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Working Programme
Wednesday 16 September 2026
11.00 - 12.00
ECMA Tobacco Forum meeting - for Forum members only
13.00 - 14.30
ECMA Pharma Forum meeting - for Forum members only
15.00 - 16.30
ECMA Executive Committee meeting - for Exec Committee members only
Thursday 17 September 2026 - Day 1
Dress Code: Business
09.00 - 09.15
INTRODUCTION & ECMA UPDATE
Congress moderators Anja Lange & Mike Turner introduce themselves and set the scene for the congress around this year's theme: ‘Folding Cartons: Powering Future Packaging’
09.15 - 09.30
OFFICAL OPENING
Jean-François Roche, President of ECMA, welcomes all delegates and opens the ECMA 57th Annual Congress.
09.30 - 09.50
WELCOME TO ROME
Speaker to be confirmed
09.50 - 10.00
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #1 - BOBST
10.00 - 10.30
ECONOMICS UPDATE
Fadi Hassan, Research Associate LSE and CEPR
10.30 - 11.15
COFFEE BREAK & NETWORKING
11.15 - 11.23
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #2 - SISTRADE
11.25 - 11.50
THE IMPORTANCE - AND CHALLENGE - OF MAINTAINING CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT
Alex Baverstock, UK Product & Pack Testing Lead at IPSOS
11.50 - 11.58
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #3 - RDM GROUP
12.00 - 12.30
MARKET UPDATE
Neil Osment, Managing Director at NOA Ltd.
12.30 - 12.35
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #4 - FLINT GROUP
12.35 - 13.50
LUNCH & NETWORKING
13.50 - 14.30
CEO ROUND TABLE
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Eric Bacourt (CEO at Hinojosa Packaging Group)
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Michele Bianchi (CEO at RDM Group)
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Jean-Pascal Bobst (CEO at Bobst Group)
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Antonio D'Amato (President of Seda International Packaging Group)
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Lars Lundin (CEO at Holmen Paper and Board)
14.30 - 14.35
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #5 - VALCO MELTON
14.35 - 15.00
TOPIC TO BE CONFIRMED
Jori Ringman, Director General at Cepi
15.00 - 15.05
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #6 - HEIDELBERG
15.05 - 15.35
TEA BREAK & NETWORKING
15.35 - 16.20
CELEBRITY KEYNOTE
Speaker to be confirmed
16.20 - 16.25
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #7 - BAUMER HHS
16.25 - 16.30
RECAP & CLOSE DAY 1
19.00
Departure by coach from the lobby of Hotel Cardo Roma for the European Carton Excellence Award Dinner. In the gardens of Villa Miani you will enjoy cocktails including an incredible panoramic view of the city of Rome followed by dinner on the terrace of the villa.During dinner the winners of the European Carton Excellence Award, the Pro Carton Young Designers Award and the Student Video Award will be announced.Dress Code: Smart Business (Suit and Tie)
Friday 18 September 2026 - Day 2
Dress Code: Business
09.00 - 09.10
WELCOME TO DAY 2 & RECAP DAY 1
Congress Moderators Anja Lange & Mike Turner
09.10 - 09.15
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #8 - IMPACK
09.15 - 09.35
THE RECYCLABILITY ROADMAP FOR FIBRE PACKAGING, ENSURING LEGISLATIVE COMPLIANCE
Anne Guillou, Packaging Circularity Expert in charge of Recyclability & Reuse at L'Oréal
09.35 - 09.40
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #9 - KOMORI
09.40 - 10.10
TO BE CONFIRMED
10.10 - 10.40
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING AT A CROSSROADS
Ciaran Little, VP Global Consulting at Smithers
10.40 - 11.15
COFFEE BREAK & NETWORKING
11.15 - 11.20
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #10 - STORA ENSO
11.20 - 11.50
DEVELOPING THE FOLDING CARTON BARRIER MARKET:
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE INDUSTRY
Kalle Turkkila, Director, Paper, Packaging and Hygiene at AFRY Management Consulting
11.50 - 12.20
THE BRAND OWNERS FUTURE PERSPECTIVE ON PACKAGING
Thomas Reiner, CEO at Berndt+Partner Group
12.20 - 12.25
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #11 - METSÄ BOARD
12.25 - 14.00
LUNCH & NETWORKING
14.00 - 14.05
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #12 - GIETZ
14.05 - 14.35
MEET THE NEXT GENERATION
Q&A with the winners of the Pro Carton Young Designers Award
14.35 - 14.55
A VIEW FROM THE USA
Emily Leonczyk, President at Paperboard Packaging Council
14.55 - 15.00
SPOTLIGHT SESSION #13 - KOENIG & BAUER
15.00 - 15.15
360° INDUSTRY UPDATE - PART 1
Ian Lloyd, Chairman ECMA MCC and Senior Director, Marketing – Home, Health & Beauty – Smurfit Westrock
15.15 - 15.30
360° INDUSTRY UPDATE - PART 2
Nick Mockett - Moorgate Capital
15.30 - 15.45
REFLECTIONS ON THE FOLDING CARTON SECTOR, ECMA & THE PHARMA FORUM
Roel van Eerd, Chairman ECMA Pharma Forum and former Director at Royal van Eerd B.V.
15.45 - 16.00
THANK YOU & CONGRESS CLOSE
Congress Moderators Mike Turner & Anja Lange together with Jean-François Roche, ECMA President
19.00
Departure by bus from the lobby of Hotel Cardo Roma for an Italian evening underneath the olive trees at the terrace of Restaurant l'Antico Casale La Carovana. After dinner you can show your best moves on the dance floor.Dress Code: Smart Casual
Please note that all details mentioned on this page may be subject to change.
Many thanks to our sponsors for helping to make the ECMA Congress happen:
ECMA Phone Number
+32 28 943 910
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