The Best Packaging Awards 2025 will take place at IPACK-IMA in Milan from 27 to 30 May 2025—an event for the global packaging industry and a regular occasion to spotlight premium packaging solutions.
For over six decades, the awards—organized by the Italian Packaging Institute—have recognized groundbreaking developments in packaging, design, and material innovation. They play a pivotal role in shaping the industrial culture behind the global success of Italian packaging expertise.
This year’s awards have shortlisted finalists based on three core criteria: sustainability, technology, and user experience. These pillars reflect a shifting ecosystem across all market sectors—from food and beverages to cosmetics, personal care, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Current trends highlight doing more with less, improving packaging functionality and ergonomics, and boosting adaptability and scalability.
According to Francesco Legrenzi, director of the Italian Packaging Institute, IPACK-IMA is a flagship event for the sector. It offers a cross-technology, multi-market platform that delivers a comprehensive view of innovation in packaging. It showcases everything from technical solutions to digitalisation projects and new sustainable materials.
He added that the institute’s participation is vital—not only for staying attuned to market developments by engaging with both key industry players and end users, but also for reinforcing global connections, especially through strong international attendance and collaboration with the WPO. The Best Packaging Awards represent the pinnacle of their involvement, celebrating corporate commitment and expanding the network that makes the Institute an active force within the packaging innovation landscape.
Valerio Soli, chair of Ipack Ima Srl, said the partnership with the Italian Packaging Institute was a strategic decision for IPACK-IMA. As a fair that spans every market and places strong emphasis on innovation, it provides the ideal setting to celebrate leading-edge packaging solutions and design, largely driven by Italian manufacturers. Hosting hallmark events such as Best Packaging and the WorldStar Awards confirms IPACK-IMA’s role as a global incubator of innovation, he said.
He noted that while the event once focused solely on technology, it now embraces creativity, design, and ergonomics—daily challenges that packaging machinery must address to propel development forward. He invited the industry to attend IPACK-IMA to discover the future of processing and packaging and to connect with the people shaping it.