Packaging’s future leaders revealed as Future Trailblazer Awards 2026 Report launches

Josh Brooks, Divisional Director – Packaging Portfolio at Easyfairs UK, said: “The packaging industry is evolving faster than ever before. New regulations, changing consumer expectations and advances in technology are creating both challenges and opportunities, but the success of this transition will depend on the people driving it forward.

“The Future Trailblazer Awards shine a light on the individuals already making a difference across the sector. This year’s winners and finalists represent the creativity, expertise and ambition that will shape the next generation of packaging, and we are proud to recognise their achievements.

“By celebrating emerging talent, we hope to inspire more people to build careers in packaging and highlight the incredible opportunities available within an industry that is constantly innovating and reinventing itself.”

The Class of 2026 brings together professionals from organisations including Nestlé, James Cropper, McCain Foods GB, Greyparrot, Carlton Packaging and Sleeve Office. Together, their work demonstrates how innovation is being driven by smarter materials, more efficient production, stronger branding, AI-powered decision-making, and increasingly circular packaging systems.

The publication arrives at a pivotal moment for the sector. The global packaging market is now valued at more than $1.2 trillion, while the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is accelerating the transition towards a circular economy by requiring all packaging placed on the EU market to be recyclable by 2030. At the same time, the World Economic Forum identifies skills shortages as one of the greatest barriers to business transformation, placing renewed emphasis on attracting, developing and recognising the talent that will lead the industry’s future.

Jude Allan, Managing Director of OPRL and Chair of the Future Trailblazer Awards judging panel, added: “The Future Trailblazer Awards recognise something our industry sometimes overlooks. Innovation doesn’t begin with major breakthroughs or finished products. It begins with individuals asking better questions, thinking differently and finding smarter ways to solve everyday challenges.”