From April 14 to 16, EMPACK in Gorinchem, Netherlands, opened its doors in bright spring weather and once again brought together a wide range of companies, experts, and decision-makers from the packaging industry.

Representing Cartonplast on site were Andre Haselhoff, Jan van der Vlist, Patrycja Stefanowska, and Sarah Rollinger.

What remains after three intensive days at the trade fair?

Open and collaborative dialogue – and personal connections

We were especially pleased to meet many of our existing customers in person while also establishing new contacts. The open and collaborative discussions, particularly during the busy second day of the exhibition, highlighted the importance of direct exchange for sharing experiences, identifying challenges, and exploring future opportunities.

Pooling and Reuse Systems in Practice

Discussions throughout the event highlighted the growing relevance of pooling models across the packaging industry. They offer an alternative approach to managing transport packaging in line with evolving operational and regulatory requirements.

With our reusable load carriers and established pooling concepts, we support customers in implementing reusable transport packaging systems within their supply chains.

Digitalization Meets Practice

A key topic was the growing demand for transparency and operational efficiency.

Our solutions for digital inventory tracking, traceability, and process visibility, including RFID integration in pallets and load carriers, generated strong interest and demonstrated the increasing importance of data-driven systems within logistics and packaging operations.

Innovations in the Reusable World

Beyond industrial applications, the exhibition also showcased a variety of approaches related to reuse systems:

• Reusable cups and trays in catering as examples of practical reuse systems
• Reusable pallet wraps as a return solution
• Clean and user-friendly deposit systems

Conclusion

EMPACK 2026 highlighted the growing relevance of digitally connected reusable systems across the packaging industry.

Cartonplast continues to contribute to this development through its pooling services and reusable transport packaging solutions.

We would like to thank all customers, partners, and new contacts for the inspiring conversations and look forward to the next steps together.