SPC Impact 2026 brought much of the global sustainable packaging industry to Nashville this April, as the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s annual conference highlighted how quickly sustainability discussions are shifting from ambition to execution.

Organized by environmental non-profit GreenBlue, the event featured 45 breakout and main-stage sessions focused on the operational realities facing packaging companies as:

• EPR deadlines approach,
• recycling systems evolve,
• material strategies change,
• and sustainability regulations tighten globally.

EPR Became the Dominant Industry Discussion

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) emerged as the conference’s most heavily discussed topic.

A total of 12 sessions focused specifically on:

• EPR implementation,
• packaging compliance,
• fee structures,
• reporting systems,
• and producer responsibility obligations.

The attention reflects how rapidly EPR is moving from policy theory into operational reality across North America and Europe.

Packaging companies are increasingly trying to understand:

• how fees will impact packaging economics,
• how packaging choices affect compliance costs,
• and how future recyclability standards may reshape packaging portfolios.

Flexible Packaging Remains a Major Industry Challenge

Flexible films were another major area of focus, appearing in six conference sessions.

The sector continues facing significant challenges related to:

• recyclability,
• collection systems,
• recovery infrastructure,
• and labeling consistency.

Although flexible packaging offers:

• lightweight performance,
• lower transport emissions,
• and strong product protection,
  many formats still struggle within existing recycling systems.

This remains one of the packaging industry’s largest unresolved sustainability issues.

Paper Packaging Gains Momentum — But Questions Remain

Paper packaging appeared in eight conference sessions as brands continue accelerating the shift toward fibre-based alternatives.

The growth is being driven by:

• plastic reduction targets,
• retailer pressure,
• consumer perception,
• and evolving packaging regulations.

However, conference discussions showed that paper packaging is no longer viewed as an automatic sustainability solution.

Industry conversations increasingly focus on:

• actual recyclability performance,
• fibre recovery systems,
• coatings and barriers,
• material sourcing,
• and infrastructure compatibility.

The sector is moving toward more nuanced discussions around packaging system performance rather than simple material substitution.

Composting Continues to Generate Interest

Composting also appeared repeatedly throughout the event agenda.

Interest in compostable packaging continues growing, particularly in:

• foodservice,
• organic waste systems,
• and municipal collection programs.

However, discussions repeatedly returned to infrastructure limitations.

Many compostable materials still face challenges because:

• industrial composting access remains limited,
• acceptance standards vary,
• and contamination concerns continue affecting recovery systems.

GreenBlue Calls for “Realistic Optimism”

Opening the conference on Earth Day, GreenBlue executive director Paul Nowak described the current industry environment as the “Year of the Relationship.”

His message centered on:

• practical collaboration,
• realistic implementation,
• and cross-industry coordination.

“You really cannot do it alone,” Nowak told attendees.

That message reflected one of the strongest themes throughout SPC Impact 2026:
sustainable packaging is becoming increasingly dependent on system-wide cooperation.

Sustainability Is Becoming an Infrastructure Problem

One of the clearest takeaways from the conference was that packaging sustainability can no longer be solved through materials alone.

The industry is increasingly realizing that successful sustainable packaging depends on:

• recovery infrastructure,
• collection systems,
• logistics networks,
• regulatory alignment,
• and operational scalability.

As regulations tighten and compliance deadlines approach, companies are now moving beyond broad sustainability commitments toward implementation-focused strategies.

Industry Direction Is Shifting Toward Execution

SPC Impact 2026 showed that the packaging industry is entering a more operational phase of sustainability transformation.

The conversation is no longer simply:
“What materials are sustainable?”

It is increasingly:
“How do we build systems that actually work at scale?”

Last Updated on 19/05/2026 by Jota Machinery