Margaret Bates and Marks & Spencer have taken top honours at the London Packaging Week Innovation Awards 2026 for their contributions to packaging, sustainability, and design.
Margaret Bates, who led the establishment of the UK’s packaging extended producer responsibility scheme administrator, and Marks & Spencer have been recognised for their contributions to the packaging industry at the London Packaging Week Innovation Awards 2026. Presented at Excel London on September 17th, the awards celebrated two distinct but equally important contributions to an industry facing increasingly complex commercial, environmental, and regulatory demands. Bates received the Lifetime Achievement Award for a career spanning more than three decades in recycling, resource management, and environmental policy, while M&S was named Packaging Team of the Year for its consistent approach to innovation, customer-focused design, and sustainability across its extensive retail portfolio.
An internationally recognised circular economy expert, Bates has held influential positions across government, industry, and academia. Most recently, she was seconded to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to establish PackUK on behalf of the four UK nations, overseeing the infrastructure and processes required to collect approximately £1.4 billion from packaging producers and distribute funding to local authorities. Her career also includes four years as Managing Director of OPRL, where she helped advance recycling labelling and introduced refill and Certified as Recyclable offerings. A former President of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, she also held senior academic positions at the University of Northampton, contributing to research, education, and waste management policy in the UK and internationally. Now working as an independent circular economy and resource management consultant, Bates continues to advise organisations on packaging, sustainability, and policy, including supporting emerging businesses and chairing a circular economy innovation board.
Reflecting on the award, Bates stated that she was surprised to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at London Packaging Week. She noted that packaging is an amazing sector to work in, often taken for granted yet absolutely vital to the UK economy, public health, resilience, and waste reduction. Receiving the award at a celebration of innovation meant a great deal to her, as packaging is constantly evolving, whether through a complete redesign or more subtle improvements that make products more accessible or sustainable. She hoped she had helped support that progress by establishing the TAC and launching refill and Certified as Recyclable offerings, adding that during her time at PackUK, the team worked hard to ensure legislation supports innovation rather than creating barriers. She concluded by stating she still has a lot to give to the industry and hopes there will be plenty more opportunities to make a difference.
Marks & Spencer was selected as Packaging Team of the Year by the senior London Packaging Week team, which recognised the breadth and consistency of the retailer’s work across a large and diverse product portfolio. The team stood out for its ability to bring together distinctive brand expression, customer-first design, and sustainability, delivering packaging that protects and presents products, improves the customer experience, and supports environmental ambitions. Its success in combining these priorities at scale, supported by collaboration across the business and its supply chain, was central to the decision. Clare Edgar, Head of Packaging at M&S, said that they are incredibly proud of the achievement and the recognition the award gives to the talented people behind their packaging programme. The award reflects the passion, expertise, and determination of the team, who work every day to deliver innovation and the sustainability standards customers expect from M&S. She added that it is a reminder that progress is a collective effort, and they are grateful for the support of their suppliers and industry partners.
Josh Brooks, Divisional Director of the Packaging Portfolio at Easyfairs, organiser of London Packaging Week, said that these awards recognise two different but equally important contributions to packaging. Margaret’s career demonstrates the impact that one individual can have, from advancing recycling and resource management to helping deliver one of the UK’s most significant packaging reforms. He noted that M&S impressed them with the consistency and ambition of its work across an incredibly diverse product portfolio, showing how creativity, customer experience, and sustainability can be brought together at scale. The honours formed part of the London Packaging Week Innovation Awards 2026, sponsored by Nuon, which celebrated excellence across luxury, beauty, drinks, food, and consumer goods. This year’s London Packaging Week welcomed a record 6,688 unique visitors to Excel London, alongside more than 230 exhibitors and 110 speakers, and will return to the venue on September 22nd and 23rd, 2027.