World Packaging Organisation
World Packaging Organisation is a Vienna-based non-profit international federation, founded in 1968, that connects national packaging institutes and associations from 63+ countries through membership programs, corporate partnerships, global awards, training, and sustainability research resources.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersVienna, Austria
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What World Packaging Organisation does
World Packaging Organisation (WPO) is a non-profit, non-governmental international federation founded on September 6, 1968 in Tokyo and currently headquartered in Vienna, Austria at Canovagasse 7/1/14. It aggregates national packaging institutes, associations, regional federations, and corporate partners from 63+ member countries into a global body that promotes packaging education, sustainability, and design standards. Core intellectual outputs include the Global Packaging Design for Recycling Guide (18+ languages), Waste Stream Mapping Guides (34+ countries), Position Papers, Case Studies, and packaging trends reports, developed with academic and industry partners such as FH Campus University (Austria), ECR Community, and Circular Analytics.
WPO's product surface spans three revenue lines. First, subscription memberships at €300/year across Full (voting), Full (non-voting), Affiliate, and Honorary tiers. Second, corporate partnerships at €1,500/year or €4,000 for three-year commitments, yielding brand visibility, working group access, newsletter advertising, and trade fair benefits. Third, program services: the WorldStar Global Packaging Awards (53rd edition drew 345 entries from 35 countries in 2021), WorldStar Student Packaging Awards, WPO Lifetime Achievement Awards, 3-day Packaging Technology Training Programs (2,157 students trained since 2013, ~300/year across 30+ countries), World Packaging Online Courses, the Save Food Packaging initiative (with FAO/UN Save Food Initiative), and World Packaging Day (September 6, 48 activities across 22 countries).
WPO's GTM is community-led and event-driven: it is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from voting member organizations, operates multiple working groups (Sustainability, Save Food, Education, Marketing, Governance), and concentrates flagship activity at international trade shows (notably interpack in Düsseldorf). Strategic partnerships with UNIDO (capacity building), the Save Food Initiative, and interpack anchor institutional legitimacy and event distribution. The organization is led by President Luciana Pellegrino (2024-2027 term) with a small secretariat of fewer than 10 staff supported by a General Secretary, four Vice Presidents, and a network of Global Ambassadors.
World Packaging Organisation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- World Packaging Organisation
- Legal name
- World Packaging Organisation
- Website
- https://worldpackaging.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- World Packaging Organisation is a Vienna-based non-profit international federation, founded in 1968, that connects national packaging institutes and associations from 63+ countries through membership programs, corporate partnerships, global awards, training, and sustainability research resources.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
World Packaging Organisation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Federation Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Food Safety, Quality Standards & Regulatory Capacity Building (BPADAJAJ), Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)
Keywords
Where World Packaging Organisation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vienna
- HQ country
- Austria
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
World Packaging Organisation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: WPO generates revenue through annual membership fees charged to national packaging institutes, associations, regional federations, and other interested parties. Full membership (voting) and Full membership (non-voting) and Affiliate membership all charge €300 per year. Honorary membership is granted without fees.
- Corporate Partnership Fees: Annual corporate partnership fees of €1,500 per year or €4,000 for a three-year commitment. Corporate partners receive benefits including newsletter ad placements, website listings, webinar opportunities, trade fair tickets, and working group participation.
- Awards and Recognition Programs: WPO organizes the WorldStar Global Packaging Awards, WorldStar Student Packaging Awards, and WPO Lifetime Achievement Awards. Revenue is generated through entry fees, sponsorship of award ceremonies, and associated events. The 53rd edition of WorldStar (2021) had 345 entries from 35 countries.
- Events, Congresses and Conferences: WPO organizes meetings, congresses, and conferences including the WPO Board Meetings, Working Group meetings, and events alongside trade shows such as interpack. Revenue is generated through event organization, attendance fees, and sponsorships.
- Education and Training Programs: WPO delivers 3-day Packaging Technology Training Programs, online courses, and certification support (including CPP - Certified Packaging Professional). Programs are financed by WPO particularly in developing countries lacking packaging training capacity.
- Donations and Project Subsidies: The organization's statutes (§3.3) outline that material resources are raised through donations to the Association and raising of subsidies/support for projects. The MOU with UNIDO supports capacity building projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership (voting) — for regional/national packaging associations, institutes, and trade/professional associations |
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership (non-voting) — for organizations joining as second or subsequent member from same country/region |
| Subscription | Annual | Affiliate Membership (non-voting) — for any other national or international organization with packaging interest, commercial or non-profit |
| Subscription | Annual | Honorary Membership (non-voting) — granted to individuals for outstanding contribution to packaging industry and WPO |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Partner — Annual |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Corporate Partner — Three-Year |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
World Packaging Organisation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) is a non-profit international federation that connects national packaging institutes, associations, and regional federations across 66+ countries. It delivers membership services, the WorldStar Global Packaging Awards, packaging education and training programs, sustainability frameworks (Design for Recycling Guide and Waste Stream Mapping), and the Save Food Packaging initiative addressing food waste through packaging solutions.
Product overview
World Packaging Organisation (WPO) is a non-profit international federation of national packaging institutes and associations, founded in 1968 in Tokyo. WPO operates as a membership-based organization offering a portfolio of awards programs (WorldStar Global Packaging Awards, WorldStar Student Packaging Awards, Lifetime Achievement Awards), education and training services (Packaging Technology Training Courses, World Packaging Online Courses, CPP certification support), and research resources (Global Packaging Design for Recycling Guide, Waste Stream Mapping Guides, Position Papers, Case Studies). The organization also runs World Packaging Day (September 6) and produces World Pack Talk Shows as media content. WPO connects the global packaging community through its network of 63+ member countries, promoting packaging sustainability, food waste reduction, and industry advancement.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WorldStar Global Packaging Awards: Global packaging awards program administered by WPO to inspire packaging innovation around the globe
- WorldStar Student Awards
- World Packaging Day (WPD)
- World Pack Talk Shows
Products and services
- WorldStar Global Packaging Awards
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 3,000 persons trained through about 70 programs in 30 countries over 55 years
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use World Packaging Organisation
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
World Packaging Organisation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
World Packaging Organisation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization)flagshipWPO and UNIDO signed a Memorandum of Understanding for strategic cooperation in the field of packaging and food safety training and capacity building. The purpose is 'to achieve the mutually declared objectives towards the operationalization of UNIDO's mandate for inclusive sustainable industrial development.' The MOU was signed by WPO's President Thomas Schneider and UNIDO's representative Alessandro Amoradio during the opening ceremony of an International Seminar in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- FH Campus University of Applied Sciences, AustriacoreJointly developed the Waste Stream Mapping Guides as the second stage of the Global Packaging Design for Recycling Guide program. FH Campus University provides academic rigor and research capabilities to WPO's sustainability and circular economy initiatives.
- ECR CommunitycoreCollaborated with WPO and FH Campus University to develop the Global Packaging Design for Recycling Guide and Waste Stream Mapping Guides. ECR Community contributes retail and supply chain expertise to the circular packaging design program.
- Circular AnalyticscoreCo-developed the Global Packaging Design for Recycling Guide with WPO, providing analytics expertise for circular product design and sustainability assessment.
- GPPS (Global Protocol for Packaging Sustainability)coreWPO supports the Global Protocol for Packaging Sustainability (GPPS 2.0), which provides guidance for performing environmental comparisons in packaging sustainability assessments.
- Save Food Initiative (FAO/UN)flagshipWPO cooperates with the Save Food Initiative (an initiative of FAO/UN) and Interpack to organize the WorldStar 'Save Food Packaging' Special Award, highlighting the role of packaging in preventing food losses and food waste globally.
- InterpackflagshipWPO hosts its WorldStar Awards ceremony and Board meetings at interpack, the major international packaging trade fair in Düsseldorf, Germany. The partnership with interpack provides a global platform for WPO events and awards recognition.
- FSSC (Foundation FSSC) (Netherlands)coreFoundation FSSC is listed as an Affiliate Member of WPO. FSSC provides food safety certification schemes globally and is a Silver Sponsor of WPO. Cooperates with WPO on food safety training and capacity building initiatives.
- European Co-Packers Association (ECPA) (Netherlands)minorListed as an Affiliate Member of WPO. ECPA represents contract packing companies in Europe and contributes to packaging industry knowledge sharing within the WPO network.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
World Packaging Organisation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- AIPIA (Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association): A global industry association focused on active and intelligent packaging technologies. Comparable to WPO as an industry-led association advancing a specific packaging sub-domain, but with a narrower technology focus and more commercial sponsorship mix.
Broad incumbents
- Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council): A large Brussels-based industry federation whose member companies supply packaging materials and polymers. Comparable to WPO as a Europe-anchored federation, though broader in scope and with material resources considerably larger than WPO's.
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation: A global non-profit that promotes the circular economy and has run the New Plastics Economy initiative. While broader than packaging, it overlaps with WPO's sustainability and circular design agenda and may compete for the same corporate sustainability sponsorship and policy attention.
Regional players
- The Packaging Association (Canada): A national Canadian trade association for the packaging industry that provides education, training, and advocacy. Functionally similar to a WPO member organization at full-country level, and therefore a direct peer for benchmarking federation service offerings.
- Asian Packaging Federation: A regional federation of national packaging associations across Asia. Operates a similar federation model to WPO but at a regional level, giving WPO a structural counterpart for cross-promotion, joint events, and competing views on global packaging governance.
- Federation of European Packaging Manufacturers (CITPA): A European federation representing packaging manufacturers that engages with EU policymakers on packaging regulation. Comparable to WPO as a federation advocating for the packaging industry, but regionally focused on Europe and more directly engaged with EU regulatory processes.
Direct peers
- Sustainable Packaging Coalition: A US-based non-profit project of GreenBlue that brings together businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies to advance sustainable packaging. Comparable to WPO as a member-driven coalition focused on packaging sustainability education, design guidance, and industry collaboration.
- Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP): A US-based individual-membership professional organization for packaging professionals that awards the Certified Packaging Professional (CPP) designation, which WPO also supports. Highly comparable in mission to WPO's education and certification portfolio, though focused on US professionals.
- INCPEN (Industry Council for Packaging & the Environment): A UK-based non-profit council that promotes packaging as a sustainable, resource-efficient activity. Shares WPO's mission of building the evidence base for sustainable packaging and engaging with policymakers, academia, and industry on circular design.
- SAVE FOOD Initiative: A multi-stakeholder initiative (FAO/UN, Messe Düsseldorf, and partners) addressing global food loss and waste through packaging solutions. WPO directly partners with the SAVE FOOD Initiative on the WorldStar Save Food Packaging Special Award, making it a natural co-federation peer in the food-packaging advocacy space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
World Packaging Organisation social profiles
Digital presenceWorld Packaging Organisation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
World Packaging Organisation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
World Packaging Organisation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
World Packaging Organisation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about World Packaging Organisation
What does World Packaging Organisation do?
The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) is a non-profit international federation that connects national packaging institutes, associations, and regional federations across 66+ countries. It delivers membership services, the WorldStar Global Packaging Awards, packaging education and training programs, sustainability frameworks (Design for Recycling Guide and Waste Stream Mapping), and the Save Food Packaging initiative addressing food waste through packaging solutions.
Is World Packaging Organisation a public or private company?
World Packaging Organisation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was World Packaging Organisation founded?
World Packaging Organisation was founded in 1968. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is World Packaging Organisation based?
World Packaging Organisation is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, in the Europe region.
How does World Packaging Organisation make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnership Fees, awards and Recognition Programs, events, Congresses and Conferences, education and Training Programs and donations and Project Subsidies.
Who are World Packaging Organisation's main competitors?
AIPIA (Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Cefic (European Chemical Industry Council) and Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Regional players are The Packaging Association (Canada), Asian Packaging Federation and Federation of European Packaging Manufacturers (CITPA). Direct peers are Sustainable Packaging Coalition, Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP), INCPEN (Industry Council for Packaging & the Environment) and SAVE FOOD Initiative.
Does World Packaging Organisation have an API?
No public API is recorded for World Packaging Organisation.
What industry is World Packaging Organisation in?
World Packaging Organisation's product category is Industry Federation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADANAD, Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation, with a secondary code of BPADAJAJ, Food Safety, Quality Standards & Regulatory Capacity Building.