London Packaging Week 2025 delivered record-breaking attendance, with 5,752 unique visitors converging at ExCeL London for the show’s 15th anniversary. The two-day event — organised by Easyfairs — marked a 15 percent increase in visitor numbers, reflecting the sector’s renewed appetite for collaboration and innovation after several years of post-pandemic recalibration.
The exhibition brought together 211 exhibitors across Halls S2 and S3, alongside more than 90 speakers covering sustainability, design innovation, inclusivity, and regulatory reform. The programme’s emphasis on the circular economy and extended producer responsibility drew particular attention, with senior voices from Tesco, WWF, GoUnpackaged, and SUEZ discussing the operational realities of reuse and refill at scale.
According to Josh Brooks, Divisional Director – Packaging at Easyfairs, the show’s atmosphere reflected a sector in motion. “There was something different in the air at London Packaging Week this year,” he said. “You could feel it in every corner of the show — the imagination on the stands, the calibre of the speakers, the flow of ideas between exhibitors and visitors. It wasn’t just busy; it was alive.”
Sessions led by Defra’s Emma Bourne OBE and PackUK CEO Jeremy Blake explored how UK policy is translating into practice under the government’s Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. Elsewhere, Microsoft’s Kevin Marshall delivered a keynote on inclusive design, while broadcaster and disability activist Lucy Edwards tackled accessibility and representation in beauty packaging.
Beyond the conference stages, thousands of packs were displayed across luxury, FMCG, food, drink, and beauty categories, showcasing new materials, formats, and design technologies. The London Packaging Week Innovation Awards highlighted 13 winners spanning sustainability and creativity — from Hendrick’s Gin’s whimsical watering can concept to Diageo and PA Consulting’s low-carbon Dry Moulded Fibre Bottle.
Brooks credited the event’s success to its organisers and contributors. “Every aspect of the event felt elevated,” he said. “The creativity on display, the quality of discussion, and the influence of those walking the halls — it all spoke to a show that has become a movement.”
London Packaging Week 2026 will return to ExCeL London on 16–17 September 2026, restoring its traditional mid-September slot. Before then, Easyfairs will host Packaging Innovations & Empack 2026 at Birmingham’s NEC on 11–12 February, setting the tone for what organisers describe as a pivotal year for UK packaging and processing.
