Entries are now open for the 25th anniversary edition of The Plastics Industry Awards 2026, marking a major milestone for one of the UK and Ireland’s most established celebrations of plastics innovation, manufacturing excellence and industry talent. Companies and individuals across the sector are invited to submit entries online, with winners to be revealed at a black-tie gala ceremony in London on Friday 20 November.

The anniversary edition arrives at a time of significant change for plastics and packaging. Regulation, circular economy expectations, digital transformation and material innovation are reshaping how companies design, manufacture and recover plastic products. Reflecting this shift, the 2026 awards introduce two new categories: EPR Leadership and Smart Manufacturing.

The EPR Leadership Award recognises brand owners and companies that are taking a proactive role in Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging. This includes measurable progress in collection, recycling, responsible material selection and improved packaging systems across product portfolios. As EPR frameworks become more influential, this category highlights the companies moving beyond compliance and treating producer responsibility as a strategic business priority.

The new Smart Manufacturing Award focuses on excellence in engineering, digitalisation and connected production. It is designed to recognise the use of technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, data systems, connectivity and Industry 5.0 principles. For plastics processors and packaging manufacturers, these tools are becoming essential for improving efficiency, reducing waste, increasing traceability and responding more quickly to customer requirements.

The 2026 edition reflects a wider transformation in plastics: excellence is now measured not only by production performance, but also by sustainability leadership, digital capability and long-term industry contribution.

The awards will also continue to recognise innovation in materials and processing. The Polyurethane Innovation Award is open to European companies and focuses on sustainable, high-performance solutions using renewable resources, improved recyclability and lower environmental impact. This is particularly relevant as polyurethane applications face growing pressure to combine durability with circular design principles.

Another updated category is the combined Auxiliary Equipment & Tooling Innovation Award, which highlights advances in plastics processing support technologies and tooling systems. These areas are often less visible than finished products, but they play a critical role in productivity, quality control, energy efficiency and repeatable manufacturing performance.

Individual achievement remains a central part of the programme. Categories such as Apprentice or Trainee of the Year, Unsung Hero and Plastics Industry Ambassador recognise the people behind the sector’s progress. The Apprentice or Trainee of the Year award includes a GBP 500 prize donated by the Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association, underlining the importance of attracting and developing new skills in the plastics workforce.

Processor of the Year remains one of the most prestigious honours in the programme, celebrating companies that demonstrate strong operational performance, investment, innovation and customer service. The award is sponsored by Engel UK, the event’s Platinum Sponsor. The 2026 edition also welcomes The Plastek Group as a new Gold Sponsor as the company celebrates its 70th anniversary, alongside Gold Sponsors Meusburger and PlastikCity, with Interplas as Silver Sponsor.

The awards are supported by major industry organisations including the British Plastics Federation, GTMA, PMMDA and the Scottish Plastics & Rubber Association. Media support comes from Sustainable Plastics and Urethanes Technology International, strengthening the event’s link with both established plastics manufacturing and emerging sustainability-focused developments.

The winners will be announced during a gala evening at the five-star InterContinental London Park Lane, featuring a champagne reception, dinner and live entertainment. For companies, the event offers more than recognition; it provides a platform to demonstrate leadership to customers, partners, investors and the wider manufacturing community.

As the Plastics Industry Awards reaches its 25th anniversary, the 2026 edition captures the direction of the sector: more responsible, more digital, more collaborative and more focused on measurable progress. With free entry and new categories aligned with today’s market challenges, the awards offer plastics and packaging companies a timely opportunity to showcase achievement and future-facing innovation.