Sustainability central to joint trade-show innovations

18-May-2009 - Last updated on 19-May-2009 at 11:30 GMT

Lighter, functional and biodegradable packs were key innovations in regards to global pack solutions on display during the first combined Bta and Hispack trade event that took place in Barcelona last week, according to its organisers.

Amidst a growing number of trade shows hosting collaborations with other industry events in the economic downturn, both of the show’s organisers suggest that the Hispack&Bta complimented their individual insights for the latest processing and formulation trends.

For the events that ran between the 11 and 15 May, the organisers estimate that 55,000 visitors attended the two events, particularly with representatives from the world’s foremost emerging food and beverage markets like Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Spanish innovation

Organisers of the event claim that attracting these large potential markets to the event highlights the strength of innovation within Spanish food manufacture and Europe as a whole.

According to both event’s parent companies, sustainability and environmental performance were amongst the key themes to technology on show at the joint event.

“Visitors to Hispack were able to see 100 per cent biodegradable packaging manufactured from potato or corn starch, plastic bottles weighing little more than 6 grams to reduce the use of contaminating materials,” state the organisers. “Even packaging with natural antioxidants such as vitamin E to lengthen the life of foodstuffs [were on show.]”

Formulation

Amongst 3,000 companies present at the show, ingredients advances were also on display like natural colorants and preservatives that were promoted along with new forms of fat and gluten reducers, says the analysts.

The event’s attempts to focus on latest innovations for both manufacture and distribution also saw liquid vapours and new means of providing dehydrated food stuffs such as fruit, vegetables and even powdered and cooked forms of bacon, crabs and squid on show.

“The latest developments of both sectors were topics of the joint activities and seminars, in which international experts took part,” state the organisers. “Over 1,000 exhibitors representing more than 3.000 companies participated in the first Hispack&Bta, occupying 70,000 m2 in the six pavilions of the Gran Via exhibition centre.”