PACKAGING

WHAT ARE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS?

Sustainable packaging in 2026 will shift from single‑use to circular systems built on reusable transport packaging, supported by accurate data that enables AI‑driven forecasting, planning, and logistics
Closed‑loop operations, durable and automation‑ready packaging design, and stronger measurement and transparency will become central to efficiency, compliance, and circularity
New low‑carbon materials – including seaweed‑based polymers, AI‑designed biopolymers, and compostable potato‑waste packaging – will expand viable alternatives to plastic

What are the experts saying?

About the Reusable Packaging Association

Founded in 1999, the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) is a non-profit trade organisation dedicated to accelerating the adoption and optimisation of reusable packaging systems across global supply chains through education and advocacy. RPA members are suppliers and users of reusable transport packaging products and services, bringing together industry stakeholders to collaborate on common business interests. RPA works to demonstrate the economic, environmental, and operational value of reuse systems for the distribution of goods. The association serves as a central forum for addressing industry issues and educating the market on the transition toward smarter, resilient, and sustainable supply chains.

Tim Debus, CEO and President, Reusable Packaging Association

What themes will be important in sustainable packaging innovation in 2026?

Sustainable packaging innovation in 2026 will be shaped by a shift from the one-time use of disposable products towards a circular systems approach that keeps products and materials in continuous use. Reusable transport packaging sits at the centre of this transition, where solid waste is prevented, resources are conserved, and new economic growth and value are created.

One of the most significant influences is the acceleration of opportunities enabled by data-capturing technologies, including the application of AI in supply chain analysis and decision-making, particularly with reusable products. AI is no longer theoretical; it is actively reshaping forecasting, supply planning, and logistics optimisation. However, AI’s effectiveness depends on access to accurate, repeatable, and real-world data. Reusable transport packaging provides that data foundation. Technology-enabled products such as pallets, containers, and totes can transmit consistent unit-level information on identity, location, and condition. This makes reusable packaging a critical enabler of AI-driven insights, moving supply chains from reactive responses to predictive and, increasingly, autonomous decision-making.

Furthermore, innovation is expanding in business operations to include closed-loop system design. Companies are rethinking packaging as part of an integrated network of valued assets that drives efficiencies through pooling, reverse logistics, repair, and lifecycle management. These systems improve inventory reliability, reduce waste, and lower the total cost of ownership while strengthening circular economy outcomes.

Packaging design innovation will continue to evolve in response to market demands for performance in automated warehouse operating systems. With design for durability and precision specifications, reusable packaging can be optimised for robotic handling, longer service life, and repairability, becoming essential components as distribution facilities modernise.

Another key theme influencing 2026 is measurement and transparency. Regulatory pressure, ESG expectations, and customer requirements are driving demand for verifiable data on environmental impacts, food quality, and traceability, areas where reusable packaging systems provide inherent advantages over single-use alternatives.

Progress will be supported by industry collaboration and education. Advancing smart reusable packaging at scale requires holistic systems design, some standardisation and interoperability, and cross-company learning and buy-in. Organisations that foster collaboration across the value chain will play a defining role in shaping how innovation translates into measurable impact.

Three Innovations to keep an eye on

INNOVATION ONE:

Will seaweed unlock the future of packaging?

Australian startup Uluu has created a seaweed-based material designed to replace plastics across packaging, consumer goods, and automotive applications.

The company produces a class of natural polymers known as Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) using a fermentation process similar to brewing. Sugars extracted from farmed seaweed are fed to specialised microbes that generate PHAs inside their cells. The material is then extracted, melted into pellets, and processed using standard plastic-manufacturing equipment.

Uluu estimates that its process could, at scale, sequester and avoid roughly five kilogrammes of CO2-equivalent for every kilogramme of material produced.”

The resulting polymers are strong, lightweight, waterproof, and tuneable for uses from rigid items to flexible packaging – all while remaining reusable, recyclable, home compostable, and marine biodegradable.

Uluu estimates that its process could, at scale, sequester and avoid roughly five kilogrammes of CO2-equivalent for every kilogramme of material produced, eliminating microplastic pollution at the same time.

In 2025, the company raised AU$16 million (around $10.3 million) in a series A round led by Burda Principal Investments, with additional backing from Main Sequence, Novel Investments, Startmate, and others. The capital will support Uluu as it scales from a 100-kilogramme pilot facility to a 10-tonne demonstration plant in Western Australia. This will allow the company to deliver commercial volumes and expand collaborations already underway with brands in fashion, cosmetics, and automotive.

INNOVATION TWO:

Can AI help us to design better biopolymers?

Singaporean startup Greenitio uses an AI engine with proprietary computational modelling to design biopolymers that mimic the properties of traditional, fossil-based materials. Harnessing green chemistry principles and a water-based process, the company transforms abundant natural feedstocks into direct replacements for key synthetic polymers.

The startup claims its innovative, low-cost process produces no waste or toxic by-products, with an end product that’s biodegradable, non-toxic, and much less carbon intensive than current alternatives. Scalable within existing industrial manufacturing infrastructure, Greenitio’s solution could help a range of industries get rid of microplastics and fossil-based polymers from their ingredient mix – from home care, cosmetics, and food, to farming and packaging solutions.

The company currently has a range of biogenic offerings, all carefully designed to match the performance and quality of current materials.”

The company currently has a range of biogenic offerings, all carefully designed to match the performance and quality of current materials. These include the SPF-boosting Chitosola for skincare formulations, its antimicrobial Chitobela biopolymer, biosurfactants, and bio-based microcapsules, which can be incorporated into nutraceuticals, cosmetics, food, and perfumes.

INNOVATION THREE:

Could we make packaging out of potato waste?

In order to keep them fresh in transit, fruits and vegetables are often packaged using petroleum-based plastics or paper materials that are often not recycled at scale due to factors such as contamination or the use of coatings. This packaging continues to be a significant – and growing – waste source, one that Swiss startup PeelPack is hoping to tackle with its pioneering new type of packaging.

PeelPack’s biopolymer containers are made from waste potato peels, and are both biodegradable and compostable. The technology, which remains under development, is designed to replace conventional plastic and non-recyclable paper packaging, while offering performance comparable to plastic and integrating with conventional waste management systems.

PeelPack’s biopolymer containers are made from waste potato peels, and are both biodegradable and compostable.”

By substituting plastic packaging for biopolymer punnets, the company projects that its packaging solution could lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation, and reliance on fossil fuels.