This was Interpack 2023
Under the heading “Welcome Home”, Interpack trade trade fair welcomed visitors from all over the world in Düsseldorf, Germany. The world’s largest packaging trade fair connected the industry on May 4-10 and acted as both a marketplace and content hub. 2,807 exhibitors showcased their technologies and solutions to visitors from 155 countries.
Altogether approx. 143,000 visitors travelled to Interpack, two thirds of them coming from abroad. Alongside many European countries, the largest visitor nations were India, Japan and the USA. Around 75% of visitors came from middle or top management.
Transformation as an opportunity
Considering current market developments, enormous challenges but even bigger opportunities, were focused at Interpack. The need to automate, the will to act sustainably and changed consumption habits are all expressions of transformation. UInterpack’s strategic orientation towards the four Hot Topics: Circular Economy, Resource Management, Digital Technologies and Product Safety found concrete expression in numerous developments. The trade fair, which has traditionally been a key cornerstone in the innovation cycle of the packaging industry and related process industries, also more than lived up to this claim this year.
Sustainable packaging technologies
All facets of sustainability were top themes at Interpack. Exhibitors presented high-end technologies and holistic concepts that consider efficiency and sustainability along their entire production line. “Many companies in the consumer goods industry have set their own sustainability targets,” says Richard Clemens, Managing Director of the Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association within VDMA at interpack. “Over the past few years, packaging machinery manufacturers have succeeded in implementing sustainable packaging concepts by means of corresponding technical adaptations and newly developed machinery solutions. interpack is the showcase for innovations and, at the same time, the point of departure for developing further towards a sustainable circular economy,” says Clemens summing up.
The many solutions celebrating a world premiere at Interpack also included a host of packaging materials and supplies in all their diversity. In excess of 1,000 exhibitors were showcased in this segment alone, making for a new record.
New and fresh impulses
Attracting plenty of attention were the other Specials such as the Interpack Start-up Zone, the joint stand Co-Packing, several award ceremonies spotlighting exciting packaging innovations, the ‘Save Food Highlight-Route’ with new approaches to fighting global food loss and waste and the promotion of women at ‘Women in Packaging’. The special buzz at this premiere came by way of the approximately 200 women from the international sector, who exchanged and established new networks during Interpack.
The next Interpack will be held in Düsseldorf from May 7 to 13, 2026.
