Inspiration, Innovation, Impact – Get Ready for Pharmapack 2025

This article goes into depth about waht you can expect to find on site at Pharmapack 2025, taking place in Hall 7.2 of the Porte de Versaille in Paris, France on the 22nd and 23rd January.

There is no better place to learn about trends and new discoveries that will be determining the future of the industry, as well as bringing together experts and potential partners in one place to connect and build relationships. 

Learn how to elevate your offering in the conference theatres

The show this time round will feature an expanded agenda, exceeding expectations from previous editions. The main tracks of the conference theatres come under the main themes of Device and Packaging Innovation, Large Volume Drug Delivery, Contract Packaging, and for the second time as a full track, Sustainability. The very popular Start-Up feature will also be a key focal point for the exhibition, with pitches being delivered by each of the companies. 

In the Device & Packaging Innovation track, on Wednesday 22nd January, there is a focus on ease and suitability. How can the packaging be designed to be the most efficient, for ease of sterilisation, for ease of delivery, and for ease of recyclability. The track covers the latest developments in the sector, including lightning talks on ophthalmic drug delivery and designing packaging for product use in an emergency. Later on in the day there is a Keynote describing the journey to develop a sustainable low-cost reuseable autoinjector, and a panel discussion on: ‘Device and Packaging Innovation: Toward Customer-Centric Commercialisation’.

The Large Volume Drug Delivery track this year takes a step back, focusing on really understanding the field, and what is needed, from a fresh perspective. The Keynote kicking off the afternoon is delivered by Asmita Kanolkar, Senior Director at SMC Pharma Services, on ‘Towards new devices or new formulations?’ – where Kanolkar weighs up the arguments for each option, covering patient centricity and cost considerations, and the challenges encapsulated in all of it. The afternoon features interesting lightning discussions around the patient experience, namely regarding the influence device design has on injection pain. The track sponsors, BD Medical, touch on a trending topic in the field surrounding biologics, with representative Peter Skutnik, Business Director – Wearables, giving a keynote speech on ‘Navigating Through the Challenges and Opportunities With Expanding Design Space Requirements for Complex Biologic Formulations’. 

On Thursday the 23rd January the morning focuses on Contract Packaging. The track starts with the broader view, looking at the strategic journey of CPOs and CDMOs, then moves on to more focused examples in the lightning talks. Here, digitalisation is a key discussion point, with talks on ‘The Digital Revolution in Clinical Trials: Relabelling with Digital Display Labels’ from Brian Sheridan, VP Global Adherence & Clinicals, WestRock, and Matt Bolton, Director of Clinical Supply Technology Innovation, MSD, and ‘The Growing Need for Small-Batch Production and Embracing Digitalisation and Cutting-Edge Technologies’ from Lars Skole, Managing Director, LSS – Labelling Systems Scandinavia. 

Sustainability as a key part of considering pharmaceutical packaging has been something that Pharmapack has been keen to recognise for several years. This coming January sustainability will feature more than ever before, in a track held across both days of the show. The opening Keynote is delivered by Jayne Paramor, EMEA Service Line Lead – Packaging for Anthesis, on ‘Rethinking Sustainable Packaging – Turning Costs into Investments for Transformative Leadership’.  The talk covers a new way of looking at business models and systems, as well as the financial implications, of creating a more sustainable packaging organisation. 

The day continues covering topics such as glass packaging solutions, plastic reduction, and recycling, including from the perspective of the recycling centres themselves. 

On the Thursday the morning starts with a coffee session, allowing space and time for networking, which is then followed by a talk from Agnes Maignien, Head of Event Content – Pharma, Informa Markets, on ‘How To Be a More Sustainable Exhibitor and Event Planner?’. This talk highlights how important it is to set an example in both the event and pharma industries, and provides practical advice and strategies for becoming a sustainable exhibitor. 

The track closes with a panel discussion on the future of sustainability in packaging, how this looks across the whole value chain, and then a final talk on sustainability and partnerships, where the industry is encouraged to build collaborative practices to revolutionise the industry. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Pharmapack and beyond

Informa Markets is dedicated to creating a space where everyone is included and heard, and showcasing the importance of having a diverse pharma workforce. For this reason we are making a commitment to have 50% of female speakers and 40% representation of POC on stage across our events by 2030. 

It is also important to educate our audiences on recognising the value of diversity and inclusion in the everyday running and overall improvement of the pharmaceutical industry, therefore Pharmapack is hosting a panel discussion on the 23rd January at 13:05 to 13:55 entitled ‘Designing Accessible Pharmaceutical Packaging: Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Patient-Centred Care’. 

According to the WHO, 15% of people live with some form of disability, a figure that is predicted to rise in the coming years. This reinforces how important it is that pharmaceutical packaging is designed with the patient in mind, to ensure ease of use of medicine and devices, safety, and adherence. 

Pharmaceutical companies recognise the need for this patient population and are working to include DE&I when developing packaging materials and packaging for products. This panel of experts delves into just how companies are doing this. The speakers include: Barbara Hulst, Head of Artwork & Packaging Development, Senior Director, UCB, Estelle PEYRARD, TechLab, APF France handicap, and Julien Dixon, Human Factors, Clarimed. 

Promoting pioneers in the Start-Up Market and Innovation Gallery

The Start-Up Market, now an established feature of Pharmapack events, is a melting pot of innovative ideas from fresh new companies, just starting out in the industry. This Year, the Start-Ups will be exhibiting these products, solutions, and machinery, that will be meeting the needs of an ever changing pharmaceutical industry. 

Also creating space for ingenuity and progress is the Innovation Gallery. This features the products on the forefront of transformation and improvement for the packaging industry, from wearable devices to glass packaging solutions. Tours of the gallery to showcase each of the products will be taking place over the two days. 

Celebrating progress at the Pharmapack Awards Ceremony

This year, the Awards Ceremony at Pharmapack has undergone an upgrade. The evening will take place on the first day of the event and will be a space for celebration, networking, and a coming together of all the industry from our attendees to exhibitors, to of course, the nominees. 

The awards this year were opened up to entries from anyone  in the wider community, ranging from those with years behind them to innovative thinkers new on the scene. This year we are also pleased to be able to release a shortlist of our most promising entries across each of the categories. 

The awards cover a complete range of categories across the packaging industry, and with a new award this year, which aligns with our diversity values for Woman of the Year: 

Drug Delivery Innovation - This category aims to recognise innovative approaches to safe and effective drug administration, across ophthalmic, parenteral, oral, respiratory, transdermal, and topical drug delivery solutions. 
Packaging Innovation - This category aims to recognise innovation in technologies, products, materials, and services relating to primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging solutions for finished drug forms.

Start-Up Innovation Award - This award looks to celebrate and promote those companies who are leading the way for the future of packaging. We want to recognise and celebrate the achievements of small or micro enterprises who have had a great idea, spotted the opportunity and taken the risks to launch a new product or service.

Eco-Design Award - Recognising products and solutions which prioritise recyclability, environmental awareness, and a reduced carbon footprint.

Patient-Centric Design - For this award, the jury members are looking for entries that are designed to improve safety, experience and adherence for the patient or caregiver. 

Woman of the Year - An award to recognise women leaders in pharma packaging. This category celebrates those who seek to inspire and uplift colleagues and peers, are committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and act as an advocate for progression and change in the pharma packaging sector.

Establishing sustainability at the heart of the industry

The sustainability team at CPHI and Pharmapack are dedicated to entrenching ESG values into the industry, from an event perspective, and into each aspect of the pharmaceutical supply chain, of which packing and materiality is a huge part. The team will be on site at Pharmapack at the Sustainability Centre, stand K77, conducting on site interviews and hosting a Sustainability networking breakfast event on Day 2 between 8:30 and 9:30am. The Sustainability Centre, the brand new Partners Village, and the networking opportunities will provide a space for experts and curious minds alike to get together and discuss the most pressing environmental and social issues in the industry today. This will also be supported by our sustainability partners this year, Adelphe, Alliance to Zero, and Polymeris. 

The Better Stands Programme will also be running within the event, an initiative encouraging exhibitors to build more sustainable stands, using environmentally friendly or reuseable materials. 

After the successful launch of the Sustainability Collective at CPHI Milan in October 2024, the Collective will be taking the opportunity to meet in person once again in Paris to discuss the latest developments and initiatives in the pipeline. 

The event is set to be even more successful than last year, with increased collaboration across the industry and building enthusiasm around sustainability and diversity, and education across several fields, all being given the space for visitors to stuck into across the 2 days. 

See more details about what you can look forward to at Pharmapack in Paris here.