Page 6 - BOSS Today Issue 59

BOSS Today #59 SPECIAL FEATURE
INDUSTRY

THOUGHTS

FOR

AT YEAR END, IT’S CONVENTIONAL TO LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAS

BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND TO LOOK AHEAD AT THE

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMING YEAR.

ccordingly, BOSS Today has asked a were a huge issue, especially for the
Anumber of key leaders within Special first half of the year. The rate of change
Interest Groups (SIGS) facilitated by the BOSS required to keep up with both the
Federation to answer two key questions: market and competitors is increasing.
Systems changes were common, although
1. What were the themes/opportunities/ generally these were achieved without
challenges that you discussed and major problems and where there were BOSS Environmental Forum:
addressed in 2023? issues – especially between wholesalers Martin Eames
and dealers – these were largely due 1. Themes/opportunities/challenges
2. What do you predict will be the main to poor communication. However, we addressed in 2023
topics for the industry in 2024? found it increasingly difficult to reach In 2023 the main projects of the BOSS
unanimous consensus on data issues, as Environmental Forum were to encourage
As their answers below show, these several of the major players are running vendors to populate the new Plastic Data
BOSS groups have been - and expect to systems that require data that is not Fields in the VOW and Fusion Product
be - very busy in addressing some key always compatible across the industry, Data Files with content and to establish
industry issues. particularly regarding pack size. Environmental Data Fields in Fusion to
provide credibility for the EcoAware icon.
2. Main topics for the industry in 2024 Up to now, the EcoAware icon has been
Continuity of supply from the Far East allocated using a degree of subjectivity,
will be an issue, with shipping costs but it has now been agreed that
being on the rise again. As the market EcoAware will in future only be allocated
becomes even more competitive, only to products that meet at least two of the
BOSS Synergy Group: Chris Anstey the most efficient will survive. It will following criteria:
1. Themes/opportunities/challenges become even more difficult to reach
addressed in 2023 agreement on data standards as the n Product is manufactured from a
Synergy members last year found that larger players will be looking for ways minimum 60% recycled content
they needed to work harder to keep the they can to gain a market advantage. n Product is a minimum 80%
same level of business: regular product, Product environmental and recycling data recyclable by weight
shipping and energy price increases is becoming a key requirement.

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