Circular Packaging Challenge
In response to the challenges posed by climate change and environmental pollution, the new EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation took effect at the beginning of the year. The PPWR establishes the legal framework for packaging and its waste in the EU. This means significant changes for companies and their production processes. For this reason, we have launched the new KUKA Innovation Award 2026 on the topic of “Circular Packaging.” The award primarily targets the life cycle of packaging in consumer goods from placing products into the packaging until retrieving the package in the recycling process.
We asked the participants to look into the future: Where and how can robots be used in packaging industries applications and contribute to optimal efficiency of robot applications? What role can AI play in the applications, tasks, sensors and vision systems? The solutions should address a valid problem that can be solved with an innovative robotic system. Market requirements should also be considered, and potential business opportunities highlighted.
