The Packaging Innovations and Empack Show is one of the key events in the packaging industry’s calendar and we were delighted to be exhibitors at the 2025 show for the second year in a row!
Birmingham’s NEC was packed to the rafters with the great and good of the packaging world, who for two days showcased and demonstrated innovative products, debated important industry trends and topics such as sustainability and EPR implementation and enjoyed networking with friends old and new!
One of the main things that stood out for the Cambrian team was the sheer scale and progression of the PI and Empack Show itself. Previously, the event was much smaller in size but now anyone who’s anyone, from suppliers, service providers, manufacturers and decision-makers across design, innovation and logistics to pioneering brands, NGOs, government departments and retailers congregate in their thousands to take part in the dedicated events that the show offers across the whole packaging journey.
Here, our Head of Sales & Marketing, Tim Davies, our Sales Manager Callum Baker, and our Marketing Executive Alex Gries give us their key takeaways and highlights.
Tim Davies, Head Of Sales & Marketing
“The PI and Empack show was a great forum for meeting other industry professionals and getting their thoughts and feedback on the current key issues facing businesses and organisations in the packaging space.
“It was a highlight for some newer members of the team – including myself! – to have the chance to meet existing customers in person and network with new potential clients!
“EPR was a particular issue that was covered in detail across the event and it was interesting to get the opinions of other distributors and suppliers on the legislation, as well as feedback and opinions from customers and their concerns about implementation, the financial implications and their obligations under the scheme.
“Various talks provided great insight into potential future topics and trends within the industry and included discussions around end-to-end supply chain processes, packaging innovation and design and sustainability and the circular economy.
“Again, EPR was a common theme with talks from the director of DEFRA (government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and PackUK, the newly appointed EPR scheme administrative body. Hearing from experts on EPR and the aspirations and reasoning behind it is vital so that we can all work together to ensure compliance and a transition towards greener packaging practices and encourage a sustainable future for all.”
Callum Baker, Sales Manager
“One of the key highlights of the PI Show was having the opportunity to physically display our brilliant Stacker Buckets and be able to showcase the space-saving capabilities of the range. These buckets – such as our 5Ltr White PP Stacker Pail – save 30-50% of pallet space and are ingeniously designed to allow for optimal stacking and pallet utilisation. This is a big deal for our clients, who can save money on transport, storage and handling costs, as well as reduce their carbon footprint.
“Customers often use a Revolve bottle for example to decant a concentrated product into smaller refillable bottles to re-use, which helps to prevent product waste and reduce the amount of plastic packaging material being used. (For a great demo on how Revolve bottles offer revolutionary dispensing qualities and protection for your product, check out this blog.)
“We’re also seeing the market for bulk foodstuffs grow bigger by the day, which means our Pails , which are ideal for storing bulk products such as sauces, soups and marinades, are becoming extremely popular. When paired with their corresponding snap-on lid, they’re perfect for hot filling and offer a superior tamper-evident package that maintains your product’s integrity and freshness and protects it in storage and in transit.
“As a business, Cambrian is currently leaning more into the food market, so seeing so much interest in our pails to accommodate bulk foodstuffs was a highlight for me.”
Alex Gries, Marketing Executive
“The key takeaway for me from PI and Empack this year is the need to provide our customers with all the relevant information about EPR and its financial implications for their business. We also need to ensure we’re addressing and answering concerns about EPR and offering cost effective, sustainable packaging solutions that help our clients meet their obligations under the legislation.
“Many customers asked us for information about what EPR is and what they will need to do to comply, which shows just how much work still needs to be done before everyone understands the legislation and the reasons why it’s necessary, as well as their compliance obligations.
“DEFRA was at the show and visited every relevant stand to make sure they were aware of the changes coming in and how they communicated this to customers. I think a lot of people are concerned about the effects it will have on their business and so providing our customers with the right information is vital. (For everything you need to know about EPR, read this blog by our Compliance Manager Michael Murray.)
“A highlight for me was the amount of interest we had in our Clarity glass packaging range, from both new and existing customers! I personally had quite a few enquiries relating to the decoration services that we offer with the glass products (including frosting, spraying and printing). It seems a lot of brands are looking to go down the glass decorating route from an aesthetic perspective (to enhance branding) as well as to save on the cost of additional labelling.
“I also spent some time at the Innovations Gallery at the show, where our own monopolymer Monolite pumps were featured – another great highlight! Most of the products featured leant into sustainability and recycling, which I think aligns massively with the current climate and consumer expectations relating to their packaging and the sustainability credentials of the companies they purchase from!”