The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) recently hosted the 2026 WorldStar Awards during interpack, with around 100 WorldStar winners from over 40 countries awarded across categories including Marketing, Accessible Packaging and Sustainability.
The event brought together a reported 400 guests from almost 50 countries to recognize ‘innovation, sustainability and excellence’ in packaging. During the opening ceremony, WPO president Luciana Pellegrino remarked that “the diversity and quality of this year’s winners demonstrates how packaging can contribute to solving global challenges while creating value for both industry and society.”
The opening session also featured remarks from WorldStar coordinator and WPO vice president of marketing, Soha Atallah; interpack director Thomas Dohse; German Packaging Institute (DVI) chairman Thomas Reiner and UNIDO managing director Gunther Beger.
In the Marketing category, Dexco received the Gold award for the Deca Food Waste Disposer; Mondi Corrugated Turkey received the Silver award for its Koala Display; and Thim received the Bronze award for its smart ring, designed to help users sleep well.
Medipack won in the Accessible Packaging Category for its MED-Pack eco, with a ‘no-touch design’ said to enable hygienic removal without direct contact. In the Sustainability Category, Constantia Flexibles received the Gold award for its low carbon aluminium Comforlid; Mondi the Silver for its re/cycle ProtectorBag PocketForm, and Smurfit Westrock received the Bronze award for its Panelbuffer.
The Saves Food category saw Aran Group awarded the Gold for its mono PE bag for Bib; PAPACKS received the Silver for its Fiber Box; and Grupo Lantero received the Bronze for its Rekeepeat solution. Greiner Packaging won the Gold award in the President’s Award category for its Click In Sealing lid; Nacom Goya Ind. E Com. De Alimentos Ltda received the Silver for its double-layer preserves solution for Brazilian food brand Campo Belo; and Siam Toppan the Bronze for its Thai crafted chocolate gift set.
The winners of the WorldStar Student Awards - coordinated by WPO member the Institute of Packaging South Africa (IPSA) - were also recognized, and the 2026 WPO Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Pierre Pienaar from Australia in recognition of his “outstanding contribution” to packaging education, innovation and global industry development for over 40 years.
In related news, Packaging Europe’s Elisabeth Skoda spoke to Nerida Kelton (Executive Director at AIP) and Luciana Pellegrino (President at WPO) to learn more about interpack’s Women in Packaging event, designed to be an international platform for exchange, inspiration and networking. They discussed diversity progress, mentoring and how women can make their mark in the industry.
We recently published our reflections on interpack 2026, considering the most important new products and talking points experienced at the show. Our takeaways from the event range from AI and greenwashing to diversity and regulation.
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