The needs of partially sighted and blind people are being heard. By October 2010, the majority of secondary medicinal packaging in the EU is set to become more accessible by accommodating braille. Getting the process right, however, has taken six long years. Rupal Mehta investigates

Water-efficient technology has vast potential and the associated tax relief can help manufacturers boost their bottom line. Water specialist Claire Sweeney, at UK sustainable business programme Envirowise, reports

Thinking outside the box can be tricky, but protective packaging specialist, Sealed Air, are bringing innovation to the sector. Gary Price went along to the company’s new Packaging Design and Development Centre in Kettering, UK, to find out more

The UK Carbon Reduction Commitment kicks in from April 2010. Alessandra McConville, Environmental Programmes Leader at EEF, the manufacturer’s organisation, provides guidance on the process of compliance.

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The EU adopted a regulation this year governing active and intelligent materials and products that come into contact with food. Dr Alistair Irvine, Principal Consultant in Food Packaging Safety at Pira International, in Leatherhead, UK, welcomes the move.

The need for ‘brand identity’, ‘joined-up thinking’ and ‘communication’ might sound like hollow slogans but putting them into action could result in a more cohesive  bioplastics packaging industry. Rupal Mehta reports on a conference in London, UK, that explored the challenges ahead.

The Kitchens of Sara Lee, a 120,000sqft centre at Downers Grove, USA, opened earlier this year, bringing together 100 packaging designers, engineers, scientists and chefs under one roof for the first time. Meagan Ellis spoke to Glenn Ventrell, Director of Packaging Innovation and Development, about the firm’s plans for the future.

A UK printed media firm claims to have developed a low-cost way of applying electronic circuitry to packaging, which could turn an ordinary carton into an interactive game. The technique uses existing high-volume printing processes, such as screen, offset and flexography, to pattern metallic conductive tracks onto substrates.