The fourth edition of PACK.Nxt, a forum for packaging leaders in India, will be held on 15 December 2026 at the Courtyard by Marriott, Mumbai International Airport. Organized around three pillars – circular, secure and intelligent – the forum will bring brand owners, converters and solution providers together to discuss packaging challenges facing Indian industry, with sessions designed to help brands prepare for regulatory changes in 2027.
PACK.Nxt 2026 is expected to host 300+ senior decision makers for a full-day program of focused discussions, data presentations and networking. Attendees will include heads of packaging, sustainability, R&D, regulatory, procurement and operations, as well as converters from FMCG, food and beverage, personal care, pharma, alcobev, agrochemicals and e-commerce. Recyclers, material innovators, technology providers, industry associations and policymakers will also attend.
The forum has been held over three editions. The third edition in December 2025 brought together 300+ delegates, 60+ speakers and 25 partners. The fourth edition comes as EPR recycled-content targets are rising, QR codes on vaccines, anti-cancer and narcotic medicines become mandatory from 1 July 2027, and updated FSSAI labeling rules take effect in July 2027. According to the organizers, every session is designed to help brands get ready for 2027.
Focus of PACK.Nxt 2026
The program follows one track, three pillars and six panel discussions. It opens with a research presentation on the future of Indian packaging, followed by a panel on the 2027 compliance countdown. The panel will cover what brand owners must have in place across EPR, pharma QR and FSSAI labelling, where they currently stand, and how solution providers can help close the gaps.
Under the circular pillar, sessions will address recycled content, recyclable design and who bears the cost. Topics include the real cost of recycled content, food-grade rPET supply, sharing costs across the value chain, and designing packs that use less material without losing shelf life.
The secure pillar will focus on traceability, authentication and compliance from material to market. Discussions will cover getting pharma QR right under Schedule H2, countering counterfeits in FMCG, alcobev and agrochemicals, security print and authentication, and export compliance.
The intelligent pillar will look at AI on the line and on the pack, and where it pays back. Topics include vision inspection for codes and labels, predictive maintenance, AI-led right-sizing and fewer SKUs, and measuring the return on automation.
Sustainable Packaging Innovation Challenge
The Sustainable Packaging Innovation Challenge invites packaging companies, material innovators, recyclers, technology providers and start-ups to submit solutions to real-world sustainability challenges identified by brand owners. Shortlisted participants will present their solutions live on stage before 300+ decision makers, with direct access to the brand owners who set the challenges.
Past participants
Previous editions of PACK.Nxt have hosted senior packaging leaders from Flipkart, Diageo India, Cipla Health, Marico, Britannia Industries, Reckitt, Unilever, Kenvue, L’Oréal, ITC, Licious, Wipro Consumer Care, Haldiram’s and DFM Foods. Representatives of the Indian Institute of Packaging, PIAI, ICPE and IIT Roorkee, among others, have also taken part.