Set to take place on 19 July at Stationers’ Hall, London, the one-day event has been designed to enable packaging professionals to put together a collective agenda on how to move forward in the current political, economic and social climate.

Issues such as environmental concerns and futureproofing will be covered by a list of speakers including EcoSurety chief executive James Piper, Women in Packaging founder Jo Stephenson and On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) director Kevin Vyse.

Packaging Collective founding partner David Harding-Brown said: “Packaging performs a crucial role in our lives, yet the industry has faced a growing criticism in recent times, especially concerning the use of plastics and end-of-life disposal.

“Attendees should leave this event feeling a deeper connection to the industry that we serve, with a more comprehensive understanding and greater insight into the state of play. We all know that packaging is a vital industry, driven by talented and experienced professionals, but it also has a significantly positive story to tell.

“This is a rare event. It’s run by the industry, for the industry. We are material and format-agnostic – it’s not a sales pitch. The take-out we want is a positive and collective plan for future action by industry professionals.”

Mythbusting will be a key theme of the day as the ‘Blue Planet effect’ continues to hang over progress in the packaging sector. Clarifications on the use of polylactic acid (PLA) will feature alongside discussions on the implications extended producer responsibility (EPR) and deposit return (DRS) schemes.

‘Packaging – A Collective Way Forward’ is open to all members of the packaging sector with tickets priced at £250 each on Eventbrite.