmaceuticals and health products will continue.

AlCircle: What is your outlook for the global aluminium packaging sector in 2019 and beyond?
 
Guido Aufdemkamp: The aforementioned end user sectors are most likely to drive further demand for global aluminium packaging. An increasing middle class in major Asian economies will boost the demand for packaging with excellent barrier properties.

Disclaimer: “The information presented herein is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional advice. The views and opinions shared in the interview section of www.alcircle.com are unique to the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of www.alcircle.com."