10 Top Packaging Solutions to Watch in 2026

Executive Summary: Which are the Top 10 Packaging Solutions to Watch?

1. Heket Packaging (Italy): Provides high-performance circular packaging for fast-moving consumer goods using reusable PET bottles with regenerable covers. Its recycling system compresses bottles for storage, minimizes transport volume, and enables automated separation with active tracking codes for closed-loop resource cycles.
2. CP Codes (India): Specializes in copy-proof packaging by embedding secure 2D codes into packaging lines. Its tags resist duplication, allow real-time smartphone authentication, and work with multiple printing methods without workflow changes or ongoing fees.
3. Excelis Packaging Automation (USA): Designs integrated packaging automation systems combining capping, filling, labeling, conveyors, and end-of-line handling. Its scalable modules increase throughput, reduce downtime, and lower costs for major global brands.
4. LOKARR (UK): Develops smart packaging with scannable labels linked to a mobile app for certification data and distribution analytics. Its recyclable packaging integrates geolocation tracking, prevents grade mixing, and delivers full traceability and compliance.
5. BEEBOX (Germany): Produces smart boxes for temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals using phase change materials, insulation, and IoT sensors. Its reusable boxes include GPS tracking, automated logging, and carbon calculators to secure medicines and ensure compliance.
6. Unbubble (India): Develops plant-based, biodegradable packaging peanuts that dissolve in water and act as mild fertilizer. It’s a non-toxic, water-soluble solution that reduces waste, prevents pollution, and promotes circular material use.
7. SyncLabel (Israel): Provides connected packaging with CRM integration and advanced digital printing. Its smart labels use QR codes for campaign management, blockchain-secured data, and transparent consumer engagement while meeting EU labeling rules.
8. Borro (Belgium): Offers a digital deposit-refund system for reusable cups. Each QR-linked cup processes instant refunds via return stations, preventing fraud and cutting staffing needs for large events.
9. ciclico (Argentina): Delivers a reusable packaging system with lifecycle tracking and impact metrics. Its AI-powered model predicts food demand, reduces waste, and provides Packaging-as-a-Service for schools, enterprises, and caterers.
10. MockIt (Netherlands): Builds a packaging ecodesign platform connecting FMCG manufacturers with producers. Its tools compare cost, recyclability, and emissions, automate sourcing and design approvals, and accelerate sustainable packaging launches.

Global Startup Heat Map highlights Emerging Packaging Solutions to Watch

Through the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering over 7M+ startups, 20K+ technology trends, plus 150M+ patents, news articles & market reports, we identified the top packaging startups.

The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights emerging packaging companies you should watch in 2026, as well as the geo-distribution of 2800+ startups & scaleups we analyzed for this research.

According to our data, we observe high startup activity in the USA and India, followed by the UK. The top 5 Startup Hubs for Packaging are London, New York City, Bangalore, San Francisco, and Dubai.

Discover Emerging Packaging Solutions to Watch in 2026

We hand-picked startups to showcase in this report by filtering for their technology, founding year, location, funding, and other metrics. These emerging packaging startups work on solutions ranging from copy-proof packaging and integrated packaging automation to connected packaging and a reusable packaging system.

1. Heket Packaging

• Founding Year: 2025
• Location: Genova, Italy
• Use For: High-Performance Circular Packaging for FMCG
• Prominent Partnerships: New ERA (Make Reuse the Norm), Pack4Food

Heket Packaging provides high-performance circular packaging for fast-moving consumer goods. It utilizes reusable PET bottles with regenerable covers, designed to capture and preserve packaging components in optimal condition, enabling efficient remanufacturing or material recycling.

Moreover, its high recycling system presses and ultrasonically welds bottles to compress packaging for storage, minimize transport volume, and enable automated material separation.

Active tracking codes, paired with management control software, identify, sort, and monitor materials by type and lifecycle stage. This approach turns plastic packaging into a closed-loop resource cycle that reduces raw material consumption, lowers operational costs, and reinforces sustainable supply chains.

2. CP Codes

• Founding Year: 2025
• Location: Bhubaneswar, India
• Use For: Copy Proof Packaging

CP Codes specializes in copy-proof packaging by embedding a secure 2D code directly into existing packaging lines. The process begins with SKU and packaging specification intake, code generation, in-line integration during production, and activation for real-time authentication via smartphone.

Moreover, its tags resist duplication by instantly flagging copied or digital versions, and are compatible with a wide range of printing methods, including flexographic, rotogravure, offset, and digital. The system introduces zero workflow changes and incurs no ongoing fees.

CP Codes turns packaging into a transparent authentication layer that protects brand integrity and enables consumers to verify authenticity instantly, thereby building trust.

3. Excelis Packaging Automation

• Founding Year: 2024
• Location: Red Wing, USA
• Use For: Integrated Packaging Automation
• Prominent Partnerships: Coca-Cola, Bayer, Kroger, Budweiser

Excelis Packaging Automation designs fully integrated packaging automation systems. Its solutions combine automated capping, liquid filling, labeling, padding, conveyors, infeed mechanisms, case handling, and end-of-line equipment into unified production lines with synchronized material flow and centralized control.

Moreover, its scalable modules adapt to both existing and new facilities, increasing throughput, reducing downtime, and lowering operating costs. By delivering tailored automation, the startup streamlines manufacturing workflows to maximize efficiency and support production objectives.

4. LOKARR

• Founding Year: 2023
• Location: London, UK
• Use For: Smart Packaging

LOKARR manufactures precision roofing battens that integrate smart packaging. Each unit features scannable labels linked to a mobile app, enabling instant access to certification data and distribution analytics. This solution integrates geolocation technology to log distribution points and verify installation sites, embedding this data in a secure, traceable PDF certification chain.

Moreover, the packaging is made of recyclable materials, prevents grade mixing, and incorporates laser-cutting for precise measurements. By combining material precision, transparent supply chain tracking, and project-specific documentation, LOKARR also delivers full traceability, compliance, and sustainability across every stage of production, distribution, and installation.

5. BEEBOX

• Founding Year: 2024
• Location: Kelsterbach, Germany
• Use For: Smart Box for Temperature-sensitive Pharma Materials

BEEBOX produces a smart box for the transportation of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals. This smart box integrates phase change materials, high-performance insulation, and IoT sensors to maintain precise thermal ranges and monitor the environment throughout transit.

Moreover, its reusable design incorporates automated data logging, GPS tracking, geofencing, and controlled-access security to simplify handling and prevent unauthorized opening. The startup refurbishes and recycles its boxes, while offering a carbon calculator for accurate emissions reporting.

BEEBOX protects critical healthcare products, enhances supply-chain visibility, and ensures full regulatory compliance. This empowers pharmaceutical companies to deliver life-saving medicines safely.

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6. Unbubble

• Founding Year: 2023
• Location: Gurgaon, India
• Use For: Biodegradable Packing Peanuts

Unbubble develops plant-based, biodegradable packaging peanuts that dissolve in water and eliminate post-consumer waste. It sources natural, renewable materials to produce a water-soluble solution that breaks down immediately after unboxing. This prevents long-term pollution from petroleum-based packaging.

Moreover, the startup designs the peanuts to act as a mild fertilizer when dissolved, which allows businesses to water plants with the solution. It also ensures the composition remains non-toxic and safe for creative activities or play.

This way, Unbubble reduces carbon emissions and leaves no residue to offer a sustainable packaging option that lowers environmental impact and promotes circular material use.

7. SyncLabel

• Founding Year: 2023
• Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
• Use For: Connected Packaging

SyncLabel specializes in connected packaging for brands in various industries. It integrates a CRM tailored for product experience with advanced digital printing technology to create smart, secure, and interactive product labels.

Each label features a unique QR code, thereby enabling centralized campaign management, real-time performance analytics, and blockchain-secured data for traceability, security, and transparent consumer engagement. This technology streamlines compliance with EU labeling regulations, strengthens brand trust, and empowers brands to build loyalty through transparency.

8. Borro

• Founding Year: 2023
• Location: Brussels, Belgium
• Use For: Digital Deposit-Refund System for Reusable Cups
• Funding: Raised EUR 350K in its initial funding round

Borro provides a digital deposit-refund system for reusable cups. It links each cup’s QR code to a visitor’s payment card at purchase and processes refunds instantly upon scanning at self-service return stations.

Moreover, the system prevents fraud by processing refunds only after a valid scan and eliminates extra transaction fees by transferring funds directly to bank accounts. These automated return stations reduce staffing requirements, streamline post-event logistics, and enable batch scanning to accelerate high-volume returns.

Also, Borro provides a secure, cost-efficient, and sustainable cup-management system while reducing environmental impact.

9. ciclico

• Founding Year: 2024
• Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Use For: Reusable Packaging System

ciclico provides a reusable packaging platform that tracks containers throughout their lifecycle and quantifies impact metrics. The system serves meals in durable containers, collects them at return stations, and sanitizes them for repeated use.

It leverages AI analytics to predict food demand, cut food waste, and simplify purchasing workflows. The startup serves enterprises, schools, universities, and event caterers committed to sustainable dining practices.

Moreover, making packaging circular enables organizations to lower material consumption, create traceable sustainability reports, and embed circular practices. The model operates as Packaging-as-a-Service, aligning operational efficiency with measurable environmental outcomes.

10. MockIt

• Founding Year: 2024
• Location: Vorden, Netherlands
• Use For: Packaging Design Platform

MockIt offers a packaging ecodesign platform for brands to create sustainable packaging. It connects FMCG manufacturers with packaging producers through accessible impact data comparing cost, carbon emissions, recyclability, and material choices.

Moreover, it accelerates time to market by optimizing sourcing decisions, enabling real-time design approvals, and automating image generation for e-retail listings and promotional materials.

Further, its global modular structure automates each stage of the packaging creation process, from demand-supply matching to content generation. MockIt also enables brands to bring sustainable, cost-efficient packaging to market faster, with less complexity and greater impact.

Discover All Emerging Packaging Startups

The packaging startups showcased in this report are only a small sample of all startups we identified through our data-driven startup scouting approach. Download our free Packaging Innovation Report for a broad overview of the industry or get in touch for quick & exhaustive research on the latest technologies & emerging solutions that will impact your company in 2026!