Across MEA, packaging innovation is moving from visible change to measurable engineering progress, as lightweighting, recyclability, and circularity increasingly shape how packaging is designed, produced, and valued, writes Kaunain Shahidi, Contributing Editor, Packaging MEA. If you are a resident of the MENA region, or a traveler with a keen eye for …
Continue reading “From Cost to Engineering: The Strategic Evolution of MEA Packaging”
Private labels across the Middle East and Africa are evolving into a central retail strategy, moving beyond price positioning to drive differentiation, consumer trust and greater retail control. Momentum is increasingly visible across UAE retail networks such as Spinneys and Sharjah Cooperative Society. In this feature, Ben Daniel speaks with Delfim dos …
In food packaging, safety and performance depend not only on the substrate, but on the thin functional layers of inks, coatings and adhesives. As regulatory requirements tighten and hot-climate logistics increase migration risk in the GCC and wider MENA region, converters and brand owners are focusing more closely on process control, final-pack validation and …
Across MEA and Asia, flexographic printing is evolving from a cost-led alternative into an automation-driven growth engine, strengthening regional competitiveness through scale, sustainability, and intelligent manufacturing systems.By Suhas Kulkarni, Independent Flexo Evangelist There was a time when flexographic printing in our part of the world was spoken about cautiously — almost defensively. It was seen …
Continue reading “Flexo Rising: The new strategic engine of packaging in MEA and South Asia”
Laetitia Magentie, Board Member of the Circular Packaging Association and Director of Sustainability at Majid Al Futtaim, shares her perspectives with Ben Daniel, Chief Editor of Packaging MEA, on the significance of the UAE’s single-use plastics ban and the practical pathways shaping circularity in packaging across the region. Ben Daniel: To …
As of 1 January 2026, the UAE’s single-use plastics ban is fully in force. Introduced under Ministerial Decision No. 380 of 2022 and phased in from 2024 onwards, the regulation now applies nationwide. The prohibited list includes: • Plastic shopping bags below 50 microns • Beverage cups and lids • Cutlery (forks, …
Hybrid print technology — combining digital and conventional workflows — is gaining traction among converters across MEA. As SKU complexity grows and brands push for speed, flexibility, and premium finishes, hybrid presses are emerging as the most commercially balanced solution. I’ve seen firsthand why hybrid printing is becoming a strategic priority across the Middle East …
Reporting from Istanbul, Ben Daniel, Editor of Packaging MEA and MEA Chapter Ambassador of the Global Rotogravure Association (GRA), examines how International Gravure Days 2025 marked a turning point for the industry, as gravure adopted a global identity aligned with sustainability, digitalisation, and emerging market growth. When the gravure community gathered in Istanbul from 20–22 …
In this edition of Packaging Middle East & Africa’s flagship Big Interview, we sit down with Luciana Pellegrino, the newly appointed President of the World Packaging Organization (WPO). From driving sustainability to shaping packaging education across continents, Luciana is spearheading global change in an industry that’s transforming at warp speed. In an …
Continue reading “From Local Solutions to Global Standards: A Conversation with WPO’s President”
Sustainable Packaging Innovations: 2025 and Beyond With 2025 global sustainability deadlines officially underway, leading food and beverage companies are advancing beyond pledges and into packaging innovation. From paper wrappers to refillable formats and recycled plastics, brands are experimenting with diverse solutions to move towards a circular economy. Paper-Based Transitions Paper is emerging as a viable …
Continue reading “Global FMCG brands deliver innovations as 2025 sustainability goals arrive”
