The winners of the 2026 Awards for Excellence were announced on Wednesday 13 May during a ceremony held in the Great Room at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House on Park Lane in London.

Following an opening address from letsrecycle.com editor Savannah Coombe, head judge Esther Carter, Chief Strategy Officer at PackUK, spoke to attendees about current developments within the sector before comedian Jimmy Carr hosted the presentation of awards across 21 categories.

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'Packaging Innovation of the Year' Award

Wastepack sponsored the Packaging Innovation of the Year category, a key award celebrating organisations that are redefining sustainable packaging.

This category recognises game-changing solutions that reduce waste, improve recyclability and embed circular economy principles into packaging design and delivery.

You can find out more about our awards sponsorship here: "Awards for Excellence 2026 – Wastepack Sponsors Packaging Innovation"

The results were:

WINNER: HeTa Innovation

Highly Commended: Liverpool Football Club

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Winners of the 2026 Awards are:

 

The Awards for Excellence 2026 are set to once again shine a spotlight on the organisations and individuals driving progress across the UK’s waste and resources sector.

Recognising outstanding achievements from local authorities, private operators, community organisations, technology providers and innovators, the awards continue to highlight the breadth and depth of talent shaping a more sustainable future.

This year’s submissions demonstrate strong momentum across key industry priorities, including improvements in recycling performance, measurable environmental impact, circular economy development, community engagement and operational excellence.

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Packaging Innovation of the Year

Wastepack is sponsoring the Packaging Innovation of the Year category, a key award celebrating organisations that are redefining sustainable packaging.

This category recognises game-changing solutions that reduce waste, improve recyclability and embed circular economy principles into packaging design and delivery.

Companies shortlisted for the Packaging Innovation of the Year category are:

Carl ZEISS Vision, Futamura UK, HeTa Innovation, Liverpool Football Club (LFC), and Ocado Retail.

A special shoutout to one of Wastepack's long-standing members, Futamura UK, for being shortlisted! Your groundbreaking compostable liquid sachets tackle a long‑standing industry challenge head‑on. Their innovation has attracted global attention, with their press release being picked up by 49 publications across 17 countries.

A representative from Futamura UK said, "We are thankful for the recognition of our dedication and innovation in the biobased arena".

Judges will be looking for bold, forward-thinking approaches that demonstrate measurable environmental impact, smarter material use and tangible progress towards sustainability goals.

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Shortlist Announced

The 2026 ceremony will take place on 13 May at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, bringing together finalists and industry leaders for what promises to be a standout event in the sector calendar.

Hosted by acclaimed comedian Jimmy Carr, the evening will celebrate excellence while providing a valuable opportunity for networking among senior decision-makers from across the UK’s recycling and resources landscape.

Building on the success of 2025 – where more than 750 attendees gathered in central London – the upcoming ceremony is expected to be even larger.

The shortlist for the 2026 Awards has now been confirmed, with organisers reporting another record year for entries across all categories.

The finalists represent some of the most innovative and impactful work currently taking place in the UK, setting the stage for a highly competitive and inspiring awards ceremony.

You can view the full list of shortlisted companies here.