Sustainable Packaging Innovation Forum USA

27th - 28th October 2026

Chicago, USA

Agenda

Today, decisions around packaging materials, format, and end-of-life carry financial and regulatory consequences. Organisations are rethinking packaging strategy, connecting it to efficiency in operations and resource use, and innovation in product and customer experience. At the forum, we’ll look at how sustainable packaging can be leveraged to lower costs and open new market opportunities.

Download the agenda

Day 0

Monday 26th October 2026

Time
Session title
Theme
Session type
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Day 1

Tuesday 27th October 2026

Time
Session title
Theme
Session type
8:45am - 8:55am
Welcome words 
Institute of Packaging Professionals
9:15am - 10:00am
EPR compliance infrastructure: What do the rules require and what can the market deliver? 
RecycleMe | The Recycling Partnership | ALDI USA | Unilever
Plenary
10:00am - 10:45am
Plenary
10:45am - 11:15am
11:15am - 11:40am
‘Design for recycling’: Why we need more dialogue between upstream and downstream 
Kenvue | Sustainable Packaging Podcast with Cory Connors, presented by Atlantic Packaging
Breakout
11:40am - 12:20pm
Plenary
12:20pm - 12:30pm
12:30pm - 1:30pm
1:30pm - 2:15pm
Breakout
1:30pm - 2:15pm
Preparing for EPR in 2027: Trends and key policy levers  
Ralph Lauren | International Paper | EPR Leadership Forum
Breakout
2:15pm - 3:00pm
R&D priorities: How to innovate under cost and compliance pressures  
Molson Coors Beverage Company | Siegwerk | Dart Container
Breakout
2:15pm - 3:00pm
Future-proofing packaging portfolios: Format changes that work across the value chain  
Tosca | Dow | Floor & Decor | Institute of Packaging Professionals
Breakout
3:00pm - 3:30pm
3:30pm - 4:15pm
3:30pm - 4:15pm
Closing the loop: How to develop viable end markets for secondary materials  
Can Manufacturers Institute | Carton Council | NAPCOR
Plenary
3:30pm - 4:15pm
From product protection to brand value: Packaging storytelling strategies  
The Walt Disney Company | Disney Consumer Products
Case study
3:30pm - 4:15pm
Hard-to-recycle packaging: Lessons for cross-industry collaboration  
L'Oréal | Ulta Beauty | Pact Collective | Independent
Case study
4:15pm - 5:00pm
4:15pm - 5:00pm
Solutions hub
4:15pm - 5:00pm
Solutions hub
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Day 2

Wednesday 28th October 2026

Time
Session title
Theme
Session type
8:45am - 8:55am
8:50am - 9:30am
Case study
9:50am - 10:00am
10:00am - 10:30am
10:30am - 11:10am
Reuse at scale: What works, what doesn’t, and pathways forward 
Mastercard | Tomra | Sustainable Packaging Coalition
Plenary
11:10am - 11:50am
Plenary
11:50am - 12:30pm
Plenary
12:30pm - 1:30pm
1:30pm - 3:00pm
3:00pm - 3:20pm
Plenary