What’s driving the industry now: The top packaging trends at interpack 2026

Which trends are shaping the packaging industry right now? interpack 2026 showed how artificial intelligence, automation, and sustainable solutions are evolving from trends into industrial reality.

interpack 2026 made one thing unmistakably clear: the processing and packaging industry has arrived firmly in the here and now. What was still considered the future yesterday is already running on production lines today, driving efficiency – and increasingly becoming a real competitive factor.

Or, as Dr. Tobias Richter of the MULTIVAC Group aptly puts it on behalf of the industry: “Intelligent production and packaging concepts provide the right answers to current challenges such as efficiency, resource conservation, and regulatory requirements.”

The message of the trade fair is clear: now is the time to take action and deliver.

A look at the materials and concepts presented by exhibitors shows that sustainability reached a new level of maturity in 2026. What long remained a promise is now increasingly proving itself under real production conditions – at scale and with a viable economic perspective.

Material innovations, mono-material solutions and fiber-based alternatives are meeting practical requirements – and standing up to them. At the same time, the regulatory framework is becoming noticeably more tangible.

“Topics such as PPWR implementation, raw material prices, market trends and developments in end-user markets are being discussed in a more concrete and strategic way,” says Guido Aufdemkamp of Flexible Packaging Europe.

Sustainability is thus becoming not only more ambitious, but above all more binding and measurable in its implementation.

At the same time, production itself is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Automation is no longer just about efficiency – it is becoming a structural principle.

Autonomous processes, robotics and new machine architectures were at the forefront for many exhibitors, including Syntegon and IMA. Visitor interest reflected this shift.

“Visitors showed particular interest in our neXt, SVX and SynTiso solutions. This is evidenced by numerous follow-up discussions as well as confirmed orders,” reports Patrick Löffel of Syntegon Technology.

IMA also draws a clearly positive conclusion: “interpack 2026 proved to be a successful edition, with strong international attendance and very positive feedback on our innovations in AI-driven solutions and robotics,” says Marco Cesari.

Automation has thus firmly arrived in everyday operations – and is fast becoming the new normal.

Closely linked to this is another key trend: artificial intelligence has arrived in day-to-day operations – as a practical, hands-on tool. Whether in quality assurance, process control or workflow optimization, AI is improving stability and efficiency exactly where it matters most in production.

How tangible these applications have become is also reflected in conversations at the exhibition stands. “There were many inspiring discussions about how digitalization and solutions such as Sweet Connect can enhance our customers’ operations,” reports Piet Tæstensen of Aasted.

AI is thus increasingly shifting from a future concept to everyday practice – and becoming a genuine lever for greater productivity.

While individual technologies are advancing rapidly, a fundamental shift in perspective is taking place at the same time: away from standalone machines and toward integrated systems.

At the exhibition halls in Düsseldorf, it became clear that success today depends on interaction – on integrated lines, connected processes, and end-to-end value chains. Packaging is no longer an isolated step, but part of a much larger whole.

As Dr. Martin Pitsch of Krones also notes, this transformation is already well underway: “Our two trade fair highlights – autonomous material handling using AGVs and alternative, differentiating concepts for secondary packaging such as the LitePac Top concept – were entirely focused on automation, differentiation and sustainability.”

The trend is clear: the line is outperforming the machine.

Amid all these developments, one challenge remains particularly defining: striking the right balance between efficiency and flexibility. The industry is now expected to handle ever smaller batch sizes, more frequent product changes, and consistently high speeds – all at once.

The answer lies in modular machine designs, flexible line concepts, and intelligent control systems that can adapt dynamically. At the same time, data-driven systems are gaining importance, continuously optimizing processes in real time. Flexibility is no longer a “nice to have,” but a key prerequisite for staying competitive.

Beyond technological trends, interpack 2026 also highlights another key development: a shift in the industry’s dialogue. Conversations have become more concrete, more strategic, and more international. The focus has moved away from orientation – towards decision-making.

“The high level of internationality, the excellent quality of visitors, and the successful supporting programme show that interpack is THE central meeting point for the industry and is setting the right agenda,” says Richard Clemens of the VDMA.

Would you like to discover more highlights from interpack 2026? Click here.