Esko identifies 2026 packaging trends

Esko has identified sustainability, smart packaging, Digital Product Passports and agentic AI as significant packaging trends in its latest annual Packaging Trends study.

The company has examined the expected packaging trends, challenges and opportunities that will shape the industry in the coming year in the new report, which will provide a platform for the latest Packaging Trends Talk early in the new year.

'The pace of change we are experiencing today is unlike anything before,' said Jan De Roeck, marketing director of Esko. 'The invention and adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence, coupled with tightening sustainability regulations and new forms of digital packaging intelligence, are reshaping our sector in fundamental ways.'

De Roeck noted that sustainability will continue to remain one of the strongest drivers of change in the industry. The role of smart packaging in 2026 and well into the future will enable product passports, providing traceability and consumer engagement opportunities. While it will take time before companies fully understand where AI delivers value and where it does not, its potential is undeniable.

The free eBook brings together insights from industry experts and technology leaders. From examining self-optimizing packaging workflows and smart packaging through to the emergence and importance of end-to-end sustainability intelligence, the Esko Packaging Trends eBook takes a detailed look at practical approaches that assist brands and suppliers as they adapt to changing market conditions, trends and challenges.

'With Packaging Trends 2026, our goal is not simply to forecast what's coming, but to help converters, tradeshops and their brand customers prepare, adapt and thrive in the changing landscape,' De Roeck added.