The highly anticipated Packaging Innovations 2026 event has officially released its exhaustive conference agenda, promising attendees a panoramic exploration of the packaging industry’s most pressing challenges and revolutionary opportunities. Spanning two intensive days, the program features an unparalleled assembly of over 100 expert speakers representing more than 70 leading global corporations and influential organizations. Key participants shaping the discourse include titans like Diageo, Nestlé, Unilever, and Amazon, alongside critical industry bodies such as the BCMPA, Material ConneXion, WRAP, RECOUP, and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, ensuring comprehensive coverage across the entire value chain.
The curated content is strategically distributed across four specialized stages: Design & Innovation, Supply Chain, Circular Economy, and the Discovery Theatre. This structure is meticulously designed to foster synergy between creative development, logistical efficiency, and environmental responsibility.
Casey McHugh, Conference & Community Manager – UK & Global at Easyfairs, emphasized the strategic intent behind the programming: "The agenda has been meticulously crafted to serve as a catalyst, igniting profound curiosity and fostering actionable ideas across the entire packaging ecosystem. It represents a dynamic journey through the frontiers of innovation, creative excellence, and essential collaboration, spotlighting the defining trends, inherent challenges, and burgeoning opportunities that are actively sculpting the future landscape of packaging."
Day One: Sustainability, AI, and the Talent Pipeline (Wednesday, February 11th)
The inaugural day kicks off with a crucial examination of the current state of play in packaging design. At 11:30 AM on the Design & Innovation Stage, the provocative session, "The Big Design Question: Is Sustainability Halting Design and Packaging Innovation?", will convene a high-caliber panel. Moderated by Niamh Cartwright, Co-Director of the Northern Design Festival, the discussion will feature insights from Kevin McAulay (Client Director, Sun Branding), Mat Lon (Chief Creative Officer, Lyon & Lyon), Tom Stone (Senior Packaging Development Controller, Bakkavor), and Louiza Cookson-Rabouhi (Managing Innovation Designer, Magnetic). This debate is set to dissect the delicate balance between eco-mandates and aesthetic/functional advancement.
Technology takes center stage later that morning when Diageo leaders explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and luxury branding. From 1:15 PM to 1:45 PM, Paul Horton (Principal – Packaging, Graphics) and Will Harvey (Senior Global Digital Innovation Manager) from Diageo will demonstrate tangible applications of AI in creating highly personalized, premium beverage experiences—a clear indicator of where high-value packaging is heading.
The spirit of future-proofing the industry will be palpable during the afternoon session (3:00 PM – 3:30 PM), where collaborative student projects with Deliveroo and Gail’s will unveil novel concepts for convenient, on-the-go food packaging. Panelists include Peter Macqueen (Associate Head, Sheffield Creative Industries Institute), Azucena Gomez (Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam), Eleanor Garnier (Senior Policy Advisor, Deliveroo), Josephine Cooper (Packaging Technologist, The No7 Beauty Company), and Emma Burgess (Business Development Manager, Kite Packaging).
The Supply Chain Stage focuses heavily on future workforce development and operational modernization. At 11:30 AM, Alexia Williams, Technical Lead at Rolls-Royce, will spearhead a vital panel aimed at inspiring the next generation of packaging engineers, featuring input from Sheffield Hallam University, UCAS, DNV, and notably, Navishka Kobbekaduwa, an apprentice packaging technician at Suntory Packaging & Food GB & I. Following this, Rob Outram of Smithers will deliver a comprehensive market outlook at 12:30 PM, mapping out trajectories in material science, circularity integration, and technological adoption.
A significant segment dedicated to automation will see the UK Automation Forum host a deep dive into the "Factory of the Future," focusing on robotics as the critical driver for agility in packaging lines. Moderated by Mike Wilson (Chief Automation Officer, MTC), this panel includes Martin Miller (Head of Engineering, Supply Chains at Greggs), Dr. Seemal Asif (Senior Lecturer, Cranfield University), Rosie Davies (Managing Director, Recco Automation), and Richard Little (Managing Director, Jenton).
The Circular Economy Stage addresses the immediate legislative landscape. Esther Carter, Chief Strategy Officer at PackUK, will provide an essential update on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme (11:15 AM – 11:45 AM). Nestlé’s Alison Bramfitt (Head of Packaging) and Jamie Riley of Robinson Packaging will then discuss practical approaches to designing packaging engineered for high-rate recycling (11:45 AM onwards). The popular "Talking Rubbish Live!" podcast hosts, James Piper and Robbie Staniforth, return at 2:45 PM to tackle the complex legal and operational hurdles in collaborative recyclable packaging efforts.
The day culminates in the high-stakes "Big Debate," chaired by Martin Kersh, Co-CEO of The Packaging Federation. The central thesis for debate will be: "AI will do far more to improve packaging waste management than the government’s packaging reforms."
An added highlight on the Design & Innovation Stage involves Dr. Samuel West, founder and curator of the Museum of Failure, who will deliver a compelling session at 12:30 PM on the necessity of embracing failure as an indispensable engine for driving genuine packaging innovation. Furthermore, early risers on the Supply Chain Stage can gain crucial geopolitical insight at 10:30 AM, as Daniel Paterson (Director of Government Affairs, Electrify Industry, Make UK) joins experts from Logistics UK and the BDO to analyze "Navigating the Tariff Tide"—the impact of US trade barriers on UK manufacturing and packaging logistics.
Day Two: Empathy, Efficiency, and Evolving Systems (Thursday, February 12th)
Thursday shifts focus toward empathetic design, sustainable logistics, and advanced material exploration.
On the Design & Innovation Stage (10:30 AM – 11:15 AM), the conversation turns to user-centricity. Chloe Williams (Co-Chapter Lead, WIN: Women in Innovation) will moderate a panel featuring Sarah Leech (Head of Packaging & Design, Homecare, Unilever), Boma Krigsman (Senior Marketing Manager, Thirst Craft), and Kelly Dawson (Co-Founder & Strategy Partner, Studio Every) to explore the tenets of empathy-driven packaging design.
This stage will also feature a keynote address from Jude Pullen, a renowned creative technologist with a portfolio spanning Dyson, LEGO, and IKEA. Pullen will address the critical question of how designers can maintain creative momentum when faced with restrictive regulations, volatile markets, and tightening budgets. The final panel on this stage will address emerging consumer demographics, with Haleon, Boundless Brand Design, and GS1 collaborating to decode how to engineer consumer-first packaging that genuinely connects with newer audiences.
The Supply Chain Stage explores optimization under environmental pressure. McKinsey partner Andrea Gandolfi leads a session at 10:45 AM on achieving the triumvirate of compliance, performance, and cost-efficiency. A subsequent panel (11:30 AM – 12:15 PM) delves into cutting-edge recycling intelligence, showcasing AI-driven solutions from Amy Hooper (Innovation Manager, Biffa), Anthony Horsnby (Partnership Manager, Sherborne Recycling), Yaseed Chaumoo (Managing Director, Deepnest – Greyparrot AI), and Claudia Rasori (Packaging Technologist, Ocado Retail). The day’s logistics discussions conclude with Amazon Freight detailing their initiatives to decarbonize freight solutions.
The Circular Economy Stage commences with a forward-looking presentation: "The Future of Sustainable Packaging," presented by Dr. Andrew Dent, EVP of Materials Research at Material ConneXion (10:30 AM – 11:00 AM). This is immediately followed by an international perspective on Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) (11:30 AM – 12:15 PM). Experts including Julian Hunt (Director, UK Deposit Management), Sarah Horner (Director UK & Ireland, Reloop), and Ciarán Hope (COO, Re-turn) will share hard-won lessons from pioneering nations. PackUK will also host a dedicated session analyzing the tangible business impacts of the packaging EPR framework.
The closing session on the Circular Economy Stage, led by WRAP, will focus on the UK’s developing infrastructure for reusable packaging systems (2:30 PM – 3:15 PM). Moderated by Lowelle Bryan (Senior Reuse Specialist, WRAP), panelists include Julien Tremblin (General Manager, TerraCycle Europe), Michael Archer (Customer Collaboration R&D, CHEP), and Catherine Conway (Director and Policy Lead, Go Unpackaged).
Adding a layer of practical application to the Design & Innovation track, Martin Shaw of Elopak and Lewis Barnes of Tropicana will present "From Supply Chain to Consumers: Packaging Solutions Built to Deliver Value" (11:30 AM – 12:00 PM), illustrating methodologies for harmonizing brand objectives, consumer desires, and sustainability mandates.
Over its two-day run, Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026 promises to be the definitive forum where the next epoch of packaging—defined by connectivity between cutting-edge design, transformative technology, stringent sustainability metrics, and resilient supply chains—will be actively mapped out and experienced. Complimentary registration is available via the official event portal.