Day two of Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026 confirmed the strong momentum currently shaping the UK packaging sector. The UK’s leading packaging event welcomed hundreds of leading brands and delivered what organisers described as a record-breaking edition, with exhibitors and visitors reporting overwhelmingly positive feedback across the show floor.
Sustainability themes dominated proceedings. Circular design innovations, data-driven recyclability solutions, and creative packaging formats were presented throughout the halls. From peel-and-reveal labels to marine-recovered recycled materials, the event demonstrated how collaboration, operational precision, and forward-looking design are increasingly aligned in pursuit of a more circular and sustainable packaging system in the UK.
The timing of the show was notable. The UK is preparing to implement its landmark deposit return scheme in October 2027, a reform designed to reshape container collection and recycling. Insights from early adopters such as Ireland and Scotland have already surfaced practical considerations and operational challenges that UK stakeholders are now factoring into planning.
Speaking on the Circular Economy Stage, Julian Hunt, Director of Exchange for Change, stressed the importance of industry ownership: “If this scheme is to deliver effectively within the framework of effective EPR, it has to be run by industry. We were very clear from day one this has to be by industry, for industry, to ensure that industry delivers on its legal obligations but delivers it in a way that works for consumers, and critically of course, works for the planet and delivers the outcomes that we all want to see from a deposit return scheme.”
Operational detail is central to that objective. Sarah Horner, Director – UK & Ireland at Reloop, pointed to lessons from Scotland: “We analysed what Circularity Scotland (CSL) did there and they basically had too many return points. So when we were drafting the legislation, the reason we put in boundaries around return points is because there were three times as many as needed in Scotland and that’s an added cost. We’ve given some guidelines in the legislation to the DMO, but there’s an onus on them to review that and make sure they’re sufficient. So, we really thought that through.”
Ireland’s early rollout has also provided useful direction. Collaboration between industry and government, alongside active consumer engagement, remains essential to ensure the system operates effectively from launch. Ciaran Hope, Chief Operating Officer for Re-turn, underscored the environmental impact already observed: “We do a coastal survey around the country every year and they survey 500-550 sites. On average it used to find 100–110 containers per kilometre. Last year they did that survey and it was down to about five – it was the lowest in a quarter century.
“In less than a year, we’ve wiped out all material that existed in rivers and seas.”
Industry advisors involved with PackUK are working to shape the evolution of pEPR, aligning stakeholders across the packaging value chain. John Coates, Policy and External Affairs Manager at PackUK and Re-Gen Waste, described the complexity of the system: “There’s four nations, so there’s four parliaments that you’ve got to work with. And beneath those four parliaments, there are 400 varieties of council and then many hundreds of thousands of producers sitting on top of that.”
He noted that producers must understand local authority processes, including collection contracts, sorting, and reprocessing. PackUK, he added, acts as a central communication channel to coordinate those interactions.
On the technical front, Emma Wilkinson, chair of PackUK’s Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) Technical Advisory Group, highlighted the need for clarity in applying RAM: “If producers that are working through their RAM assessments can speak to other people in the space, lean on PackUK if they’re unsure of anything, to make sure that they’re interpreting it in the correct way, I think at this stage, that’s a really important factor.”
Esther Carter, Panel Chair and Chief Strategy Officer at PackUK, explained how RAM modulation is structured to drive better outcomes: “Red this year is going to be 20% more expensive than the base, or what’s now referred to as the amber fees, and that additional money raised will be used to discount the green fees. It’s about getting the right balance between incentivising the right things and working very closely across industry material specialist groups to try and get that right.”
Innovation across materials and formats was equally visible. Megan Hinkley, Senior Product Manager – Packaging at Innovia Films, outlined the company’s capabilities: “Because we operate across multiple extrusion technologies – Cast, LISIM®, Stenter and Bubble – and have in-group metallising and AlOx coating capabilities, we can combine those in different ways to create modern, recyclable mono-material solutions. Everything we manufacture is designed for recycling and aligned with PPWR, and we’re able to incorporate recycled content too, whether that’s mechanical, ISCC-certified chemically recycled, or bio-circular material. One of our newest innovations is incorporating food-contact approved, mechanically recycled ocean-bound plastic into flexible films. This is something we’re uniquely positioned to do. Ultimately, if someone walks onto the stand, the message is simple: we can replace traditional multi-material structures like PET/foil laminates with fully polypropylene alternatives that maintain performance while improving recyclability and future compliance.”
Andrew Mansfield, Managing Director of Harkwell Labels, described advances in interactive labelling: “InfoPeel™ and our tabulated peel & reveal range were designed to rethink how consumers interact with packaging information. The concertina on top, for small beauty jars, opens easily to reveal multiple areas of information, while wraparound labels cover 360 degrees, and multi-page tabulated layouts allow layers to be peeled back simply. With high-definition print, metallics, and multi-colour digital capabilities, brands can tell a story, show multiple languages, or highlight product details without cluttering prime pack space.
“The response has been immediate, with sample packs flying off shelves, and brands recognising how much easier and more appealing the peel & reveal experience is.”
The Innovation Gallery winner was the GrabLok™ linerless tamper-evident bag closure developed by Westpak Group, created to support QSR brands in reducing open bag complaints and safeguarding order integrity. Paul Magee, Sales Director at Westpak Group, said: “There was a big, steep incline in the home delivery food market, but packaging never actually developed fast enough to keep up with that, so that’s what we’ve done and brought a full range of products.
“The GrabLok™ concept is a linerless label, so there’s no backing paper. Backing paper is not recyclable, it’s not compostable, it’s not good for the environment, and it’s also less efficient. GrabLok™ goes straight off the bag, it’s peel-and-reseal, it’s tamper-evident, it keeps the food clean and safe and warm in a very clean-looking way, and it’s faster to operate in store as well as being very environmentally friendly.”
Brendon Bale, Stakeholder Manager at Prevented Ocean Plastic, whose first ever food-safe recycled polypropylene (PP) also appeared in the Innovation Gallery, commented: “The last couple of days at Packaging Innovations with Prevented Ocean Plastic have been super, super strong. We engaged with a broad range of direct plastic manufacturers. We also had conversations with brands including Highland Spring, Müller, Pringles, and others. There have been too many positive conversations with inspiring people to count!”
Greyparrot also featured prominently. Founder Yaseed Chaumoo, named Packaging MVP in the Future Trailblazer Awards on Day 1, described the scale of the company’s data capture: “We now capture around 1.5 billion waste objects a day across 20 countries, so if it’s sold in a supermarket, we’re probably seeing it somewhere in the system. That data helps facilities improve efficiency, reduce contamination and even identify batteries before they cause fires, but the real value for brands is insight and prediction: we can show how your packaging is actually performing in the real world, how it benchmarks against your category, and then model ‘what if’ scenarios; what happens if you remove a sleeve, reduce it by 10-40%, or redesign a component.
“Instead of guessing, you’re making data-led decisions that improve recoverability, protect brand identity and potentially reduce future EPR costs, effectively closing the loop between design, regulation, and real-world recycling performance,” stated Chaumoo.
Machinery suppliers reported strong engagement as well. Thomas Glendinning, Managing Director of Sovereign Labelling Machines, said: “There’s a unique buzz that we get here. We’re speaking to the right kind of people, and we’ve had a really strong level of interest in the machines. The Empack portion of the show is growing in prominence and importance, and people are now very aware it’s not just packaging here, it’s machinery too, so we’re very happy overall.”
Austin Schwarz, Trays Regional Sales Director UK&I at Klöckner Pentaplast (kp), added: “It’s our first show here with KP. We’re super pleased and it’s incredibly well organised. We’ve been speaking with some really good potential customers, and it was great to catch up with some existing customers. We’ll definitely be back again next year.”
Official attendance figures from Easyfairs are expected shortly. Even ahead of those numbers, the combination of hundreds of leading brands and consistently strong feedback has positioned Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026 as a standout edition.
The industry’s focus now shifts to London Packaging Week at the Excel London on 16 & 17 September, where further insight into trends, sustainability solutions, and innovation across the packaging landscape will take centre stage.
