From lab to recyclable packaging. Teresa Sermak at InterNanoPoland 2026

On 14–15 October 2026, Katowice hosted the tenth, jubilee edition of InterNanoPoland, a conference connecting science and business across nanotechnology, advanced materials and deep-tech. Zwyrtek Group was represented by Teresa Sermak, Manager in the Advisory team, who delivered a lecture titled “From Lab to Recyclable Packaging: What the PPWR Means for Advanced Materials” and took part in the panel “From Lab to Market – How to Build the Brand of Scientists, Innovations, and Technologies?”. The shared conclusion from both appearances: the path from laboratory to market requires science, regulation, industry, data and a commercialisation strategy to come together at the same time.

What is InterNanoPoland 2026

InterNanoPoland is a conference that has long connected the worlds of science and business around nanotechnology, advanced materials and deep-tech. This year’s tenth edition took place on 14–15 October 2026 at Vienna House Easy by Wyndham, 24 Sokolska Street in Katowice.

The event brought together researchers, industry representatives, startups, investors and institutions supporting innovation. The common theme was the transition from research to industrial application and commercialisation — precisely the area where regulation meets technology.

Lecture: “From Lab to Recyclable Packaging: What the PPWR Means for Advanced Materials”

On 14 October, between 14:30 and 15:00, Teresa Sermak delivered the lecture “From Lab to Recyclable Packaging: What the PPWR Means for Advanced Materials”.

The lecture covered the impact of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) on:

• the development of new materials,
• packaging design,
• recyclability,
• the choice of raw materials and material structures,
• documenting material properties,
• cooperation between laboratories, manufacturers, packaging suppliers and economic operators placing products on the market,
• the commercialisation of advanced materials,
• the transition from research results to a compliant industrial application.

Why regulation must be considered already in the laboratory

The key message of the lecture: for new materials, PPWR compliance cannot be checked only at the end of the product development process. Regulatory requirements, recyclability, material data and the future packaging recovery model should be analysed as early as the research and design stage.

An innovative material can offer lower weight, greater strength, better barrier properties, longer product shelf life and new functional characteristics. At the same time, it may create challenges related to:

• identifying its composition,
• separating individual layers,
• compatibility with existing recycling streams,
• the presence of restricted substances,
• the availability of data from suppliers,
• demonstrating compliance,
• scaling the solution from the laboratory to industrial production.

It is worth stressing: not every multi-layer material, nanomaterial or advanced material is automatically non-compliant with the PPWR. The assessment depends on the construction, composition, function, application, available data and the criteria in force.

PPWR as part of design and commercialisation

The PPWR is not solely a waste regulation. In practice, it also affects:

• product strategy,
• research and development,
• design,
• supplier selection,
• procurement,
• production,
• technical documentation,
• supply-chain communication,
• product data,
• contracts,
• placing products on the market,
• the ability to scale innovation.

That is why R&D, legal, compliance, procurement, production and sales teams should work together from the very beginning of a project — rather than meeting only once the product is finished and needs to be “made compliant”.

A practical path from material to market

How can an innovative material or packaging be prepared for commercialisation? It is worth working through the following steps:

1. define the function of the product and its packaging,
2. analyse the composition and construction,
3. establish the roles of the individual economic operators in the chain,
4. analyse PPWR requirements and other product regulations,
5. identify the data and evidence needed,
6. assess recyclability and design for recycling,
7. design the supplier documentation,
8. prepare a pilot version,
9. test under industrial conditions,
10. prepare for scaling and market deployment,
11. update the process as implementing acts and standards develop.

Not every technology follows an identical process — the sequence and scope of work depend on the specific solution. Zwyrtek Group’s role is regulatory, legal, business, process and implementation support, working alongside the right technical experts. We do not carry out laboratory materials testing.

Panel: “From Lab to Market”

Later the same day, between 16:00 and 18:00, Teresa Sermak took part in the panel “From Lab to Market – How to Build the Brand of Scientists, Innovations, and Technologies?”, held in Polish. She was joined by Hubert Adamczyk of the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) and Łukasz Żółciak of Katowice City Hall.

The panel addressed the journey from research to market: the commercialisation of research results, building the brand of scientists, communicating complex technologies, presenting the value of innovation in language business understands, reaching customers, investors and industrial partners, and the role of brand and communication in scaling technology. The discussion combined the perspectives of science, business and public institutions.

The main conclusion: even a breakthrough technology needs not only strong parameters, but also a clearly defined market problem, credible evidence, regulatory compliance, understandable communication and a well-thought-out market entry strategy. This is far more than marketing — it is part of the entire technology commercialisation process.

Two appearances, one challenge

The lecture and the panel were, in essence, about the same challenge: how to turn a technological innovation into a solution that can be applied in business safely, compliantly and at scale.

In the lecture, Teresa focused on the regulatory and implementation side of the PPWR. In the panel, she broadened that perspective to include communication, building credibility and commercialisation. The path from laboratory to market requires science, regulation, industry, data and a commercialisation strategy to come together at the same time — leaving out any one of these elements will stop even the best technology.

How Zwyrtek Group supports businesses

Zwyrtek Group supports businesses in, among other areas:

• determining how the PPWR affects the product, packaging and business model,
• packaging-flow mapping,
• assessing economic operator roles,
• PPWR regulatory readiness audits,
• identifying gaps in documentation and data,
• designing supplier cooperation processes,
• analysing supply-chain responsibilities,
• preparing implementation roadmaps,
• PPWR programme governance,
• contracts and documentation,
• team training,
• preparing the commercialisation of an innovative solution from the regulatory and business side.

We do not issue compliance certificates or carry out accredited laboratory testing — in those areas we work with the appropriate technical experts. See our comprehensive PPWR support, as well as our legal advisory, business advisory and the full range of Zwyrtek Group services.

Acknowledgements

Our thanks go to the organisers of InterNanoPoland 2026 and the NANONET Foundation for the invitation and for creating a space where science meets industry. Thanks also to the fellow speakers and panellists, all event participants, and the representatives of science, industry and innovation-supporting institutions.

Sources and event information

• InterNanoPoland 2026 programme
• Teresa Sermak’s profile on the InterNanoPoland website
• Zwyrtek Group’s PPWR service page