Every year, young companies bring fresh ideas to the processing and packaging industry. Twenty-two of them will be showcasing their work in the Start-up Zone at interpack 2026. The exhibition space has more than doubled compared to the previous event.

From sustainability and digitalisation to new business models: 22 start-ups from eight countries will be presenting their solutions for the processing and packaging industry in Hall 7a at interpack, covering key areas of transformation within the sector. interpack will take place in Düsseldorf from 7 to 13 May, featuring a total of 2,800 exhibitors from 67 countries.

Start-ups from Germany, Sweden, India, Portugal, South Korea, Austria, Estonia and the UK are represented. Their offerings range from bio-based and recyclable materials, through reusable systems and healthcare shipping packaging, to software platforms for ESG reporting, PPWR compliance, serialisation and AI-supported operations management. New approaches in process technology are also represented, for example in mixing technology or in intelligent platform solutions for packaging processes.

Food quality and extended shelf life
One of the start-ups is Innoscentia from Sweden. The company helps the food industry manage best-before dates more precisely. “Conservative best before date marking confuses consumers and reduces the sales window for retailers adding to the massive global food waste problem,” says Henrik Nilsson, CEO of Innoscentia. “Our sensor technology enables cost-effective quality control for every single package. By displaying the actual quality in real time, shelf life is extended and consumers can make purchasing decisions based on facts. Stricter legislation and binding targets set by the European Union for 2030, which aim to reduce food waste by 10 per cent at the producer level and by 30 per cent in the retail sector and among consumers, require new solutions so that the industry can better respond to the new, stricter legal requirements.”

The Portuguese company Nanox has developed Pack Smart, a method for extending the shelf life of food. Functional additives inhibit microbial growth and regulate the exchange of quality-relevant gases. “Our solutions are developed in compliance with international food-contact regulations and quality standards, enabling safe and scalable adoption across global markets,” says Gustavo Pagotto, CEO and co-founder. “By combining material science, regulatory readiness, and industrial feasibility, we help reduce food waste throughout the value chain. Interpack is the ideal platform to connect our innovation with global industry leaders driving sustainability, PPWR adaptation, and next-generation packaging technologies.”

Product protection under regulatory pressure
Licopharm develops insulated packaging for the temperature-controlled transport of products in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. “In doing so we are addressing the challenge of transporting sensitive goods safely while reducing the use of plastic and EPS packaging,” explains Mirko Cyron, Licopharm’s Sales Manager. “Our approach combines high-performance, paper-based insulation materials with tailor-made system solutions that ensure stable temperature conditions and are fully recyclable.” The current drivers of the business are rising sustainability requirements, stricter regulatory requirements in pharmaceutical logistics and the growing need for secure cold chains for temperature-sensitive products.

EVOPACK focuses on bag-in-box solutions for water-based and perishable products. The aim is to reduce product losses along the value chain, thereby improving cost-effectiveness and resource conservation. “In light of the PPWR and the tightened Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), the reduction of preservatives is increasingly becoming a competitive factor. We offer manufacturers a future-proof, regulatory-compliant packaging solution that reliably ensures product safety even with reduced or minimal use of preservatives,” says Florian Ebinger, co-founder of EVOPACK.

Material innovation for recyclable packaging
Cell2Green has developed a recyclable, biodegradable cellulose film made from renewable raw materials as an alternative to plastic films. It is manufactured without toxic chemicals using cellulose from wood or waste materials from the paper industry. “Our solution is both recyclable and suitable for sensitive applications where films frequently end up in the environment – such as in agriculture, with bio-waste or in consumer-facing packaging. At the same time, the film meets industrial requirements such as moisture resistance, sealability and reliable processing – entirely without additives,” explains Dirk Hollmann, CEO & co-founder of Cell2Green.

The Start-up Zone complements interpack’s offering with new technological approaches and business models. It creates a space for exchange between young companies and international decision-makers in the industry. Additional pitches are planned in the interpack Spotlight Forum.