Is your packaging strategy ready for 2026, or is it still built for 2020?

The pace of change in this industry is no longer gradual. Regulation is tightening, consumer expectations are sharper, and technology is embedding itself into the very structure of packaging. Businesses that treat this as incremental change will struggle. Those that treat it as transformation will lead.

Sustainability in particular is no longer optional. According to the 2023 Buying Green Report, 82% of consumers say they are willing to pay more for products in sustainable packaging (Packaging Tech Today, 2023). That makes packaging reform not just an environmental responsibility, but a commercial opportunity.

Here are three areas of the packaging market set to soar in 2026 and why they matter now.

1. Circular packaging that actually works

Sustainability is no longer a branding exercise. It is commercial strategy.

By 2026, circularity will not just mean recyclable. It will mean measurable recycled content, mono material structures, reduced carbon intensity, and packaging designed with end of life in mind from day one.

EPR schemes, Digital Product Passports, and evolving retailer requirements are pushing brands to move beyond claims and into proof. The winners will be those who redesign packaging systems, not just swap materials.

What is accelerating:

• Fibre based alternatives replacing complex laminates
• Reusable and refill models gaining real retail traction
• Smarter material reduction without compromising performance

At UKPackaging Expo 2026, this shift becomes tangible. It is where designers, converters, material innovators and brands come together to move from sustainability ambition to practical implementation.

2. Smart packaging becomes a business tool

For years, connected packaging felt experimental. In 2026, it becomes operational.

QR enabled engagement, traceability technology, authentication features and supply chain data integration are turning packaging into a digital touchpoint. It is not just about marketing. It is about transparency, compliance and efficiency.

Consumers expect product stories. Regulators expect data. Retailers expect visibility. Packaging now delivers all three.

We are entering a phase where packaging is no longer passive. It communicates.

UKPackaging Expo is where this convergence of print, technology and data becomes visible. The companies that understand packaging as both a physical and digital asset will be the ones scaling fastest next year.

3. High performance sustainable materials

The conversation has matured. It is no longer plastic versus paper. It is about performance, protection and environmental responsibility working together.

High barrier papers, recyclable flexible formats, and material reduction innovation are unlocking new possibilities, particularly in food, ecommerce and FMCG.

The key trend for 2026 is balance:

• Shelf life without multilayer complexity
• Protection without over engineering
• Sustainability without sacrificing margin

Material science is advancing rapidly, and the companies that stay close to innovation pipelines will move quicker than competitors stuck in legacy formats.

At UKPackaging Expo, this is where procurement teams meet material developers face to face and where tomorrow’s formats are often discovered before they reach mass adoption.

Why this matters now

2026 will reward integration.

The most successful packaging strategies next year will not treat sustainability, technology and material innovation as separate workstreams. They will combine them into commercially viable, scalable systems.

That is why events like UKPackaging Expo matter more than ever. They are not just exhibitions. They are catalysts. They bring together the conversations that shape investment decisions, partnerships and product roadmaps.

The packaging market is evolving quickly.

The real question is not whether change is coming. It is whether you are positioned to benefit from it.

If you are looking to put your solutions in front of 2,000+ qualified packaging buyers or want to attend and see where the market is heading, visit ukpackagingexpo.co.uk to explore exhibiting and visitor opportunities.