From Bioplastics to Reusable Packaging: What K 2025 has to offer the Packaging Industry

Whether for food, cosmetics, or medical products, plastic packaging is indispensable in numerous industries. In the first part of our series, we highlighted why plastics play a central role in modern packaging solutions, particularly in the area of tension between functionality and sustainability. Now we turn our attention to specific innovations and solutions that will be presented at K 2025.

The packaging industry is under increasing pressure to innovate. Legal requirements such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), rising recycling quotas, and growing consumer expectations call for new approaches along the entire value chain. Exhibitors at K will show how these challenges can be overcome with intelligent plastic packaging: from design for recycling and the use of recycled materials to digital tracking solutions.

Dr. Christine Bunte, Managing Director, PlasticsEurope Deutschland e. V., on the topic of packaging:

"Plastic packaging today is caught between functionality, climate protection, and recyclability. The new EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR) provides important impetus in this area—for example, by stipulating that all packaging must be recyclable from 2030 onwards. However, the complexity of the regulation is causing considerable uncertainty throughout the industry. There is therefore a need for rapid and practical implementation of the outstanding secondary legislation and European standardization mandates, as well as swift adaptation of the German Packaging Act.

The acceptance and use of recycled materials is increasing, particularly in the FMCG sector. However, demand for high-quality recycled materials—for example, for food packaging—will exceed supply in Europe by 2030. To close the looming recycled materials gap, investment is needed in modern sorting and recycling facilities, affordable energy, fast approval procedures, and, finally, clear political incentives for chemical recycling, including pragmatic mass balance regulations.

We expect K 2025 to provide strong impetus for the packaging industry, but also for the plastics industry as a whole. The trade fair offers a platform for exchange on circular design, closed-loop approaches, and the future of high-quality recyclates. Among other things, the PPWR panel on “Circular Thursday” will show how the industry is addressing regulatory challenges—and where it can develop solutions together with policymakers.

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Another key buzzword remains “Design for Recycling”: packaging must be designed in such a way that it can be recycled at the end of its life cycle. Monomaterial solutions, innovative closure mechanisms, and easily separable multilayer films are among the approaches being showcased by exhibitors at the trade fair. When it comes to reusable packaging, many companies are also focusing on practical concepts for a variety of applications – from transport packaging to consumer goods packaging.

How can reusable packaging succeed in the catering industry? The start-up MealGood has developed a sustainable solution for to-go packaging. In an interview with K-Mag, the team explains what is important in terms of design, material selection, and return systems. Read it here!

In addition to recyclable packaging, bio-based and compostable materials are also gaining in importance. Bioplastics can be a useful addition, especially where material recycling reaches its limits—for example, in the case of heavily soiled or very light packaging. They offer new options for applications that require not only functionality but also environmental compatibility and regulatory compliance. One example of this is provided by ADBioplastics, which is presenting a high-performance PLA-based material at K 2025:

“At ADBioplastics, we're leading the way in sustainable packaging by developing PLA-Premium, a next-generation, 100% compostable bioplastic made from renewable sources. This material incorporates our patented ADBio PLA+ additive, which enhances the mechanical and barrier properties of neat PLA. PLA-Premium is tailored for packaging applications that demand improved strength, oxygen and water vapour barrier performance, and processability—making it suitable for industries like food (FMC approved), cosmetics (suitable for cosmetic contact), and consumer goods.

Today’s packaging industry is heavily shaped by regulatory pressures (like the PPWR in the EU), consumer demand for sustainability, and the shift towards circular economy models. Key trends include recyclability and compostability […], lightweighting - reducing material use without compromising functionality - and bio-based content -using renewable feedstocks to reduce carbon footprint. ADBioplastics is aligning with these trends by delivering functional and competitive alternatives to conventional plastics, with OK Compost Industrial certification by TÜV Austria.“

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Digitalization is also playing an increasingly important role in the development of sustainable packaging solutions. QR codes, digital watermarks, and blockchain-based systems enable seamless traceability of materials and support recycling companies in sorting. Such solutions also offer consumers greater transparency regarding the origin of materials and disposal channels.

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Whether it's the use of recycled materials, bioplastics, or the optimization of CO₂ balances, sustainable packaging solutions are no longer a niche topic, but are becoming a driver of innovation for the entire industry. Numerous exhibitors at K are demonstrating how technical developments and new material combinations can contribute to reducing material usage and emissions.

The packaging industry is thus demonstrably facing major changes. But K 2025 shows that solutions are in the pipeline! And in just nine days, the largest trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry will open its doors, offering the ideal platform to experience innovations live, make contacts, and jointly shape the packaging industry of tomorrow.