In 2015, 530,000 tons of cosmetics and pharmaceutical packaging was made from plastics

Plastic packaging has become a fundamental part of our daily lives thanks to ease of use, long-term protection, light weight, cost advantages and energy savings; in recent times it has also become the first choice in the cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices sectors.

Domestic consumption of plastic packaging used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors reached a total of 530,000 tonnes in 2015. PAGEV set the main theme of the International Plastic Packaging Technologies Congress, which it organized for the third time this year, as plastic packaging used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors.

At the congress where plastic packaging in both sectors was examined closely, topics of raw materials and market, new technologies, innovative developments, design, sustainability and branding were addressed.

Turkish Plastics Manufacturers Foundation for Research, Development and Education (PAGEV);

PAGEV held the third edition of the "International Plastic Packaging Technologies Congress", where all aspects of plastic packaging—which holds a 40 percent share in the sector's production—were evaluated, on 1 November 2016 at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel. Organized under the theme "Innovative Trends and Branding in Packaging", the PAGEV International Plastic Packaging Technologies Congress discussed raw materials and market, new technologies, innovative developments, design, sustainability and branding. The congress, which brought together experts from Turkey and abroad, sector representatives and academics, had pharmaceutical and cosmetics sector packaging as its main agenda.

Plastic packaging consumption in cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors is increasing…

Today, different designs and colours enhance product appeal; while packaging offering functional use takes the lead in preference lists. Plastics, which lead the packaging sector with a 37 percent share, stand out a step ahead of alternative materials through sustainability in production and recycling processes, ease of use, light weight and easy shapability. Turkey's cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors are increasingly giving weight to plastic packaging thanks to all these features. While cosmetics packaging production was 436,000 tonnes in 2010, it rose to 568,000 tonnes in 2015. During the same period, domestic consumption increased from 381,000 tonnes to 468,000 tonnes. Similar growth is occurring in pharmaceutical packaging. Approximately 20 companies in our country produce plastic packaging materials required by the pharmaceutical sector. Domestic market consumption of plastic pharmaceutical packaging materials accounts for approximately 60 percent of total pharmaceutical packaging material consumption in Turkey. Domestic market consumption of plastic pharmaceutical packaging materials reached 61,000 tonnes and around USD 200 million in 2015, while consumption is expected to exceed 85,000 tonnes and USD 225 million by the end of 2016. At the opening of the International Plastic Packaging Technologies Congress, which brings together all aspects of the packaging sector, PAGEV Chairman Yavuz Eroğlu, Director of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology Fuat Şimşek, PAGEV Board Member and Congress Committee Chairman Cemil Çakar, Rigid Plastic Packaging Manufacturers Association (SEPA) Chairman Osman Acun and Packaging Manufacturers Association (ASD) Chairman Zeki Sarıbekir each delivered speeches. In the first two sessions, Nielsen, Ravago, Intertek Test Services, Voksel Rapid Prototyping Technologies, Globrand Consultancy companies and Prof. Dr. Gülgün Yener, Head of the Department of Cosmetology at Istanbul University Faculty of Pharmacy addressed raw material solutions in the cosmetics sector, safety and regulatory studies, innovative applications and the importance of plastic packaging in the sector. Additionally, Designer Dr. Orhan Irmak shared insights in a presentation titled "The Importance of Packaging in Branding" about changes in packaging and creative packaging designs in line with developing technology and needs. At the PAGEV International Plastic Packaging Technologies Congress, in addition to sessions where speakers and experts from world-renowned companies in both sectors shared their knowledge, two panels were also organized. In the first panel addressing the cosmetics sector, all questions about the importance of packaging and innovative trends in the design and branding process of cosmetic packaging were detailed.

Plastic packaging providing protection, storage and ease of use is at the forefront of the pharmaceutical sector…

Another panel was held specifically for the pharmaceutical sector. Particularly in pharmaceutical packaging, product information, product protection and counterfeiting prevention are extremely critical in terms of human health. Emphasis was placed on child-resistant packaging and continued demand for environmentally-friendly packaging. The increasing elderly population in Europe is also accelerating the development of easy-to-open pharmaceutical packaging tailored to seniors. Plastic packaging's innovative technologies enable protection, storage and ease of use, while also supporting product storage and transportation functions, placing plastics a step ahead of traditional packaging types. In this panel, legal requirements that packaging manufacturers must comply with, points that pharmaceutical manufacturers pay attention to in packaging procurement, labeling and traceability in pharmaceutical packaging, innovative developments and new technology machines that both produce packaging and fill medicines were addressed.

Speaking at the opening of the PAGEV International Plastic Packaging Technology Congress, PAGEV Board of Directors Chairman Yavuz Eroğlu, stated: "The packaging industry is an increasingly important market in our country. Plastic packaging, which holds a 37 percent share among packaging types, is the most important player in this market.

It is preferred in all sectors thanks to advantages such as ease of use, long-term preservation, light weight, cost advantage and energy savings. In the first half of 2016, plastic packaging production was 1,845,000 tonnes in quantity and USD 7,708 million in value. Our exports in the first half of 2016 were 440,000 tonnes in quantity and USD 1,154 million in value," he said. Emphasizing the increasing importance of the concept of image in the modern world, PAGEV Chairman Yavuz Eroğlu, stated: "Nowadays, the image of a product is determined by its packaging. While interesting designs and colours increase appeal, packaging offering functional use takes first place in preference lists. The Turkish plastic packaging sector has a young and dynamic appearance with its openness to change and development. As a sector, we closely follow technological developments and trends in the world. We are strengthening the image of products in all sectors.

The increasing rate of plastic use in Turkey's high value-added pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors in recent times adds to our strength.

Moreover, with both sectors—which hold important positions domestically and internationally—choosing plastics for their packaging, we are on one hand proving the development of our sector, and on the other hand strengthening the image of products through the advantages we offer. The future of our plastic packaging sector is open in both sectors. Packaging manufacturers that develop new products and provide more added value by using R&D will be much more advantaged in the future. In our 3rd PAGEV International Plastic Packaging Technology Congress, we examined plastic packaging used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors under the microscope. We believe that we will further increase our share in both sectors in the coming years," he said. Yavuz Eroğlu concluded his remarks by thanking the participants and, on behalf of the sector, the companies supporting the PAGEV International Plastic Packaging Technologies Congress, which has become a valuable sharing platform, particularly PAGÇEV TSP Makine, Petek Plastik, Boykan, Ravago Kimya, Aziz Plastik and Anamed.