The conference agenda at interpack 2026 places regulatory compliance, digital transformation and material innovation at the centre of industry priorities, reflecting the operational pressures facing packaging manufacturers and brand owners across sectors.
A central feature of the event, the SPOTLIGHT Forum, will host a series of sessions focused on the implementation of the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Presentations including “PPWR – the digital path from requirements assessment to declaration of conformity” and “Navigating the new rules of packaging: The role of Automation in the PPWR era” underline the increasing integration of compliance processes into production and data management systems. A dedicated panel, “Unboxing PPWR: Challenges and opportunities of the EU Packaging Regulation,” is expected to explore both the operational constraints and strategic opportunities associated with the regulation.
Resource efficiency remains a key theme across the programme. Sessions such as “Energy Monitoring in the Packaging Industry” and “Unlocking Resource Efficiency Through Organizational Design: Higher Utilization, Lower Downtime” highlight industry efforts to improve productivity while reducing energy consumption and operational waste. The role of packaging design in minimisation strategies is also addressed in discussions including “Flexible Packaging – The Champion of Packaging Minimisation.”
Digitalisation and automation are widely represented throughout the agenda. Topics such as “The digital ecosystem in packaging machine manufacturing,” “Driving Digital Innovation in Packaging,” and “Software defined-Factory – Increasing Productivity and Resilience” point to continued investment in connected manufacturing environments, with a focus on data-driven optimisation, system integration and operational resilience.
Material innovation and circularity are also prominent. Sessions including “Smart packaging starts with materials: the impact of biopolymers in a low carbon circular economy” and “Natural polymer formulation for sustainable packaging applications” reflect ongoing development of alternative materials. At the same time, presentations such as “Barrier coatings – Impact for packaging that is designed for circularity” and “Challenges of Recyclates – Solutions for Their Use” address technical barriers to wider adoption, particularly in maintaining performance characteristics while improving recyclability.
Traceability and product identification technologies are another area of focus. Talks such as “Unlocking the Many Benefits from the Adoption and Successful Implementation of 2D Codes” and “Amazon Transparency and GS1 Sunrise 2027 – Product Identification Redefined” indicate a shift toward enhanced supply chain visibility and data integration, driven by both regulatory requirements and brand protection needs.
Alongside the SPOTLIGHT Forum, the SAVE FOOD programme will examine packaging’s role in reducing food waste, with expert panels addressing global packaging transitions, regulatory developments and practical approaches to improving supply chain efficiency.
Taken together, the 2026 programme reflects a packaging industry navigating increasing regulatory complexity while accelerating the adoption of digital tools and sustainable materials. The agenda highlights a continued focus on aligning compliance, efficiency and innovation across packaging value chains.
