Kenya Joins the World in Celebrating the First World Packaging Day
6th September, 2026 – Packaging That Protects Products, People and the Planet
On 6th September, 2026, Kenya and the East African Community join the global packaging
community in marking the inaugural World Packaging Day. Established by the World
Packaging Organisation (WPO), the day commemorates the anniversary of WPO’s founding
on 6th September, 1968 and shines a spotlight on packaging as a strategic enabler of modern
life.
As a full member of WPO and the leading professional packaging body in Kenya and Eastern
Africa, the Institute of Packaging Professionals Kenya (IOPPK) proudly partners with WPO to
bring this global observance home. Our mandate is clear: to build packaging skills, raise
standards, and advance solutions that make Kenyan and regional products competitive,
safe and sustainable.
Why World Packaging Day Matters for Kenya and the EAC
Packaging is far more than a container. In our region it sits at the centre of three urgent
priorities:
Food security: More than 30 per cent of food produced in East Africa is lost after harvest.
Good packaging protects produce, extends shelf life and improves food safety.
Circular economy and compliance: Kenya’s Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022, the
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations, and the Kenya Plastics Pact are driving a
shift from single-use to reusable, recyclable and recycled-content packaging. Harmonized
EAC standards reinforce this transition.
Trade and industrialization: From tea, coffee and horticulture to pharmaceuticals and e-commerce, smart packaging is what allows East African products to reach distant markets in
good condition and meet international buyer requirements.
The global themes of World Packaging Day align directly with these realities:
• Packaging for Progress
• Packaging Against Food Waste
• Packaging and Economic Growth
• Packaging and Sustainability
A Call to the Industry and the Public
Packaging is present in every aspect of daily life. It enables efficient supply chains, protects
products, reduces waste and supports better quality of life. In Kenya we must continue
shifting the narrative: packaging is not waste – it is a resource, a technology and an engine
for jobs, food security and sustainability.
We invite packaging manufacturers, brand owners, retailers, recyclers, academia, regulators
(NEMA, KEBS, KEPHIS), media and consumers across Kenya and the East African Community
to join us. Share your initiatives, host local activities, and amplify the conversation under the
global hashtag #WorldPackagingDay.
Together with WPO and the wider packaging community, IOPPK remains committed to
enhancing packaging skills for a competitive and sustainable Kenya – and a stronger East
Africa.
Better Packaging, Better Life
For more information or to partner with IOPPK:
info@ioppk.com | +254 736 227 102 | www.ioppk.com
Learn more about World Packaging Day: www.worldpackaging.org/WPD
Share your activities: www.packagingforum.org
