Engage or become a liability…

(Article appeared, in German, in Dicht! 4-2024: https://www.isgatec.com/pdf/?file=/media/t23pvpsk/dicht-4-2024.pdf&page=46)

This time, I write less about our adaptation to the known and unknown future conditions and more about the fact that dialogue is taking place and important signals are already being sent today.

In the last week of September, the Afera, The European Adhesive Tape Association annual conference on the European adhesive tape market took place in Thessaloniki, Greece. And if you listened carefully, it quickly became clear where the journey is or must go. This year's event attracted almost 150 attendees, including executives, technical experts and marketing professionals, all of whom shared a common goal: to explore and discuss the future of the adhesive tape industry from the perspectives of #sustainability, #compliance and #markettrends.

After receiving constructive feedback last year, we made significant adjustments to ensure that this year's conference would be more dynamic, inclusive and relevant to all aspects of the industry. Looking back over the past few years, we have admittedly neglected packaging tapes, which account for more than half of the volume in the industry. Even if the speciality tape business may be larger in terms of turnover, we cannot afford to overlook the importance of standard tapes. And the same applies to tape converting, the complexity of which should not be underestimated and which has been highlighted here.

Issues such as sustainability, raw materials and future trends in #adhesives affect every sector of our industry. And here we must increasingly involve the younger generations, which fortunately we are succeeding in doing.

The meeting of the Afera Flagship Sustainability Project (#AFSP) was at the centre of many discussions. What made this session remarkable was its openness – members who were not directly involved in the work processes were invited as observers, which is a clear sign of our commitment to transparency and inclusiveness. Discussions during the AFSP meeting focused on strategies for reducing the carbon #footprint, developing environmentally friendly products and improving waste management. This open and forward-looking approach ensures that the adhesive tape industry meets increasing regulatory requirements while continuing to lead the way in sustainable innovation.

The tool ‘TACK’, which we developed in collaboration with our members, Sphera and the #IVK, was presented and met with great interest. More about this on the Afera website: https://afera.com/adhesive-tapes-sustainability/tack-pcf-calculation-tool/

The ‘Market Data & Trends’ session highlighted the importance of balancing innovation and sustainability. One conclusion: sustainability is no longer just an option, but a necessity for the future success of the industry. The keynote presentation by Christina Stathopoulos, MSc , founder of Dare to Data, on the topic of artificial intelligence was particularly thought-provoking. She focused on how #AI is transforming manufacturing and other areas of a business. The potential of AI to increase efficiency, reduce waste and promote sustainability throughout the value chain became clear here. AI could therefore offer many opportunities for the tape industry. A central message was: ‘AI is not the “enemy”! and does not compete with the way companies operate. Those who can and do use AI are powerful competitors.’

A comprehensive analysis of the global market for pressure-sensitive speciality tapes, including growth trends from 2024 to 2029, provided valuable information for companies seeking to meet the challenges and opportunities that the adhesive tape market will present in the future.

In addition to these future-oriented discussions, we also addressed the immediate challenges facing the industry. One topic was the raw material situation for the adhesives industry and the growing complexity of #resource management. Here, too, the necessity of sustainable procurement and the need for material innovations to cushion disruptions in the supply chain and rising costs were discussed. The topics were then explored in greater depth in a lively panel discussion. The same applied to the topic of ‘sustainability’ and the regulations to be observed – e.g. ESG practices – with a particular focus on #CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive). The CSRD determines which companies will be required to report on sustainability from 2024 and how this reporting should be designed. The position of the finance and insurance world was interesting here, and can be summed up concisely: ‘Companies that do not get involved will become a burden.’ What the conference showed is that if we face up to the current issues and work hard on solutions, the adhesive tape industry will remain relevant, sustainable and innovative in the years to come. I am confident that we are well equipped to lead this industry into a promising, sustainable and inclusive future. If we do not engage in a meaningful and diverse way, we risk becoming a liability. And we should be more than the boulder shown above for the next generation.