Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, has expanded its packaging innovation hubs around the world. In addition to existing centers in the US, South America and Asia Pacific, the company has now opened its Amcor Innovation Center Europe (AICE) in Ghent, Belgium. The AICE will pioneer new material technologies to make packaging more sustainable and performant, while focusing on designs that stand out in shops and increase ease-of-use for consumers.

"The opening of the Amcor Innovation Center Europe is a significant investment towards more sustainable, circular, and innovative packaging," said Michael Zacka, President Amcor Flexibles Europe, Middle East, and Africa. "The center brings together the brightest minds in packaging design and material science with state-of-the-art technology to offer our customers a complete brand solution, from concept to commercial launch."

In its Innovation Center Europe, Amcor supports brands from concept to shelf using its Catalyst approach. This flexible, collaborative, and creative co-development methodology creates packaging solutions that take into account a brand’s market, consumer needs, sustainability and recyclability requirements, and customers’ existing production lines.

“We want to create packaging that consumers like, and that is better for the environment,” said Noemi Bertolino, Vice President Research & Development. “The packaging needs to look appealing, and be easy to open, portion and close. It also needs to be suitable for current and future collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure. At the AICE, we can test packaging against these requirements. For example, in our Customer Engagement Center, we can test whether a child-resistant push-through blister pack for pharmaceuticals is easy for an adult with arthritis to open.”