With interpack 2026 now firmly in the rearview mirror, the Packaging Europe team has had time to reflect on the most important new products and talking points that we experienced at the show. From AI and greenwashing, to diversity and regulation – here are the things that made the biggest impressions on us at this year’s event.
Libby Munford, editor: I’ve been consuming interpack 2026 from afar, rather than amidst the buzzing show floor, that I’ve trodden countless steps on in past editions.
What strikes me most is the sheer diversity of the exhibition this year, shining important light on spaces such as the Women in Packaging event, where we saw a packed-out audience bridging that gap.
When I started a career in the packaging industry 15 plus years ago, this was certainly not the case, and it’s a welcome change to see that positive growth and inclusivity.
It’s fundamental to see some of Packaging Europe’s ’60 seconds at interpack’ videos and interpack content championed by female interviewees in executive roles, joining that upwards curve.
Tim Sykes, brand director: My first impression of interpack, as by far Europe’s largest and most important packaging show, is that it reflected the changing role of trade fairs in our industry. It seemed to me that attendance was lower than in previous years (an impression supported by the fact that figures were not shared in the post-show press release).
Certainly war around the Gulf is an unwelcome factor here - but also a reality that business travel is changing. Increasingly, people attend events not to gaze into the shop window of innovation. We can get updates on new materials and machines through our digitized information systems.
Instead, perhaps the role of in-person gatherings is more and more to provide a platform for high quality conversations that put solutions in context. As a packaging geek, I came across perhaps fewer unexpected technology advances at this interpack than at previous editions.
But it’s a great opportunity to take the temperature of the industry: to see how companies are framing their portfolios, to get a snapshot of what the market is looking for, and to exchange impressions with packaging friends on what it all means. The hot topics this year? Fiberization, machine learning, and “PPWR-ready” claims.
Elisabeth Skoda, editor-at-large: At interpack 2026, in line with the event’s Smart Manufacturing hot topic, AI and automation featured heavily in many machinery company’s product launches and innovations.
Against a background of rising energy prices, labour shortages and fragile supply chains, new technologies are considered a crucial driver of growth.
For example, Syntegon presented its vision for the self-regulating factory of the future that is able to adjust to different challenges, supervised by an AI-supported human control centre. Multivac focused on digitally networked and integrated processing and packaging solutions, aiming to make production data usable in real time, control processes intelligently and reduce energy and material consumption.
Furthermore, companies at interpack showcased that AI is being increasingly leveraged in inspection systems to improve accuracy and speed of recognition, enabling the interpretation of data rather than just capturing it thanks to machine learning.
Notably, while companies still talked about sustainability at the event, it appeared to be less of a hot topic compared to the 2023 event, as the industry grapples with a challenging business environment.
Emma Liggins, journalist: From my experience, a common thread running through this year’s show was future-proofing – in part through steps to align with incoming sustainability requirements, such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, but also a keen eye on accommodations for the next generation of packaging professionals.
This was especially prevalent in the context of machinery. Across the show floor, exhibitors displayed both hardware and software designed to simplify operations – especially for users without extensive technical training – and avoid excessive manual intervention.
Naturally, artificial intelligence is weaving its way into these streamlined solutions; yet there wasn’t as much discussion around the technology’s subsequent environmental impacts, from water consumption to carbon emissions, as there was about the pollutive implications of packaging substrates themselves. Perhaps there will be more nuance and reflection on this topic as a new decade draws closer at interpack 2029.
Fin Slater, digital content manager: I’ve worked at Packaging Europe for the best part of seven years now, but this was my first-ever time at interpack. I handle the digital side of Packaging Europe, so it was great to see products and solutions we have written about in action on the show floor.
After covering previous editions of the show from afar, I can definitely say that the amount of greenwashing on display has dropped significantly - probably as a result of strict laws that have recently come into force.
As one attendee noted to me, the drop in greenwashing may be directly correlated to the drop in the use of large, leafy green plants on stands that were previously almost designed to say: “our products are 100% sustainable”.
Victoria Hattersley, senior writer: Aside from the continuous talk of PPWR – almost every single company I spoke to described how their innovations are geared towards helping customers meet their regulatory commitments – one thing it was hard to avoid at interpack 2026 was the emergence of AI as a dominant theme.
All visitors to the show would have observed the ways in which AI-assisted packaging systems – from advanced robotics to operational AI assistance and digital twins, among many others – are enhancing productivity and safety, reducing overproduction and of course enhancing sustainability.
It was interesting to see in practice how the principles of Industry 5.0, through which intelligent technologies and humans perform key tasks alongside each other, can work in practice to enable personalization, sustainability and collaborative efficiency.
Frances Butler, journalist: This year’s interpack saw multiple companies unveil technology solutions for the food sector, aiming to improve food safety and product inspection. Fortress Technology showcased its latest touchscreen solution, said to ‘significantly reduce’ human error in fast-paced manufacturing facilities and improve food safety.
Presented on a Stealth metal detector, the touchscreen features contrasting icons and a multi-colour warning system, aiming to ensure staff can access all the critical control point information and review and act upon alerts in the log.
Eriez launched its X8-SF Metal Detector at the event, designed for food processors seeking ‘greater consistency and reliability’ in product inspection. It aims to help processors improve product quality while minimizing disruption to operations.
HEUFT unveiled its AI inspection lineup which uses camera and X-ray processing technologies and new IT solutions to identify tiny contaminants in packaged food. The X-ray image processing uses deep learning, proven image analysis and a multi-layered neural network to identify contaminants such as glass splinters and metal fragments in glass food jars.
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