Still time to register for the smartest Smart Packaging event! | 12-05-2026 |
With less than two weeks to go before the AIPIA/AWA Smart Packaging Congress (20/21 May) opens its doors at the Novotel City hotel in Amsterdam the finishing touches to the program are being made to deliver an agenda for business. Congress will address regulatory issues such as DPP, ESPR and PPWR in the context of where Smart Packaging will be a necessary tool. But it will also bring some of the latest innovations covering Connected Packaging, Smart Labelling & Coding, Supply Chain Monitoring, Food Waste Reduction and much more.
To start the proceedings Clive Stephens, Head of Research & Development at Cranswick PLC will be joined by Russel Sion CEO of JentonDimaco in search of the ‘perfect pack’, followed by a discussion and presentation about Secure Digital Identities and the Future of Smart Packaging from Klaus Simonmeyer, Vice President, Strategic Accounts EMEA for Identiv and Dagmar Zoder, Chief Revenue Officer, Narravero.
The first morning continues with a keynote on a groundbreaking topic for the packaging sector: Michael Ryan, Founder and Inventor for Fluid Xchange Solutions will discuss Every Commodity Has Been Digitized Except One — Fluid. He says for 10,000 years, fluids have been transferred through open, disposable containers that destroy traceability the moment they are opened—making fluids the last major commodity invisible to AI, automation, and digital compliance. Representing over $14 trillion in annual global economic activity, fluid has remained opaque not by choice, but because digitization was structurally impossible without preserving fluid identity through every transfer. This presentation introduces the breakthrough that solved the problem: the world’s first reusable, wireless, resealable, closed-loop fluid reservoir platform.
As we move on through the day sessions include a panel on DPP, AI Image Recognition; Ultra?Low?Light Energy Harvesting for Next?Generation Connected Packaging from Alain Jutant of Dracula Technologies; the evolution of smart packaging into a secure, data?driven connection point; and a thorough look at the issues around PPWR. Avery Dennison will tackle The $540B Grocery Bill: Reducing Food Waste with Smart Packaging and the first day finale is a heavyweight panel on How Packaging Can Engage Consumers and Drive Sustainability.
Day two kicks off with another take on DPP, this time Jamie Beck, SVP Sustainability and Compliance Services at Fabacus and Philippa Grogan, Sustainability Lead for Nobody's Child look at From Pilot to Scale: The Reality of Digital Product Passports. We then move to embedding a unique ID QR code on every corrugated package; before Takuya Onuki, General Manager, Global Business Development - Security Products at Toppan, Grégoire Fremiot, CEO Selinko and Pierre Muller RFID Business Unit Leader for EM Micro Electronics team up to discuss NFC, the New Forms of Confidence.
Turning Smart Packaging Ideas into Industry Progress is the theme for Camilla Young of GS1, while Aldous Hicks, President & Founder Lasso Loop explains how financial and environmental viable self-sustaining close loop recycling (CLR) can be achieved in the home or other decentralized locations. Before that Jeroen Floris CCO, Group Commercial Director Storteboom Food Group will be joined by Peter Stael, CEO & Owner Across-Consult for a user case on Packaging That Tells The Truth ....and Still Enhances Your Shelf-life. Ruud Jenniskens, COO and Co-Founder Collimetrix B.V will be joined by Gérard van den Boogaard, Program Director Supply Chain Innovations for SmurfitWestrock on Invisible tech (Tag), Visible Trust.
As usual the grand finale to the Congress will be the 2026 Brand Challenge. This year a Live On?Stage Hackathon: Solving a Real Packaging Challenge in Real Time will take place for which we are delighted to welcome as the Brand: Cranswick PLC. Moderated by Eef de Ferrante, Board Member of AIPIA and Clive Stephens, Head of Research & Development, Cranswick PLC, this interactive session will feature 10 pitches to the company from Smart Packaging technology providers hoping their product or service meets a need of the major food provider.
So you don’t want to miss all this concentrated knowledge and wisdom. Book your ticket today!
ALL AT AIPIA/AWA SMART PACKAGING WORLD CONGRESS 2026
