Sustainability in Packaging Europe 2026:
Barcelona hosts the first big industry meeting
since PPWR became applicable
Sustainability in Packaging Europe 2026: Barcelona hosts the first big industry meeting
since PPWR became applicable
Smithers' flagship European event returns on 6–8 October with Nestlé, Unilever, L'Oréal, Tesco and the European Commission on the attendee list, and a programme built around one question: how to turn regulation into packaging that works.
Less than two months after the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) began to apply on 12 August 2026, the European packaging value chain gathers in Barcelona for Sustainability in Packaging Europe 2026, organised by Smithers.
The timing matters. For most brand owners and converters, the debate has moved from "what will PPWR require?" to "how do we comply, at what cost, and without losing performance on shelf?" The 2026 agenda reflects that shift.
Who will be in the room
The confirmed attendee list reads like a cross-section of European FMCG. Brands include Nestlé, PepsiCo, Mars, Kraft Heinz, AB InBev, Carlsberg, Unilever, Coca-Cola, LEGO, L'Oréal, Danone, Johnson & Johnson, Reckitt, Mattel and Google. On the retail side, Tesco, Aldi, Carrefour, Albert Heijn and Colruyt Group are confirmed, a relevant detail given the growing role of retailers in setting packaging specifications for private label and branded suppliers alike.
Policymakers and industry bodies will also take part, including the European Commission, EUROPEN and CEFLEX, alongside speakers drawn from across the packaging value chain.
Programme: from workshops to dedicated tracks
The event opens on 6 October with five pre-conference interactive workshops focused on:
PPWR
Eco-modulation strategies
Flexible packaging
Packaging testing and analysis under PPWR
Sustainable packaging alternatives
The workshop on eco-modulation deserves particular attention. As EPR fees across member states increasingly reward recyclability and penalise hard-to-recycle formats, packaging design decisions now carry a direct and measurable cost impact.
The main conference runs on 7 and 8 October. It opens with plenary sessions on the future of packaging, PPWR in action and design for recycling. On the afternoon of 8 October the programme splits into three parallel tracks, allowing delegates to build their own agenda: