DUSSELDORF, GERMANY — interpack, the largest packaging trade fair, returned after a six-year hiatus. Throughout the week-long event, the show drew visitors from 155 countries and hosted 2,807 exhibitors, connecting the packaging industry on a global scale.
“With interpack we were able to finally hold one of the Messe Düsseldorf’s most important events again,” said Bernd Jablonowski, executive director at Messe Düsseldorf, the event venue that houses interpack. “It has reported back impressively and reinforced its position as the global platform for the exchange amongst all players in the packaging sector, related process industries and all user industries. Our targets were exceeded by far.”
Overall, about 143,000 visitors travelled to interpack 2023, with two thirds coming from abroad. In addition to many European countries, the largest visitor nations were India, Japan and the U.S. Of those in attendance, approximately 75% of interpack attendees hold middle or top management roles.
“interpack 2023 will reverberate with us for a long time – both in business and personal terms,” said Thomas Dohse, director of interpack. “The mood in the halls was great and the intercultural exchange enriching for all sides. It was ‘simply unique’ again.”
This year’s event centered on four key themes: circular economy, resource management, digital technologies and product safety. In addition to these themes, topics such as sustainability also defined interpack 2023, with a record-breaking number of exhibitors debuting packaging solutions aligned with this topic.
Other key attractions included the Spotlight Talks & Trends Forum and specials such as the start-up zone and the Women in Packaging event, which connected about 200 female professionals from around the world.
The trade fair returns to its triennial cycle, with the next interpack set for May 7-13, 2026.