We caught up with Wen-Gie Siew, Regional PSRA Director - Asia Pacific at Henkel, who will be presenting at this June's Food contanct Asia 2024 conference.
Q1. Hi Wen-Gie, it’s great to have you joining us this year! Can you tell us more about your upcoming presentation at Food Contact Asia 2024?
I am very happy that I will have this opportunity again to share with the industry peers the Safe and compliant adhesives for sustainable food packaging that Henkel Adhesive Technologies has been working on, as well as to share some latest FCM regulatory updates. Safe and compliant adhesives for sustainable food packaging extends beyond individual companies to impact consumers, the environment, industry reputation, and global trade. It is a foundational element for creating packaging solutions that prioritize safety, sustainability, and regulatory compliance.
Q2. What are some of the biggest opportunities gaining attention within the food contact materials and/or packaging industry?
Regulatory Compliance and Safety – Stringent Compliance Standards allowing all manufacturers to compete on a level playing filed, adhering to ethical and legal standards.
Sustainable Packaging Solutions and Circular Economy Initiatives – Opened up the new opportunities and markets for the industry to innovate in Biodegradable materials, Bio-based plastics, as well as Circular Economy Initiatives, like Recyclability and Recycled Content.
Q3. As consumers/end users continually push for more sustainable/greener/safer solutions, what do you think is the biggest concern/challenge regarding food contact materials/packaging?
The biggest concern or challenge regarding food contact materials and packaging, as consumers demand more sustainable and safer solutions, is ensuring that these materials are both environmentally friendly and maintain the safety and integrity of the food they contain. Balancing sustainability with food safety and quality standards, as well as competitive costs presents a significant challenge for manufacturers and regulators alike.
Q4. What do you think will be some of the most interesting advancements or breakthroughs in food contact materials in the near future?
Continuously stringent safety & regulatory compliance requirements, especially related to harmful chemicals, e.g. Mineral Oils, PAA, BPAs, PFAS…etc.
Sustainable Packaging and Circular Economy Initiatives and challenges for Food Packaging industries;
Innovation in Smart Packaging Technologies and E-Commerce Packaging Solutions – Addressing the surge in online shopping with sustainable and efficient packaging solutions that can interact with the product or the environment, providing features such as freshness indicators, temperature monitoring, and QR codes for traceability.
Q5. Which topics(s)/presentation(s) are you most looking forward to hearing about at Food Contact Asia?
Innovative Safe and Compliance Sustainable Food Packaging Solutions, especially on how to mitigate the compliance risks against the latest FCM regulatory requirements in China, Japan, Indonesia and EU.
We caught up with Wen-Gie Siew, Regional PSRA Director - Asia Pacific at Henkel, who will be presenting at this June's Food contanct Asia 2024 conference. 