Packaging Innovations 2026: Sabert and Colpac to showcase pEPR-ready foodservice packs & inks

Sabert and Colpac will attend Packaging Innovations 2026 in Birmingham, UK, February 11–12, where it will showcase its range of foodservice packaging, including the newly launched Pulp Ultra solution and inks suitable for direct food contact. 

“We expect to see a continued focus on sustainability, namely in relation to recyclability and packaging EPR (pEPR). This remains a key focus for many of our customers across the UK packaging marketplace as food brands look for solutions that support their sustainability goals and help them to reduce operating costs,” Andrew Grimbaldeston, European commercial director at Sabert and Colpac, tells Packaging Insights.

“We therefore anticipate packaging innovations that support these aims and we look forward to showcasing our solutions alongside those from other exhibitors.”

Grimbaldeston says the company will respond to the recyclability trend and regulatory pressure with its strategy, which “places ESG themes at the center of its innovation to support ambitious goals across sustainability and industry advocacy.”

Versatility with Pulp Ultra 

Sabert and Colpac will exhibit its recently launched Pulp Ultra at its booth. The fiber-based range is suitable for food applications across Europe, the UK, and Ireland. 

Sabert and Colpac will exhibit its Pulp Ultra fiber-based range suitable for food applications.Grimbaldeston describes Pulp Ultra as a, “no-intentionally-added-PFAS formulation made from over 95% bagasse fibers, enabling high-performance and versatility when packaging fresh, ready-to-eat dishes and hot foods.”

“We continue to develop the next generation of paperboard, pulp, and plastic solutions, designed to meet and exceed evolving regulatory requirements and customer needs across food-to-go and delivery.”

Pulp Ultra is said to be recyclable, falling under green in the UK’s pEPR Recycling Assessment Methodology (RAM), and thus receiving a 9% fee discount in accordance with the RAM illustrative fees for April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027. The company says the product is also compliant with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.

Direct food contact inks

Last year, Sabert Corporation Europe formally completed the acquisition of Colpac.

Grimbaldeston says: “The recent acquisition of Colpac brings a wealth of experience across paperboard food packaging and the development of associated technologies.”

“We have worked with several customers to further improve the recyclability of packs by replacing plastic laminate with direct food contact inks,” he adds.

“This technology helped customers to work toward their goals of eliminating unnecessary plastic, increasing recyclability, and reducing pEPR costs.”

Colpac previously implemented its direct food contact inks in packaging for a global food brand, which is said to have facilitated “simple recycling” by replacing the previously used fiberboard compost materials (amber under RAM), with uncoated paperboard (green). 

Ahead of the trade show, packaging experts identified pEPR as a key driver behind the industry’s shift toward data-driven solutions and functional design, with companies showcasing compliance-focused innovations.