Growth and circularity in every postcode
Paul Synnott, FPA interim executive chair
Opening and closing the Seminar, Paul emphasised that environmental progress and economic growth must go hand in hand. He called for fair, proportionate and evidence-led packaging regulation, greater transparency over how producer funding delivers environmental improvements, and stronger collaboration between government and industry to support UK manufacturing, investment and circularity.
The future of the FPA
Ellen Daniels, FPA chief executive
Drawing on the recent FPA member survey, Ellen set out the FPA's priorities: practical regulatory support, stronger government engagement and media visibility, and investment in future talent through the FPA's emerging Young and Emerging Professionals initiative and a new FPA sector jobs board.
Europe: what happens next?
Eamonn Bates, 360° Foodservice
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation changes the responsibilities of manufacturers, importers, brand owners and producers, with important consequences for UK suppliers serving EU markets and Northern Ireland.
Working together: how government and industry build better regulation
Paul Vanston, INCPEN and Sebastian Munden, UK Packaging PRO in a panel discussion chaired by Martin Kersh, Packaging Federation
A lively and wide-ranging panel discussion which highlighted both the challenges of securing meaningful industry involvement in regulatory decision-making and the opportunities for producers to influence how packaging EPR evolves.
PackUK: from collecting fees to delivering results
Jeremy Blake, PackUK
Jeremy reviewed the operational first year of pEPR and the next challenge: turning producer funding into improvements across collection, sorting, reprocessing and consumer participation.
Investment, DRS and the realities of recycling
Dr Adam Read MBE, SUEZ
In this fireside chat with FPA CEO Ellen Daniels, Adam offered an operational view of what happens after packaging enters the waste system, welcoming EPR’s potential while warning that delayed decisions and changing material flows can undermine infrastructure investment.
Designing recycling systems around the people who use them
Professor Alaster Yoxall, Sheffield Hallam University
Sustainability involves social outcomes alongside environmental and economic performance. The presentation challenged businesses to design for what people actually do rather than what designers expect them to do.
Talking Rubbish: making recycling understandable
Robbie Stanniforth and James Piper, Talking Rubbish
The award-winning presenters showed how humour, relatable comparisons and positive storytelling can explain specialist recycling issues without eroding public confidence.
The future of recycling labels
Jude Allan, OPRL
Proposed European harmonised labels could simplify cross-border packaging over time but complicate the transition for brands, manufacturers and consumers.
Green claims and certification under scrutiny
Ben Worth, Vegetarian Society
The EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition rules make the substantiation of environmental claims, the presentation of certification marks and the approval of artwork important across the packaging supply chain.
The role of AI and life cycle assessment
Anja Prevodnik, Greyparrot: Kiran Trivedy, Carbon Trust; Dr Alan Campbell, The LCA Center
Chaired by FPA CEO Ellen Daniels, the panel explored how AI and lifecycle assessment can improve environmental decisions, while warning that automated calculations must be tested against reliable data, real materials and expert judgment.
Our thanks to our event sponsor Packaging Innovations & Empack
And to Go-Pak for sponsoring the refreshment breaks.
