Organiser Easyfairs has reported record attendance at the Packaging Innovations & Empack show, which took place in early February, with 7424 visitors making their way to the NEC in Birmingham for the event.

The 2025 event brought together more than 450 exhibitors who showcased technology, sustainable solutions, and discussions signposting the future of packaging.

Hailed as the most successful edition in the event’s history by the organisation, the two-day event featured 96 speakers across 32 sessions, which provided attendees with the opportunity to gain valuable insights into emerging trends, regulatory developments, and innovative solutions.

The show saw the first-ever stakeholder presentation of PackUK, administrator of the UK’s new pEPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) Scheme. The conversation developed with a panel chaired by Mary Creagh MP, minister for nature at Defra, addressing pEPR’s financial implications for SMEs and the importance of collaboration across the value chain.

Other topics highlighted at the show were sustainability, AI and smart packaging. Miguel Arevalo, Google’s packaging innovation lead, said he believes Europe is driving the future of sustainability, and regardless of whatever political aspects happen on the other side of the Atlantic – referring to the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement – this is ‘where we need to be’.

Speaking on AI, Stefan Casey, head of ecosystem at SharpEnd/io.tt, said that it will take over some jobs. He suggested that the industry must think differently across the entire supply chain as technology is reshaping packaging in ways that could not have been imagined.

James Montero-MacColl, senior marketing manager at Easyfairs, concluded, ’We wanted to make this an unmissable event, and we’ve done just that. From new legislation to breakthrough technology, the industry has come together to drive change. The energy on the show floor was incredible, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.’

The show is set to return in 2026 on the 11-12 February.