interpack 2026 Spotlight Forum to put PPWR, AI and efficiency centre stage

Interpack 2026’s Spotlight Forum will deliver seven days of high‑level debate on regulation, automation, materials innovation and workforce challenges, with organisers promising the most comprehensive content programme the show has ever hosted.

A content engine for the global packaging industry

Food and drink manufacturers heading to Düsseldorf this May can expect a significantly expanded knowledge programme as Interpack’s Spotlight Forum returns for its second edition. Positioned as the show’s “content centre”, the forum will run 7–13 May 2026, bringing together around 75 presentations, panel discussions and interviews featuring industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, start‑ups and associations.

Organised jointly by Interpack, the dfv Conference Group and PackReport, the forum is built around the theme “7 Days, 7 Topics”, with each day dedicated to a major challenge shaping the future of packaging.

What manufacturers can expect

The Spotlight Forum will explore the issues most affecting food and drink supply chains, including:

• PPWR: chances and risks — examining how manufacturers can balance efficiency with responsibility as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation reshapes packaging design and recyclability requirements.
• Resource efficiency — strategies for reducing raw material use and energy consumption across processing and packaging operations.
• Smart packaging — future‑proof solutions that enhance product protection, traceability and consumer engagement.
• Intelligent systems and AI — the rising potential of automation, predictive maintenance and data‑driven optimisation.
• Circularity and innovative materials — new approaches to recyclability, reuse and next‑generation substrates.
• Skills and workforce resilience — tackling labour shortages and building the technical capabilities needed for increasingly automated plants.

For manufacturers navigating regulatory uncertainty, cost pressures and sustainability targets, the forum offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from policymakers and technical experts.

Why this year’s programme matters

With PPWR implementation looming, AI adoption accelerating and material innovation moving at pace, manufacturers face a convergence of strategic decisions. The Spotlight Forum is designed to help companies:

• Benchmark emerging technologies and regulatory expectations
• Understand the operational implications of PPWR
• Explore automation and AI solutions that can offset labour shortages
• Assess new materials and circularity models
• Connect with innovators and policy influencers shaping the next decade of packaging

The forum’s structure — daily deep dives, cross‑sector panels and practical case studies — aims to give manufacturers both high‑level insight and actionable direction.