The IAPRI member institutes have elected three new directors representing the institute (Full) members and one director representing the corporate members to a three term.

Deeply concerned with the health and safety of all attendees, as a result of the global pandemic crisis of COVID-19, Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM) and IAPRI Board Directors have monitored the situation during the last weeks and have decided that the 22nd IAPRI 2020 World Packaging Conference needed to be canceled.

Participate in the AMI session (Academia Meets Industry) at the IAPRI World Packaging Conference in Monterrey, Mexico The objective of the AMI session is to create synergies between industry and academia.

The last winner of the IAPRI Student Exchange Scholarship sponsored by PepsiCo was Wanjun Chu, at the time a doctoral student at Linköping University, now he has had his research published.

Lansmont Corporation has highlighted its co-operation with Michigan State University (MSU) School of Packaging on research into human interaction with medical packaging in the dynamic and high-stress environment of a moving ambulance.

AIDIMME, Spain, has started work on a project to help regional producers of single-use wooden pallets compete with reusable Euro pallets, in part by the creation of standards for quality control, given that the only ISO standard in this area seems unhelpful.

Emphasising the contribution that research organisations can make to the growth sector of plastics recycling, Fraunhofer IVV in Germany worked throughout 2019 with brand-owner Beiersdorf to collect used polyethylene (PE) packaging, turn it into post-consumer recyclate (PCR) and use this recyclate in new bottles for its Nivea skincare brand.

The Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design (CPULD) at Virginia Tech, USA, has published a white paper entitled ‘Pallets make the world go round’, with the explainer that this examines ‘circular versus linear economies and their effects on the pallet industry’.

As part of Nestlé’s commitment to reduce its use of virgin plastics by one third and make all of its packaging either recyclable or reusable by 2025, the multinational food and drink company has joined the European Plastics Pact.

At a time when many are temporarily losing any sense of smell – and taste – thanks to the effects of the coronavirus, Fraunhofer IVV has publicised its research into identifying off-odours in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film collected for recycling, and strategies for minimising them.

Graduate research scholarships are available for exceptional international candidates (subject to a competitive application process ) include tuition fees as well as a living allowance (stipend) of AU$28,200 (2020 rate) per year.

Brazil’s Institute of Food Technology (ITAL) has advertised a four-year fellowship for a young researcher into metals, metallography and, specifically, aluminium alloys, with a deadline for applications of 16 March 2020.

The Department of Packaging Science in RIT’s College of Engineering Technology (CET) is currently seeking applications from exceptional candidates for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position. Candidates for this position will be expected to teach and conduct focused research in packaging science and/or discipline based education researc...

Renewed funding of $1m from flexible packaging converter the American Packaging Corporation (APC) will help to support two existing teaching, research and testing hubs at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in the US.

As modern packaging research institutes go, Poland’s COBRO has a long history, stretching back as far as 1952, when the Polish Packaging Centre was established. Arguably, the current government has been equally far-sighted now in setting COBRO in the context of a wider R&D network taking in no fewer than 38 institutes across the country.

The current healthcare crisis has put emergency medicine centre-stage. Might it also mean that greater attention is paid to pack design in this critical area? We look at recent research into the packaging and labelling around medical and pharmaceutical products

The virus and IAPRI's response from Jay Singh, IAPRI President