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3 Key Takeaways From Pack Expo 2024
1. Innovation and Technology Drive the Future
At Pack Expo 2024, both exhibitors and speakers showcased many of the latest innovations in processing and packaging - from reusable packaging innovation and AI to automation and supply chain efficiencies.
For attendees, this was another reminder that there is no time to waste when it comes to driving change. To stay ahead of competitors and ever-changing markets companies must learn to constantly innovate and improve products and packaging to meet consumer and industry demands. This means taking advantage of technological advancements, and in my opinion, continuing to leverage data across industries and your supply chain to drive this change.
2. Sustainability Remains a Central Focus
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, sustainability is here and it’s here to stay. This point hit hard at Pack Expo 2024. Across the event sustainability was a core theme, emphasized through various sessions as well as in the Reusable Packaging Pavilion.
With consumers demanding more transparency, companies are under even greater pressure to ensure their data can support sustainability claims. Pack Expo 2024 further proved this claim and gave attendees an exciting opportunity to learn and explore new ways to make their company more sustainable.
I know at the Specright booth we had numerous conversations around growing regulatory pressures and a lack of standardized reporting. While there is no easy way to address sustainable packaging, having access to critical data points can ensure your team remains compliant as more and more regulations roll out in 2025. In order to move the needle on more sustainable packaging and compliance, data must be the foundation of your business strategy.
3. Collaboration and Networking Foster Growth
One of the greatest opportunities at Pack Expo is collaborating and networking with other industry professionals. This year, the attendees we engaged with had numerous networking opportunities, from partner happy hours to academia events, providing a space for like-minded professionals to connect and collaborate.
Specright held our annual Student Competition, in which over 50 students from various universities competed in groups to submit their proposal on a current packaging industry trend. The winners will earn an all-expenses paid trip to Specright’s 2025 Spec Summit hosted in Nashville, TN, Feb 5-7, 2025. This was an incredible opportunity to connect with the next generation of packaging professionals.
Throughout the week, our Academia Program spoke to a significant number of students and professors, and we heard their excitement about Specright's capabilities in and outside of the classroom. Many expressed their interest in expanding their current Specright partnerships and we hope to bring on additional schools to partner with in the near future.
Building relationships across industries and academia is key to addressing shared challenges and advancing collective goals - and Pack Expo 2024 was the perfect place to do so.
Specright’s Pack Expo Highlights
Sunday
Matthew presented on the Innovation Stage, addressing the importance of data transparency for sustainability. His insights highlighted that 80% of consumers trust companies with public sustainability data, while 69% are skeptical of current reporting practices.
Monday
Booth traffic surged, with ongoing demos addressing workforce challenges, next-gen workforce engagement, and sustainability reporting.
Specright’s Academia Happy Hours attracted heavy interest, showcasing student engagement in packaging, while a Partner Happy Hour with Adept Packaging and Lorax offered valuable industry insights and brought together companies across industries.
Tuesday
Matthew’s second session, "Unlocking Cost and Sustainability Through Unified Data," attracted significant attention. He discussed how centralizing spec data can help manufacturers optimize costs and support sustainability, a crucial shift amid economic and regulatory pressures.
Wednesday
We wrapped up our popular screen-printing activation booth, a crowd favorite throughout the event. The booth featured custom Specright designs, including a detailed spec breakdown of a deep-dish pizza and a graphic of the Chicago skyline—bringing a fun, local flair that resonated with attendees.
Conclusion
While Pack Expo may be done for this year, at Specright, our work is only beginning. We are focused on providing companies with a unified data strategy that enables cost optimizations, efficiencies, and drives more sustainable practices. If you’re interested in learning more, you can connect with my team here, or consider joining us in Nashville in February for Spec Summit 2025.
