Global Packaging Alliance Holds Annual Meeting in Brazil

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - April 16, 2013 - PRLog -- The Global Packaging Alliance (GPA) recently held its annual meeting in São Paolo, Brazil, providing an ideal forum for its partners to review packaging industry and global market trends. The group also discussed ways to further support international brands with enhanced packaging solutions that align with their sustainability goals.

Representatives from each company shared the latest developments in their packaging operations, including equipment investments, value-added processes, green initiatives, and operating data for benchmarking. Members also provided commentary on current economic conditions in their respective countries, and the impact of the economy on packaging markets.

“GPA members continually exchange their knowledge and experience to meet the growing demands of its customers to sustainably produce packaging with the same global, high standard,” said Hans-Christian Bestehorn, CEO of the rlc │ packaging group, a GPA charter member. “This enables us to coordinate production processes worldwide, implement identical quality standards, and assume global packaging responsibility across the value chain. Global brand manufacturers particularly benefit from the collective experience of the packaging manufacturers organized within the framework of the GPA.”

Sustainability has become compulsory in the marketplace. According to some estimates, global demand for green packaging is expected to rise almost 6% per year through 2015. This will be driven by advances in manufacturing activity and the continued trend toward more sustainable packaging.

Consumers have not only embraced a more sustainable lifestyle, but are also becoming more savvy about environmental claims, spurring demand for increased use of certified paperboards, renewable, biodegradable, and compostable materials, and clearer, more prominent recycling labeling.

To that end, the GPA has pioneered the use of several more sustainable innovations, most notably their Green Chic™ finishing techniques, which include Liquid Metal™ and MiraFoil® metallic coatings, Cast and Cure holographic effects, and in-line specialty coatings (e.g., Emboss, Glitter, Pearl, Soft Touch, Texture). The decorative techniques are a natural evolution of GPA’s ongoing collaboration and exemplify its goal of creating high quality, upscale packaging through more sustainable converting methods.

About GPA

The Global Packaging Alliance is an international organization of independent packaging experts proficient at managing all aspects of the supply chain. With state-of-the-art production facilities and logistics centers around the world, the GPA provides responsive, localized service, award-winning creative designs, identical product specifications and consistent brand recognition, resulting in unparalleled global packaging support. Members include:

• Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY - USA
• rlc | packaging group, Hannover - Germany, Poland, Switzerland
• Colorpak Limited, Melbourne - Australia, New Zealand
• Gonçalves SA Indústria Gráfica, São Paolo - Brazil, Mexico
• Polygrafoformlenie - Flexo, St. Petersburg - Russia
• Yau Bon Offset Printing, Shenzhen - China
• Kumar Printers, Gurgaon - India
• Masterpack, Johannesburg - South Africa

GPA members practice packaging management geared toward the needs of international companies, including Bayer, Beiersdorf, GlaxoSmithKline, Kraft Foods, L’Oreal, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Schering Plough, and Unilever. This includes designing and producing innovative paperboard and plastic packaging, as well as providing logistical services such as fulfillment and POP management. The GPA’s goal is to support clients in launching new brands or products, while significantly reducing time-to-market. For more information about the Global Packaging Alliance, contact Dennis Bacchetta at (585) 334-8030 x229 or visit the website at www.global-packaging-alliance.com.

About Diamond Packaging

Founded in 1911, Diamond Packaging is a WBENC-certified woman-owned business specializing in developing innovative and sustainable packaging solutions for the personal care (cosmetics, hair care, skin care, fragrance, oral care, and shaving), health care, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food and confectionery industries. Its client portfolio includes Bausch & Lomb, Beiersdorf, Coty, Elizabeth Arden, Estée Lauder, Godiva Chocolatier, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, and Procter & Gamble. As part of the Global Packaging Alliance® (GPA), Diamond and its alliance members offer packaging solutions to companies operating on an international scale. Customers receive responsive, localized service, award-winning creative designs, identical product specifications and consistent brand recognition, resulting in unparalleled worldwide packaging support. For more information about Diamond Packaging, contact Dennis Bacchetta at (585) 334-8030 x229 or visit the website at www.diamondpackaging.com. For more information about Diamond’s greenbox initiative, visit the sustainability microsite at www.diamondpackaging.com/green.