The FINAT European Label Forum 2024 is the premier event for label printers and suppliers, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, young professionals, and experts to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the label printing industry. The event will be held May 22-24 2024 at the Divani Caravel hotel in Athens, Greece. The full program and registration details are now available on the event website www.europeanlabelforum.com. 

Highlights of this year’s forum:

This year’s event is divided into five sessions, focussing on the general business climate, developments along the supply chain, sustainability, innovation, and label leadership. During these sessions, in-depth presentations and panel discussions will provide the audience with the most up-to-date knowledge on current topics that are relevant to all players in the label industry. Participants always praise the event for its networking opportunities with industry peers and other professionals.

With support from the industry, the forum also provides attendees the chance to learn about the latest products and services from leading label printing suppliers. Confirmed contributors are Labels & Labeling, Avery Dennison, Mark Andy, Nilpeter, Omet, PPG, Gallus, GEW UV, Herma, Evonik, Kanzan, Vebex, bel, Beontag, and more to follow.

New this year is the Young Professionals workshop that will be hosted on Wednesday morning by Laura Bas, before the Forum officially starts. Laura is a multiple award-winning changemaker and Generation Z expert. She has presented for the United Nations and is Youth Ambassador for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consulting hundreds of young people worldwide. With her successful TikTok & Instagram channel ‘delaurabasboost’ she weekly provides hundreds of thousands of Gen Z’ers with career advice. In daily life, Laura advises organizations on how to attract and retain young talent. She has spoken for Microsoft, Unicef, APG and was a panelist at BNR News Radio. Young professionals are invited to join this interactive morning session on the power of Gen Z and how to transform outdated working processes to utilize the strength of the different generations in the workforce. This part of the programme is available for young professionals (up to 40 years of age) upon separate registration.

Meet the keynote speakers

FINAT has announced the following keynote speakers:

Guy Verhofstadt: Born in Dendermonde, Belgium in 1953, Guy Verhofstadt has carved a distinguished career as a Belgian politician and advocate for a stronger, more united European Union. His lifelong dedication to European integration has been marked by his unwavering belief in the power of cooperation and collaboration to address global challenges. As former Belgian Prime Minister, Verhofstadt was appointed as Chair of the Conference on the Future of Europe in 2022, a major initiative aimed at revitalizing the EU and addressing the concerns of its citizens.

Michel Scholte is the director and co-founder of the Impact Institute and the co-founder and executive director of True Price. To him, idealism is intrinsic to entrepreneurship. As a social entrepreneur, he is dedicated to a more equitable economy, in balance with nature and without extreme forms of poverty and suppression. From 2020-2022, this won him the honorary title of Minister of the New Economy in The Netherlands. His most recent venture is the CSRD Academy, an initiative to prepare industries like the labels and packaging sector for the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Katie King is a highly sought-after AI strategist and influencer who is revolutionizing the way businesses leverage artificial intelligence. With her deep understanding of AI technology and its applications, Katie has helped countless organizations achieve their goals and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing digital landscape. Her expertise extends to various industries, including healthcare, finance, and retail, and she has a proven track record of success in helping businesses achieve their objectives and transform their businesses. Katie is a true visionary who is shaping the future of AI, and her contributions are making a real impact on the world.

Tim Foster, a British rower, is a true champion who has etched his name in the annals of Olympic history. Born in Bedford, England, on January 19, 1970, Foster’s passion for rowing blossomed early, leading him to excel at the sport from a young age and winning gold at the prestigious 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Beyond his Olympic success, Foster is also an accomplished coach, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience. His infectious enthusiasm and strategic insights have helped shape countless careers. He embodies the true spirit of sportsmanship, demonstrating the importance of teamwork, camaraderie, and the pursuit of excellence.
Why attend the European Label Forum 2024?

This event is ideal for label printers of all sizes to get updated on the latest developments in or that affect the label industry. Professionals from mid to high-level management are present at this fun and welcoming meeting place to reconnect and meet with first-time attendees. The programme leaves space for socializing and networking during numerous entertaining social activities throughout the programme.

Stay ahead of the curve
Attendess will learn about the latest technologies and innovations and gain valuable insights from leading experts in the field that can help you improve your business and connect with industry peers in a fun environment to expand your network.

FINAT President Philippe Voet comments: “If there ever was a reason to attend our European Label Forum, it is this year. The label and packaging industry is at the complex intersection of transitory changes, economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability, market volatility, sustainability requirements, new regulations, technological innovation and generation change. All these topics will feature on our agenda this year in a series of interactive sessions featuring expert speakers and panelists on topics like consumer attitudes, supply chain management, CSRD, PPWR, AI and Employer Branding. And in this peak year of elections globally as well as the Olympics in Paris, our venue of Athens as the cradle of democracy and Mount Olympus nearby could not be more appropriate! I look forward to welcoming the European label community to our event.”