Packaging Europe has opened the call for entries for the Sustainability Awards 2026, an international competition recognising the most innovative and impactful solutions in sustainable packaging. The initiative highlights projects, materials and technologies that contribute to more responsible, circular packaging aligned with today’s environmental challenges.
Scope: International — open to companies, projects, start-ups and solutions from around the world contributing to greater sustainability in packaging.
Submission deadline: 10 March.
The Sustainability Awards are among the most respected global references in the packaging sector for showcasing and rewarding solutions that improve packaging sustainability from multiple perspectives. The competition recognises proposals that combine technical innovation, measurable environmental impact, circular thinking and industrial applicability.
Categories and criteria
- Climate – Packaging innovations that improve resource efficiency without creating unintended environmental impacts.
- Circular Plastics – Solutions supporting the transition to a circular economy for polymers, including technologies that enhance recyclability, increase recycling rates or incorporate higher levels of recycled plastic content into new packaging.
- Digital Transformation – Digital technologies applied to sustainable packaging, including digitalisation, AI-based solutions and connected packaging.
- Driving the Circular Economy – Advances in recycling, sorting technologies and processes that increase recycling rates or promote the use of recycled raw materials in packaging.
- Renewables – Development or innovative use of bio-based materials with demonstrated positive impact or strong potential for packaging applications.
- Reuse – Innovative solutions and advanced applications of reusable or refillable packaging systems.
- Start-ups – New Materials – Start-up technologies introducing new materials with positive environmental impact in packaging applications.
- Start-ups – New Systems – Sustainable packaging formats and systems developed by start-ups, introducing new approaches to design, usage or logistics.
- Research & Development – R&D projects delivering knowledge, technologies or disruptive approaches to enhance packaging sustainability.
- Thinking Big – Transformative initiatives, large-scale visions or systemic solutions with the potential to significantly reshape the future of the sector.
Evaluation criteria focus on environmental impact, innovation, scalability and tangible contribution to a genuinely circular economy. The awards prioritise not only concepts but also operational solutions or those with clear industrial deployment potential.
Why participate?
Taking part in the Packaging Europe Sustainability Awards offers:
- International visibility before a global professional audience.
- Industry recognition from sustainability and packaging experts.
- Networking opportunities with brands, suppliers and key value chain stakeholders.
- Inclusion in Packaging Europe’s editorial analysis and potential media coverage.
- Strengthened brand or project reputation as a benchmark sustainable solution.
To apply, participants must complete the entry form available on the Packaging Europe website, providing a detailed description of the solution along with technical information and evidence of its sustainability impact.
More information and full guidelines: Available on the Sustainability Awards website.
Source: Sustainability Awards.