Design the Future of Packaging Conference – powered by Natureef

On 14 April 2026, join us for a conference that will show you how the world of packaging is changing and how you can be part of this transformation.

For whom?

For packaging industry professionals, food and cosmetics manufacturers who want to:

learn practical tools and design principles,
discover innovative materials and solutions,
help shape the future of sustainable packaging in Europe.

Programme

PPWR in practice – implementation and compliance assessment tools
Packaging innovations – plastics and paper
International research projects – safety and functionality of packaging for food and cosmetics.

Why worth joining?

The conference is made possible thanks to the involvement of 65 member companies of the Natureef Association and extensive international cooperation, including with the European Food Packaging Partnership, the ScreenFood project, BEFORE and SME Beyond.

The conference is free of charge. Online registration is required.

Programme of the conference

10:00 – 10:15 | Welcome – Jaśmina Solecka, NATUREEF

10:15 – 10:45 | Designing the Future of Packaging – the prospect of long-term change – Karolina Wiszumirska, NATUREEF

The presentation will outline key trends and challenges shaping the packaging industry and show how speculative design supports decision-making in dynamic conditions. Regulatory, technological and market factors and their impact on packaging design will be discussed. Participants will learn about the opportunities and threats that determine the long-term transformation of the sector.

BLOCK AIMED AT PACKAGING MANUFACTURERS

10:45 – 11:00 | How to prepare for label updates in view of PPWR changes – Maciej Foltyn, Chemes

The presentation discusses the steps necessary to prepare for the update of packaging labels in the context of the upcoming changes introduced by the PPWR. New legal requirements, implementation schedules and practical guidelines for adapting graphic designs will be discussed. Participants will also learn about the latest labelling design proposed by the JRC and the potential challenges of ensuring label compliance with the new regulations.

11:00 – 11:15 | Packaging solutions dedicated to mechanical recycling – Michał Malka and Paulina Chłopik, Ela Film and packaging production

The presentation showcases packaging solutions from the company’s portfolio – both standard and barrier packaging – which are designed for the simplest form of recycling, i.e. mechanical recycling with the possibility of obtaining high-quality recyclate and possible directions for its use in accordance with the idea of the Circular Economy.

11:15 – 11:30 | MDO-PE in practice: production, properties and application in mono-material packaging – Tomasz Gwizda, ERG

11:30 – 11:45 | Dispersion coatings for paper packaging, plastic packaging deinking system and proofing on the target substrate – innovative printing solutions – Jacek Nogacki, Chespa

The presentation will showcase innovative, recyclable barrier dispersion coatings for paper packaging with high resistance to grease, water vapour and oxygen. It will also discuss a new primer that enables the deinking of printed plastic substrates, i.e. the effective removal of graphics during the recycling process, as well as proofing on the target substrate as a tool for reducing environmental impact and supporting brand owners in making informed design decisions.

11:45 -12:00 | PU paints and ULM adhesives: innovations for safe and recyclable packaging – Monika Galińska, SunChemical

The presentation concerns the role of polyurethane (PU) inks and Ultra Low Monomer (ULM) laminating adhesives in packaging design, taking into account recycling requirements and the safety of ULM adhesives for operators and products due to their low monomer content. Current market changes, including the limited availability of NC components, and their consequences for the selection of ink and adhesive systems in flexible packaging will be discussed.

12:00 – 12:15 | Elevating Your Operational Performance – Decide with insight, execute with foresight – Olli Pasanen, Quva Oy

The presentation will focus on how a modern data‑driven approach can improve operational performance in manufacturing. It will show how analysing historical production behaviour helps identify improvement opportunities and redefine best practices. Finally, it will explain how implementing these optimised practices supports more efficient, consistent and collaborative daily operations.

12:15 – 12:45 BREAK

BLOCK ADDRESSED TO RECIPIENTS OF PACKAGING

12:45 – 13:00 | Recyclates in food contact packaging: regulations, restrictions and directions for development – Anita Frydrych, KGL

The presentation focuses on current legal requirements for the use of recycled materials in food contact packaging, taking into account restrictions arising from material safety and proposals for responding to the challenges posed. Key aspects related to material properties, processing and regulatory requirements will be discussed, as well as the development of technological solutions to increase the use of recycled materials in packaging.

13:00 – 13:15 | Packaging films with biocidal properties manufactured using PVD technology – Dr Katarzyna Pleśniak, Eng. Yanko

The presentation will focus on the application of PVD technology (vacuum deposition of metals and their oxides on packaging films). The possibilities of precise barrier shaping (OTR) and obtaining coatings with biocidal properties will be discussed in the context of packaging requiring controlled gas exchange and increased product protection.

13:15 – 13:30 | Innovations and adaptations in paper packaging for the food and cosmetics industries in response to market and regulatory changes, with an emphasis on sustainability and recycling – Paulina Szadorska, Andrzej Walitza, POL-ZDOB

The presentation focuses on innovations in paper packaging for the food and cosmetics industries developed by POL-ZDOB, taking into account the impact of raw material price volatility, market trends and regulatory requirements, including solutions supporting the circular economy and improving recycling rates. The path of packaging modification and a case study carried out as part of the CORNET BeFORE project will be presented.

1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. | Development of single-layer mono-material bags supported by research conducted as part of the European BeFORE project – Jakub Pędziński, Masterpress

Masterpress is launching a single-layer, non-laminated PE-EVOH stand-up pouch for liquid soap, developed as part of the BeFORE project. Unlike traditional multi-material laminates, the new packaging is fully mono-material and can be properly sorted and recycled in existing PE streams.

1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | From functionality to data: how logistics and supply chains define the packaging of the future – Paula Dudek, Tedmark

Why will data and the supply chain determine the future? How can we prepare for the challenge of mapping the value chain? These are questions that everyone is facing today. A concise but comprehensive supply chain mapping strategy that ensures packaging compliance with upcoming changes is the first step towards dignity.

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. | How AI can change the production and use of packaging – Piotr Sibilski, PANOPTES SYSTEMS

We will present the practical use of AI-based vision systems in packaging production and quality control processes. We will show how advanced real-time image and data analysis can improve repeatability and quality, reduce material waste and support compliance with requirements. We will present implementation examples showing how AI can integrate production and quality control data to create a digital decision-making environment for packaging manufacturers and companies. We will present implementation examples showing how AI can integrate production and quality control data to create a digital decision-making environment for packaging manufacturers and food companies.

14:15-14:30 BREAK

EUROPEAN BLOCK

14:30 – 14:45 | Connecting regions, connecting companies: how the S3 Partnership Food Packaging enables interregional collaboration – Thomas de Bock, PACK4FOOD

Packaging innovation in Europe is strong but often fragmented across regions, making it difficult for companies to find the right partners beyond their own ecosystem. This presentation shows how the S3 Partnership Food Packaging (S3FP) promotes interregional collaboration and targeted matchmaking, connecting companies to complementary partners, expertise, and opportunities across Europe.

14:45 – 15:00 | Biodegradable Bio-based Bioactive Packaging Technology for Supporting Food Safety – Karolina Rudnicka, Uniwersytet Łódzki – Bio4Pak Project

15:00 -15:15 | It’s time for a new horizon in the packaging industry! – Klaudiusz Holeczek, Watttron

Watttron’s digital heating and sealing technology enables precise, pixel‑level temperature control during the packaging process, dramatically improving material efficiency and seal quality. By heating only where it’s needed, it allows companies to reduce plastic usage, cut energy consumption, and switch more easily to sustainable mono‑materials. This level of precision is helping to revolutionize packaging by making it smarter, greener, and more adaptive to modern sustainability demands.