Ringier Trade Media Ltd is among the media partners for ProPak Philippines, scheduled to take place from February 4-6 at the World Trade Center, Metro Manila.
At the press conference held on January 13 at the World Trade Center, Informa Markets’ partners for ProPak Philippines - the Asian Packaging Federation, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology - reaffirmed their commitment to supporting local companies by promoting innovation, sustainability, and global competitiveness in the processing and packaging sectors. Representatives from these organizations conveyed their messages and their role in driving industry growth.
This year's theme, Consumer-Conscious Innovation: Driving Global Competitiveness and Sustainability underscores the need of placing the consumer at the center of product design and development. Studies indicate that 78% of consumers in the Philippines prefer brands with sustainable packaging, and 65% are willing to pay more for eco‑friendly products. Such figures highlight the consumer’s role in pushing businesses to evaluate materials, processes, and technologies.
“Consumer-conscious innovation is not just a theme, but it is a call to action for businesses to align with the evolving demands of sustainability and global competitiveness. ProPak Philippines is in the frontline to do this transformation, and equip industries with the tools, insights, and partnerships needed to create solutions that are both environmentally responsible and market-driven,” Ms. Rungphech “Rose” Chitanuwat, Country General Manager of Informa Markets Philippines, said.
Empowering MSMEs
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is an active partner of Informa Markets, participating in ProPak events to grow the country’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). MSMEs form the backbone of the Philippine economy and directly drive inclusive growth. They account for 99.6% of registered enterprises in the Philippines, provide 67% of total employment, which is equivalent to about 6.3 million jobs, and contribute 40% to the nation’s GDP, according to DTI Assistant Secretary Leonila T. Baluyut, DBA.
Through its partnership with Informa Markets, DTI opens opportunities for MSMEs to join trade events both locally and abroad, Ms. Baluyot said. For instance, in 2025, about 200 companies from 17 regions gained market exposure, business matchmaking opportunities, and global recognition through their participation in ProPak Asia, as well as activities that introduced them to Thailand’s One Town, One Product (OTOP) program, she said.
Ms. Baluyot explained that the Philippines’ own OTOP program, institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11960 (2023), supports MSMEs by promoting products rooted in each town’s culture, resources, and traditions. Stronger collaboration between local government units, national agencies, and the private sector, will be key to ensuring the sustainability of the OTOP movement in the country, she said. These insights will guide efforts to refine product development, capacity building, and market access programs, particularly in addressing gaps in access to modern machinery, after-sales service, and continuous technical training.
Ms. Baluyut also highlighted the Philippines’ MSME Development Plan 2023–2028, particularly Strategic Goal Four, which focuses on “Promoting Sustainability and Resiliency.” She said DTI, alongside the Department of Science and Technology, continues to push for digital transformation, Industry 4.0 adoption, green and circular economy practices, and the responsible use of emerging technologies such as AI to help MSMEs become more resilient, productive, and competitive.
Further, Strategic Goal Six of the Plan emphasizes improving coordination among government agencies, streamlining policies, and ensuring that MSMEs operate within a supportive regulatory framework that fosters growth, innovation, and sustainability. “Platforms like ProPak offer MSMEs pathways to international markets, stronger networks, and the confidence to compete globally—contributing to economic diversification and inclusive growth,” she said.
The informed consumer inspiring innovation
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) supports industries through research and development, as well as testing and technical services that address both current and emerging needs. One pressing challenge is how to adapt to today’s more discerning, thinking consumer.
In her message, Annabel V. Briones, Director of the DOST Industrial Technology Development Institute, emphasized that consumers are no longer passive buyers. They are compelling industries, researchers, and innovators to strengthen their capabilities and pay closer attention to product quality, safety, and environmental impact.
She noted that consumer-conscious innovation presents a powerful opportunity, with the processing and packaging industry evolving in step with consumer expectations. These expectations now shape how products are processed, packaged, and presented in the market.
Director Briones highlighted the role of events like ProPak Philippines in fostering collaboration, creating opportunities for partnerships, and raising awareness of available solutions that support industry growth.
“From an industry outlook perspective, processing technologies are moving towards greater control, consistency, and efficiency. Manufacturers are working to ensure stable processing conditions, safeguard products, and reduce losses,” she said.
“Sustainability is a critical part of the current industry direction. While packaging materials must continue to meet performance and safety requirements, there is growing interest in approaches that reduce environmental impact, so we continue to work on packaging related studies that consider material performance alongside ecological concerns in line with existing standards,” she said.
DOST supports the processing and packaging sectors through technologies it helps develop, alongside methods that ensure product quality and safety. This includes studies on processing conditions and product stability, as well as research and services related to packaging materials, shelf-life evaluation, and safety testing. These efforts help determine whether packaging materials are suitable for products and their intended markets, particularly in food, cosmetics, and other consumer goods, through the Packaging Technology Division, she explained.
“This year’s ProPak Philippines theme aligns with the four pillars of DOST: wealth creation, wealth protection, human well-being, and sustainability. Sustainability is a critical part of the current industry direction. While packaging materials must continue to meet performance and safety requirements, there is growing interest in approaches that reduce environmental impact. We continue to work on packaging-related studies that consider material performance alongside ecological concerns, in line with existing standards,” she said.
Packaging in the Philippines
Dr. Joseph Ross Jocson MNSA, President of the Asian Packaging Federation and Commissioner of the National Solid Waste Management Commission, touched on the continuing evolution of the packaging industry, driven by newer materials and technologies that now focus on sustainability. He said the surge in e-commerce is fueling industry growth as deliveries demand reliable, and often several layers of packaging.
As packaging use continues to rise and waste accumulates, Dr. Jocson assured that industry is now focused on efficiency in material use, prioritizing reduction and the adoption of reusable solutions. While packaging engineers select a material or product based on its entire lifecycle from cradle to grave, design now has entirely shifted toward the circular economy, where materials are not simply discarded at the end of use but are further reused or integrated into the system.
Dr Jocson said that the Philippines has caught on to the trend, citing major players such as Pepsi, Nestlé, and Coca Cola as actively recycling bottles, and PET bottles are now 100% recyclable. Coca Cola’s recycling plant in partnership with Indonesia has processed over 2 billion PET bottles, he added.
Since 2019, ProPak Philippines has served as a bridge that fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange between local and international manufacturing companies. Its role in local manufacturing is important since the Philippines is still reliant on imports, Ms Chitanuwat said.
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