February in review: Top Packaging Trends 2026, industry events & circularity initiatives

Last month, Innova Market Insights announced its Top Packaging Trends 2026, with “Substantiated Sustainability” taking top spot. 

Meanwhile, we explored the main innovations presented at Paris Packaging Week in France and Packaging Innovations in the UK. 

We look back at the biggest stories in February. 

Paris Packaging Week 2026: Luxury refill and customization take center stage

At this year’s Paris Packaging Week (February 5–6), balancing eco-conscious packaging design with luxury and customizable solutions took center stage. We spoke to Quadpack, Texen, and Coverpla about their latest product launches and expectations for the tradeshow, amid tightening packaging regulations and consumer demand for reusable and refillable options.Mondi showcased recyclable packaging at Packaging Innovations 2026.

Henkel acquires Stahl for €2.1B to expand specialty coatings portfolio

Henkel purchased the Dutch Stahl Group for €2.1 billion (US$2.5 billion) from the majority owner, Wendel SE, a French investment firm. Through the acquisition, Henkel gains access to Stahl’s high-performance specialty coatings for flexible materials used in packaging. We spoke to the company about how the acquisition strengthens Henkel’s special coatings operations.

Japan steps up recycled content, campaigners urge greater reuse

Japan is accelerating efforts to increase recycled content in F&B packaging as part of its national plastic reduction agenda. However, Hiroaki Odachi, plastic campaigner at Greenpeace Japan, told Packaging Insights that the country’s packaging policies should focus on reuse to achieve a circular economy shift.

Bain & Company warns paper packaging industry faces structural overcapacity

Bain & Company’s 2026 Paper & Packaging Report identified challenges in how paper packaging stakeholders operate and respond to structural overcapacity, input cost volatility, and weak demand across sectors. We sat down with Ilkka Leppävuori, head of the Paper & Packaging Sector at Bain & Company, to discuss the factors that have led to a production capacity exceeding market demand amid a much-touted fiberization trend in packaging.Papacks revealed next-gen molded fiber packaging at ISM & ProSweets 2026.

France misses plastic reduction targets, non-profit urges stronger municipal action

Zero Waste France urged municipalities to use their regional powers to curb single-use plastic ahead of local elections in March. The NGO suggests that local authorities are well placed to accelerate progress through their proximity to residents, regulatory powers, and capacity to promote initiatives such as DRS. We interviewed Noémie Brouillard, project manager at Zero Waste France, to hear more about local action on single-use plastics, as France’s national legislation struggles to yield concrete results.

Latin America’s plastic circularity faces policy and funding gaps, finds study

While several countries in Latin America have introduced plastic circular economy frameworks, weak infrastructure, limited funding, and regulatory gaps persist, and risk undermining progress, a recent regional study found. Study authors Felipe Romero and Miguel Ángel González told Packaging Insights about Latin America’s progress in packaging circularity and its persisting challenges.

Australia’s plastic recycling sector at “tipping point,” industry calls for reforms

A recent letter from the Australian recycling and packaging industry insists the current government “urgently” introduces packaging reforms or “risks the collapse” of Australia’s plastic recycling sector. We sat down with Suzanne Toumbourou, CEO at The Australian Council of Recycling, about Australia’s circular economy amid growing imports of virgin plastic.

Packaging Innovations 2026 review: Foodservice industry tackles pEPR confusion and drives change

The UK’s packaging EPR (pEPR) was a major topic of discussion among foodservice packaging providers exhibiting at this year’s Packaging Innovations in Birmingham, UK. We spoke to Ecosurety, the country’s pEPR compliance scheme, the UK Foodservice Packaging Association, and packaging providers Coveris and Xampla, to explore how the industry is responding and what factors are causing confusion.Plastic Ingenuity talks sustainable thermoforming tech at MD&M West 2026.

ProAmpac spotlights latest AI and monomaterial solutions to propel recyclability

Paper-based monomaterial packaging and AI-assisted waste processing have been established as central to ensuring recyclability and regulatory compliance, according to an expert at ProAmpac. Packaging Insights spoke to the global packaging manufacturer to discuss the latest developments and factors driving recyclability.

Europe hits record aluminum can recycling rate, industry urges scrap export ban

The overall recycling rate for aluminum beverage cans in the EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland reached a record high of 76.3% in 2023, according to a report by European Aluminium and Metal Packaging Europe. We interviewed Andy Doran, director of packaging group at European Aluminium, to learn more about the key factors driving Europe’s aluminum recycling rates.

Oregon’s EPR law temporarily blocked after industry pushback

The National Association of Wholesaler Distributors (NAW) in the US secured a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Oregon’s EPR law after arguing that it imposes burdensome fees and taxes on distributors. We sat down with Eric Hoplin, president and CEO at NAW, to discuss why the industry group pushed for the injunction and its impact on packaging producers and distributors.

Top Packaging Trends 2026: Navigating sustainability, digital innovation & consumer-centric design

Innova Market Insights announced its Top Packaging Trends 2026, with “Substantiated Sustainability” taking top spot. We explored how this trend and other major global drivers are transforming F&B packaging strategies amid increasingly stringent regulations and evolving consumer preferences.