Future Packaging Conference

The conference packaging teams actually want to attend.

Two days of practical conference content covering sustainability, regulation, automation, materials and brand experience. Working sessions and case studies from the people doing the work.

Full conference programme

Day 1 · Tuesday 10 November.

Future of Packaging

10:00–10:30

Opening keynote: title to be announced

Amy / Paul · Unilever

10:30–11:00

Connected Packaging: From Consumer Engagement to Compliance, It Is All About the Data

Russell Sion · AIPIA

11:00–11:30

IoT-Enabled Packaging and Supply Chain Transparency

Clare Bottle · UK Warehousing Association

11:30–12:00

The Future of Plastics and Sustainable Material Innovation

Brian Lodge · BPF

12:00–12:30

Session title to be announced

Speaker to be announced · Beyondly

12:30–13:00

Beyond Compliance: Turning Packaging Emissions Data into Better Decisions

George / speaker to be announced · Zevero

14:00–14:30

The Barcode Revolution: How Connected Packaging Is Reshaping Retail

Camilla Young · GS1 UK

14:30–15:00

Scaling Circular Packaging Systems Across the UK

Marta Rauh · WRAP

15:00–15:30

Understanding PPWR: Responsibilities, Packaging Challenges and Sustainable Solutions

Madelyn Mullen · Valpak

15:30–16:00

Session title to be announced

Keith Barnes · Midlands Packaging Society

Packaging Strategy & Insights

10:00–10:30

Circular Resource Management and the Future of Packaging

Roger Wright / speaker to be announced · Biffa

10:30–11:00

Retaining Brand Loyalty and Building Trust with Compliant Packaging

Jack H · Chubby Gorilla

11:00–11:30

Storytelling, Smart Packaging and Engagement

Replacement speaker to be announced · IPIA

11:30–12:00

The True Cost of Flexible Packaging: Price vs Value

Harry Baker · Baker Labels

12:00–12:30

Packaging Beyond the Pack: Turning Packaging into a Customer Engagement Channel

Maarten Tak · Rotion

12:30–13:00

Glass, Circularity and Sustainable Packaging

Speaker to be announced · Exchange for Change

14:00–14:30

How AI Search Is Changing How Brands Discover Packaging Suppliers

Sam Lloyd · Exposure Ninja

14:00–14:30

Packaging Labelling Legislation and What It Means for the Packaging Industry

Alice Harlock · OPRL

15:00–15:30

Packaging Communications and International Markets

Trevor Willis · EU PR

15:30–16:00

Circular Economy and the Evolution to 2D Codes

Craig / speaker to be announced · Domino Printing

Day 2 · Wednesday 11 November.

Future of Packaging

10:00–10:30

Permanent Materials, Circular Futures: Why Metal Packaging Is Built for the Circular Economy

Jason Galley · Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA)

10:30–11:00

How Do We Make Packaging Truly Circular?

Dr Margaret Bates · Margaret Bates Consultancy

11:00–11:30

Turning Ocean-Bound Plastic into Circular Packaging Solutions

David (moderator), Raffi, supply chain partner and brand partners · Ocean Prevented Plastics Panel

11:30–12:00

Supply Chain Risk and Resilience: Navigating an Uncertain Packaging Landscape

Matt Fullard · KLN Freight

12:00–12:30

Future of Aluminium Packaging

Tom Giddings · Alupro

12:30–13:00

Reuse in Practice

Wayne Barron · Rethink Packaging

14:00–14:30

Industrial Compostability: Building Trust in Compostable Packaging

Georgia Phetmanh · REAL Schemes

14:30–15:00

Designing Plastic Packaging for Real-World Recyclability

Speaker to be announced · RECOUP

15:00–15:30

Balancing Sustainability, Performance and Consumer Expectations

Joe Horton · Amcor

15:30–16:00

Session title to be announced

Ecosurety, Alupro and Coca-Cola target · Deposit Return Scheme Panel

Packaging Strategy & Insights

11:00–11:30

Delivering Smarter Packaging: Reducing Costs Without Compromising Quality

Kevin Stacey · COOK

11:30–12:00

Beyond the Pack: Designing Sustainable Packaging Systems for People, Profit and Planet

Jayne Cunningham · Glowcroft

12:00–12:30

The UK Packaging Pact: Turning Industry Commitments into System-Wide Change

WRAP, Unilever, Diageo and one further guest · UK Packaging Pact Panel

12:30–13:00

Women in Packaging

The Printing Charity, Alice Harlock, BPIF and additional speakers to be announced · Women in Packaging Panel

14:30–15:00

Circularity & Packaging

Vikas Chhajer, Stephanie Poole, GoUnpackaged invited and additional panellists to be announced · Circularity & Packaging Panel

14:30–15:00

The Self-Cooling Can: Turning Packaging Innovation into Reality

Rob Fell & James Vyse · DeltaH Innovations

15:00–15:30

What Makes Consumers Pick Up Your Product? The Science Behind Packaging Design

Francesco Pinci · Francesco Pinci

15:30–16:00

Building Brand Love Through Packaging and Consumer Experience

Odinakachi Njoku / speaker to be announced · Guinness Nigeria

Programme subject to change. Further speakers and panel guests will be announced as they are confirmed.

Speakers

A working speaker line-up across brand, supplier and analyst seats.

Confirmed voices from brand owners, packaging operations, policy, innovation and circular economy. More profiles will be added as speaker assets are finalised.

Dr Russell Sion

Technical Director

Jenton Group / AIPIA

A connected-packaging and label-verification specialist with more than three decades of food-industry experience. Russell works with processors, retailers, GS1 and industry stakeholders on traceability, automation and reducing food waste.

Camilla Young

Programme Lead, Next Generation of Barcodes

GS1 UK

Camilla leads GS1 UK's work on the next generation of barcodes, helping industry move towards richer, connected product information and a better retail experience.

Madelyn Mullen

Packaging Policy Specialist

Valpak

Madelyn works with businesses navigating packaging policy, compliance and the practical implications of evolving UK and European packaging regulation.

Sam Lloyd

Commercial Director

Exposure Ninja

Sam helps commercial teams adapt their digital marketing and search strategies, including the growing role of AI-generated answers in how buyers research and shortlist suppliers.

Harry Baker

Managing Director

Baker Labels

Jack H

Commercial Leader

Chubby Gorilla

Dr Margaret Bates

Circular Economy and Waste Specialist

Margaret Bates Consultancy

Margaret has nearly 40 years of experience across academia, government and industry. She led the establishment of the UK Packaging EPR Scheme Administrator and previously served as Managing Director of OPRL and President of CIWM.

Robert Fell

Non-Executive Director

DeltaH Innovations

Robert brings more than 37 years of metal-packaging experience, including senior R&D roles and leadership of the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association.

James Vyse

Founder and CEO

DeltaH Innovations

James leads DeltaH Innovations, developer of a patented self-cooling packaging technology designed to cool drinks on demand without external refrigeration.

Georgia Phetmanh

Executive Director

REAL Schemes

Francesco Pinci

Marketing Manager

BOSS Energy

Francesco is a marketing and neuromarketing specialist whose research explores packaging, consumer behaviour, visual attention and evidence-led design using eye tracking and AI-supported analysis.

Want to speak at UKPackaging Expo 2026? Get in touch.

Register for the conference.

Free with your visitor pass. Take a seat in the sessions that match your packaging brief.