Interpack Spotlight Forum sets agenda for packaging's future
Located at the North Station entrance, the forum is structured as an information platform rather than a conventional exhibition feature, with each day anchored to a single overarching theme.
29 Apr 2026 | By WhatPackaging? Team
The Spotlight Forum at Interpack 2026 will run across all seven days of the fair in Dusseldorf, bringing together exhibitors, brand owners, trade associations, policymakers and consultants to address the questions that are reshaping the global packaging industry.
The opening day takes regulation as its focus, examining the opportunities and risks presented by the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, or PPWR. Day sponsor REA Elektronik will be joined by Mondi, Wipak and SIT Group, along with association representatives and politicians, for a direct examination of the practical and commercial implications of European packaging law.
Resource efficiency follows on day two, with Flexible Packaging Europe and the European Co-Packers Association among the associations represented alongside exhibitor Aasted. The session will address how manufacturers and brand owners can reduce raw material and energy consumption across the packaging supply chain.
Day three turns to smart packaging, with Domino, Braskem and TNA contributing presentations alongside the Fraunhofer Institute and Amazon, both of which will offer insights into their future-proof solutions.
The growing role of artificial intelligence and automation takes centre stage on day four. Day sponsor Syntegon leads a programme that includes McKinsey and a broad range of market players, exhibitors and consultants, with automation positioned as a growing force in how packaging lines will be conceived and operated.
Circular economy forms the focus of day five, covering the full spectrum of packaging materials from plastic to metal. Exhibitors including Metsa Board, Sonoco and Jokey will present alongside brand owners Seeberger and Nespresso. The retail giant Schwarz Group will also feature through PreZero, its in-house recycling service provider, which will outline how the food retail sector is approaching the practical realities of a closed-loop circular economy.
Innovative packaging takes the spotlight on day six, with new materials and processing possibilities showcased by Tesa, Pro Ampac, Henkel, the VDMA and Printcity. A start-up pitch session at lunchtime will give emerging companies the opportunity to present directly to an audience of industry decision-makers.
The final day is dedicated to young talent, with the VDMA and IK among the associations presenting their initiatives for the next generation. HR managers from exhibiting companies will discuss strategies for attracting young people to the industry, while school and university students are expected to attend and exchange ideas. The forum closes with the Science Slam, where the audience will help decide which next-generation research project takes the top prize.