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THOUSANDS FLOCK TO EXCEL LONDON AS LONDON PACKAGING WEEK 2026 OPENS ITS DOORS


ondon Packaging Week 2026 has officially opened at ExCeL London, bringing together thousands of packaging and brand professionals under this year’s theme of ‘Discovery’.


The two-day event combines four co-


located exhibitions covering luxury, drinks, beauty and FMCG packaging, with the opening day highlighting the importance of face-to-face collaboration across the industry. Josh Brooks, Easyfairs, said the event aims


to provide a space where business, ideas and connections can develop. “We take our role as a forum for everyone


in the supply chain very seriously,” he said. “We want it to be a place where business can happen, of course, but in doing that we try to create spaces that are inspiring, fun, warm and welcoming.” Sustainability was a major focus of the


opening-day programme, with Esther Carter, Chief Strategy Officer at UK EPR scheme administrator PackUK, discussing the future of Extended Producer Responsibility. Carter revealed that around 20 per cent


of packaging currently placed on the UK market is classified as ‘red’ under PackUK’s recyclability assessment methodology. She also announced that a five-year strategy setting out the organisation’s roadmap for delivery will be published shortly. The UK’s upcoming Deposit Return Scheme


(DRS) was another key talking point, with experts discussing preparations ahead of its planned 2027 introduction. Naomi Brandon-Bravo, Sustainability


Policy Advisor at the British Retail Consortium, said retailers are now firmly in the implementation stage, while Carlsberg Britvic Sustainability Director Tom Fiennes highlighted the scale of the challenge, with more than 1,000 SKUs expected to be affected. The event also explored the changing


relationship between design agencies, in- house teams and AI. Claudette Munroe, Managing Director at Contrast, questioned whether businesses risk becoming overly cautious, while Tyson Foods’ Head of Global Design Peter Borowski stressed the importance of flexibility in maintaining distinctive brands.


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FAIRWAYS, FRIENDSHIPS AND FRIENDLY COMPETITION AT THE 2026 BPMA GOLF DAY


he British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) swapped the factory floor and sales office for the fairways on 10 September, welcoming customers, suppliers, colleagues and industry contacts


to its annual Golf Day at Breadsall Priory Country Club. Combining golf, networking and hospitality,


the event provided a welcome opportunity for people from across the pump industry to catch up with familiar faces, forge new connections and enjoy some friendly


competition in relaxed surroundings. There was plenty of competitive spirit


on the course, with Xylem UK taking the honours in the team competition. James Whiteley, Mark Cusworth, John Rolph and Pete Jackson claimed first place, followed by Vogelsang in second, represented by Tom Hamill, Laurie Moffat, Russell Harris and Steven Cassidy. Brook Crompton, comprising Jim Eaton, Darren Henighan, Dan Cooper and Suksham Jha, completed the top three. Individual prizes went to Connor McGrath


of H2O Pumping Solutions, who claimed Nearest the Pin, while Richard Evans of M Barnwell Services recorded the Longest Drive. Following the golfing action, guests


gathered for dinner and prize giving, providing the perfect opportunity to celebrate the day’s achievements and continue the conversations started on the course. The BPMA would like to thank everyone


who contributed to the success of the event, particularly sponsors Brook Crompton, Reflex Winkelmann, H2O Pumping Solutions and WEG, as well as the team at Breadsall Priory. With its combination of industry


networking, camaraderie and a little healthy competition, the BPMA Golf Day once again proved a great way to bring the pump community together. Details of next year’s Golf Day will be announced in due course. To learn more about the BPMA and the


work it undertakes on behalf of the pump industry across the UK and Ireland, visit the website.


www.bpma.org.uk FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS | SEPTEMBER 2026 5 Innovation on the show floor included the


use of aerospace testing and simulation techniques for packaging development, alongside discussions around fossil-free plastics and circularity. New for 2026, a podcast studio is also


giving visitors the opportunity to experience live recordings, including Kantar’s Future Proof podcast. With another day of talks, networking and


innovation still to come, London Packaging Week 2026 continues to explore how discovery can shape the future of packaging.


www.londonpackagingweek.com


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