The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) will hold its 114th Board Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka, hosted by its local member, the Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging (SLIP). The program will bring together a delegation of 34 WPO members, from 5 continents, to discuss the future of the organization, packaging, innovation, and sustainability.
The week-long program (27 October to 31 October) will include high-level meetings, working groups, the Global Packaging Congress, and the Sri Lanka Packaging Awards Ceremony, creating a comprehensive agenda that reflects WPO’s mission of ‘Better quality of life through better packaging for more people.’
Key events and highlights
October 27 – Executive meeting (for WPO executives and ambassadors), followed by a welcome cocktail hosted by SLIP.
October 28 – WPO working group meetings
October 29 – The 114th WPO board meeting, followed by a networking cocktail
October 30 – Global Packaging Congress, Sri Lanka Packaging Awards Ceremony, and Packaging Ball
According to WPO president Luciana Pellegrino, it will be an excellent opportunity for networking and for planning 2026 for WPO and its members. “We are extremely honored and pleased to return to Sri Lanka for another Board Meeting. Back to the other two WPO past missions, we were deeply impressed by the potential of the local packaging industry. This time, I am sure we will witness its evolution and engage with our members and local entrepreneurs to gain new insights into the sector, its challenges, and opportunities.
This will also be WPO’s final official event before its participation at COP30. Together with representatives from UNIDO and the FSSC Foundation, I will have the honor of representing WPO at the Food Hub Pavilion, in a meaningful discussion on the role and relevance of packaging in reducing food loss and waste, on 12 November in Belém (Brazil).”
“As the President of SLIP, I welcome all delegates for the upcoming WPO events when professionals in the industry, from around the globe, unite in purpose to explore best practices of sustainability, regulation, innovation and waste management. This is a landmark event for Sri Lanka and especially for SLIP as we celebrate 50 years of excellence in the industry. The knowledge gained from these events will help to drive the local industry forward,” says Thusith Wijesinghe, president of SLIP.
“Today, we stand at the threshold of transformation in one of the world’s most vital industries. Packaging is more than boxes, bottles, and labels. It is the art and science of safeguarding our products, minimizing waste, and connecting producers to consumers in meaningful ways. Thank you WPO for placing the trust in us to host these events and wish all the delegates a pleasant and a memorable stay in Sri Lanka,” Wijesinghe says.
