FUTURE TRAILBLAZERS AWARDS
3 April 2026
Entries open
3 April 2026
Entries close
3 April 2026
Finalists announced
3 April 2026
Winners announced
WHO CAN ENTER
IS THIS FOR YOU?
Eligibility is deliberately broad – innovation comes from every corner of the industry.
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Early in your packaging career
You've been working in the packaging industry for less than 10 years. No minimum - we actively welcome apprentices and recent graduates. -
Connected to packaging in any capacity
Designer, engineer, buyer, marketer, supplier, start-up founder, production operative - if your work contributes to the packaging value chain, you qualify. -
Based anywhere in the world
The awards are proudly international. No matter your country or region, you're welcome to enter. -
Or nominate a colleague
Know someone who deserves the spotlight? You can enter on their behalf. It's free and takes around 20 minutes.
WHO CAN ENTER
IS THIS FOR YOU?
1
Be recognised as a rising star Whether you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, engineering, design, or production – this award puts you in the spotlight in front of the whole industry.
2
Gain a year of IOM3 membership Winners receive a full IOM3 Affiliate Membership – including the Materials World magazine, premium databases, event discounts, and career appraisal support.
3
Be recognised as a rising star Whether you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, engineering, design, or production – this award puts you in the spotlight in front of the whole industry.
4
Be recognised as a rising star Whether you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, engineering, design, or production – this award puts you in the spotlight in front of the whole industry.
5
Be recognised as a rising star Whether you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, engineering, design, or production – this award puts you in the spotlight in front of the whole industry.
6
Be recognised as a rising star Whether you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, engineering, design, or production – this award puts you in the spotlight in front of the whole industry.
AWARDS CATEGORIES
7 WAYS TO BE A TRAILBLAZER
From sustainability champions to brand visionaries – there’s a category for every kind of innovator in the packaging supply chain. Each award recognises a distinct discipline.
Design for the Future
For technologists, designers, and specialists shaping the next era of packaging form and function.
Production Delivery
For engineers and production operatives who turn ambitious concepts into reality at scale.
Sustainable First Thinking
For sustainability professionals embedding meaningful environmental change into packaging systems.
Operational Excellence
For QA, fulfilment, and logistics professionals who ensure packaging lands right – every single time.
Brand Visionary
Celebrating individuals pushing the boundaries of branding, visual storytelling, and consumer-first thinking.
The Packaging MVP
For all-rounders who bridge departments and consistently go above and beyond across the packaging lifecycle.
Circularity Champion
For innovators reimagining what happens after use – recyclability, reuse schemes, and waste transformation.
NOT SURE WHICH CATEGORY FITS YOU?
WHO CAN ENTER
IS THIS FOR YOU?
Be recognised as a rising star Whether you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, engineering, design, or production – this award puts you in the spotlight in front of the whole industry.
Emma Verkaik,
CEO
Be recognised as a rising star Whether you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, engineering, design, or production – this award puts you in the spotlight in front of the whole industry.
Emma Verkaik,
CEO
Be recognised as a rising star Whether you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, engineering, design, or production – this award puts you in the spotlight in front of the whole industry.
Emma Verkaik,
CEO
Be recognised as a rising star Whether you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, engineering, design, or production – this award puts you in the spotlight in front of the whole industry.
Emma Verkaik,
CEO
Be recognised as a rising star Whether you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, engineering, design, or production – this award puts you in the spotlight in front of the whole industry.
Emma Verkaik,
CEO
2
Gain a year of IOM3 membership Winners receive a full IOM3 Affiliate Membership – including the Materials World magazine, premium databases, event discounts, and career appraisal support.
Meet the Class of 2026
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
Launched in 2024, the Future Trailblazer initiative, in partnership with IOM3, celebrates rising stars who are driving innovation and shaping the future of packaging.
Wherever you are in the packaging supply chain – supplier, brand, or beyond – if you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, artwork, engineering or more, Future Trailblazer is here to recognise you.
We’re looking for individuals in their first 10 years in the sector who are already making an impact and showing real trailblazer potential.
Join a community of bold thinkers. Show us how you’re rewriting the rules – and help lead the future of packaging.
Future Trailblazer returns for the third edition in 2026. Are you ready to step forward?
Do you have what it takes?
Launched in 2024, the Future Trailblazer initiative, in partnership with IOM3, celebrates rising stars who are driving innovation and shaping the future of packaging.
Wherever you are in the packaging supply chain – supplier, brand, or beyond – if you’re pushing boundaries in sustainability, artwork, engineering or more, Future Trailblazer is here to recognise you.
We’re looking for individuals in their first 10 years in the sector who are already making an impact and showing real trailblazer potential.
Join a community of bold thinkers. Show us how you’re rewriting the rules – and help lead the future of packaging.
Future Trailblazer returns for the third edition in 2026. Are you ready to step forward?
August 6
Entries Open
January 13
Finalists Announced
November 4
Closing Date
February 11
Winners Announced
As a Future Trailblazer you will
Be recognised as a rising star
Celebrate your success
Gain exclusive industry access
Stay visible all year long
Get connected with the right people
5 AUGUST
ENTRIES OPEN
13 JANUARY
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
4 NOVEMBER
ENTRIES CLOSE
11 FEBRUARY
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
AUGUST 6
ENTRIES OPEN
NOVEMBER 4
ENTRIES CLOSE
JANUARY 13
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
FEBRUARY 11
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
HERE'S WHAT OUR JUDGES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE ENTRANTS FOR 2026
The depth of passion and talent that shines out from all the Trailblazers entries, and the star quality of the finalists, makes me think that our industry is in good hands going forward – there were so many excellent submissions that it made our job very difficult.
EMMA VERKAIK, BCMPA
It was fascinating to see the breadth and depth of skills the candidates were demonstrating. It makes me excited for the future of the packaging industry with so much talent and innovation coming through.
JO STEPHENSON, THINKB2BMARKETING
I was impressed by the number of entries and the quality of talent coming through the ranks within the industry. Reading the stories and hearing the true passion from this group of people was inspiring and motivating. There were entries from across the supply chain, from academia to brand owners, and everything between, all contributing towards this incredible, exciting and diverse industry.
GREG BENTLEY, SUNTORY
I was absolutely delighted to have the challenging job of reviewing this years entries, the quality was incredibly high and the entries were inspiring and creates a reassurance that the future will be in great hands.
It was really exciting to see several entries from apprentices, which really spotlights how exciting and career developing some of these roles are.
The Trailblazing ability in all of the entrants was fantastic, it was so hard to narrow it down to the finalists and then to pick out individual winners from such a strong field.
JUDE ALLAN, OPRL & IOM3
Serving on the Future Trailblazer Awards judging panel, I was struck by the calibre of submissions – apprentices rising fast, teams delivering real outcomes, and entries where sustainability, consumer‑centricity and inclusive design really shone through.
ALISON BRAMFITT, NESTLÈ
FAQ's
What are the Future Trailblazer Awards?
The Future Trailblazer Awards are all about celebrating rising talent in the packaging world. These are the people making a quiet impact right now and showing real promise for the future. If you or someone you know is starting to stand out, this is the perfect moment to get recognised.
Who can enter?
We’re looking for fresh talent from across the packaging industry. Whether you’re focused on sustainability, engineering, artwork, or anything in between, if you’re just getting started and showing potential, we want to hear from you.
Eligibility: You must be in the early stages of your packaging career.
Can I nominate some else?
Absolutely. If a colleague has been doing great work, learning fast, and showing real initiative, this is your chance to shine a spotlight on them.
When do entries close?
Entries close on November 4, 2025, so don’t leave it too late.
Is there a cost to enter?
No, it’s completely free to enter the Future Trailblazer Awards.
How long does it take to submit an entry?
The entry form takes around 20 minutes to complete. If you’ve already gathered your key info and examples, you’ll be good to go in no time.
What do the judges need to know about you?
This is your chance to tell your story. The judges want to understand not just what you’ve done so far, but what drives you and where you’re headed. Here are a few things to think about as you put your entry together:
What impact have you made?
Share the standout contributions you’ve made to your company or the packaging industry so far. Big or small, what are you proud of?What challenges do you see in the industry?
What do you think are the biggest hurdles facing the UK packaging sector today? And more importantly, how do you see yourself helping to tackle them?What obstacles have you faced?
Have you had to overcome specific challenges in your role? What did you learn, and how has it shaped the way you think about packaging?What’s your vision for the future?
Where do you think packaging is headed? How do you want to shape that future through your work and ideas?
The judges are looking for people who aren’t just doing great work, but who are also thinking bigger. If you’re someone who sees packaging as a gateway to wider industry change, this is your moment to show them what you’re made of.
How are entries judged?
A panel of experienced industry experts will review every entry carefully. They’ll be looking at your achievements so far, your skillset, your ideas, and your potential for growth in the industry.
This isn’t just about where you are now, but where you’re heading.
When will finalists and winners be announced?
Finalists will be announced in mid-January 2026
Winners will be revealed live at the Circular Economy Stage during Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025
What are some of the benefits of winning a Future Trailblazers Award?
You will be recognised as a rising star in the industry in front of leading brands and suppliers, this award puts you in the spotlight as someone who is making a difference to the packaging industry!
Also, you will recieve a one-year Affiliate Membership from The Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3). This membership gets you the following benefits that will help advance your career further:
- A free of charge member magazine, Materials World.
- Access to premium web content, online databases and materials advice and information services.
- Member discounts on events, conferences, training courses, venue hire and occasional promotions such as books and publications.
- Career Appraisal for your suitability for a professional grade of IOM3 membership or professional registration.
How do I get to the awards ceremony?
The ceremony takes place at the Circular Economy Stage at Packaging Innovations & Empack in the NEC, Birmingham. We’ll confirm the exact halls soon.
To get there:
Take a direct train to Birmingham International
From the station, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the NEC
We recommend using public transport if you can
Still have questions?
We’re here to help. Just reach out to a member of our team and we’ll be happy to chat things through.
GET IN TOUCH
Casey McHugh
Conference & Community Manager
+44 (0)20 3935 6332
Georgina Kantor
Marketing Executive
+44 (0)2031964392
