More than 250 senior leaders from the European cartonboard & folding carton sectors and industry suppliers gathered in Istanbul, Turkey for the 56th European Carton Makers Association annual congress in late September.
Participants heard from a range of speakers from the European Commission, LVMH, Bain & Co, CEPI, Young People in Print, Moorgate Capital, the acclaimed economist Prof. Emre Alkin, an intergenerational expert and more. The congress also included a CEO roundtable (Bobst, Heidelberg, Metsa Board, Smurfit Westrock and Kasad)
In his opening speech, ECMA President Jean-Francois Roche commented that 2025 has been a challenging year with consumer-packaged goods whilst Ali Can Duran, President of the Turkish packaging manufacturers association, Kasad spoke about how the future for fibre packaging is bright.
ECMA released the European Carton Prospects Report 2025 at the congress with the key findings presented by Neil Osment from NOA “these indicate a gradual recovery in volumes over the coming years supported by the continuing plastic to fibre transition, driven by consumer and brand owner preferences for sustainable fibre packaging options.”
On the Thursday evening at the Peninsula Hotel in Istanbul, participants celebrated the winners of the European Carton of Excellence awards.
Next year’s event will be held in Rome, Italy, from 16 to 18 September 2026.
