Packaging News has begun unveiling its Sustainability PowerBook 2026, recognizing 50 professionals who are helping shape the future of sustainable packaging through innovation, policy development, recycling initiatives and circular economy leadership.

The list, selected by the Packaging News editorial team with input from industry advisers, highlights individuals from across the packaging value chain, including brand owners, manufacturers, retailers, policymakers and sustainability specialists.

The rankings are being released ahead of the Packaging News Sustainability Impact Summit, scheduled for 14 July in London, where the complete PowerBook will be presented.

Sustainability Leadership Expands Across the Packaging Value Chain

The Sustainability PowerBook reflects the increasingly collaborative nature of packaging sustainability, recognizing contributions that extend beyond material innovation to include policy implementation, recycling infrastructure, corporate strategy and circular economy development.

Rather than focusing solely on product innovation, the list highlights professionals advancing practical solutions that improve packaging recyclability, increase recycled content, strengthen environmental governance and support compliance with emerging regulations.

The recognition also illustrates how sustainability leadership is becoming integrated across both private industry and public policy.

Circular Food Packaging Innovation Recognized

Among those featured is Camilla Fangel, Senior Director of Global Sustainability and Public Affairs at Faerch, whose work focuses on advancing closed-loop recycling for food-grade plastic trays.

Packaging News highlighted Faerch’s tray-to-tray recycling model, which enables used food trays to be collected, recycled and converted into new food-grade trays suitable for the same application.

The publication noted that this closed-loop approach has helped demonstrate how food-contact packaging can support circular material flows while influencing discussions surrounding packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies.

Sustainable Packaging Extends Beyond Consumer Goods

The PowerBook also recognizes Lisa Meade, Head of Packaging at Kingfisher, for integrating sustainability into packaging strategy across the home improvement retail sector.

According to Packaging News, her work demonstrates that sustainable packaging principles extend well beyond food and beverage products by combining technical packaging expertise with consumer requirements, operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making.

The recognition reflects the growing importance of packaging sustainability across diverse industrial sectors.

Policy Leadership Supports Packaging Transition

Another featured leader is Jeremy Blake, Chief Executive of PackUK, whose role focuses on implementing the United Kingdom’s Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) system.

Packaging News highlighted Blake’s work in supporting the delivery of packaging EPR while promoting commercially viable approaches to circular packaging.

As governments continue introducing new packaging regulations, organizations responsible for implementing policy are becoming increasingly important in supporting industry transition toward more circular packaging systems.

Recognition Reflects Industry Transformation

The launch of the Sustainability PowerBook comes as packaging companies worldwide accelerate investment in recyclable materials, recycled content, packaging redesign and supply chain transparency.

Increasing regulatory requirements—including the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and expanding EPR programs—are encouraging greater collaboration between manufacturers, retailers, policymakers and recyclers.

Industry observers note that achieving circular packaging objectives increasingly depends on coordinated action across the entire packaging value chain rather than innovation by individual companies alone.

By recognizing leaders from multiple sectors, the Sustainability PowerBook highlights how sustainable packaging has evolved into a multidisciplinary effort involving technology development, policy implementation, recycling infrastructure, corporate governance and consumer engagement.

Last Updated on 03/07/2026 by Jota Machinery