Scanning the innovation horizon is a key component of the Sustainable Packaging Summit. Legislation and consumer pressure is demanding material adaptations, new technologies and new systems – all of which need to prove viability on a business level. In this webinar, we bring together innovation experts with diverse backgrounds – from startups to packaging development to investment – to explore the best of innovation today, the key areas of technological advance, and the opportunities the value chain shouldn’t miss. We’ll also reflect with some jury members, just after the end of the final round of judging, on what we’ve learned from this year’s global packaging innovation Sustainability Awards.
Tim Sykes is brand director at Packaging Europe, where he has led content development for 15 years. He has wide interests around innovation in packaging technology and its impacts on the environment, consumer experience, supply chain efficiencies, and more. Tim is the founder and organiser of the Sustainability Awards, which has established itself as the leading global competition focused on sustainable packaging innovation.
Cory Connors Atlantic Packaging Sustainable Packaging Sales and Marketing
I’ve been in this industry for over 3 decades! And have been focused on sustainable packaging and helping companies be more sustainable with their packaging. Working in a Weyerhaeuser corrugated production facility to pay my way through college helped me understand how corrugated is made and how it can be more efficient and sustainable. I’m married to an amazing supportive wife and we are so happy to have two wonderful kids. As the host of Sustainable Packaging Podcast I’ve learned so much about new sustainable products that are coming out to the market soon and I’ve seen how urgent this issue of change is for our environment. Join us in this movement towards sustainable packaging.
Frederic Petit Emerald Partner
With over 20 years of corporate experience at DSM in plastics, fiber intermediates and fine chemicals in global business, innovation, sustainability and communication roles, Fredric is the Partner for our Sustainable Packaging Innovation Fund.Following his career at DSM, Fredric drove innovation at the start-up scale as CEO of Vibers, a company producing paper & cardboard, biopolymers and packaging materials from natural Miscanthus fibres.Next to his broad corporate and start-up experience, Fredric brings to the team relevant materials know-how, his global network as well as his judgement and coaching skills.He is an affiliate executive coach at IMD Business School, consultant, expert and mentor and has been recognized by the UN Global Compact (NL) as runner-up SDG Pioneer (2020). From 2011 until 2016, he chaired the EU working group CEN TC411 on bio-based products.
Lisa Cain Smurfit Westrock European Technical Account Manager
A self-confessed packaging nerd, Lisa has spent her whole career leading global teams and working with just about every packaging format out there, across multiple industries, and on a wide range of iconic brands. Whether food and beverage, beauty, personal care, or lifestyle, Lisa is always focused on combining innovation, design, and sustainability with a strong commercial focus. Now Lisa is channelling that experience into mentoring up-and-coming professionals through various organisations/schemes and writing about the big topics shaping our industry: sustainability, design, and innovation... all grounded in real-world experience!
Paul Jenkins The Pack Hub Managing Director
Paul Jenkins is the Founder & CEO of leading UK packaging innovation consultancy ThePackHub, which tracks global innovation and emerging technologies across the packaging industry. Paul is recognised internationally for his deep understanding of packaging trends and for curating the world’s most comprehensive packaging innovation platforms.
He leads ThePackHub’s flagship platforms – the Innovation Zone, featuring 12,000 real-world packaging initiatives, and The Patent Zone, highlighting breakthrough inventions and early-stage concepts. This evidence-based perspective gives Paul unique insight into how packaging formats are evolving in response to sustainability pressures, regulation, consumer expectations, and technical constraints.
Paul presents regularly at conferences, sharing practical, data-led insights on the future of packaging. His work spans all major categories, including food, beverage, household, health, and beauty, helping organisations understand what is coming next and how to adapt.
Packaging has never carried greater commercial responsibility.
It influences how consumers perceive brands, how products perform in increasingly competitive markets
Packaging manufacturers are under constant pressure to increase output, reduce operating costs, improve sustainability, and maintain consistent product quality. One
