Europe’s packaging sector set to convene in Brussels

With the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) moving from legislation to action, and the European Commission’s Circular Economy Act taking shape, the packaging industry faces its most significant regulatory overhaul in a generation. From 24 to 26 March 2026, the Packaging Waste & Sustainability Forum returns to Brussels for its 33rd year to help industry navigate what comes next.

Held at the Thon Hotel Bristol Stephanie in Brussels, the Forum is Europe’s longest-running conference dedicated to packaging waste and sustainability. Compliance deadlines are closing in, EPR systems remain fragmented across 27 national regulations, and pressure on brand owners, producers and waste managers to deliver circular packaging in the real world has never been greater.

Rosie Allen, conference manager at Informa Connect, commented: “2026 marks a pivotal moment for the packaging industry. As the PPWR enters its enforcement phase and the Circular Economy Act continues to evolve, the challenges facing our delegates have reached unprecedented levels of urgency. For over three decades, this Forum has served as the essential meeting ground where policymakers and industry leaders come together to tackle the sector’s most pressing issues.”

Wolfgang Trunk, team leader for plastics and packaging at the European Commission’s DG Environment, will open proceedings with a direct briefing on secondary legislation and delegated acts under the PPWR. Senior figures from Amazon, Mars, Nestlé, ExxonMobil and Carrefour will share how major brands are navigating compliance, rethinking packaging design and working through the practical realities of reuse mandates and recyclability targets.

Trunk said: “The smart and efficient implementation of the new rules necessitate constructive dialogue between policymakers, national competent control authorities and industry stakeholders. I anticipate meaningful engagement on the practical challenges inherent in Europe’s comprehensive packaging legislation.”

EPR harmonisation is another central theme. With producers managing compliance obligations across dozens of different national systems, the Forum will address eco-modulation, cross-border reporting, deposit return scheme integration and the longer-term direction of producer responsibility frameworks globally.

Legal experts from Bird & Bird will cover the intersection of packaging and chemical compliance – including REACH restrictions, PFAS obligations and the growing gap between regulatory compliance and genuine chemical safety in food contact materials.

Registration and full programme details for the event can be found at: informaconnect.com/packaging-waste-sustainability.