Nyhedsbrev

Innovation Course:
Medico & Pharma

Become a frontrunner in Medico & Pharma – circular packaging without compromising safety

The medical industry is subject to the same packaging requirements as other sectors, but with important exemptions for contact-sensitive packaging.

In this track, you will gain an overview of the regulatory framework and practical tools for working with circular packaging within the specific constraints of the pharmaceutical and medical industry – and position your company as a frontrunner in circular medico packaging.

Please be aware: Medico & Pharma is the only innovation course that we offer in English.

Overview of your course, key dates and pricing

Joint Teaching Day

Date: April 8th 2026
Time: 09:00–17:00
Venue: Comwell Middelfart, Karensmindevej 3, 5500 Middelfart, Denmark

On the joint training day, we establish a shared foundation for the entire programme. You will be introduced to circular economy principles for packaging, different material types, environmental optimisation of packaging design, and the regulatory requirements shaping the packaging of the future.

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Innovation Course – Medico & Pharma

Date: April 15th–16th 2026
15th: 09:00–17:00
16th: 09:30–17:00
Venue: Medicoindustrien, DTU Science Park, Bøge Allé 5, 2nd Floor, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark

This course is designed for professionals working with packaging, compliance, quality or sustainability in the medical industry who want to be prepared for the requirements of the future.

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Closing Conference

Date: June 18th 2026
Time: To be determined…
Venue: Comwell Middelfart, Karensmindevej 3, 5500 Middelfart, Denmark

The innovation courses conclude with a joint conference where results and experiences from the four sector-specific tracks are put into perspective and shared.

The conference takes place as a four-hour event in June 2026 (expected in week 25). Participation is included in the course.

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Price for RETUR members

DKK 12,390 excl. VAT

Price for non-members

DKK 18,585 excl. VAT

Forside_kopi

Joint Training Day

April 8th 2026

Time: 09:00–17:00

Middelfart

Comwell Middelfart, Karensmindevej 3,
5500 Middelfart

Joint training day: Your gateway to the circular packaging transition

The joint training day provides a shared foundation for the programme. Participants are introduced to circular economy principles for packaging, key material types, packaging design optimisation and the regulatory requirements shaping future packaging solutions.

The day brings together participants from all sectors and provides an overview of the circular principles needed to develop packaging that is environmentally responsible, supports competitiveness and optimises environmental fees.

Participants will also gain practical tools to analyse and optimise their packaging choices before continuing with their own packaging challenges in the sector-specific innovation tracks.

Please be aware: The Joint Training Day will be conducted in Danish, but we will provide the presentations in English and use AI to generate English text versions during presentations and teaching.

Themes of the day:

  • Introduction to sustainability, climate linkages and ESG frameworks, Gitte Haar, Owner and Founder, Center for Circular Economy
  • Packaging in a circular economy, Gitte Haar, Owner and Founder, Center for Circular Economy
  • The role of regulation, Rikke Halkjær Kristensen, Head of Professional Affairs, Emballageretur
  • Rebound effects of sustainability, Anna Lodberg Mammen, Research Assistant, REBOUNDLESS, Section of Design for Sustainability, DTU Construct
  • Environmentally responsible packaging, Gitte Haar, Owner and Founder, Center for Circular Economy
  • Eco-modulation and design principles, Rikke Halkjær Kristensen, Head of Professional Affairs, Emballageretur
  • Handling packaging at end-of-life – from waste to reuse and recycling, Niels Toftegaard, Head of Communications, Brancheforeningen Cirkulær
  • Branding new packaging solutions, Christian Poll, Sustainability Expert, DTU, the Danish Consumer Ombudsman and IDA’s Expert Corps

Target audience
Participants enrolled in one or more of the sector-specific innovation tracks.

Medical - Kopi

Innovation Course – Medico & pharma

April 15.th – 16.th 2026

15th: 09:00–17:00
16th: 09:30–17:00

Hørsholm

Medicoindustrien, DTU Science Park,
Bøge Alle 5, 2nd floor, 2970 Hørsholm

Circular packaging for Medico & Pharma – meeting new requirements without compromising safety

Overview

The Medico & Pharma sectors face the same packaging requirements as other industries, but with important exemptions for contact-sensitive packaging and strict requirements for safety, sterility and documentation. The challenge is not whether packaging can become more circular, but how to do so within these constraints.

In this track, you will gain an overview of the regulatory framework and practical tools for developing circular packaging solutions that meet these requirements while preparing your organisation for EPR, PPWR and future circular economy rules.

Target audience

The Medico & Pharma track is designed for professionals working with packaging, compliance, quality or sustainability in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, where packaging must meet strict requirements for safety, sterility and documentation.

The course focuses on how circular packaging solutions can be developed within this regulatory framework – including EPR and upcoming EU packaging rules such as PPWR – without compromising patient safety.

Relevant roles include:

  • Packaging Engineers and Design Teams
  • Supply Chain and Logistics Managers
  • Sustainability Managers
  • Quality Assurance and Compliance Managers
  • Procurement professionals
  • Marketing and Brand Managers
  • R&D and Innovation Teams

Themes of the course:

  • The theoretical foundation for circular packaging, Gitte Haar, owner and founder of the Center for Circular Economy
  • The regulatory framework that applies in relation to the medico and pharma industry, Rikke Halkjær Kristensen, Subject Matter Expert in Emballageretur
  • Industry presentation – what are the core issue for transforming packaging in medico and pharma? To be updated
  • Circular design strategies in practice, Gitte Haar, owner and founder of the Center for Circular Economy
  • Inspiration for how to approach the transition in practice, Company case from MSG Design and Development Andreas Munk Lillie, Develpoment engineer og Martin Høier Thomsen, senior Sustainability and R&D from MGS Design & Development
  • Design for recycling medical and pharmaceutical packaging, Stena Recycling
  • Presentation from UPM Adhesive Materials, Claus Søndergaard, Labeling Development Manager at UPM Adhesive Materials

Working sessions for participants

  • 2-minute packaging innovation pitch, participants, with sparring from speakers and instructors
  • Group work: Dialogue about ideas and possibilities, participants, with sparring from speakers and instructors
  • Analyze own packaging in the circular roadmap, participants, with sparring from speakers and instructors
  • Innovation methods for developing circular packaging solutions, based on participant’s solutions, participants, with sparring from speakers and instructors
  • Mini-innovation sprint: Development of new packaging solutions, participants, with sparring from speakers and instructors
  • Pitch of participants’ solution proposals and feedback, participants, with sparring from speakers and instructors
  • Case selection for joint case collection, participants, with sparring from speakers and instructors

Packaging for transportation and logistics

The Transport Packaging innovation track is relevant for all other sectors and is therefore offered both as a standalone track and as an add-on to the other innovation tracks.

Please be aware: The Transport Innovation track will be conducted in Danish, but we will provide the presentations in English and use AI to generate English text versions during presentations and teaching.

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Closing conference

June 18th 2026

Time: To be determined

Middelfart

Comwell Middelfart, Karensmindevej 3,
5500 Middelfart

Closing Conference: Insights, networking and case collection

The innovation courses conclude with a joint conference where results and experiences from the four sector-specific tracks are brought together, reflected upon and shared. The conference will take place as a four-hour event on June 18th 2026 (the precise time is to be determined), and participation is included as part of the innovation course.

The conference marks the culmination of the innovation programme and serves as a shared meeting point where participants from across industries and value chains can reflect on their learning, exchange experiences and set the direction for future work with circular packaging.

Launch of the case collection

A central highlight of the conference will be the launch of the case collection Circular packaging in practice – from challenge to solution.

The case collection brings together selected cases and solutions from the innovation courses and documents how companies have worked in practice with circular packaging, extended producer responsibility and PPWR. At the conference, the key insights and cross-cutting learnings will be presented, and the case collection will subsequently be published as a shared output of the programme.

Please be aware: The Closing Conference will be conducted in Danish, but we will provide the presentations in English and use AI to generate English text versions during presentations and teaching.

Target audience

Participants enrolled in one or more of the sector-specific innovation tracks.

Lead instructors

Gitte_SH

Gitte Haar

Author, speaker and instructor, Founder and Owner of the Center for Circular Economy

Gitte Haar has spent the past 15 years helping companies adapt to a green and circular economy.

She is the author of several books on sustainability, circular economy and leadership, and advises Danish companies on ESG and the changing market conditions of the green transition.

Gitte is the founder and director of the Center for Circular Economy and serves on the boards of companies pursuing green and circular strategies. The Center also supports companies in implementing CSRD through a digital ESG platform.

Rikke_SH

Rikke Halkjær Kristensen

Subject Matter Expert,
Emballageretur

Rikke Halkjær Kristensen has worked actively with extended producer responsibility for packaging (EPR) since the beginning of its implementation in Denmark in 2022.

She specialises in translating complex regulatory requirements into practical solutions that support the green transition, circular principles and compliance. Her expertise includes monitoring regulatory and market developments, advising on circular packaging design, and developing tools that help companies optimise their packaging in line with emerging environmental regulations, including EPR and the upcoming PPWR.

Laerke

Lærke Berth Ærenlund

Innovator and Advisor, Center for Circular Economy and LÆRK – Circular Innovation

Lærke Berth Ærenlund holds an MSc in Design & Innovation from DTU and has more than 14 years of experience working at the intersection of circular economy, innovation management and practical implementation.

She is the founder of LÆRK – Circular Innovation, where she helps companies translate circular strategies into concrete solutions that can be implemented and embedded in everyday operations.

Lærke is also affiliated with the Center for Circular Economy, where she contributes to project management, communication and the development of circular innovation initiatives.

Sign up here

Register for one of the innovation courses below. Please note that registration is binding. After registering, you will receive an invoice. If the course is fully booked, you will be placed on the waiting list.
Innovationsforløb - Medico & Pharma (English)
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Would you also like to participate in the innovation track “Transport and Logistics Packaging” as an add-on? * (Danish only)

Emballageretur and Center for Circular Economy: Working together for circular packaging

Extended producer responsibility is becoming a key driver of the green transition – but the regulatory landscape for packaging is complex.

To help companies navigate this transition, Emballageretur and the Center for Circular Economy have formed a partnership that connects research-based knowledge with practical implementation.

  • Emballageretur contributes deep insight into producer responsibility, regulation and the realities faced by companies working with packaging.
  • Center for Circular Economy contributes expertise in circular economy and design for circularity.

Together, we bridge the gap between regulation, design and practice. This ensures that both the innovation courses and the White Paper on Circular Packaging combine regulatory precision with practical solutions that companies can apply in their everyday work.

The programme brings together companies, experts and actors from across the packaging value chain to translate producer responsibility, PPWR and circular economy principles into workable solutions.

Through shared training and sector-specific tracks, participants develop the knowledge, tools and network needed to design packaging that is environmentally responsible, economically viable and ready for future regulatory requirements.

Our ambition is clear:
To strengthen collaboration across packaging types, industries and value chains so that circular packaging becomes a shared practice rather than isolated initiatives.