The Save Food programme at interpack 2026 focuses on the role of packaging in protecting food, reducing losses, and supporting sustainability objectives. A key element will be the Save Food Expert Talks scheduled for 12 May, featuring contributions from international organisations, companies, and initiatives representing different stages of the value chain. In parallel, activities aimed at promoting practical solutions are planned, including the presentation of the Save Food Design Awards and the Sustainability Design Awards as well as the results of the Save Food project competition. The organisers also announce a dialogue-oriented format, enabling participants to speak directly with speakers and explore the topics in greater depth.
The substantive core of the Expert Talks is to be built around two panel discussions. The first one, entitled "Global Packaging in Transition: Regulation, Partnerships and the Race for Sustainable Value", is expected to bring together representatives of international organisations and industry, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), the Save Food initiative, and Messe Düsseldorf. The discussion is to focus on regulatory developments such as the PPWR, international cooperation frameworks, and the question of how collaboration between industry and institutions can accelerate the transformation towards sustainable packaging systems. The agenda also includes how regulatory requirements, design standards, and systemic programmes can be combined in a way that both enables the achievement of sustainability goals and reduces food losses along the entire value chain.
Panels on regulation and supply chain applications
The second panel, "Turning Packaging into a Food Saver: Trends, Innovations, and Solutions Across the Food Supply Chain", is to address specific applications across the food supply chain. Announced topics include extending shelf life through packaging, ensuring stable cold chains, efficient logistics and distribution processes, and cooperation along the value chain. Contributions are expected from, among others, Multivac Kühne+Nagel, the SIG Foundation, and the FSSC certification organisation. The aim of this part of the programme is to demonstrate practical approaches that reduce food losses, increase food safety, and improve efficiency along the entire supply chain. After the panels, the organisers announce a segment dedicated to conversations and the exchange of experience with international participants.
Save Food awards and project competition
A major programme item is to be the presentation of the Save Food Design Awards, the Sustainability Design Awards, and the results of the Save Food project competition. The awards are to recognise solutions and projects that measurably contribute to reducing food loss while also generating economic and environmental impact. The organisers note that the total number of entries across the awards exceeded 100, which is intended to confirm the relevance of innovative solutions focused on reducing food loss and the growing importance of sustainable developments in the packaging industry. It is also announced that, for the first time, the project competition is to provide initiatives with financial support to further develop successful approaches and raise their international profile.
Thematic route on the exhibition grounds
In addition to the conference format, the Save Food Highlight Route is also planned, a route showcasing solutions directly on the exhibition grounds. Along the route, companies are to present technologies, products, and services for reducing food loss, which is intended to enable visitors to identify and compare approaches across the entire value chain.
According to the announcement, with its programme at interpack 2026 the Save Food initiative underscores its role as an international platform for exchange between industry, politics, and research. The focus is to be placed on practical solutions as well as on assessing how packaging and processing systems can measurably contribute to reducing food loss and food waste.
