The packaging industry is betting on AI, Africa, and paper at Interpack

The world’s biggest packaging fair, Interpack, is returning to Messe Dusseldorf from 7–13 May 2026, and the industry is signalling a seismic shift. Forget simple product protection; the future of packaging, according to industry leaders, is about ‘adding value and creating impact’. The emerging narratives from exhibitors point to three core obsessions: aggressive sustainability goals, the acceleration of the African market, and the disruptive integration of Artificial Intelligence.

The race to zero: Sustainable systems over single use

The industry is now locked in a fierce, public race to green the supply chain, moving past incremental change to systemic overhauls.

Closed-loop innovation: Christian Traumann, CEO of Multivac Gruppe and Interpack Advisory Board Member, frames the shift around the ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ mantra, pushing for closed-loop systems to keep plastics out of the environment. 

KHS Group is showcasing a broad portfolio of environmentally friendly secondary packaging, including solutions like PaperPack and Nature MultiPack (NMP), and an Innopack Kisters system that wraps beverage cans in paper at high speeds. Bruckner Group is focussing its exhibit on mono-materials, simplifying the recycling stream.

The sustainability push is also internal: Fuji Seal announced a significant reduction in its carbon footprint by 835 tonnes per annum, supported by the installation of one of the largest solar arrays in the packaging industry. Meanwhile, Packem Umasree will highlight its 100% sustainable FIBC solutions made from rPET (recycled PET), turning waste into industrial-grade fabric.

WhatPackaging? magazine noted some trends that challenge the traditional view of Africa as ‘an emerging market has been discarded’. It is now considered a dynamic, strategic growth region for the global packaging industry.

VDMA’s Daniel Dellemann underscores that rapid population growth, rising food demand, and major investments in processing and recycling infrastructure are fuelling this acceleration. The focus is now on local production, regional value creation, and international partnerships, with platforms like Interpack MEA and Food Africa acting as key enablers to connect global technology providers with regional demand.

AI and automation: The intelligent packaging line

The future packaging line is becoming smarter, safer, and more efficient through integrated technology. Companies like Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Europe are broadening their focus beyond core marking and coding solutions to showcase drives and automation products and energy efficiency and sustainability solutions. This holistic view addresses the entire production process.

Beyond the main packaging machinery, specialised technologies are driving efficiency. Secomak is highlighting how tailored drying solutions are critical for ensuring product integrity, maintaining hygiene standards, and enhancing print quality across sensitive sectors like food, pharma, and beverage. Robatech offers best practices for hot melt systems to cut maintenance time and improve application quality.

Multivac's vision for the future explicitly includes artificial intelligence to make all processes ‘safer, smarter, and more efficient,’ signalling that the next wave of innovation will be driven by data and machine learning.

The overarching message from the Advisory Board is clear: The industry is transforming from a utility into a source of innovation. As Christian Traumann puts it, packaging is ‘international, impactful, and full of opportunity’, a message serving as a strong call to young talent looking to ‘make a difference’.