THE deadline for entering the Future Trailblazer Awards 2026 is set to close on Tuesday November 4.
Launched last year in partnership with the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3), innovators across the packaging sector are being encouraged to put themselves or a colleague forward.
The awards celebrate rising stars driving innovation across sustainability, artwork, engineering, and more. Individuals in their first ten years in the industry who are already making an impact are encouraged to apply.
Gregory Bentley, packaging director at Suntory Beverage and Food Europe and judge of this year’s awards, said, “The packaging industry is full of awards, but they’re usually about judging the output. They don’t judge the effort that goes into a project or the individual talent behind it. What really struck me about the Future Trailblazer Awards is that this is about the people – those who are going above and beyond, putting themselves out there, and challenging the way things have historically always been done.
“The fact that it focuses on younger people entering the industry is genuinely exciting. I love seeing other people with that same level of passion. These are the people who will be highlighted as Future Trailblazers – the ones who keep challenging and pushing.”
Past winner Aden Newbury shared his perspective on the impact of the award. He said, “It was a massive surprise… being shortlisted and then finding out I won was incredible. It looks great on the mantelpiece, and every time someone asks about it, I tell them the story. Winning the award kind of validates that journey. It gives you confidence to make decisions.
“I’ve done pricing, I’ve done operations, all the analytical kind of things, but I’ve moved over into packaging sustainability. That journey has been transformative, both professionally and personally. If you never try, you’ll never know. That applies to building systems and taking on new challenges.”
The winners of the Future Trailblazer Programme 2025 were celebrated at Packaging Innovations & Empack 2025.
The initiative is supported by IOM3. Winners of the Future Trailblazer Awards will receive IOM3 affiliate membership, providing access to an expert network and exclusive resources.
2026’s Future Trailblazers is tipped to be the biggest yet, with a revamped list of criteria and new categories covering brand storytelling and circularity, inviting entries from a broader audience of young talent. Entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts from organisations spanning the packaging sector. The finalists will be announced ahead of the Packaging Innovations show, where the winners will be revealed on 11 February 2026.
Nominate yourself or a colleague today by clicking here.
