The MeetingPack 2026 Awards have officially opened their call for entries, inviting national and international companies to submit innovative solutions that advance sustainability and performance in barrier packaging. Organised within the framework of the MeetingPack congress by AINIA and AIMPLAS, the awards aim to highlight technologies that respond to growing regulatory, environmental and market demands across the packaging value chain.

The initiative targets companies active in the development of materials, films, sheets, preforms, packaging formats, machinery, recycling technologies and production processes. Eligible entries must demonstrate not only technical excellence and functional performance, but also clear environmental benefits, including material reduction, improved recyclability, use of sustainable raw materials or enhanced circularity.

For the 2026 edition, submissions are divided into two categories: solutions for flexible packaging, primarily focused on films and multilayer structures, and solutions for rigid packaging, including trays and bottles. Innovations may address any stage of the packaging lifecycle, from material formulation and processing technologies to end-of-life solutions and recycling compatibility.

The call for entries will remain open until 13 February 2026, with applications submitted through the official MeetingPack website. To ensure strong industry engagement, at least one representative from each participating company must be registered to attend the MeetingPack congress. This requirement reinforces the event’s role as a collaborative platform for knowledge exchange and networking.

The evaluation process will take place in two distinct phases to guarantee transparency and technical rigor. During the first phase, a multidisciplinary jury composed of experts from universities, research centres and industry associations will assess submissions based on criteria such as market impact, environmental performance, technical quality, innovation level and compliance with sector requirements. Three finalists will be selected in each category.

The second phase will be held live during the MeetingPack congress in Valencia. Finalists will present their solutions in a short demo pitch format to the audience, who will participate in real-time voting to determine the winning entries. The awards ceremony will take place during the official congress dinner, underscoring the importance of peer recognition within the packaging community.

The seventh edition of MeetingPack will take place on 21 and 22 April 2026 at the Science Museum of the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia. The programme includes eight thematic blocks and around thirty presentations from specialists in sustainable barrier packaging, bringing together stakeholders from packaging, food, materials science and recycling. Together, the congress and awards reinforce MeetingPack’s position as a key European forum for shaping the future of sustainable barrier packaging.