Dr. Johannes Bergmair, General Secretary of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), discusses the expanded partnership between interpack and WPO that was formalized in 2024. He highlights the Safe Food Initiative as a key collaboration project, emphasizing packaging’s role in reducing food waste globally. Bergmair reveals insights from the World Global Packaging Awards 2026 with 234 winners from 36 countries, noting that recyclability has become a baseline requirement rather than a special feature. He addresses the industry’s communication challenges, explaining how packaging is often misunderstood as a problem rather than a solution for food preservation and sustainability. The conversation covers the transformation toward circular economy, the impact of European regulations like PPWR, and the need for better industry advocacy. #interpack #packaging #sustainability #worldpackagingorganisation #recyclability #foodwaste #circulareconomy #packaginginnovation #WPO #packagingindustry