Without a shared space for creativity, the logic of the 3Rs—reduce, recycle, and reuse—will quickly reach its limits. Without a willingness to change beyond regulatory requirements, innovation will remain confined to familiar frameworks. And without the sharing of ideas, optimizing packaging will take time—too much time.

It is becoming urgent for the French packaging ecosystem to design solutions that are part of a more virtuous, sober, and carbon-free economy. This sector, which is essential to the economy as it connects producers and consumers, must now move from individual intention to collective action.

One of the spaces conducive to this dynamic is Packathon™, the third edition of which will be held on December 4 and 5 in Dole, in the Jura region. Inspired by hackathons, those innovation marathons well known to developers, Packathon™ relies on time constraints, emulation, and rapid prototyping to tackle complex challenges.

The event applies the principles of design thinking and agile methods to remove the concrete obstacles encountered by the ecosystem in its transformation. It relies on the decompartmentalization of expertise and intergenerational dialogue to stimulate creativity.

Around fifty students from all regions and various industrial disciplines are already ready to push the boundaries and accelerate innovation in the field of packaging. They will work in teams with marketers, machine manufacturers, and eco-organizations to bring as many projects as possible to fruition.

Supervised by coaches who are experts in innovation, creativity, and agile methods, Packathon™ is supported by GEPPIA, Léko and Sidel as major partners. It aims to make packaging a lever for transformation rather than a mere scapegoat.

For Didier Saussereau, Product Range Director for Canning at Sidel, "Packathon™ promotes diversity among participants, while remaining rooted in the packaging industry. It brings freshness to our development processes by encouraging the emergence of ideas that are not constrained by force of habit and our internal standards. It thus opens up new perspectives in terms of innovation."