ECMA, the European Carton Manufacturers Association, has set its destination for the years to come in 5 major business horizons: Profitability, Sustainability, Product Safety, Industry Positioning and Association Structure. Having embarked on its journey to the future, ECMA goes ashore in Copenhagen for its 2012 annual congress to take stock and define the course for the next stage of its trip.
This year’s ECMA Congress takes a special look at progress made in each of the 5 ‘flaps’ of ECMA’s Roadmap, and kicks off with keynote speaker Johan Peter Paludan, Director of the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies. Mr. Paludan will present a vision of the world after the Information Society. Will we move from the Information Age to the Imagination Age and how will this affect the role of packaging as medium to convey ‘experiences’? Following this opening keynote, Marc de Vos, Director of the Belgian think tank Itinera Institute will address the various scenarios for Europe after the crisis.
At the Business Information Market set up in this port of call, they will hear about the latest innovations offered by distinguished suppliers of press technology, pre- and post-press equipment and software, as well as packaging materials. They will continue this short stopover in Copenhagen with an interactive, eye-opening workshop about the Kaizen methodology and lean manufacturing.
ECMA has recently moved from an umbrella organization towards a ‘Network of Business Networks’ for the European Folding Carton Industry. Business networking can be considered as one of the cornerstones of ECMA. A major part of ECMA’s activities are set in reference to networking and offering our members an unique platform.
On the next day, the tour will open and close with inspiring keynotes on different aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Sustainability. In between, attendees will be guided along one of the most important sectors of ECMA activity: Food Safety and Good Manufacturing Practice. They will obtain an overview of carton industry trends and (investor) prospects. They will also celebrate the winners of this year’s Pro Carton/ECMA Awards.
Closing Keynote ‘Food for thought’: In his book ‘Waste – uncovering the global food scandal’ Tristram Stuart puts the global food shortage in a different perspective. While affluent nations throw away food through neglect, in the developing world crops rot because farmers lack means to process, store and transport them to market. According to Stuart, there could be surprisingly painless remedies for what has become one of the world’s most pressing environmental and social problems. Which role can packaging play in combating this mismatch and avoiding waste?
For more information and registration click here.
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About ECMA
ECMA, the European Carton Makers Association, is the official organisation for carton businesses, national carton associations and suppliers to the carton industry. ECMA provides the European folding carton industry a dynamic Network of Business Networks. With its seat in The Hague, The Netherlands, and an office in Brussels, ECMA represents around 500 carton producers in nearly all countries in the European Economic Area. ECMA members account for around 70% of the total carton market volume in Europe, and a current workforce of about 45.000 people.
Issued by:
ECMA, the European Carton Makers Association
Contact: Jules Lejeune, Secretary-General
Tel. +31 70 312 39 11; Fax +31 70 363 63 48 ; E-mail: mail@ecma.org
