“We currently source 5% of our packaging from the U.S., Italy and Japan as they have the quality and techniques needed. We want to reduce our costs so we’re considering sourcing from Chinese mainland. This is my first visit to the fair and I am very happy with the service I have received from the organisers. The Business Matching Service is especially useful -- I’ve met with about 15 vendors so far. I’m looking for flexible film packaging, low-density polyethylene, shrinkable PET and rigid pouches. I’ve met one supplier who makes microwavable rigid pouches so I am very interested to test the sample. We need competitive prices but of course as we have very high standards for food packaging in Korea, we must test all the samples before we can place orders.”
Mr Woo Jin (Rafael) Ahn, Assistant Manager, Global Procurement Department, Ottogi Corporation, Korea

“CJ CheilJedang is the largest food company in Korea. Our annual packaging budget is US$20 million. I’ve come to the fair to source new suppliers of outer packaging. We’re currently sourcing our cartons and packaging in Korea but our raw material costs are going up so we came here to look for better prices. In a competitive market design is very important so we invest a lot on design and need suppliers who can achieve our high standards for printing for our designs. CJ CheilJedang is famous for its high standards of auditing but once a supplier passes our test it’s good for their business. It’s been a very useful fair for me.”
Ms Ji-Hee Ryu, Analyst, Strategic Purchasing Unit, CJ CheilJedang, Korea

“Nicole Environmental Services has been attending the fair since 2007. A member of Sun Hung Kai Properties, we produce Totally Degradable Plastic (TDP) bags and are the sole distributor for epi™ in Hong Kong. By adding epi during the production process any plastic can become oxo-biodegradable – it will break down to carbon dioxide, water and biomass without leaving any toxic residue. Fortunately TDP offers an environmentally-friendly alternative. We gain new clients every year at the fair. Even if people we talk to don’t want us to make their bags, they tell their vendor and the factory comes to use to buy the epi additive based on our contact with their client at the fair. The organisers services are very good, they put us in touch with companies looking for biodegradable products and we have been quite successful promoting our products through the HKTDC online platform too.”
Ms Cindy Kwong, Marketing Manager, Nicole Environmental Services Company Limited, Hong Kong

“This is our first time at the fair and we launched Zippy’s a new eco-friendly green packaging product. Everyone from the organisers has been very helpful and they have also helped us to generate press coverage and promote our product. We have had a huge amount of interest in this product at this fair, especially buyers from the U.S., Canada and Australia. We have spoken with a lot of people who are looking for special packaging, especially companies handling organic product that has shorter shelf-life. We have had a lot of enquiries and are sure once buyers have gone back and evaluated our products there will be orders. I’m sure we will be back next year.”
Mr Dae-Hyum, Kim, CEO, Hangreentech Co., Ltd., Korea