Petra Cullmann, one of the key figures behind K, tells Packaging MEA how excited she is to see the return of the world’s biggest platform for the plastics industry
As the world’s leading trade fair, K 2002 will on October 19-26 once again pioneer innovations and developments as well as visionary impulses. The three leading themes of K 2022 will be the circular economy, digitalisation, and climate protection.
These leading themes will be echoed by both the exhibitors’ presentations and in the focus of the official show “Plastics Shape the Future”, plus the Science Campus and VDMA’s Circular Economy Forum. Meanwhile, the physical event in Düsseldorf will be extended to include additional digital content.
As the touring KShow 2022 dropped in on Dubai last month, Packaging MEA Editor Ben Daniel interviewed Petra Cullman, the Global Portfolio Director for Plastics & Rubber at Messe Düsseldorf. Ms Cullman directs all events in the plastics and rubber industry, including the K Show.
Ben Daniel (BD): Welcome to Dubai, Petra. How did you manoeuvre the bumpy two and a half years of the pandemic?
Petra Cullman (PC): I’m glad to be here. It was a tough time for not just Düsseldorf but for the entire exhibition industry. The industry came to a complete standstill. We had to take measures to keep the company afloat.
There was relief only last autumn when we were allowed to hold two international trade fairs, the first one Occupation Safety and Health, and the second Medicine and Medical Health Technology, which was followed by a lockdown. And even during the first quarter of 2022, there was a lockdown again and shows were not allowed. I’m really glad that we can start shows now. We are organising one show after the other and the response has been greatly encouraging.
With no restrictions at Dusseldorf, we are hoping to have a marathon of the trade fair, as we have important international shows coming up like Plastic in September and K in October.
BD: With so many parameters fluctuating within the plastics packaging industry like the upsurge in demand for, and companies opting for, digitisation, automation, innovation in automation and the circular economy, is K complementing the coming together of the respective stakeholders?
PC: K has been the platform for innovation for the plastic and rubber industry globally. A USP of K is where exhibitors make presentations and go to the market. There are a lot of aspects to consider from a plastic value chain point from the material and technology, and the hot topics that the industry wants to address such as climate protection, circular economy and digitisation.
These will be discussed by experts. In 2016, we saw that the industry was responsible and was trying to use plastic sustainably in all applications. Yet the indispensable properties of plastic were highlighted during the pandemic, namely its ability to keep food from contamination and thereby keep people from infection. We will start from where we stopped by designing plastics from scratch and designing it to something recyclable. As we closely work with committed associations, it will help the industry go on with this dynamic history in a sustainable way.
Next is the Science Campus, where the scientific institutions show their research results and interact with the industry to enhance the recyclable properties of plastic, and other issues. Our partner, VDMA, is organising a special area where members of the association show state-ofthe- art plastic use in the view of circular economy or digitisation.
BD: Why should MEA manufacturers of plastics, brand owners and other related stakeholders attend K? What’s your message?
PC: The Middle East is a hub for the plastic industry and K is the global platform for the entire plastic industry. Connect with stakeholders from the rest of the world and get to know in which direction the plastic industry is developing and heading.
BD: Although some say plastic is fantastic, which is a good buzzword, what is your message to brand owners and converters about their plastic use from a circular economy and sustainability standpoint?
PC: Plastic is fantastic, yes. It helps meet the challenges of today’s megatrends today, so my message is that before the production of a product or even the designing of a product, recyclability or upcycling must be in the realm of their thoughts.