GERMANY | ProSweets Cologne will focus on solutions for a sustainable circular economy, as exhibitors address challenges in the sweets and snacks industry related to packaging design and recyclability.
Whether driven by consumer needs or legal regulations, sustainability is a key theme in the sweets and snacks industry. A combination of technical precision and the ideal packaging material is required.
In line with the requirements of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), companies have a strong interest in switching to paper or recyclable mono-films. Not only innovative packaging materials, but also highly flexible machines capable of processing them will be showcased at the fairgrounds in Cologne.
There is currently a broad public debate on which packaging is environmentally friendly. This question is on many consumers' minds and influences purchasing decisions at the point of sale. They have to respond to consumer demands and trade, and, last but not least, to legal stipulations by providing resource-saving materials and processes wherever possible.
One option is to optimise existing packaging by adjusting size and material strength, for example, through more economical cuts or thinner trays. The smaller packaging sizes can only be realised if they can be filled without compromising quality.
Pick-and-place robots play a central role in this process. They pick up the biscuits or chocolate bars and place them into trays, cartons or thermoformed trays with millimetre precision. This is why, in addition to cartoners and flow-wrapping machines, the focus at the fairgrounds in Cologne will be on innovative pick-and-place systems and complete packaging lines.
Packaging made eas(y)ier
But technical solutions alone are not enough. Packaging materials or processes often require comprehensive evaluation and testing to determine their suitability, not least in light of EU Regulation 2025/40 (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, PPWR), which is driving the implementation of sustainable solutions. It comes into force on the 12th of August 2026, with individual provisions coming into effect gradually.
In this way, only packaging that is verifiably recyclable or reusable is to be brought onto the market by 2030. At the same time, the use of recyclate is to be increased and disposable packaging is to be gradually reduced. Essential aspects also include reducing packaging weight.
The packaging specialists have been engaged with the trend towards sustainability for a long time and have, in this context, developed material-saving wrapping methods for small sweets or optimised their machines for the processing of thin films.
Now, companies exhibiting at the fairgrounds in Cologne are upgrading their technologies to position themselves for the future: With modular, high-performance packaging machines that have been further developed to process paper-based packaging materials.
"Circular packaging is no longer an option for successful brands; it is a necessity which is increasingly becoming a success factor. The new EU Packaging Regulation has accelerated this change even further," said Guido Hentschke, Director of ProSweets Cologne and ISM Ingredients.
Shaping the transformation to a circular economy
The PPWR pursues a clear goal: Packaging should become more eco-friendly throughout its life cycle. Sweet and snack manufacturers across Europe, as in the entire food industry, are thus faced with demands that will significantly change their packaging design, material choices, and logistics processes. It is thus essential to begin switching over at an early stage.
The machine manufacturers and packaging material producers are supporting their customers in implementing the PPWR regulations and developing future-proof packaging designs, including analysing material characteristics and conducting practical machine tests. At the outset, the experts analyse whether the existing packaging range complies with regulatory requirements or needs optimisation.
The Expert Stage in Hall 10.1 also gives insights into the PPWR. Here, a high-class line-up of experts will provide fact-based knowledge on packaging, recycling and the circular economy on all four days of the trade fair.
Making tubular bags future-proof
Above all, composite materials, indispensable in many sectors of the food industry, pose a significant challenge. They offer advantages like long shelf lives and good protection against moisture and oxygen, but are challenging to recycle. The exhibitors at ProSweets Cologne are addressing this issue and increasingly offer fully recyclable solutions.
For products like nut-free chocolate or muesli bars that don't require high barriers, paper-based materials can be a good solution. The newly developed monofilms or fibre-based alternatives, however, are more demanding regarding sealing. Here, innovative technologies are emerging that can process both conventional heat-sealing films and more sustainable variants.
The latest generation of flow-wrapping machines comprises highly flexible systems that can process both conventional and new films. They not only use ultrasonic technology to this end, but also ceramic heating elements for longitudinal sealing. Variable temperatures optimally adapt the process to suit both the requirements of the packaging material and the resilience of the product to be packed - this prevents damage to the packaging material and ensures gentle processing of both.
At the same time, the machines offer a high degree of flexibility: Various bag formats can be produced and filled successively with minimal changeover times. Only a few steps are needed to convert the machine to the respective product. Whereby all format areas and bag shapes can be processed. Different dosing units and special applications can be easily integrated.
Paper is gaining significance
Single-material products made of polyethene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) can be recycled without material separation – this provides clarity in the recycling stream and leads to truly circular products that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the PPWR also demands mandatory recycling shares for plastic packaging. But how can this be achieved? Whereas the stipulations for PET drinking bottles are within reach thanks to established materials and processes, the situation for packaging for sweets, cereals and snacks is considerably more difficult.
At present, there is hardly any material on the market that is suitable for sensitive food applications. Nevertheless, the recyclate share in this packaging has to be 10 percent by 2030.
Against this backdrop, many manufacturers are opting for paper-based packaging. However, paper is more delicate than plastic; it tears or creases more easily and must be handled carefully, especially in vertical packaging, where individually packed sweets are placed inside. The technologies shown at ProSweets Cologne offer numerous possibilities for innovative packaging made from fibre-based materials.
Switching from multipacks to paper also holds great potential: The barrier function and thus the product protection is already provided by the primary packaging – the multipack can do without further coatings and be made up to 95 percent paper.
Thanks to the subsequent adaptation of the sealing unit and forming shoulder, vertical tubular bag machines can be converted to paper without any loss in performance. This allows manufacturers to produce all common bag types, such as pillow and block bottom bags, and Doy stand-up pouches from paper, without creases or tears.
Support for PPWR-compliant reporting
A further aspect will be discussed at the exhibition stands and on the Expert Stage: the integration of the new requirements into existing quality management systems, because companies in the sweets and snacks industry will be required to provide more detailed reports on their packaging in the future.
The implementation of the PPWR will therefore be virtually impossible without digital tools. Visitors to ProSweets Cologne 2026 can familiarise themselves with this topic early on to minimise regulatory risks and benefit from sustainable innovations in the long term.
Solutions for the sweets and snacks industry will be showcased at ProSweets Cologne from the 1st to the 4th of February 2026.
