London Packaging Week 2026 has opened at Excel London, bringing together thousands of visitors from across the packaging and brand sectors for two days of discussion, innovation and networking.
This year’s theme, ‘Discovery’, is reflected across four co-located events covering luxury, drinks, beauty and FMCG packaging. For snack manufacturers and brands, the FMCG focus places issues including recyclability, material choice, packaging design, Extended Producer Responsibility and upcoming regulation firmly on the agenda.
Josh Brooks, Divisional Director – Packaging Portfolio at organiser Easyfairs, said the event aims to create a forum where business, new ideas and future talent can come together.
“We want it to be a place where business can happen, of course, but in doing that we try to create spaces that are inspiring, fun, warm, and welcoming,” he said.
EPR and recycling take centre stage
One of the major themes on the opening day was Extended Producer Responsibility. Esther Carter, Chief Strategy Officer at UK EPR scheme administrator PackUK, outlined how improved packaging data is shaping its approach to recycling and future policy.
According to Carter, around 20% of packaging currently placed on the UK market falls into the red category under PackUK’s recyclability assessment methodology, meaning it is fundamentally incompatible with the existing recycling system.
She added that around one in seven producers are placing only red-rated packaging onto the market, while approximately 10% are using exclusively green-rated materials.
The data will help inform PackUK’s forthcoming five-year strategy as it looks to support higher-quality recycling outputs and encourage packaging formats that work more effectively within existing infrastructure.
Innovation moves onto the show floor
Beyond the conference programme, exhibitors showcased developments in packaging design, materials, simulation and sustainability.
Crux Product Design highlighted how technologies traditionally associated with aerospace engineering are increasingly being applied to packaging development. Senior Applied Science Engineer Rhoss Adams said advanced testing and simulation can give brands a greater understanding of packaging performance before committing to physical trials.
Material sourcing and circularity were also prominent. Markku Tikkanen, Business Development Lead at Vioneo, argued that manufacturers need to consider the entire packaging lifecycle, from raw material sourcing and plastic production through to material reduction, reuse and recyclability.
The event also explored how packaging design can respond to changing consumer expectations. Michelle Atkinson, Head of Marketing Capability at Carlsberg Britvic, highlighted the importance of understanding different consumer needs and occasions when developing more inclusive packaging.
