# 28 - Professor Pierre Pinaar, President of the World Packaging Organization

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2020-06-23
- Length: 54m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-23-28-professor-pierre-pinaar-president-of-the-world-packaging-organization
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/28-professor-pierre-pinaar-president-4d6

## Summary

Professor Pierre Pinaar, President of the World Packaging Organization (WPO), recounts his career journey from a pharmacist in South Africa to leading a global industry body. He discusses the WPO's mission to reduce packaging and food waste, highlighting how proper packaging design can alleviate poverty in developing nations, illustrated by a specific case study in Nigeria. Pinaar also addresses the complex impact of the coronavirus pandemic on sustainability efforts, noting both increased single-use packaging and reduced food waste.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-23-28-professor-pierre-pinaar-president-of-the-world-packaging-organization#t=6) Introduction and Pierre Pinaar's Background
- [3:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-23-28-professor-pierre-pinaar-president-of-the-world-packaging-organization#t=221) Career Transition from Pharmacy to Packaging
- [14:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-23-28-professor-pierre-pinaar-president-of-the-world-packaging-organization#t=882) Moving to Australia and Starting a Consulting Business
- [20:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-23-28-professor-pierre-pinaar-president-of-the-world-packaging-organization#t=1234) Packaging's Role in Poverty Elimination and Food Waste
- [25:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-23-28-professor-pierre-pinaar-president-of-the-world-packaging-organization#t=1532) Case Study: Cocoa Bean Packaging in Nigeria
- [34:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-23-28-professor-pierre-pinaar-president-of-the-world-packaging-organization#t=2088) Education and Changing Cultural Habits
- [44:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-23-28-professor-pierre-pinaar-president-of-the-world-packaging-organization#t=2655) Impact of Coronavirus on Sustainability and Food Waste
- [50:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2020-06-23-28-professor-pierre-pinaar-president-of-the-world-packaging-organization#t=3046) Community Cohesion and WPO Involvement

## Topics

- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- World Packaging Organization (company)
- IOPP (company)
- United Nations Industrial Development Organization (company)
- Brunel University (other)
- Michigan State University (other)

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## Citing this page

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