London Packaging Week 2026: EPR Questions, Origami Folds and Christmas Planning
Couldn't make it to ExCeL? Here are our key takeaways from the show floor, and why EPR was the conversation everyone was having.
If you visited London Packaging Week, it probably left you with questions. And not just why a lunchtime bagel costs an arm and a leg, plus a 30-minute wait in line.
Back in May, we travelled to Milan for Packaging Première, where luxury packaging took the runway. Last week, we headed out from our Northampton offices and travelled by train to ExCeL for London Packaging Week 2026.
The event is a noticeably smaller affair than its Milan counterpart. Footfall on Day One was modest, but the session talks told a different story. They were consistently well attended, especially anything on the subject of sustainable packaging. Luxury packaging may have grabbed the headlines, with a strong international group of exhibitors, but it was sustainability and innovation that drew us in.
The Question on Everyone's Lips: What Does EPR Actually Mean?
Top of the list, by some distance, was Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Talking to people across the industry, there's still a lot of confusion about what packaging EPR means in practice. That goes for how fees are calculated, what they'll mean for packaging choices, and when the biggest changes will take effect.
Esther Carter, Chief Strategy Officer at PackUK, the scheme administrator for packaging EPR, tried to make sense of it during her stage talk. PackUK is aiming to publish its 5-year strategy before the end of the year. Its focus is on creating a system people can understand and trust, supported by better data and insight.
Esther outlined how pEPR funding will work and how local councils are being empowered to deliver against targets, particularly for household waste. She also announced details of a public information campaign that will begin soon. EPR frameworks are already being introduced, and 2031 marks a critical milestone for longer-term regulation and enforcement.
So what will it mean in a nutshell? One thing is clear: packaging with less recycled material will be charged higher fees. The intention is a good one. Fees are designed to encourage better packaging choices and drive higher-quality recycling outputs.
But many of the people we spoke to at the show, like everyone in our own business, still have questions. That's no criticism of the effort being made. It simply reflects the size of the change the whole industry is working through together.
Reading Between the Headlines
Walk the aisles and the key messages came thick and fast, appearing on almost every other stand: "Responsibly made." "Designed for circularity." "Reusable packaging." "Recycle me." "Less waste." And, most eye-catching of all, "Cut EPR costs."
That last one is certainly headline-grabbing. But because the detail is still unclear in so many people's minds, it's difficult for businesses to make fully informed choices right now, beyond the simple rule that recycled is good. As is so often the case, the real conversation is (or should be) more nuanced. The right packaging decision weighs material, recyclability, product protection, transit performance and cost together. We'd always encourage customers to look past the slogan and ask what's behind it.
Plan Ahead: Price Rises Before Christmas
On a more immediate note, several exhibitors were mindful of raw material price increases coming in November, alongside fuel surcharges. Both are likely to have a significant impact in the run-up to Christmas, one of the busiest periods of the year for many of our customers.
The message is clear: start planning ahead, now. There was some good news, too. Lead times have settled compared with earlier in the year. That makes now a sensible moment to review your stock levels and get seasonal orders in place.
Luxury Stands: Imagination Meets Cardboard
For sheer creativity, the luxury packaging stands delivered. There were plenty of examples of what can only be described as origami solutions, where "it's all about the folds." Fluidity and motion were everywhere, alongside bespoke shapes that went well beyond the traditional box.
Attention to the unboxing experience was obvious. The inside of the packaging got as much care as the outside, a theme we also noticed in Milan and one that's steadily filtering into everyday packaging. Pack after pack opened out in stages, revealing fitted inserts and printed interiors that make the moment of opening part of the product.
Christmas packaging was everywhere. Yes, it's almost that time of year again. And one of the more memorable displays was a sushi-style conveyor belt, sending packaging past visitors on its own mini catwalk.
As a predominantly cardboard packaging company, we don't see these luxury stands as a world apart. We offer [bespoke packaging] too, and events like this are where we collect ideas to bring back to our customers' projects. You may not need a hand-folded birdcage, but clever folds, fitted inserts and a considered reveal can lift everyday corrugated packaging well above the ordinary.
A Riot of Materials (and Colour)
The range of materials on display was huge, and there is real innovation happening in this space. There was a lot of colour, too. No stand did colour quite like Colorplan's. It's always guaranteed to brighten the room, and this year was no exception, with a sustainability- and nature-inspired theme of paper flowers and butterflies in full bloom.
Sustainable Solutions Worth Watching
Away from the showpieces, our attention was drawn to the everyday innovations that can make a genuine difference. Honeycomb paper was a standout. It's now being used for wrap, sleeves and protective formats, including honeycomb alternatives to [bubble-lined envelopes].
Paper-based bags and pouches were also well represented, showing how kraft and paper can take on roles once filled by plastic.
There was also a lot of packaging machinery on show. That's a reminder that efficiency matters just as much as materials, and that getting the most from your packaging means thinking end to end across your operation.
Our Focus: Packaging That Works Every Day
While the luxury stands were inspiring, our main focus was on the everyday packaging solutions that make a real difference to our customers, whether that's sustainable packaging, smarter protective options, or simply the right box for the job at the right price. It was also great to meet our suppliers, network with others in the industry, catch up with familiar faces and meet new ones.
Bringing London Home
London Packaging Week may be smaller than some of its European counterparts, but it once again showed why events like this matter. They're a gathering space for the industry and a chance to share the questions we're all asking. We come away with ideas to take back to our desks, and to our customers.
The road to EPR is still being mapped, and nobody has every answer yet. What we can promise is that we'll keep listening, keep learning and keep sharing what we find. Whether you're weighing up recycled content, rethinking protective packaging or planning ahead for price changes before Christmas, we're here to help you work through the changes ahead.
Have questions about EPR or your packaging choices? Get in touch with our team
