Sunday Times 2
WPO week puts spotlight on global packaging trends
View(s):The World Packaging Organisation (WPO – www.worldpackaging.org) held its 114th board meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, hosted by its local member, the Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging (SLIP – www.srilankapackaging.com). The programme brought together a delegation of 34 WPO members to discuss the future of the organisation, packaging, innovation, and sustainability.
The week-long programme (Oct 27 to 31) included high-level meetings, working groups, the Global Packaging Congress, and the prestigious Sri Lanka Packaging Awards Ceremony, creating a comprehensive agenda that reflects WPO’s mission of “Better quality of life through better packaging for more people.”
According to WPO President, Luciana Pellegrino, this was an excellent opportunity for networking and for planning 2026 for WPO and its members. “We are extremely honoured and pleased to return to Sri Lanka for another Board Meeting. Back to other two WPO past missions, we were deeply impressed by the potential of the local packaging industry. This time, I am sure we will witness its evolution and engage with our members and local entrepreneurs to gain new insights into the sector, its challenges, and opportunities. This was also WPO’s final official event before its participation at COP30. Together with representatives from UNIDO and the FSSC Foundation, I will have the honor of representing WPO at the Food Hub Pavilion, in a meaningful discussion on the role and relevance of packaging in reducing food loss and waste, on November 12, in Belém (Brazil).”
“This is a landmark event for Sri Lanka and especially for SLIP as we celebrate 50 years of excellence in the industry. The knowledge gained from these events will help to drive the local industry forward”, states Thusith Wijesinghe, President of SLIP.
“Today, we stand at the threshold of transformation in one of the world’s most vital industries. Packaging is more than boxes, bottles, and labels. It is the art and science of safeguarding our products, minimising waste, and connecting producers to consumers in meaningful ways.”
WPO is a non-profit, non-governmental, international federation of packaging institutes, associations, federations and other interested parties including corporations and trade associations.