Many diverse industries around the world—though not necessarily related in who and what they serve—are concerned with similar or overlapping matters within a given business year. This is especially true as new topics around both the artificial and natural worlds continue to affect millions of people on a daily basis. When it comes to the packaging sector in 2026, specifically, there are two categories concerning both of these worlds that seem to be dominating conversations: technology and sustainability in packaging. Let’s take a look at how these two areas are impacting what packaging looks like today.
Many of the more recent technological advances in the packaging industry tend to fall under the heading of smart packaging, an umbrella term that indicates packaging materials and methods outfitted with modern technology such as tracking and identification. Long-established technologies like QR (quick response) codes, RFID (radio frequency identification) tags, and moisture-controlling silica gel packets are still being used widely for these purposes, while newer innovations like spoilage indicators for food packaging are beginning to see greater adoption. These smart packaging staples work in concert, adding even more tools that can provide more detailed and up-to-date information for clients and receivers.
As much as hardware solutions like these are creating new and exciting opportunities for packaging as they are further established, AI (artificial intelligence) is a software innovation with incredible reach that is making as much of an impact for packages as it is in practically every other sector worldwide. Often, AI works in tandem with these established hardware devices and seeks to make them more diverse and more effective. This AI incursion into the market is also visible on the consumer end, as a customer’s packaging experience can now have a greater degree of customization to more accurately match demographic data within the consumer base. Manufacturers are also seeing the benefits of AI technology in the form of more detailed predictive analytics that can determine the best ways to use packaging materials.
The packaging industry at large cannot help but notice the latest developments in AI technology. A blog post for website Packaging Labelling says that packaging systems powered by AI “have positioned the packaging industry in a totally different dimension through their advanced capabilities.” For example, AI-powered robotics are now allowing packaging manufacturers to move through typical processes more quickly without sacrificing factory-style precision. The systems behind these robotics are also now built with predictive maintenance in mind, so that automation can foresee and eliminate problems before they start, minimizing downtime caused by maintenance. Packaging Labelling says that machine learning—meaning AI models able to grow their knowledge database over time, similar to how human brains learn—is allowing businesses to handle greater demand in a way that doesn’t cause problems down the line.
Perhaps as much as these types of technology are bringing new solutions to modern packaging, sustainability is the other pillar influencing both manufacturers and clients alike. More than ever before, both customers and government initiatives are calling on packaging manufacturers to consider more environmentally friendly alternatives to typical materials and approaches. An article from German packaging and processing trade fair Interpack says that materials like paper and cardboard are beginning to come back into favour for creating packages. This is because fibrous materials like these can be modified to a greater degree than others, especially against the elements and other outside interference, and are far more recyclable than contemporary alternatives.
There has been a shift within the industry toward more Earth-friendly, naturally occurring materials, creating both a resurgence of and demand for what are called mono-materials: single-source resources used to create packaging, such as those mentioned by Interpack (i.e. paper, wood, glass). These mono-materials are becoming preferable, in an environmental sense, to composite packaging materials like aluminum or those mixed together from various plastic sources. While these composites have been very useful for decades, they do not recycle nearly as easily as mono-materials do, although multi-materials still offer superior protection for now. Their lack of reusability is problematic when it comes to both what consumers are looking for today and increasingly strict environmental policies being adopted around the world in the name of protecting Earth’s natural resources and the human way of life.
Generally speaking, single-use plastic packaging is being passed over, culturally at least, in favour of solutions that involve materials from natural sources. A blog post for Flint Group Packaging Solutions says that plastic waste contributes significantly to pollution. This is why the industry is not only reconsidering the materials it works with but pivoting toward alternative packaging solutions like barrier coatings. Barrier coatings are thin layers of consumables made to resist external factors that a package can encounter, from moisture and grease to oxygen and vapour.
“[Barrier coatings] help to improve the durability and functionality of packaging materials,” says Flint Group, allowing natural-based packaging solutions to stand up to the elements while remaining recyclable, biodegradable, and easy to compost.
Another specific practice aimed at sustainability that is getting more notice in packaging circles is lightweighting: the use of small amounts of material to create lighter packaging that performs at the same level as heavy-duty products serving the same function. A blog post for packaging manufacturer Fords says that minimizing the weight and volume of packaging “can significantly reduce carbon emissions… where lighter packaging translates into lower fuel consumption and more efficient transportation.” Lighter versions of packaging products made from metal, glass, and plastic are helping to cut down on energy and water usage in the industry, as well as carbon dioxide emissions, without sacrificing the ability to recycle them or the durability of such products.
There is no shortage of growing conversations to keep up with, and one way to take the temperature of the industry’s biggest concerns and updates comes with the annual Pack Expo, taking place this October in Chicago, Illinois. Thousands of attendees, along with hundreds of exhibitors, will be immersing themselves in the latest topics of concern to the industry. This year’s talking points include the use of AI to navigate international tariffs and supply chain issues, as well as high-pressure processing, a type of preservation process available to manufacturers, and various topics further discussing the evolving policies and practices of an already-burgeoning market segment. These subjects are grouped into broader categories that aim to drill down into areas like robotics, food and beverage, and industry-wide concerns, and the conversations will continue to power the momentum of packaging innovation as the year winds down.
Packaging is just one of the countless sectors worldwide looking to embrace change and stay at the forefront of developments that can make manufacturing easier and more efficient. Continued movement toward embracing both cutting-edge technology and environmentally friendly manufacturing will likely serve the millions around the world who rely on packaged goods from retailers of every size, from global giants like Amazon to more localized operations. This will not only benefit manufacturers, but perhaps more importantly, it will help ensure that customers continue to receive their packaged goods in a timelier and safer manner than ever before.
