The transition towards more sustainable and circular packaging requires more than new materials or technologies. It also calls for a better understanding of environmental impacts, effective solutions across the packaging lifecycle, and stronger connections between research, industry and policy.
On 3 December 2026, the STOPP and REBIOLUTION projects will come together in Brussels and online for their Joint Final Event, “From Plastic Pollution to Circular Solutions”, bringing together experts and stakeholders to explore how European research and innovation can contribute to the future of sustainable packaging.
The event will provide an opportunity to discover the key results and insights emerging from both projects, covering complementary approaches to some of the challenges facing the packaging sector today. From reducing the environmental impact of plastic packaging and exploring reuse and recycling solutions to developing bio-based and biodegradable materials, the programme will showcase how research can contribute to more circular approaches.
Participants will also have the opportunity to explore the environmental, technical and policy dimensions of these solutions, including questions around sustainability assessment, biodegradation, recycling and the challenges associated with packaging applications that are difficult to recycle. For REBIOLUTION, this will be an opportunity to share the progress and results achieved in the development and assessment of novel fully bio-based and biodegradable polyester blends for food packaging and agricultural applications.
A key focus of the event will be the connection between research evidence and European policy. Through a dedicated keynote and an exchange with stakeholders from different parts of the packaging value chain, the event will explore what policymakers need from European research and innovation projects and how scientific results can better support the development and implementation of sustainable packaging solutions.
The event will also create space for open dialogue and networking, bringing together researchers, industry representatives, recyclers, policymakers, academia, consumer and civil society organisations, as well as other European research projects. These different perspectives will help address not only what solutions are being developed, but also what is needed to accelerate their uptake and move from research results towards real-world impact.
The Joint Final Event reflects the complementary perspectives of STOPP and REBIOLUTION while creating a broader space to discuss the future of packaging in Europe. By bringing together evidence, innovation and stakeholder experience, the event aims to contribute to the ongoing conversation around how to reduce plastic pollution and advance towards more sustainable and circular packaging systems.
Join us in Brussels on 3 December 2026 to discover the latest results from STOPP and REBIOLUTION, exchange perspectives with experts and stakeholders, and discuss the role of European research and innovation in shaping the next generation of sustainable packaging solutions.
📅 3 December 2026
🕘 09:00–16:30 CET
📍 Warwick Grand-Place, Brussels
