A third of the world's food supply is lost and wasted, creating the third-largest single source of greenhouse-gases after China and the USA. This toxic mountain that casts a shadow over the environment also endangers human health and packaging has a role in reducing the threat.

Saving food and waste will be a key theme of Tokyo International Packaging Exhibition TOKYO PACK 2018. Japanese industry specialities include precision engineering, active technologies in pack devices and smart films that draw on Japan's 50 pioneering years, innovation in resealable systems for flexible plastics, and functional packaging papers and boards. Environmental 'heroes' in water-based printing are cutting levels of avoidable greenhouse-gas emissions. One of Japan's champions in that sector wants the world to sing from the same song-sheet and is encouraging others to join the effort to improve air quality in their local neighbourhoods, across cities and the wider environment. Chinese printers have been first in line to take up the offer.

TOKYO PACK 2018 is Asia's premier international packaging technology and design show. It is where conversations start for international, cross-cultural and multi-sector cooperation between developed and developing countries, aimed at solving the biggest issues of today and tomorrow.

• show runs from 2 - 5 October 2018
• Early Bird Discounts until 15 December 2017
• expected total footfall up to 200,000
• free admission for pre-registered visitors

TOKYO PACK 2018 will be an exciting networking space, where important conversations will happen between top packaging professionals from around the world.

Companies in the northern and southern hemispheres see Japan as geographically strategic and a place for fresh challenges, while their markets in well-trodden territories go from strength to strength. The country's increasingly internationalised retail scene is starting to look familiar to a visitor's eyes, and this opens up opportunities for new players. Products have to work hard to win acceptance from hard-to-please Japanese consumers and those that do deserve respect.

TOKYO PACK 2018 will be where plans are made for expansion into the Japanese market.

Breaking into the Japanese market is a badge of honour and seals your reputation for quality and service. You need to know your audience and be able to meet high expectations of perfection. Attendees at TOKYO PACK 2018 get close to the industry, discover the cultural norms, business protocols, how retail distribution chains work, and the impact of recycling and waste management on packaging choices. Packaging in Japan is expected to provide good service from the start to the end of its life.

TOKYO PACK 2018 will be a one-stop shop for insights into the Japanese market and how to give packaging a Japanese accent.

With population growth in reverse and average age on the rise, Japan needs solutions for a new reality. The Japanese industry wants to build bridges and super-highways for sharing know-how related to production processes and people-centred design. It already has a track record as a creative hub, somewhere international forums are conceived and born. A global knowledge centre for the rapidly-expanding active and intelligent packaging technology sector grew from a conversation in Japan in 2012. The A&IP Association with a European base in the Netherlands has now spawned a Chinese alliance and will hold its first major summit event in the United States of America in June 2018.

TOKYO PACK 2018 will be where seeds are sown for scalable projects that unite a world of inspired ideas and technical expertise.

Japanese ingenuity in producing refined designs for applications across all sectors and categories is world-renowned. Commercial successes reflect the wants and needs of Japanese consumers and industry, and they signpost 'trends of tomorrow' for developed and developing regions. This high level of market awareness was reflected in a haul of 26 WorldStars in 2018 for designs judged to be the 'best of the best' in the world.

A particularly outstanding year for the national industry saw Japan at the top of the leaderboard of winning countries. Awarding body, the World Packaging Organization, recently commended Japan on its impressive achievement in a statement to the worldwide industry: “A record number of 200 winners were awarded a WorldStar during the judging session held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November.  Well done to Japan for taking 26 awards, followed by India, taking 24 and China, 14.” All winners will be recognised in an awards ceremony and gala evening on 2 May, during the first WPO Board Meeting of 2018, in Gold Coast, Australia. Japan's successes can be viewed along with a full list of winners at http://www.worldstar.org/worldstar-winners-2018

TOKYO PACK 2018 organizers are in the process of finalizing plans with the Asia

Packaging Federation to host the AsiaStar awards ceremony,  an occasion that potentially reveals future WorldStar recipients. Winners of Asia's packaging 'oscars' will go forward to compete for WorldStar 2019 awards.  TOKYO PACK will feature a display of designs that a Japanese panel considered worthy of prestigious Good Packaging Awards and JapanStar Awards in 2018. Japan's award-winners of 2017 are listed here http://www.jpi.or.jp/english/index.htm

TOKYO PACK 2018 will give a sneak peek of future WorldStar winners and trends of tomorrow.

TOKYO PACK 2018 is held at Tokyo Big Sight International Exhibition Center located in spectacular Tokyo Bay. Every two years TOKYO PACK gives the Asia region its largest display of newly commercialized and prototype technology and pack design. With new impetus from global marketing, the TOKYO PACK brand is on track to achieving a truly international status.

“We expect to register in advance around 70,000 visitors and see up to 200,000 in total coming through the doors over the four days, with a much greater overseas participation,” says Shigeo Koshino, general managing director of Japan Packaging Institute, the show's organiser.

TOKYO PACK is growing as an international brand and promoting itself through The Network run by the All4Pack cooperative of independent shows. Information can be found on the All4Pack website.

Come and join us at TOKYO PACK 2018 to create packaging for all our tomorrows!

About TOKYO PACK 2016

• international exhibitors made up around 25 percent of the total number (669)
• exhibiting overseas companies represented 15 countries and regions: Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, UK, France, USA, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Indonesia, China, Korea and Taiwan

• a total of 184,677 attendees, including exhibitors, passed through the gates of Tokyo Big Sight over all four days
• a total of 62,171 visitors pre-registered
• 3,483 overseas visitors pre-registered

Frequently asked questions

What to see?

Latest technology and smart design that focuses on the needs of industry, end-consumers and the environment.

What if I don't speak Japanese?

No problem. You have access to a team of translators and find English speakers at most booths.

I am a potential exhibitor. Can I expect to get marketing value from participating, through global media coverage?

You certainly can. The world's specialist trade press is covering the show.

What networking facilities will there be?

An International Lounge with free WiFi will be reserved for participants from overseas.

As an international press member how will I be accommodated and is photography allowed?

A Press Office  with free WiFi will offer any help that accredited press members may require.  Taking photographs is permitted by those wearing Press armbands. Before doing so, you are courteously asked to introduce yourselves to staff at each exhibitor's booth.