Hong Kong-based company IXON has developed the ASAP technology, which allows food to be stored at room temperature for up to two years without losing its nutritional value. This technology reduces energy consumption and lowers costs associated with refrigerated transport and storage. HKTDC Research interviewed IXON to understand how the technology is developed and how can the technology help pack and store food products in an eco-friendly manner.

Malaysia has issued the Trade Descriptions (Marking of Pre-Packaged Goods) Order 2023, effective from September 1, 2023. This order applies to all pre-packaged goods manufactured in or imported into Malaysia, and covers the requirements for their marking.

The Agricultural Marketing Service is accepting comments through 7 December on proposed changes intended to ensure that U.S. importers are being assessed on the same products as domestic manufacturers under the Paper and Paper-Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order.

The U.S. state of Maine recently issued a list of ten food contact chemicals of high concern as part of efforts to gather information on the current use of these chemicals in food packaging. Manufacturers and distributors of food packaging containing any of these chemicals in an amount greater than de minimis are required to report that fact to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection by around June.

The Board of Investment (BOI) has approved a number of incentives designed to boost the levels of R&D and staff training within the country.

The Bureau of Industry and Security is accepting comments through 5 April on risks in the semiconductor manufacturing and advanced packaging supply chains. The Department of Commerce has been tasked with submitting to the White House by early June a report that identifies such risks and proposes policy recommendations to address them.

Many Hong Kong retailers and trading companies have been outsourcing their warehousing, pick-and-pack, assembly, and fulfilment work to third-party logistics (3PL) firms. To gauge the collateral damage of Covid-19 on these service providers and discover whether they have the flexibility to respond rapidly to the crisis, HKTDC Research talked to Patrick Chung, the founder of Easy Pack and Logistics.

With the current growth in Indonesia's manufacturing being compared to China's explosive development back in the 1990s, Jakarta's recent packaging and print expos played host to a global array of opportunity-minded industry players.

In the face of ever more frequent and severe extreme weather events around the world, businesses and consumers have become increasingly aware of green issues. As environmentally-friendly consumerism gains greater credence, a growing number of socially responsible companies have been keen to demonstrate their green credentials.