The Summit is the leading international platform driving sustainable transformation across the packaging industry. Every year, it unites brands, start-ups, recyclers, policymakers, innovators, NGOs, and academics from across the global value chain; and this time, its international scope was broader than ever, bringing in attendees from Ethiopia, China, India, Australia, Brazil, and beyond.
The newly enforced Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation was the topic on everyone’s lips. Among the highlights of this year’s event was Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, speaking on a panel with business leaders from Amazon, Mondelēz, Heineken, Europen, and Systemiq.
Faced with questions about legal certainty, administrative burden, investments and more, she acknowledged that Europe’s 12% circularity rate must rise – stating that the Commission would listen to its industries and citizens as it takes further steps to clarify the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), including an upcoming omnibus.
“We need resources to put into wealth, not waste,” the Commissioner said. “Use entrepreneurship and innovation to strengthen Europe.”
Elsewhere, audience members applauded as a panel of industry representatives called upon Wolfgang Trunk, policy officer at the European Commission, to confirm whether omnibus amendments would alter the PPWR’s targets for August 2026. “We reassure you that the omnibus will only be the start of the negotiations and co-decision procedure,” he responded.
Other sessions shone the spotlight on promising start-ups, exchanged knowledge across national and continental borders, considered opportunities for different packaging materials (including plastic, paper, metal, glass, and biobased materials), and set out industry-wide roadmaps beyond the limits of 2030 – making considerations for ongoing roadblocks, from recycling flexible plastics to grappling with Extended Producer Responsibility requirements.
“One of my takeaways from listening to speakers is: it’s pretty clear that boardrooms aren’t going to be the main drivers of sustainability,” summarized Tim Sykes, brand director at Packaging Europe. “But we do have over 900 people at this event. That’s something we can mobilize.
“There are a lot of headwinds in industry and geopolitics, and doubts about whether business is as committed to some of its pledges as it was a few years ago – but seeing so many people come to an event like this is an encouraging sign for the industry.”
Don’t miss out on the Sustainable Packaging Summit 2026, which will once again be held at the Jaarbeurs from 10th – 12th November. To learn more about the event and what’s on offer for speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and delegates alike, visit the Sustainable Packaging Summit website – or register your interest today and get notified once registration opens.
Photo/Packaging Summit
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