Can pharmaceutical packaging be transformed by placing both people and the planet at its heart?
This was the core question we sought to address on 4th December during the second edition of Pack to the Future. Against the backdrop of the Innovation Hub at our Gossolengo plant, we welcomed over 90 guests for this landmark occasion.
The inauguration of the Innovation Hub
The day started with an official welcome from Mauro Marchi, President of Palladio Group, followed by insights from Gabriele Molari (Director of Marketing, Innovation, and Technical Office) and Emily Turilli Ghisolfi (Innovation Manager & Head of the Innovation Hub). Together, they unveiled the Innovation Hub: a physical and conceptual space dedicated to co-creation and innovation.
Future scenarios: navigating new regulations and technologies
Sustainability is far more than an abstract concept; it is a rigorous regulatory and technological challenge.
Federico Tusberti, Product Sustainability Manager at Marchesini Group, analysed the new PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), outlining the legislative timeline and illustrating how consultancy and technology can eliminate over-packaging in favour of truly circular materials.
Riccardo Marcon, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Stevanato Group, shared the Group’s ESG strategy. He demonstrated the sustainable optimisation of two key products and presented a case study on their new hub in Indiana, where environmental efficiency is driving a faster time-to-market.
Empathy as a catalyst for change
One of the most compelling moments of the day was the panel discussion dedicated to the Patient Experience.
Chiara Ariotti (Patient Experience Officer at Humanitas), Paolo Tamborrini (Professor of Design at the Politecnico di Torino and the University of Parma), and Antonella Celano (Founder and President of APMARR), moderated by Gabriele Molari, shifted the focus to the lived reality of patients. The conversation explored the physical and emotional barriers to medication use, and how “empathic design” can make a profound difference to people’s lives.
A glimpse into tomorrow: supporting start-ups
Innovation is also driven by the next generation of businesses. We were delighted to host three rising start-ups committed to environmental and social sustainability:
ReVita, which transforms agri-food waste into sustainable packaging;
HandySigns, whose AI application enables real-time communication between the deaf and hearing communities;
V-Shapes, which is revolutionising product dispensing with inclusive, single-dose packaging.
Co-designing the supply chain of the future
The event concluded not with an end, but a beginning: a collaborative workshop led by Almacube. Participants worked together to map the future of the supply chain, turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.
Unboxing the Future: an evolving vision
Pack to the Future was more than just an event; it has become a springboard for new collaborations. The feedback gathered and the technologies showcased are already forming the foundation of the projects we will develop in the coming months.
We remain convinced that sustainability within the pharmaceutical supply chain depends on open co-innovation and shared social and environmental responsibility.
The future of packaging is already here, and it is a path we are forging together!
