Reduce Packaging Innovation Day

CID23, the 10th edition of CMC Innovation Day, took place last Thursday, June 22nd. Organized annually by CMC Packaging Automation, a company in the portfolio of KKR Global Impact Fund and supported by Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, this event has become a tradition in the on-demand packaging sector. The event was held at CMC’s headquarters in Città di Castello (PG), Italy.

The focus of the event was on nurturing talent within the company, providing a day of study and in-depth analysis to showcase innovations in an industry that has persevered despite recent challenges and discovered opportunities for growth and improvement. The keyword for the day was ‘REDUCE’: reducing waste and minimizing impact while maintaining efficiency and production performance.

CID23 attracted over 150 guests from five continents, representing major eCommerce companies and logistics players. It served as a platform for sharing ideas and best practices regarding the challenges and opportunities in sustainable logistics.

CMC’s initiative demonstrates the importance of establishing a business model that engages and collaborates with the outside world, drawing from new experiences to grow and stay relevant. The underlying theme of the event was the inseparable link between technological and ecological innovation. Leading companies in their respective sectors, including Geox, Kering, Urban Outfitters, and General Motors, shared valuable insights, highlighting the value of automation in B2B and B2C business processes to enhance overall efficiency and performance optimization.

Alessandro di Rita, Head of Engineering at Kering, stated: “Our long-standing strategic partnership with CMC has proven instrumental in achieving our sustainability goals. Thanks to on-demand packaging technology, we have significantly reduced emissions and improved production times, contributing to environmental preservation and achieving greater operational efficiency. CMC Packaging Automation ensures quality and aligns with our brand, providing maximum product protection during transportation. Our continued investment in this partnership showcases the trust we place in CMC to develop even more innovative and efficient solutions for the future”.

Alessandro de Marco, B2C Logistics Manager at Geox, commented: “The international and cross-cutting context in terms of product type and operational area provided an extraordinary opportunity, not only as a testimonial but also to realize that we are key players in addressing the current market and eco-sustainability challenges”.

Brian Horton, Supply Chain Director at Urban Outfitters stated: “It was great being able to share the journey of designing and launching our new highly automated facility that will leverage CMC Genesys. It was also great listening to other customers and industry colleagues regarding their current, but common challenges in the marketplace. My biggest takeaway was simply the reminder that the world’s resources are limited so the importance of Sustainability in packaging and subsequently all across the supply chain, must be a focal point moving forward”.

Francesco Ponti, CEO of CMC, said: “Through innovation and research, CMC Packaging Automation aims to become the global 3D packaging leader, with the ambitious goal of finding new solutions for sustainability. The success of CID23 confirms our ongoing commitment to meeting customer needs and driving innovation in the 3D packaging sector. We will continue to invest in our resources, expertise, and technologies to maintain our leadership position and offer increasingly advanced and sustainable solutions. We are delighted with the attendance and the growing interest and awareness of the importance of our industry. The Innovation Day is a strategic event that cannot be missed”.

Pedro Godinho Ramos, Director of Global Impact at KKR, stated: “Days like CID are a testament to CMC’s ingenuity and pursuit of excellence in sustainability and customer service and are an occasion to celebrate all that our people have achieved. We are extremely grateful for the 150 partners that joined us and follow the journey and all there is to come”.

An innovation strategy rooted in sustainability, supported by numbers, as demonstrated by CMC’s inaugural Sustainability Report, exclusively presented during CID23, showcasing the company’s key accomplishments and future ESG objectives.

In this manner, CMC has raised the bar for innovation, positioning itself as a prominent player in the industry, with the aim of creating a more resilient and future-oriented sector. As part of the event, the complete range of on-demand packaging machines was unveiled, including the new Hybrid Advance and Envelope on-demand products. With this cutting-edge technology, CMC solidifies its position as the unrivaled leader in 3D packaging, capable of automating customized secondary packaging, whether it be boxes, bags, or envelopes.

Through these efforts, CMC remains dedicated to leading the way in innovation within the packaging industry, embracing sustainable solutions that align with global market needs. The CID23 presents an invaluable opportunity to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and collectively shape the future of sustainable packaging and logistics alongside our customers.

Based in Città di Castello (PG), CMC Spa is a private company engaged in the design, production, and sale of innovative solutions and high-tech machinery for mailing, graphic art, e-commerce, and logistics. Founded in 1980, the company has dedicated itself to developing strategies that could transform it into the leading provider of technologies, services, components, and professional technical training. CMC has always been attentive to promptly respond to the changing market demands with creative projects and tailor-made solutions. With the exponential growth of e-commerce reshaping the shipping industry, CMC now assists retailers and logistics companies in optimizing the order fulfillment process and using sustainable, robust, highly personalized, and secure packaging through its popular and award-winning 3D packaging technology, which perfectly adapts to the content of the package.

Mosca 2027 Sustainability Strategy

Mosca is making its corporate commitment transparent and offering an overview of future goals with its first in-depth sustainability strategy report. One key focus is on employee involvement and a commitment to minimal packaging. Mosca also supports customers and partners in their sustainability efforts.

The newly published sustainability report for 2021 outlines the company’s progress on its commitment to sustainability. It also includes a comprehensive materiality analysis and a detailed description of resource consumption along with numerous starting points/targets for new and ongoing sustainability projects. The industry’s technology leader also offers an outlook on upcoming changes that go hand in hand with Mosca’s Nonstop responsibility 2027 sustainability strategy.

Simone Mosca, CEO and head of the Mosca Sustainability Committee, explains: “We are deeply aware of our responsibilities as a manufacturing company. The Nonstop responsibility 2027 strategy reflects our approach to leading the way in our industry. This report enables us to spotlight the company’s social and ecological commitment over the years and to outline our goals for further improving sustainability in our corporate development.”

Sustainability report focuses on commitment

To create a sound basis, sustainability officer Ann Mertens and the sustainability committee analysed the current status in detail. “The year 2021 serves as a starting point from which we can present and evaluate our development based on the data,” Mertens explains. Based on this data, the company has already initiated actions aimed at reducing resource consumption. “So far, we launched heat and energy-efficiency projects. These included the conversion to local heating systems and LED lighting at the Waldbrunn site.”

Mertens identified other focal points: “In the coming months, we will be looking at how we view and communicate sustainability in-house and how we promote and support sustainability among our customers and partners.”

Minimise resource consumption and support employees

Mosca is committed to encouraging more staff involvement. The new ‘pitch day’ event format gives employees a chance to present their ideas for enhancing the company’s development in a three-minute time slot. The aim is to stimulate in-house communication. Mosca is also planning to expand its training and education programmes along with its social support. With a wider range of social counselling services, the company wants to focus on the mental health of employees and offer support in difficult situations.

Test centre, CO2 product calculator and digital services support customers

Mosca is also expanding its products and structures in the service sector. “We have a global service network with over 130 technicians. The expansion of our network and development of digital services enable us to minimise travel distances and continue to reliably support our customers in a targeted way,” Ann Mertens says.

Advisory services for customers on securing their loading units are also provided. A CO2 product calculator developed by Mosca will enable customers to estimate and optimise the resource consumption and carbon emissions of a specific packaging solution. Mertens explains: “This is where we can use our expertise to minimise packaging and demonstrate sustainable alternatives. At the same time, it enables us to support sustainability in our industry and beyond.”

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