Thu 25 May 2023 | by Rob Hutchins

The POC Packaging Design for the Circular Economy course to make its return next month

Having made its triumphant debut in March this year, the Products of Change Packaging Design for the Circular Economy course will be making its return next month to provide industry professionals with the tools and understanding to produce packaging more sustainably. The two-day course will once again be led by Mike Swain and Richard Coles – two titans of the UK packaging scene – to provide an up-to-the-minute deep dive into the many areas impacting upon packaging design, including legislative pressures, sustainable demands, and of course, consumer influence. The course will follow the same structure as before with a half day webinar scheduled to take place on Friday, 23^rd June running from 9.30am to 12.30pm. This has been designed to introduce course attendees to basic principles around circularity and current legislation. This will be followed by a full-day face-to-face workshop to be held at the Informa Offices in London on Wednesday, 28^th June. This will be a morning and afternoon in-person workshop with the chance to get hands-on with the topic. Products of Change Members and Non-Members can register their interest in the event here. All attendees of the course will be offered an optional one-to-one follow up session with Mike or Richard to talk through individual cases or projects being worked on. “The Products of Change Packaging Design for the Circular Economy course has proven to be a valuable addition to many people’s already progressed activities with their packaging,” said Mike Swain, course co-leader and Products of Change’s Ambassador for Packaging. “Being such a visible and impactful part of this sector’s product delivery, business engaged in both licensing and manufacturing products have seen benefits from the course. It has influenced both strategic approaches, getting thought and action more focused, and has provided the foundations of solutions for the product packaging themselves.” The return of the Course follows its successful launch in March this year when attendees from across the consumer products industries engaged in the two-day learning programme. The course attracted designers and creative leads from some of the biggest name brands in toys, gifts, and housewares including Addo Play, Mattel, Talking Tables, TDP Textiles, Paramount, and more. “The course was fantastic, the enthusiasm and knowledge of the speakers was infectious,” said Jordan Ronchetti, consumer products creative manager at Mattel EMEA. “I learnt so much information and came away with a better understanding of the circular economy as well as some tangible action and thinking I can take forwards into the business to make some effective changes.” Mike Swain is a packaging and materials expert with 30 years’ experience of the packaging industry. Mike has co-developed the course with Richard Coles, a subject expert and part-time packaging design course lecturer at Greenwich University. The Course taking place in June this year will deliver up-to-the-minute updated information on the latest developments in regulation and policy impacting the packaging industry with a UK focus that remains relevant to the EU market today. “The Packaging Design for the Circular Economy course has really helped me re-think my company’s approach to prioritising packaging and how I can explain how complex it really is,” said Teresa Hookins, creative director at the UK toy business, Addo Play. “The course was so informative and helpful to those wanting to influence packaging and its impact on the planet we live on.” Anyone wishing to attend the Products of Change Packaging Design for the Circular Economy course can register their interest via this link.