Sustainable packaging · Practical knowledge
Talks, seminars, training & workshops for companies and event organisers. Bringing material selection, product protection and economic viability together – from food to technical products.
Food Innovations – and beyond
Food Innovations grew out of my background in food technology. Today, sustainable packaging is the focus – with services for the food sector, the packaging and materials industries, and manufacturing companies in other sectors.
Whether you work with delicate food products, technical components or consumer goods, we consider the required function, suitable packaging materials, the process and economic viability. This provides a sound basis for decisions about your application.
Four routes to better packaging decisions
Available individually or in combination, tailored to your team's knowledge and the questions facing your business.
Understand developments and gain new perspectives for your industry.
Explore talk topics ↓Choose topic modules and build a one- or two-day seminar to suit your team.
Open the seminar builder ↗Scientific advisory services for packaging optimisation, with a site visit and a thorough assessment.
Explore the on-site review ↓Combine scientific insights with a joint assessment of your packaging alternatives.
Explore the Sustainable Packaging Initiative ↓Scientific advisory services for packaging optimisation · On site
Where can you save material
without putting product protection at risk?
As your scientific adviser, I analyse your packaging by considering the interaction between material, product and process. Together with your team, I follow selected examples through your operations: from the supply of packaging materials and the packaging process to storage and dispatch.
Drawing on scientific evidence and the data you have available, we assess potential over-specification, unnecessary material variety and avoidable effort. This creates a transparent basis for pursuing opportunities to improve economic and environmental performance.
Discuss a packaging review ↗Observations and improvement options, with their operational relevance, underlying assumptions and remaining uncertainties.
Assess material requirements, protective functions, process requirements and environmental impacts using suitable methods and available data.
Estimate material and cost effects as reliably as the data allow; make missing information and the conditions for comparison explicit.
Identify sensible next steps, the evidence required and appropriate investigations, then discuss them together in a review meeting.
Available as a standalone service or alongside a seminar or workshop. Typically one day on site covering an agreed area; preparation, assessment and documentation are agreed in advance.
Where greater depth or additional services are needed, specialist experts from my professional network can contribute to individual sessions or provide complementary services by prior arrangement. Food Innovations coordinates the technical and organisational arrangements. These experts deliver their agreed services independently and invoice clients directly; the scope, contracting arrangements and fees are clarified in advance.
The scientific advisory services cover analysis and assessment. Laboratory services, certification and binding packaging approvals are not included. For research collaborations and research services, please refer to my principal role at the SPI.
Scientific insights · In house
Your packaging. Your team.
Informed perspectives for your next steps.
Which alternative will protect your product reliably? Where can you reduce material use and costs? And what data does your team need before trialling a change?
Scientific presentations and a facilitated discussion connect current knowledge with packaging examples agreed in advance. Development, purchasing, production, quality and logistics contribute their perspectives to the discussion.
Suitable for food and consumer goods as well as technical products, components and industrial packaging – including sectors beyond the life sciences.
Discuss a workshop ↗Use examples to explore the relationships between the product, protective function, transport, processing and budget.
Discuss options using fibre-based materials, paper, paperboard, cardboard, plastics, glass and metal – including relevant combinations and trade-offs.
Explore suitable measures, such as material mass per packaging unit, cost per protected product, production waste or transport damage. Recognise data gaps and methodological limitations.
Rank improvement options by benefit, effort, risk and available evidence. Record open questions, responsibilities and the next trial stages together.
One or two days, depending on your objectives and the agreed presentation programme. Scientific advisory services for packaging optimisation can be added. Preparation, examples and documentation of outcomes are agreed within the stated scope of services.
In-house services & packaging review: PDF ↓Tailored seminars
The following seminars are suggested combinations from our topic library. Use a suggestion, swap modules or build your seminar from scratch. We then tailor the content and level of detail to your team.
Filter by industry, topic area or duration. Choose modules lasting around 20 to 90 minutes and keep track of content time for one or two days.
For companies across the packaging value chain and a wide range of industrial sectors.
Improve material efficiency and product protection in your business.
Your outcome: Participants prioritise improvement options and identify the data needed for trials.
Customise in the builder : Developing more sustainable industrial packagingBuild a basis for decisions across procurement and technical teams.
Your outcome: Participants assess alternatives using a matrix covering suitability, costs and data quality.
Customise in the builder : Comparing packaging proposals on technical meritAssess the application readiness and limitations of new materials.
Your outcome: Participants make a reasoned choice between monitoring developments, obtaining samples and running trials.
Customise in the builder : Bio-based packaging: a practical assessmentFrom material concept to an agreed trial plan in two days.
Your outcome: Participants clarify responsibilities and prepare a template for the approval decision.
Customise in the builder : Managing packaging changes as a projectSpecialist seminars connecting food, packaging, quality and shelf life.
Compare alternatives and prepare the right trials.
Your outcome: Participants create a decision matrix with outstanding test questions for two packaging alternatives.
Customise in the builder : Paper or mono-material for food packagingDefine product protection needs and identify overengineered packaging.
Your outcome: Participants use a calculation example to derive a requirements profile and identify the data still needed.
Customise in the builder : The right level of barrier protectionSystematically address shelf life and quality during the transition.
Your outcome: Participants design a testing and coordination plan with defined responsibilities.
Customise in the builder : Preparing food packaging changes with confidenceAssess shelf life, colour and sustainability together.
Your outcome: Participants assess a more sustainable alternative using a specific product example.
Customise in the builder : Rethinking packaging for meat and sausagesConferences & industry events
Whether you need a shared knowledge base or a starting point for discussion, I tailor the topic, depth and examples to your audience.
Your speaker & trainer
Understanding practice. Explaining connections. Informing decisions.
My career combines skilled craft, business management and applied packaging research. These perspectives shape my sessions: technically sound, clearly explained and focused on the questions facing your company.
My principal position is Professor of Process Engineering and Process Design at Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, where I also head the Sustainable Packaging Institute SPI. My experience in research, knowledge transfer to industry and teaching also informs my work as a speaker and trainer.
Since 2008, I have offered freelance seminars, training and workshops through Food Innovations alongside my principal employment. My aim is to help participants understand the connections, assess alternatives on a sound basis and prepare their next practical step.
Experience and its value to you
2001 · Skilled craft & vocational training
My apprenticeship in butchery was followed by the German master craftsman qualification and the vocational trainer aptitude examination.
Your benefitI have first-hand experience of operations, quality requirements and responsibility in production. This helps me explain content clearly and work with participants on solutions that can be put into practice in day-to-day operations.
2002 · Business management
This advanced business management qualification complements my technical and craft background.
Your benefitMaterial alternatives must also be economically viable. Alongside material costs, my sessions therefore consider processing effort, production waste and changeover requirements – providing a transparent basis for investment and purchasing decisions.
2007 & 2009 · Applied science
Studies at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, with a business management focus within the Diplom programme and a master's thesis in packaging technology at Fraunhofer IVV.
Your benefitScientific principles become practical requirements for products, packaging and processes. Your team learns to assess effects using appropriate measures and to make the benefits of a change verifiable.
2018 · Doctorate
Doctorate at the Chair of Food Packaging Technology on interaction–property relationships in whey-protein-based films and coatings.
Your benefitScientific rigour helps distinguish robust findings from assumptions. Learn to assess material properties and studies critically, recognise data gaps and identify appropriate tests for your application.
2009–2018 · Research & knowledge transfer to industry
Research scientist in materials development; head of the research focus on biopolymers in paper and film applications.
Your benefitThrough collaboration between research and industry, I have gained experience of application requirements, materials development and testing. This helps seminar participants understand the questions that need to be answered between a new material idea and its use in business operations.
Since 2018 · Teaching & process engineering
Principal appointment at Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Faculty of Life Sciences.
Your benefitProcess knowledge and teaching experience shape my training: complex content is explained systematically and reinforced through exercises. Your team considers packaging in relation to processing, equipment and interactions between departments.
Since 2019 · Sustainable packaging
Leadership of the specialist institute for sustainable packaging at Albstadt-Sigmaringen University.
Your benefitMy experience across materials, the bioeconomy, function and processes provides a broad technical perspective. This benefits companies in different industries as they seek to understand trade-offs and assess development opportunities.
How we work together
Tell me about your industry, the occasion and the questions your team or participants want to address.
We agree the content, examples, duration and preparation.
You receive an individual proposal. Dates are arranged on request.
Let's talk
Your topic, audience and preferred timeframe are enough to start the conversation.
Prepare an email enquiry ↗This link opens your email application.
Prof. Dr. Markus Schmid
Food Innovations – and beyond
markus.schmid@foodinnovations.de+49 7571 929 7248Roystr. 19
D-72488 Sigmaringen, Germany