Pack4Food

New members, new connections 🤝 Nope, we're still not done introducing new members to you, we proudly add ACE Packaging to our list of members 👌 ACE Packaging is an innovative producer and developer of paper, plastic and aluminium food packaging. With production sites in Belgium, Tunisia, Germany and Italy and Asia, they have a strong focus on ecology and are continuously developing new, sustainable and practical solutions for the food sector. They work with major retailers and industrial customers who are looking for progressive packaging that is both functional and environmentally friendly 🌱. Their expertise lies in creating tailor-made, innovative packaging that contributes to a more sustainable future. At Ace Packaging, they use technology and creativity to transform the packaging industry. We're looking forward to working together! ✨ #newmember #membership #pack4food

New members, new connections 🤝 We still have some more nice members to introduce to you. We're very excited to announce that Fresh & Saucy Foods joined the Pack4Food network 🙌 Fresh & Saucy Foods is your partner for tasty sauces and spreads. The products are offered under the house brand, AUGUST & HENRI , as well as in private label. In consultation with its customers, the products are tailored to the needs of both food service and retail. With customization, innovation and quality, the company helps to take dishes to a higher level. We're looking forward to working together! ✨ #newmember #membership #pack4food

New members, new connections 🤝 We have a lot of new members to introduce to you! Next up: MIVAS 👋 At MIVAS, they not only strive to create inclusive workplaces for people with a distance to the labor market, they also focus strongly on sustainability. In addition to their activities as a co-packer, green care, painting, ironing service and social grocery/restaurant, MIVAS also wants to be a pioneer in the transition to reusable packaging. That is why they invested in a state-of-the-art multifunctional car wash at their location in the Industriestaat in Lier in 2023, with which packaging of different shapes and sizes can be cleaned as well as different materials, such as glass, plastic, aluminum, porcelain, etc. We're looking forward to working together! ✨ #newmember #membership #pack4food

New members, new connections 🤝 We have a lot of new members to introduce to you! Because we want each of them to get their spotlight, we're introducing them one at a time. Let's kick it off with Verbond van Belgische Tuinbouwcoöperaties VZW (VBT) 🙏 Het Verbond van Belgische Tuinbouwcoöperaties VZW (Federation of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives), or VBT for short, is a sector organisation. The VBT represents and promotes the interests of the Belgian producer cooperatives in the fruit and vegetable sector – BelOrta, Cooperatie Hoogstraten cv, REO – both nationally and internationally. It offers its members a platform for consultation and exchange – including on packaging. For more information: www.vbt.eu. We're looking forward to working together! ✨ #newmember #membership #pack4food

Training: Food safety of recycled/reusable packaging ♻️ - Thursday April 24, 2025 Packaging is essential to bring food to the consumer in a qualitative and safe way. To reduce the amount of food packaging waste, different stakeholders are starting various initiatives. In the future, even more emphasis will be placed on the use of recycled material for food packaging and reusable systems. However, the food safety of this packaging must also be guaranteed. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eiqEKNYS What will you learn? 🤔 ✅ The food contact legislation with a focus on recycled/reuse of materials ✅ Points to consider when using: - recycled plastic as food contact - recycled paper as food contact - reusable packaging with a focus on plastic ✅ What does the future bring? ✅ What are challenges and possible solutions? ✅ What are we doing today? 📅 Thursday April 24, 2025 - from 12.30 until 17.00h 📍 Campus Coupure, Gent No prior knowledge is required to attend this training.

Our 6th Business Club last week was a hit! 👌 This time, we had the pleasure of welcoming Prof. Dr. Timothy Desmet, who delivered an inspiring talk on what makes packaging truly stand out and connect emotionally with consumers. A huge thank you for sharing your insights! And of course, a big shout-out to everyone who joined us—another full house! These evenings wouldn’t be the same without the energy and engagement of our Pack4Food - network. ✨FOMO? Want to be part of the next edition? Stay tuned—you won’t want to miss it! #Networking #Packaging #BusinessClub

How do you make your packaging stand out? Yesterday, our co-founder Timothy Desmet had the pleasure of giving the keynote lecture at the Pack4Food Business Club diving into what makes packaging truly eye-catching and emotionally engaging for consumers. In a world where attention spans are short and shelves are crowded, the right design can make all the difference. From color psychology to chosing the right image and message, we explored how brands can turn packaging into a silent salesperson, even considering how packaging nudges can decrease food waste and increase recycling behavior. A big thank you to Pack4Food (Peter Ragaert, An Vermeulen, Mona De Smul (zij/haar), Brecht Van Der Hoeven) for the opportunity and warm welcome and to all attendees for the inspiring questions and discussions!

Last week, Pack4Food was present at EuraMaterials in Tourcoing for the official kick-off of the Interreg France–Wallonie–Flanders project R-EU-CYCLE 🚀. This cross-border initiative supports SMEs in their transition towards more sustainable plastic food packaging, aligning with Europe’s recently established packaging and packaging waste regulation. The project focuses on: ✅ Analysing the current recycling value chain ✅ Bringing key stakeholders together ✅ Defining 5 concrete business cases ✅ Developing and testing 5 innovative packaging prototypes We are proud to contribute to this important collaboration from Flanders, together with Universiteit Gent and other engaged partners: EuraMaterials, Wagralim, the Agri-Food Innovation Cluster of Wallonia, Citeo, Fevia, the federation of the Belgian food companies, Fost Plus, Trialeco, Triselec, Agria Grand Est, AgroSpheres, and Association Nationale des Industries Alimentaires (ANIA). It was an inspiring day full of insights, discussions, and strong commitment from all partners and stakeholders, including Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen, Région Hauts-de-France, Région Wallonne, Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen, and CrossS3 Interreg France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen. This European cooperation clearly shows that innovation and collaboration are key to improving packaging recyclability and moving towards a more circular economy ♻️. 👉 Want to learn more or join the initiative? Check out R-EU-CYCLE! #Innovation #Agrifood #PlasticRecycling #Innovatie #DuurzameVerpakkingen #Samenwerking #FoodIndustry #REUCYCLE #EcologischeOvergang

🔄 HERPAK: Advancing circular food packaging with strong partnerships 💪 The #HERPAK project, coordinated by Pack4Food and funded by VLAIO - Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship via Flanders' FOOD brings together key players to drive innovation in reusable food packaging! While reusable plastic packaging is already in use for catering and take-away meals, where food contact time is short, expanding its application to foods with a longer shelf life presents new challenges. Microbial contamination, chemical safety (e.g., detergent residues and odor transfer), and physical integrity (e.g., scratch resistance) must be carefully assessed. 🔬 Over the next two years, HERPAK will tackle these critical issues, developing science-based recommendations to ensure the safe and effective reuse of food packaging. The research will be performed by several researcher groups at Universiteit Gent 👨🔬👩🔬. More than 20 engaged participants - including 9 companies, FOD Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu, OVAM, academic partners and sector organizations – were present at the kick-off meeting of HERPAK 💥, a dynamic initiative addressing the urgent need for safe and sustainable reusable food packaging solutions. Want to be part of this growing network, gain valuable insights, and help shape the future of circular packaging? 🌱 Join the HERPAK consortium! 🤝 🔗 Check out the project: https://lnkd.in/eWDkXXun 📩 Get in touch: info@pack4food.be AMNorman Avamoplast NV Christeyns France Eastman HOBART GmbH Solina MIVAS Nestlé Rombouts Pack4Food Flanders' FOOD #UGentFMFP #UGentnutriFOODchem #UGentEnvoc Fost Plus #FODVolksgezondheid #OVAM #sustainablefoodpackaging #reusablefoodpackaging #PPWR

🚀 You're invited to the Final Value4Pack event! Join us on October 2nd, 2025 at Monasterium PoortAckere in Ghent for the closing event of the Value4Pack project. What to expect: ✅ Presentation of key results ✅ Matchmaking opportunities for penta-helix actors — especially companies ✅ Networking breaks and a complimentary lunch 📅 When? October 2nd, 2025 — 9:30 to 14:00 📍 Where? Monasterium PoortAckere, Ghent 🎟️ Free participation — register now: https://lnkd.in/eZYGaNBZ And for those who wish to continue networking: ✨ At 15:00, celebrate 20 years of Pack4Food: "Blessed with Innovation" with Belgian packaging stakeholders (separate registration required). We look forward to welcoming you in Ghent! 🚀