9th - 10th March 2026

Agenda

Redefining the entire packaging lifecycle for a circular, sustainable future

DAY 1

08:00 - 08:50

REGISTRATION

08:55 – 09:00

CHAIRPERSON’S OPENING REMARKS

Michaël Nieuwesteeg, Managing Director, NVC Packaging Centre

09:00 - 09:30

Scaling packaging excellence: simplification, PPWR readiness & sustainable innovation

  • Packaging engineering is now a strategic growth engine, connecting business ambition, operational execution, sustainability, and compliance end to end.
  • Simplification is the ultimate power move: harmonized formats, converged specifications, and scalable platforms unlock speed, reliability, and value.
  • PPWR becomes a design code, not a fire drill, when engineers translate regulation into clear, usable rules.
  • Master data enables scale: clean, governed packaging data is the backbone of traceability, digitalization, and execution speed.
  • Sustainable innovation only wins when it travels, working reliably across plants, markets, and products.
  • Great systems require great engineering culture, built on ownership, discipline, and system thinking.

Riccardo Ferrante, Head of Global Packaging Center of Excellence, Henkel
Barbara Cutugno-Krause, Head of Global Sustainable Packaging, Henkel

09:30 - 10:00

Haleon packaging approach: Consumer first - A look at OTC packaging development roadmap

  • How consumer healthcare packaging can drive circularity using real life examples
  • Highlighting the different steps needed from leadership and ambition to standardization

Vincent Raspail, Global Packaging Development Manager, Haleon

10:00 - 10:30

Driving Innovation: Transforming Packaging with Sustainable Materials Science

  • Unveiling the latest advancements in eco-friendly packaging materials.
  • Strategies for minimizing environmental impact through sustainable practices
  • Enhancing packaging performance while reducing resource consumption
  • Creating sustainable packaging that meets consumer and industry demands
  • Partnerships driving the shift to sustainable packaging solutions
  • Empowering industry leaders with knowledge on sustainable material benefits

10:35 - 11:25

COFFEE BREAK

11:30 - 12:00

Navigating Emissions in Paperboard Packaging: Understanding Sources and Challenges

  • Exploring the intricate landscape of indirect emissions within the paperboard packaging industry
  • Delving into the diverse origins of emissions in paperboard production and the challenges companies face
  • Examining the complexities of the reporting process, offering practical insights into effective measurement and disclosure strategies
  • Case studies on mitigation strategies and reduction initiatives

12:00 - 12:30

Why Sensitive Surface Packaging Has Resisted Change - Until Now

  • Exploring biodegradable options to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainability
  • Reducing plastic usage by adopting alternative, eco-friendly materials in packaging
  • Adopting compostable packaging solutions to support waste reduction and environmental health
  • Sourcing renewable materials to ensure long-term sustainability and resource availability
  • Enhancing recyclability of packaging materials to facilitate circular economy practices

Matt Baldock, Segment Director, Paptic

12:30 - 13:00

Designing Packaging That Protects the Future

  • Renewable and recyclable packaging of the future
  • Circularity + CO₂ reduction through material innovation
  • Fact‑based sustainability decisions using ISO‑aligned LCAs
  • Successful examples from the Netherlands
  • Collaboration to enable scalable system transformation

Ashkan Danaei, Sales Director, Tetra Pak

PLANNED INVESTMENT AREAS

  • Packaging Innovation / PPWR
  • Marketing & Branding
  • Additives for Innovative Packaging Design
  • Food Contact Materials
  • Flexible Packaging Solutions
  • Testing & Analysis
  • Digital Product Passport (DPP)
  • Robotic Automation
  • Sustainable Pallet and Container Solutions
  • Packaging Machinery & Plant construction
  • Biodegradable Materials/Circularity and End-of-Life
  • Brand Protection & Anti-counterfeiting
  • Smart Packaging Technologies
  • Packaging Procurement
  • Labelling & Traceability
  • Material Optimization (Reduction and Sourcing)
  • Packaging Sterilization / Decontamination
  • Bio-based PET
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • Packaging Engineering
  • Automation/Robotics
  • Circular Economy
  • E-Commerce Packaging
  • Sustainable Digital Printing
  • Regulatory Compliance & Reporting
  • Sustainable Inks
  • Carton Packaging
  • 3D Printing

13:05 - 13:55

LUNCH

14:00 - 14:30

Why shoppers don’t give a **** about sustainability, and what it means for you.

  • Sustainability doesn’t play a significant role in people’s purchase decisions in the supermarket.
  • Several examples where sustainability was a compromise on functionality or quality that resulted in loss of sales/turn-over.
  • Why, for many categories, theoretically good solutions like refill don’t work.
  • What it means for packaging developers and how you (as a packaging developer) can make sure you still deliver your sustainability ambitions

Leon Oudehand, Packaging Director, Cloetta

14:30 – 15:00

Is Circular Packaging for every company?

  • In Temperature controlled shipments, is circular packaging Vs Standard packaging.
  • Role of reverse logistics
  • A case study on circular packaging and how we did it.
  • How to estimate landed costs, quote the prices.
  • Calculating the ROI.
  • Check if you are eligible for doing it or not.

Sasank Grandhi, Logistics Lead, Krayden Europe BV

15:00 – 15:30

Reuse & Refill for a sustainable future

  • What is the (ecourage) system (OmniTap™, OmniCap™, OmniBiB™, Digital Data Management Platform)
  • How this system is different than others in the market
  • Case study: ecostore
  • Lessons learned from piloting and scaling reuse/refill
  • Key operational and business considerations for implementing refill systems
  • What does the future bring?

Angela Camacho, Commercial Project Lead, Ecourage

15:35 - 16:25

COFFEE BREAK

16:30 - 17:00

Why the Food Industry Needs Standardized Analytical Methods: Insights from an ISO 17043 Interlaboratory Study on Styrene

  • Need for official and standardized analytical methods in the food packaging industry
  • Role of ISO 17043 proficiency testing in method validation and data harmonization
  • Design of an interlaboratory proficiency test scheme for styrene determination
  • Evaluation of interlaboratory variability and its industrial relevance
  • Benefits of standardized analytics for reliable compliance and sustainable packaging innovation

Maria Filomena Antonella Vitulli, CEO, Food Contact Center S.r.l. & Food Contact Services S.r.l.

17:00 - 17:30

How Artificial Intelligence Can Advance User-Centric, Sustainable Packaging Design

  • AI Provides Deeper Insight into Consumer Needs and Preferences
  • Translating Consumer Insights into User-Centered Packaging Designs with AI
  • Unique sustainability and branding requirements through several methods, including Automated Design Generation, Personalization, Material Suggestions, Trend Adaptation

PLANNED INVESTMENT AREAS

  • Packaging Innovation / PPWR
  • Marketing & Branding
  • Additives for Innovative Packaging Design
  • Food Contact Materials
  • Flexible Packaging Solutions
  • Testing & Analysis
  • Digital Product Passport (DPP)
  • Robotic Automation
  • Sustainable Pallet and Container Solutions
  • Packaging Machinery & Plant construction
  • Biodegradable Materials/Circularity and End-of-Life
  • Brand Protection & Anti-counterfeiting
  • Smart Packaging Technologies
  • Packaging Procurement
  • Labelling & Traceability
  • Material Optimization (Reduction and Sourcing)
  • Packaging Sterilization / Decontamination
  • Bio-based PET
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • Packaging Engineering
  • Automation/Robotics
  • Circular Economy
  • E-Commerce Packaging
  • Sustainable Digital Printing
  • Regulatory Compliance & Reporting
  • Sustainable Inks
  • Carton Packaging
  • 3D Printing

17:30 - 18:00

Where Innovation Becomes Reality: Aligning Marketing, R&D, Operations and Sustainability for Packaging that Performs

  • How to break functional silos and build one shared decision-making framework for packaging development
  • Turning sustainability goals into practical design and operational requirements that teams can execute
  • Managing trade-offs between performance, cost, speed-to-market and environmental impact
  • What organisations miss when marketing promises what operations cannot deliver
  • Real examples of alignment wins: how cross-functional clarity reduces waste, accelerates development and improves business value

Carel Oskam, Independent Expert, Executive R&D Leader in Packaging, Product & Technology

18:00-19:00

DRINKS RECEPTION

DAY 2

08:55 – 09:00

CHAIRPERSON’S OPENING REMARKS

Michaël Nieuwesteeg, Managing Director, NVC Packaging Centre

09:00 – 09:30

Is the Era of Packaging Sustainability coming to an end?

  • Barilla’s ESG Packaging Journey
  • Sustainability as the Industry’s main driver: how environmental goals have dominated packaging innovation for the past decade.
  • The Risk of a Narrow Focus: has the green race overshadowed consumer-centricity, functionality, and convenience?
  • Broadening the Innovation Lens

Alessandro Ruggeri, Global Packaging Vice President, Barilla

09:30 – 10:00

Strategic Simplification: A Framework for Future-Ready Packaging

  • Navigate Complexity: Learn how to move beyond the “add-on” approach to sustainability and address the mounting pressures of regulations like the EU PPWR and the circular economy.
  • Introduce Strategic Simplification: Discover a forward-thinking eco-design framework that focuses on strategically removing complexity to enhance sustainability and efficiency.
  • Deliver Future-Ready Packaging: Understand how this subtraction-based model reduces environmental impact, de-risks your strategy, and creates efficient, and future-proof packaging.

Keko Tago, Head Packaging Sustainability, Bayer

10:00 - 10:30

Leading the future of packaging adhesives

  • Bostik is the adhesive solutions segment of Arkema
  • Strong packaging expertise
  • PPWR Challenges
  • Bostik’s innovations for tomorrow’s packaging

Eric Parois, Global Market Director – Labels and Narrow Web Technologies, Bostik
Christophe Morel, Sustainability Leader – Hygiene, Packaging and Converting Adhesives, Bostik

10:30- 11:25

COFFEE BREAK

11:30 – 12:00

Industrial Design: Merging Functionality and Aesthetics in Packaging

  • Balancing form and function in packaging design.
  • Enhancing product usability with ergonomic packaging solutions.
  • Reducing material usage through efficient industrial design practices.
  • Creating visually appealing and functional packaging.
  • Promoting brand identity through industrial design principles.

12:00 – 12:30

Empowering Brands with Cutting-Edge Polymer Technologies

  • Innovating packaging with advanced polymer technologies for enhanced sustainability and performance
  • Reducing environmental impact through recyclable and lightweight material solutions for diverse packaging applications
  • Enhancing product protection and shelf life with high-barrier films and resins
  • Scaling global packaging operations with consistent, high-quality polymer supply chain
  • Partnering with brands to meet sustainability goals through tailored material solutions and innovative designs

12:30 – 13:00

Empowering Sustainable Packaging with Game-Changing Plant-Based Bio-MEG and Bio-MPG Innovations

  • Transforming the packaging industry with cutting-edge bio-based materials for a sustainable future
  • Reducing carbon footprints through innovative plant-derived packaging solutions for food and beverages
  • Replacing traditional plastics with eco-friendly bio-MEG for durable, renewable packaging alternatives
  • Enhancing product performance while meeting consumer demand for sustainability and environmental responsibility
  • Unlocking versatile applications with bio-MPG for cosmetics and personal care packaging, lowering environmental impact
  • Pioneering scalable bio-chemical technologies to support a greener, low-carbon economy

PLANNED INVESTMENT AREAS

  • Packaging Innovation / PPWR
  • Marketing & Branding
  • Additives for Innovative Packaging Design
  • Food Contact Materials
  • Flexible Packaging Solutions
  • Testing & Analysis
  • Digital Product Passport (DPP)
  • Robotic Automation
  • Sustainable Pallet and Container Solutions
  • Packaging Machinery & Plant construction
  • Biodegradable Materials/Circularity and End-of-Life
  • Brand Protection & Anti-counterfeiting
  • Smart Packaging Technologies
  • Packaging Procurement
  • Labelling & Traceability
  • Material Optimization (Reduction and Sourcing)
  • Packaging Sterilization / Decontamination
  • Bio-based PET
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • Packaging Engineering
  • Automation/Robotics
  • Circular Economy
  • E-Commerce Packaging
  • Sustainable Digital Printing
  • Regulatory Compliance & Reporting
  • Sustainable Inks
  • Carton Packaging
  • 3D Printing

13:05 - 13:55

LUNCH

14:00 - 14:30

Packaging Recyclability: looking beyond 2030 targets

  • The European legislative framework
  • RecyClass and the relevance of design for recycling
  • DfR Guidelines and testing protocols for plastic packaging
  • Recyclability methodology
  • Recycled plastic traceability

Fabrizio Di Gregorio, Technical Director, Plastics Recyclers Europe

14:30 - 15:00

Design-for-food-grade-recycling

  • Almost all current polyolefin-based packages are unsuited for food-grade recycling
  • Recycling processes will only be approved if all potential contamination risks are minimised
  • An unprecedented redesign campaign of food packages is necessary to meet the recycled content targets of the PPWR
  • Printing inks, adhesives, labels need to be removed completely prior to recycling
  • Packaging standardisation is inevitable to make recycling economical viable
  • There is a lack of awareness at politicians and food entrepreneurs

Ulphard Thoden van Velzen, Senior Researcher, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research

15:00 - 15:05

CHAIRPERSON’S CLOSE

Please note the agenda can be subject to change