PACKAGING, INNOVATION AND DECARBONISATION
In this video interview for ALLFORPACK EMBALLAGE PARIS, she discusses the role of the packaging industry in this strategy, the importance of innovation and the conditions needed to strengthen its international reach.
As Chair of the Senate’s “Industry” Study Group, can you explain your role?
Anne-Sophie Romagny: As Chair of the Senate’s Industry Study Group, my role is to make the Senate a driving force for our national sovereignty. The group was re-established in November 2025 and brings together 41 members from across the political spectrum, united by a shared objective: to make France’s productive model more sustainable, innovative, competitive and attractive to our regions.
How does the packaging industry represent a key asset for the attractiveness and economic development of France’s regions?
Anne-Sophie Romagny: We work around four strategic pillars. The first is competitiveness: faced with increasing international competition, we absolutely need to remain dynamic. The second focuses on Made in France, and perhaps also at European level depending on the sector and how we can work together. Maintaining a strong, ambitious and balanced national strategy remains an important driver for us. The third pillar is human capital: it is essential to adapt training to local needs and bring it as close as possible to industrial requirements. Our fourth pillar is decarbonisation, helping our industries through the ecological transition while maintaining competitive costs and affordable energy prices for businesses.
The packaging sector is a major part of French industry, with more than 11,000 companies and over 160,000 direct jobs. It is a powerful driver for our regions. Its attractiveness is being strengthened by the growth of innovation, e-commerce and the smart packaging solutions we are seeking to develop. The sector is also at the forefront of the ecological transition, reflecting the commitment of regions pursuing sustainable development. Champagne, for example, was the first wine-growing region to carry out a carbon assessment, in 2003, and is aiming to reduce its emissions by 75% by 2050.
Why is supporting innovation essential to meeting the packaging challenges of tomorrow?
Anne-Sophie Romagny: Supporting innovation is a driver of our competitiveness. Our companies did not wait for regulatory constraints before innovating: their research and development teams are highly capable and have adapted to consumer and market needs long before being required to do so. The challenge is not to confuse regulatory gold-plating with innovation. Over-regulation tends to slow innovation by creating an administrative burden that our companies do not need. We need a certain degree of agility to continue innovating, and we must trust our entrepreneurs, who know how to innovate without unnecessary constraints.
From a regulatory perspective, the sector now operates within the framework of the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which entered into force in 2025 and becomes fully applicable from August 2026. Its aim is precisely to harmonise rules across the European Union and reduce fragmentation between Member States.
How can France promote its packaging expertise internationally?
Anne-Sophie Romagny: To promote our expertise internationally, France must support greater harmonisation at European level, drawing on techniques that have already proven their effectiveness and that our manufacturers know well. One example is Bag-in-Box, a particularly high-performing packaging format with strong environmental credentials, for which France is both the leading producer and the largest market worldwide. Our companies also stand out through the integration of smart and active systems that meet the safety requirements of the most dynamic markets.
Competitiveness, domestic manufacturing, human capital and decarbonisation: these priorities will also shape the programme of the PARIS TALKS, taking place from 29 June to 1 July 2027 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. As the biennial meeting place for the entire packaging value chain, the show will bring together the players driving the sector forward across four areas: packaging and materials, design and printing, processing and packaging, and intralogistics and transport. Industry professionals will find many of the issues discussed in this interview reflected at the event, from innovation and eco-design to industrial performance.