The United Nations, IDEO, the World Wildlife Fund and International Paper headline Smithers Pira’s Sustainability in Packaging 2013

7^th Annual Conference returns to Orlando March 13-15, 2013

PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smithers Pira, in association with Packaging Digest and Pharmaceutical & Medical Packaging News, is pleased to announce that The United Nations, IDEO, the World Wildlife Fund and International Paper will provide the keynote addresses at Sustainability in Packaging 2013. This 7^th annual conference and exhibition will take place March 13-15 at the Omni ChampionsGate in Orlando, Florida, USA.

“Additionally, the more than 300 R&D trailblazers, sustainability gurus and end users in attendance will discuss the impact of e-commerce on packaging design and sustainability; biodigesters; innovation and new technologies and EPR around the globe.”

“Sustainability in Packaging 2013 offers our most ambitious look into the sustainable packaging supply chain ever. The 2013 agenda brings together a diverse group of brand owners—Dell, Office Depot and Hasbro are just a few who will be presenting—to share their views on everything from their market research into what consumers want to how they are looking to reduce waste in the future,” says Barbara Fowler, conference director at Smithers Pira. “Additionally, the more than 300 R&D trailblazers, sustainability gurus and end users in attendance will discuss the impact of e-commerce on packaging design and sustainability; biodigesters; innovation and new technologies and EPR around the globe.”

Delegates at Sustainability in Packaging 2013 will hear keynote addresses from Dr. Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund on Packaging's Role in a More Sustainable Future; Joseph Mpagalile of the United Nations on Food Waste and Food Packaging; Beto Lopez of IDEO on Innovating Sustainability; and Teri Shanahan of International Paper on Sustainable Forestry. Other organizations joining them on the 2013 program include 3M; BASF; Dell; DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers; European Bioplastics; Hasbro; Henkel Corporation; Innovia Technology; Nestlé; PAC Next; Packaging Digest; Pangea Organics; Quidsi Inc., a subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc.; Ready Pac Foods Inc.; Sealed Air Corporation; The Kellogg Company; UPS; and WasteZero.

Rounding out the more than 40 presentations at this year’s conference are AliaXion AB; Crown Holdings, Inc.; Elemental Essentialz; ERM; Holst Centre; INCPEN; Invata Intralogistics; Leggett & Platt SFG; Novamont SpA; Office Depot; Organic Waste Systems; PAC - The Packaging Association; PepsiCo; Product Ventures; Ryder Supply Chain Solutions; Sonoco; The Coca Cola Company; The Sustainability Consortium; UW Oshkosh; Virent; VTT Technical Research; Wisconsin State Energy Office; and Yupo Corporation America.

“One of the strengths of this conference is its mix of looking at what’s coming next in packaging sustainability and of showcasing current best practices,” says Lisa McTigue Pierce, executive editor of Packaging Digest. “Attendees take home ideas for tomorrow, as well as solutions for today—that’s a powerful combination.”

For more information about Sustainability in Packaging 2013 or to attend, visit http://www.sustainability-in-packaging.com.

About Smithers Pira

Smithers Pira is the worldwide authority on packaging, paper and print industry supply chains. Established in 1930, the company provides strategic and technical consulting, testing, intelligence and events to help clients gain market insights, identify opportunities, evaluate product performance and manage compliance. For more information, visit www.smitherspira.com.