AmericaPack Summit Set to Convene Packaging Executives in Las Vegas in January 2026

Senior packaging executives from across North America will gather in Las Vegas on January 26–27, 2026, for the invitation-only AmericaPack Summit, as companies face intensifying regulatory demands, cost pressures and technology decisions reshaping the sector, according to event organizer Marcus Evans.

The closed-door meeting, scheduled to take place at the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa, is designed to convene decision-makers responsible for packaging strategy, sustainability, operations and innovation across fast-moving consumer goods and related industries. Organizers say the summit emphasizes peer-to-peer discussions and pre-arranged executive meetings, rather than traditional exhibition-driven formats.

The timing reflects growing uncertainty across the packaging landscape. Extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs are expanding at the U.S. state level, while regulators in Canada and the European Union continue to strengthen recycling mandates and material-reduction requirements. According to data published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), global packaging waste volumes have increased steadily over the past decade, adding pressure on brand owners to redesign materials without eroding margins.

Industry analysts note that regulatory change is coinciding with softer consumer demand in certain markets and ongoing volatility in raw material prices. Packaging teams are also being asked to deliver formats that perform across physical retail and e-commerce channels, while meeting sustainability commitments made under earlier climate and waste-reduction initiatives.

Organizers say the 2026 agenda will focus on how companies are balancing those competing priorities. Planned sessions are expected to address compliance planning for emerging EPR regimes, material-lighting and design strategies, and the operational implications of tariffs, geopolitical tensions and shifting federal trade policies for sourcing and production.

Technology adoption is set to be another focal point. While artificial intelligence tools are increasingly promoted as solutions for design optimization and supply chain planning, many packaging organizations remain cautious, citing concerns around data readiness, system integration and workforce capabilities. Talent shortages, particularly in engineering and materials science, are compounding those challenges as companies attempt to modernize operations under constrained budgets.

The program is expected to feature perspectives from both industry and academia. Confirmed speakers include Hervé Buzot, global packaging development director at Estée Lauder; Polina Ware, director of technology and innovation at PPG; and Andrew Hurley, a professor at Clemson University specializing in food, nutrition and packaging sciences. Their sessions will focus on practical trade-offs between innovation, regulatory compliance and brand performance.

Industry groups say invitation-based forums such as AmericaPack have taken on greater relevance as packaging decisions increasingly intersect with corporate risk management and long-term capital planning. Unlike large trade fairs, executive summits allow senior leaders to compare approaches candidly and evaluate which solutions are delivering measurable results.

Looking ahead, analysts expect packaging strategies to continue converging around a narrower set of materials and designs that prioritize regulatory durability over rapid experimentation. In that environment, execution discipline and cross-functional coordination may prove as critical as new technology in determining which companies adapt most effectively.

 Source: AmericaPack Summit

SUNSHINE Spotlight: The AmericaPack Summit 2026 reflects how packaging leaders are recalibrating strategy as regulation, technology and cost pressures reshape the industry’s near-term priorities.