In exactly one week, the Sustainable Packaging Summit will commence at the Jaarbeurs Event & Exhibition Centre in Utrecht. From 10 – 12 November 2026, professionals from all over the world will come together to discuss and build a more responsible future for the packaging industry.
The three-day agenda is broken down into daily themes: the strategic landscape and business mobilization for sustainability in packaging, roadmaps for transforming packaging materials, and the future of innovation.
Among this year’s speakers are Paul Polman, co-author of Net Positive and former CEO of Unilever, who will discuss the business opportunities arising from the sustainable packaging transformation.
Emmanuelle Maire, Head of Unit, DG Environment at the European Commission, will join a lineup of industry experts in an honest conversation about the current status of European sustainability legislation and its next steps.
Paul Earnshaw, Lead Packaging Development Manager at Tesco, will also deliver a keynote speech providing a retail giant’s perspective on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, Extended Producer Responsibility, the advantages and setbacks of artificial intelligence, and more.
Other expert speakers include Jonathan Gill, Head of Sustainability at Unilever; Archana Jagannathan, Chief Sustainability Officer for Europe at PepsiCo; Kiril Dimitrov, Global Paper Packaging Lead at Nestlé;Anne Bedarf, Director for Global Packaging & Plastics Sustainability at Colgate-Palmolive; and Lee Ellen Drechsler, Senior Vice President for Corporate R&D at Procter & Gamble.
Attendees will also have numerous opportunities to connect with international delegates through scheduled networking sessions. From themed conversation prompts to a new, AI-powered matchmaking app, this year’s event is built to unite businesses in the joint pursuit of a sustainable future.
On 10 November, the Connection Zone Block Party will offer an informal environment to meet industry peers over refreshments.
The winners of the Sustainability Awards 2026 will be announced at a dedicated ceremony on 11 November. This will be followed by an afterparty, complete with food, drink and live music, and a dedicated Q&A the following day to learn more about the winning innovations.
Undercover Snacks has announced a majority investment by Mondelēz International aiming to accelerate innovation, long-term growth and distribution.
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European Commissioner Jessika Roswall has clarified industry concerns about maintaining, updating and reporting on reusable packaging systems under the Packaging
