Dr Gordon StewartWPO Vice President – EducationHead of Training and Professional Development , Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (UK)

World Packaging Days – Split, June 2012

Why is education for packaging important?

Analysis of packaging education needs Overview of current provision The UK – A case study Strengths and weaknesses An agenda for action

Meeting the functional requirements of packaging effectively and efficiently

Packaging - the “silent salesperson” Packaging technologies are changing rapidly and are

critical to competitiveness Avoiding “bad packaging”, for example

Product wastage “Over-engineered” packaging resulting in the use of too

much material Packs that are difficult to open or re-seal End of life issues Optimal packaging – the “Goldilocks Pack”

Growing population with shortage of materials– UN estimates population increase from 7 to 10 billion by 2100

Especially critical in the developing world where for example, it is estimated that up to 50% of products can be lost between production and consumption

Essential role of packaging in making the best use of the earth’s products and resources

The population of sub-Saharan Africa is set to grow from 856 million today to 2 billion in 2050

Currently, 25% of people lack adequate food The absolute number of underweight

children has risen since 2000 to 30 million Packaging is part of the solution and

increased packaging education is essential to achieving this

Long packaging supply chain of producers and users all with different needs – each requiring training and/or education

Including: Designers –creative and structural Convertors - using different materials Users of packaging People who pack Packaging machinery engineers Packaging technologists

Each point in the supply chain also has its own levels of education that are needed

Cross cutting themes – e.g. sustainability; printing Each country/region has its own system– e.g.

Europe has the European Qualification Framework with education levels 1 – 8 and so does England, but Scotland has 2 systems which are different!!

Even if we simplify by saying: Introductory/Intermediate/Advanced

. . . long supply chain and different levels means a complex picture

University provision: Very patchy – some countries having few if any

undergraduate courses Some notable exceptions – e.g. US, China,

Provision by Institutes and Associations Most WPO members do something In some instances this is significant – e.g. India, Sometimes education is Government recognised Links to professional recognition – e.g. Chartered

Packaging Professional in the US Tends to focus on Packaging Technologists or similar

levels

Conferences, seminars, congresses etc Company-based training

Very significant in many countries Focused on what is required to do the job Taught by people who tend to be up-to-date with

current practices for individual companies However it is often . . . .

Designed to meet immediate needs and can be narrow and limited in scope

Company specific – difficult to transfer Without recognised qualifications

University provision Undergraduate – limited to packaging design Two masters degree courses

College provision in other subject areas with packaging elements e.g. food manufacture

Institute/Association based IOM3/The Packaging Society – packaging

technologists and others PPMA – for packaging machinery engineers

Company-based – this provides the largest amount Some public funding for training

Some good practice at individual institutions– e.g. Michigan State University

Good institute/association engagement which blends industry with the academic – but limited volume

WPO activity Developing courses/institutes Recognition scheme Member contributions and networking Free of charge use of materials for small companies

Lack of a solid international culture of packaging education

Limited network of university-based full-time packaging education practitioners

Restricted availability of good teaching and learning materials

Although the WPO is active its capacity is very limited

Absence of recognised qualifications

Overall, critical shortages of educated/trained packaging employees across the supply chain

Especially marked for packaging technologists

Some parts of the packaging supply chain are hardly covered at all – e.g. those who pack products

Almost total absence of packaging education in some countries that need it

Lack of research literature

WPO initiatives critical Development of education provision by members Enhance education recognition scheme Support for course development in new

countries/regions linked to Institute development Greater engagement between companies, institutes and

universities Increased networking and sharing of education provision

between WPO members Education across the supply chain e.g. packers International Network for Packaging Education – role for

the WPO?

Many Thanks