Sustainable Packaging: Is it all it’s cracked up to be?
The conference will bring you an honest, thought‑provoking day exploring what sustainability in packaging really delivers — separating ambition from reality, myth from impact, and hype from what actually works.
This year’s conference will be held in the School of Design and Creative Arts at Loughborough University on Wednesday 22 July 2026.
Conference Programme*
8:45 Arrival and refreshments for 9:30am start
Welcome and Introduction, Liam Barbary, Midlands Packaging Society
JAMES PIPER (KEYNOTE)
Co-owner of ECOSURETY & Non-Exec Director of OPRL
James is a consumer education advocate focused on improving recycling behaviours, author of The Rubbish Book and host of a leading UK recycling podcast, recognised nationally for helping individuals take practical environmental action.
ADAM HERRIOT
Interim Lead of UK Packaging Pact, WRAP
Adam is a plastics specialist at WRAP with over a decade of experience across public and private sector waste management, contributing to the UK Plastics Pact, advising international initiatives and serving on multiple technical and advisory boards.
Presentation title – Pact to Reality – The circular economy sounds simple on paper. In practice, it’s far more complicated. This session explores how the UK Packaging Pact is helping turn ambition into delivery across packaging design, recycling, reuse, infrastructure, and data.
11:00 – 11:30 Refreshment Break
DR ADAM READ
Chief External Affairs & Sustainability Officer, SUEZ UK.
Adam has over 30 years’ experience across academia, local government and consultancy, shaping waste policy, engaging with government and industry, and recognised with an MBE for his contribution to advancing the resources sector.
Presentation title – Lessons from the front line – a waste manager’s take on circular materials, packaging and systems…..
LIANNE PEMBERTON
Sustainability Lead for UK & Ireland, SMURFIT WESTROCK
Lianne has over 17 years’ experience in sustainability and supply chains, leading regional strategies, advising on evolving packaging legislation and collaborating across industry to deliver practical, measurable and future-ready environmental solutions.
Presentation title – Sustainable Packaging — Are We Solving the Right Problems?
Summary of Session, Liam Barbary, Midlands Packaging Society
12:45 – 14:00 Lunch and Networking
DR NIKKI CLARK
School of Design and Creative Arts, LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY
Nikki is a Senior Lecturer in Packaging Service System Design with a track record of research on consumer behaviour with packaging when designing for circular systems. She has 10 years industry experience working within food packaging supply chains.
ADAM ROBINSON,
Head of Sustainability, PARANOVA PRINT & PACKAGING
Adam is a sustainability leader focused on reducing packaging waste and advancing circular economy solutions, developing strategies, building recycling capabilities and supporting compliance.
Presentation title – Sustainable Packaging: A converter’s perspective.
JAMIE RILEY,
Head of Sustainability, ROBINSON PACKAGING
Jamie has experience supporting packaging sustainability across SMEs and multinationals, developing strategy and delivering education initiatives, and contributes to industry leadership through his role chairing the BPF’s plastics sustainability committee.
Presentation title – Sustainability in Plastics Today: Challenges, Reality and the Opportunities Ahead
ANNA ROBERTS
Head of Market Development, IOV42
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) places a legal duty on organisations to be able to produce verifiable evidence that their products are deforestation free & legally produced.
Presentation title – The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its effects on the UK Packaging Industry.
Summary of Session and the Day, Liam Barbary, Midlands Packaging Society
16:00 Refreshments and Design Building Tour
*Timings during the day are subject to change
MPkgS / IOM3 Members £85.00
Non Members £105.00
To register, please use the forms below
Location:
School of Design and Creative Arts, Loughborough University. LE11 3TU.
Car park 9 is situated close by. There is a small parking charge of £4.00/day. Please see https://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/fm/services/traffic-parking/visitors/ for further details.
It may be easier to prebook the parking beforehand, please see this link https://prebook.apcoa.co.uk/
A map of the university can be downloaded here https://maps.lboro.ac.uk/
