Packaging World and the GrCI will study the business drivers that originate with consumer packaged goods companies (CPGs) and ripple through the packaging supply chain, as well as the emerging packaging and label technologies that promise to increase process efficiency and improve brand experience.
Research will cover traditional packaging printing processes, such as flexographic and offset, as well as digital printing, printed electronics and electronically enabled packaging that uses tools such as QR Codes and Augmented Reality. Business issues such as the proliferation of Standard Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), time-to-market, waste and obsolescence of printed packaging material, anti-counterfeiting, track and trace, market tailored package messaging, regulatory compliance and the sourcing of approved/affordable raw materials and substrates will also be examined. Consumer product brand owners and marketers, converters, contract packagers and commercial printers will be surveyed to gain a comprehensive picture of the packaging supply chain.
Project conception and management are under the Cal Poly GrCI umbrella and include Harvey Levenson, Director of the GrCI; Carl Joachim, GrCI Associate; Joseph Angel, CEO of Summit Media Group, Inc.; Pat Reynolds, VP Editor of Packaging World and Jack Knott, former CEO of Coveris, the 6th largest plastic packaging converter in the world.
Research will convene in July, with an overview of the findings premiering this September at Label Expo and Graph Expo/CPP Expo. Packaging World will share study highlights via a live webinar and a Special Report in the October issue of Packaging World magazine. Study highlights will also be presented at the Innovation Stage at PACK EXPO International 2014 in November. The complete research report will be available from the Graphic Communication Institute at Cal Poly.
Industry associations and related organizations are collaborating with Cal Poly’s GrCI and Packaging World on this important industry initiative, including The Graphic Arts Show Company (GASC), a subsidiary organization of The Association for Suppliers of Printing; Publishing and Converting Technologies (NPES); The Tag and Label Manufacturers Institute (TLMI); PACK EXPO International, produced by the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI); PFFC Online (Paper, Film and Foil Converter); the Contract Packaging Association and CPP Expo.
