Industry leaders rally at 2025 Sustainable Packaging Summit to accelerate circular solutions
The 2025 Sustainable Packaging Summit, hosted by Packaging Europe from 10 to 12 November in Utrecht, has again gathered industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, and researchers to accelerate progress towards sustainable and circular packaging solutions. This expanded edition of the summit stands as the premier global event uniting the entire packaging value chain, with high-profile participants including multinational brands such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé, PepsiCo, and Philips, as well as startups and investors.
From the outset, the summit set a proactive tone. Packaging Europe’s Tim Sykes emphasised the event’s purpose was not to reiterate known consensus but to tackle existing barriers and enable faster progress in packaging sustainability. Olga Kachook, SPC, highlighted the importance of shared solutions and cross-regional learning, noting practical examples such as tethered caps that have been widely adopted in Europe but remain relatively unknown elsewhere.
The opening keynote by Willemijn Peeters of Searious Business challenged attendees to rethink packaging beyond compliance. She critiqued the current industry approach as a "race to the bottom" in regulatory adaptation and corporate cost absorption, advocating for a transformative mindset that views packaging design as an opportunity to reduce volume, cut costs, enhance customer retention, and future-proof products. Peeters posed an aspirational question: what if packaging could be so circular and smart that it rendered legislation obsolete for a company?
A pivotal panel discussion titled "The 2045 Roadmap," moderated by Sykes, explored the long-term vision for sustainable packaging. While a majority of attendees identified 2030 as the key milestone horizon, panelists urged a broader perspective extending to 2045. Clarissa Morawski of Reloop emphasised that consumer behaviour around recycling remains imperfect, advocating for robust legislation with clear penalties to drive the circular economy forward. Conversely, Pascale Wautelet of Avery Dennison warned against dogmatic sustainability approaches, underscoring that profitability must align with environmental goals to sustain business engagement. Lara Dammer of nova-Institute highlighted the financial risks of inaction, and Nestlé's Julius Lorenzen welcomed the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) as market-positive, while calling for greater legislative clarity and predictability, particularly regarding the allocation and use of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) funds.
The summit also featured detailed discussions on the implementation and future impact of the PPWR, with contributions from European Commission policy officer Wolfgang Trunk. Broader themes addressed industry macro-trends, including shifting consumer demands and trade frictions, featuring insights from European Commissioner for the Environment Jessika Roswall and FMCG leaders.
R&D in paper packaging formed another critical focus, reflecting industry priorities towards sustainable raw materials and innovation in packaging formats. Experts from companies such as Unilever, Huhtamaki, and DS Smith joined thought leaders from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to explore how research is accelerating the shift to circular paper-based packaging solutions.
Alongside these dialogues, exhibiting companies such as Siegwerk and Coveris showcased their latest breakthroughs, Siegwerk presenting new printing inks and coatings designed for sustainability, and Coveris highlighting its ‘No Waste’ vision and circular economy projects.
The summit culminated with the prestigious Sustainability Awards ceremony, reflecting the event’s commitment to recognising leadership and innovation within the packaging sector. The awards aim to accelerate the adoption of best practices and technologies, judged by a diverse international jury, and serve as a beacon for environmental impact advancements across the value chain.
As the Sustainable Packaging Summit demonstrated, the industry is navigating complex but critical challenges, not only regulatory but also consumer behaviour, profitability, and technological innovation. By fostering collaboration between global stakeholders and emphasising long-term strategic thinking, the event helped set a course aimed at genuinely transformative progress in sustainable packaging.