Welcome to the
Welcome to the
Circular Packaging Challenge
We connect the most innovative international startups with leading companies in the packaging sector.
Thank you to the 245 startups that applied in 2026!
We are currently evaluating the applications to select the 16 finalists.
We are also getting everything ready for the Final Event on November 19.
The Circular Packaging Challenge is seeking startups with technological solutions and new business models that align with the challenges of the companies that are part of Ecoembes.
We promote networking, business generation and the development of pilot projects between startups and companies in the packaging sector.
Who Can Participate
Startups already established, less than 10 years old, with a high degree of innovation and proposing new solutions for the circularity of packaging.
Companies that are part of Ecoembes, which will be able to innovate through collaboration with startups.
DON’T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY
Which
Challenges We
Pose in 2026
CHALLENGE 1
Food & Beverage
New circular packaging solutions
to drive circularity in the food sector.
• Ecodesign and new processes for the development of flexible packaging and the use of recycled materials.
• New alternative materials that enhance packaging circularity.
• Alternatives to traditional coatings in terms of format, material, and technology.
• Innovations aimed at reducing and reusing packaging in the beverage sector.
• Logistics innovations to improve the efficiency of circular models.
• Packaging incentive systems to promote circularity.
CHALLENGE 2
Beverages and Dairy Products
New packaging management models
for the beverage and dairy sectors.
CHALLENGE 3
Non-food
Technologies to optimise the sorting and recovery of
materials within the non-food sector.
• Separation, identification, and sorting technologies for complex packaging.
• Sorting systems for small-format packaging to enable material recovery.
• Innovative technologies for the reintroduction of recycled materials.
• Software solutions for packaging traceability and tracking throughout
the entire value chain.
• Technologies for data capture, monitoring, and packaging management
throughout their lifecycle.
• End-to-end management systems for refillable packaging.
CHALLENGE 4
Traceability
Traceability solutions to drive circularity
across the packaging value chain.
WINNERS 2024
MENCIÓN DE HONOR RETO 1
MacroCycle Technologies
Estados Unidos
Ponente en el Evento Final: Stwart Peña Feliz
MENCIÓN DE HONOR RETO 2
Polytag Limited
Reino Unido
Ponente en el Evento Final: Brian Cook
Benefits for Startups
- Opportunities for co-development and business acquisition through direct contact with packaging sector companies
- Participation in pilot projects to test startup solutions, showing the results to the companies in the sector
- €16,000 in additional prizes: €4,000 awarded to the winning startup in each of the four challenges
- Recognition, visibility and impact at European level as protagonists in the Circular Packaging Challenge
Startup Evaluation Criteria
Maturity and achievements
The maturity of the proposed solutions, positively assessing that these solutions are already in a commercialisation phase, as well as the achievements accomplished by the startups that allow evidence of the positive evolution of their trajectory.
Innovation
The level of innovation used by startups in the development of their products, services or in the deployment of their business models.
Link with challenges
The effectiveness in solving real problems related to the circular economy and framed in one of the 2 challenges set in the competition.
PHASES OF THE
COMPETITION
INITIAL APPLICATION
The startups will complete a questionnaire providing valuable information about their organisations and the solutions they propose in relation to the challenges of the competition.
FINALIST SELECTION
All applications will be evaluated, and the finalist startups will be selected through the constitution of an independent jury made up of professionals from Ecoembes and collaborating companies.
PITCH & DEMO DAY
The finalist startups will participate in a final event where they will make a pitch in front of the jury. In addition, networking actions will be organised between startups and collaborating companies.
PILOT PROJECTS
Ecoembes and the collaborating companies may propose the development of pilot projects with startups to test their solutions in a real environment and verify their full potential.
Muy pronto anunciaremos las empresas colaboradoras de Circular Packaging Challenge 2024
¿Quieres conocer las empresas colaboradoras que participaron en la primera edición?
EMPRESAS COLABORADORAS EN LA PRIMERA EDICIÓN DE 2022
COLLABORATING COMPANIES IN 2026
The registration period closed on September 18, 2026.
THANKS YOU TO ALL THE PARTICIPATING STARTUPS!
We are currently evaluating all applications to select the 16 finalists who will take part in the Final Event.
HOW WILL WE SELECT THE WINNING STARTUPS?
The finalist startups will present their solutions at the Final Event before a Jury made up of leading companies in the sector, circular economy experts, and investment funds.
It will be a very special event.
- 16 finalist startups from different countries will present their innovative solutions for the global packaging industry.
- Live competition to discover which projects will take home the awards in this edition.
- Round-table discussions with companies, experts, and key players from the innovation ecosystem.
- Networking with professionals from the packaging, sustainability, and circular economy sectors.
- And many more surprises.
¿WHEN?
November 19, 2026
From 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
¿WHERE?
In Madrid. Event venue Próxima Estación
Calle de Aniceto Marinas, 10
Participation as an audience member is free of charge, and the event will be 100% in person.
The audience will mainly consist of companies that are part of Ecoembes, but it will also be open to other organisations.
We will review your request and send you a confirmation email if your request to attend the
Final Event is approved.
