ORGANISERS of the inaugural UKPackaging Expo have hailed the success of the event and vowed ‘this is just the beginning’.
Held at Manchester Central in early September, the show provided packaging industry stakeholders with a dedicated platform in the north to network, check out the latest sector innovations, and discuss some of the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities.
Buoyed by the success of the first edition, a second event has already been scheduled for next year in Liverpool.
Jordan Bamford, MD of UKPackaging Expo, said, “We’re delighted with how the first show has gone and proud to have delivered a brand-new event for this sector in the north of England. It’s good to innovate and try something different, so we’re happy to be seen as a disruptor – bringing something new, inspiring, cost-efficient and straightforward. This is just the beginning.
“I said from the start that our goal was for exhibitors and visitors to leave our event equipped with tangible, business-building knowledge and insight, having forged important new relationships and being inspired by the ground-breaking sustainable products and best-in-class turnkey solutions our industry has to offer. We are now looking forward to an even bigger and better showcase in November next year, when we will hold the event at our next northern powerhouse destination, the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool.”
Scores of exhibitors presented packaging and manufacturing innovations and solutions for industries ranging from FMCG and pharmaceuticals to automotive and aerospace. The show floor featured huge names like Unilever, through to manufacturing stalwarts such as Facer, Protek, and Record Packaging Systems.
Organisations including Sheffield Hallam University, Innovate UK, the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the North of England Packaging Society, WWF, and Aura Pioneering offered guidance on EPR and other issues impacting the sector. Representatives from B Corp environmental compliance scheme and sustainability consultancy Beyondly were on hand to discuss changes to the packaging regulations with delegates and to advise on how they can make their businesses more sustainable.
Michael Jennings, Beyondly’s policy and public affairs advisor, gave a speech at the conference on EPR, RAM (Recyclability Assessment Methodology), and disposal fees. Beforehand, he spoke to Packaging Scotland about the packaging sector’s journey towards a greener future.
“We work with companies on their packaging EPR compliance,” he said. “We also do a lot of work on the non-regulatory side of sustainability – things like greenhouse gases, zero waste to landfill, all of those other good, worthwhile sustainability initiatives that may not be regulation yet but coming in the future. We’re generally helping businesses do better.”
Michael believes that many packaging sector stakeholders have been ‘blindsided’ by some of the recent and upcoming regulatory changes, but he is confident that more are beginning to understand the long-term benefits.
“I think people have been sat on the old regulations for a while,” he added. “Not realising the extent of change that was coming and maybe it’s taken them by surprise, especially with the advancement in data requirements and increased costs. There’s still a lot of reticence and a lot of frustration maybe, but we are now seeing that the dust is settling. There is short-term pressure, but people are starting to understand the long-term gains.
“What is really good about the packaging regulations is, this change has really made people look at what they’re doing. They’re going to have to make changes and it’s going to be for the better. It’s going to save them costs. Short-term pressure, long-term gains, and hopefully the industry will be better for it.”
Michael thinks events like UKPackaging Expo are useful to help raise awareness and provide the opportunity to engage with a diverse mix of people under one roof.
“Trade shows are where a lot of people come to find packaging, labelling and printing solutions,” he added. “But it is nice to be here from the compliance side, as the human face of regulations – to talk to people, allay fears and help them feel more confident. We are the link, it’s our job to help people understand regulations and how they affect their business. Just being here in an educational capacity is valuable, because what we want is for the whole industry to come together on this.”
Michael revealed Beyondly is working with a growing number of Scottish businesses and emphasised the importance of adopting a four-nation approach when addressing sustainability matters. “It is nice to see PackUK reminding people that this is a four-nation approach, because we can get so England-centric at times. We’ve all got to work together, especially with DRS coming in.”
There was Scottish representation in the shape of East Kilbride-based MBM Print, which offers solutions including print and packaging, kitting, and fulfilment. The firm used the event as a ‘soft launch’ after recently rebranding the business into two distinct divisions: MBM Print and MBM Medical. A new website went live the week before the Manchester expo. MBM has traditionally been involved in industries such as electronics and automotive and has started to build up more customers on the medical side of things – driven in part by the growing trend in home diagnostics.
Malta-headquartered Toly, which produces packaging solutions for the beauty industry, showcased the firm’s latest innovations and offered visitors the chance to win a trip to Malta and a VIP photoshoot. The company was also raising awareness of breast cancer through its Bra-Vo campaign in collaboration with the Andee Foundation.
Dorien Bianco, chief marketing officer, told Packaging Scotland the company can trace its roots back over 50 years. Its founder was Dr Zoli Gatesy, who fled Hungary in 1956 and arrived in the UK as a refugee. Toly Products was founded in 1971 and has factories in Europe and Asia, a design and innovation centre, and a client list that includes many global powerhouses.
“We have a 360-degree platform where we have global manufacturing, services, and a range of products,” Dorien said. “Whatever we try to innovate will fall under all the rules of sustainability. It’s a must. We try also to educate people about the importance of different materials.
“We say we have a 360-degree platform because you will find everything under one roof. You will find makeup, skincare. We also have an amazing range of patented applicators, which we designed. There is always something for someone.”
Luke Wilson, owner of Facer, said he was impressed by the quality of engagement at UKPackaging Expo, emphasising the importance of ‘quality over quantity’ by revealing the conversations equalled what they’ve had at shows with much higher footfall. “Some visitors came specifically to see us, and we met everyone from start-ups to established brands and even some major retailers. The location in the north really works, and it’s been great for networking. They’ve put on a good show.”
Eamon Talbot, MD of Protek, stated that the business had taken a break from exhibiting in recent years but saw this as the right opportunity. “The expo is close to home, within budget, and we’ve had enquiries from companies solving problems as well as those developing brand new products. For us it’s also about networking – many of our potential customers were exhibiting too.”
• The next edition of UKPackaging Expo take place from November 10-11 2026, at the Exhibition Centre, located dockside at KingsDock, Liverpool.
