This document sets forth the general requirements for authors interested in contributing to the 2026 World Conference on Packaging, which will be hosted by Hunan University of Technology in Zhuzhou, China, June 8–12, 2026. It provides an overview of the process, expectations, and responsibilities associated with submitting an abstract or paper for consideration.
The conference is committed to ensuring that all submissions are evaluated fairly, consistently, and in alignment with the goals of advancing packaging science, technology, and education worldwide. Authors are expected to prepare their work with a high standard of quality, clarity, and originality, and to adhere to the guidelines presented in this document.
By following these requirements, contributors help maintain the integrity of the peer review and general submission processes and ensure that the conference program reflects both the academic rigor and practical relevance that are hallmarks of IAPRI events. Authors should therefore review these guidelines thoroughly before preparing their submission.
All accepted abstracts, whether submitted to the peer review stream, general stream, or poster session, must be followed by the submission of a full paper. The paper is required to ensure proper documentation and inclusion in the official conference proceedings.
In addition, all accepted authors are required to deliver an oral presentation of their work during the conference. This includes poster session authors, who must prepare both a poster display and a short oral Poster Pitch summary of their research. These requirements apply to all categories of acceptance and are intended to ensure consistent quality, comprehensive documentation, and meaningful knowledge exchange during the conference.
IAPRI World Conference or Member Conference are hosted by one of the members over alternating even numbered years. World conferences are open to all interested parties to apply to make a presentation while member conferences are only open to IAPRI members.
Submissions are welcome from researchers, academics, students, and professionals whose work is relevant to the themes of the conference. Contributions may be accepted in one of several formats:
Peer-reviewed research papers
General stream presentations
Poster presentations
Only submissions that fall within the scope of the conference and within the following topics will be reviewed:
Peer Review Managed by Packaging Technology and Science (PTS)
Submission to the peer review stream is a 2-step process.
Step 1: All Authors also should submit an abstract (300-500 words) through this online submission tool and indicate that the submission is for the peer-review stream. The Scientific committee will evaluate its fitness to the peer-review stream and provide authors with recommendations regarding further steps.
Step 2: If the abstract is accepted as fit for PTS submission, the authors are required to submit the full manuscript following PTS Journal Instructions at:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/10991522/homepage/forauthors.html
Authors should select the IAPRI Special Issue when submitting the manuscript to PTS.
Papers submitted through the Peer-Review Stream will be published in Packaging Technology and Science, respecting the journal's editorial policies.
General Stream abstracts for oral and poster presentations
Authors do not need to be concerned with formatting requirements for general stream abstracts, as all submissions are entered directly into the online proposal system, which standardizes the presentation format. Here is the link: Submit 2026 Abstract
Peer-Review Stream Deadlines
General Stream Deadlines
The following information is provided for a manuscript for peer review, or an abstract for a non-peer review contribution (oral presentation or poster) for the style for each type of presentation.
At the beginning of the application process, you will be asked the following questions regarding your proposed technical presentation. Your answers will aid a review panel of three reviewers from the Scientific Committee to evaluate your submission for clarity, relevance, scientific merit, and fit with the conference theme.
(Purpose: Helps reviewers evaluate relevance and clarity of goals.)
(Purpose: Helps assess technical rigor and sound methodology.)
(Purpose: Ensures there is actual data, insight, or analysis to share.)
(Purpose: Supports scoring for originality and contribution to packaging research and education.)
(Purpose: Helps the reviewer determine suitability for presentation.)
(Purpose: Helps reviewers assess strategic fit with the conference theme.)
(Purpose: Allows reviewers to score originality and contribution to the field.)
These questions are organized to align with common review criteria such as technical rigor, originality, relevance to the association, potential impact, and presentation quality.
All submissions will be reviewed according to the selected stream. Abstracts submitted to the general stream undergo a review by selected members of the IAPRI Scientific Committee based on originality, scientific quality, innovation, and significance to the research community. Abstracts may be submitted for oral or poster presentations. The Committee reserves the right to assign final presentation type in the best interest of the program. However, the Committee will accommodate e as many oral presentations as the conference schedule permits.
The category chair first determines if the subject fits in the IAPRI category as indicated on the submission form and if it fits in the field of packaging. If necessary, they can discuss the issue with the reviewers whom they plan to send it to for review or ask other reviewers to give their opinion. If necessary, contact the submitter to ask to them to make the relation with packaging clearer. Otherwise, the submission can be rejected.
If this is a general stream or poster presentation and accepted by the chair, then it is assigned to 2-3 reviewers for review and scoring. The reviewer can also recommend that the submitter be contacted about the possibility of changing the paper to the peer review stream process.
If the submission is for peer review, then one reviewer is assigned who is capable and willing to be part of the PTS reviewer panel if the reviewer scores the submission high enough and moves it to the next stage.
The Scientific Committee members will review and score each abstract according to the following process.
Step 1: Read Submitter’s Responses
At the beginning of the application process, you will be asked the following questions regarding your proposed technical presentation. Your answers will aid a review panel of three reviewers from the Scientific Committee to evaluate your submission for clarity, relevance, scientific merit, and fit with the conference theme.
(Purpose: Helps reviewers evaluate relevance and clarity of goals.)
(Purpose: Helps assess technical rigor and sound methodology.)
(Purpose: Ensures there is actual data, insight, or analysis to share.)
(Purpose: Supports scoring for originality and contribution to packaging research and education.)
(Purpose: Helps the reviewer determine suitability for presentation.)
(Purpose: Helps reviewers assess strategic fit with the conference theme.)
(Purpose: Allows reviewers to score originality and contribution to the field.)
This gives context for the evaluation and helps to evaluate your submission for clarity, relevance, scientific merit, and fit with the conference goals. The questions are organized to align with common review criteria such as technical rigor, originality, relevance to the association, potential impact, and presentation quality.
Step 2: Checking Abstract Content
Confirming the abstract includes:
Step 3: Apply Review Criteria
Evaluate whether the submission is:
Step 4: Score the Abstract (0–5)
At the beginning of the application process, you will be asked the following questions regarding your proposed technical presentation. Your answers will aid a review panel of three reviewers from the Scientific Committee to evaluate your submission for clarity, relevance, scientific merit, and fit with the conference theme.
(Purpose: Helps reviewers evaluate relevance and clarity of goals.)
(Purpose: Helps assess technical rigor and sound methodology.)
(Purpose: Ensures there is actual data, insight, or analysis to share.)
(Purpose: Supports scoring for originality and contribution to packaging research and education.)
(Purpose: Helps the reviewer determine suitability for presentation.)
(Purpose: Helps reviewers assess strategic fit with the conference theme.)
(Purpose: Allows reviewers to score originality and contribution to the field.)
These questions are organized to align with common review criteria such as technical rigor, originality, relevance to the association, potential impact, and presentation quality.
Submitted abstracts will be evaluated to a set of clear, objective criteria that reviewers can use to score abstracts (0–5 scale) for an IAPRI conference, aligned with:
Q1. Scientific and Academic Quality (0–5)
Is the abstract based on sound methodology, clear objectives, and appropriate analysis or experimentation?
Q2. Fit with the Association’s Scope and Activities (0–5)
Does the research clearly align with the goals, interests, or strategic focus areas of the association?
Q3. Significance to the Packaging Research Community (0–5)
Will this research advance knowledge, inspire further investigation, or fill an important gap?
Q4. Industry Relevance and Practical Application (0–5)
Does the research address real-world packaging challenges or have the potential for implementation?
Q5. Overall Clarity and Organization of the Abstract (0–5)
Is the abstract clearly written, logically structured, and understandable to a multidisciplinary audience?
Q6. Technical Rigor and Methodology (0–5)
Does the abstract demonstrate appropriate and clearly described methods, sound technical approach, and logical analysis suitable for the research question or problem?
Step 5: Provide Comments & Recommendations
The reviewer is encouraged to add comments and indicate if the requested presentation type (oral/poster) is appropriate. They may suggest re-submission as a poster or recommend rejection. If the work merits consideration for peer review, that will be noted as well.
Step 6: Select Final Recommendation
The reviewer recommends one of the following five possible actions for the abstract submission.
Once all assigned reviewers have scored the abstract it moves to the next stage and is finalized by the conference host administrator. Then papers need to be created.
Peer-reviewed stream submissions accepted by the Scientific Committee must follow the process indicated below and submit a full paper to John Wiley & Sons Ltd.'s publication Packaging Technology & Science for their review and acceptance. For acceptance for publication by Packaging Technology & Scienced (PTS), the research should demonstrate significant novelty and significance at the theoretical, methodological, material, or application levels. They encourage authors to emphasize the innovative, or scientifically significant aspects of their research in their manuscripts. To ensure your work meets the high standards expected by PTS, IAPRI suggests that you follow these guidelines carefully.
1. Originality and Novel Contribution
2. Scientific Rigor and Methodology
3. Relevance and Significance
4. Paper Structure and Clarity
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/10991522/homepage/ForAuthors.html
· Reference Style: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/10991522/homepage/ForAuthors.html
5. Data Quality and Analysis
6. Ethical Standards
7. References and Scholarship
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/10991522/homepage/ForAuthors.html
8. Technical Quality and Presentation
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/10991522/homepage/ForAuthors.html
9. Critical Discussion and Impact
10. Readiness for Peer Review
ð By following these guidelines, authors help ensure their work is of true peer-reviewed quality and makes a valuable contribution to the global body of packaging research.
Research presentation submissions approved by the IAPRI Scientific Committee will result in the author’s preparing full 4-8 page papers for the conference which must be submitted by the deadline and will be published in the conference proceedings.
English language is required, and it is important to use, a coherent writing style and readable sentences. The paper shall include the following content that follows the prescribe lengths:
Title and Author Information:
A clear and concise title that reflects the main topic of the research.
Authors’ names with affiliation.
Abstract (300-500 words):
Provide a summary of the research problem/s, objective, methodology, key findings, and implications.
Keywords (3-5 keywords):
List relevant keywords that describe the subject matter of your research. Avoid repeating words of the title and buzz words.
Suggested Lengths: For use with these section headings.
1. Introduction (approximately 1/2 page):
Clearly state the research problem or question related to packaging and the objective of the published work.
Provide context for the research.
Explain the significance of the study.
Summarize relevant literature and prior research related to packaging.
Highlight gaps or controversies in the existing knowledge.
Explain how your research addresses or contributes to these gaps.
2. Methodology (approximately 1 page):
Describe the research methods employed in the study.
Explain the data collection and analysis processes.
Justify the chosen methodology and address any limitations.
In general, the methodology section should be precise enough for another research group to reproduce the study.
3. Results (approximately 1-2 pages):
Present the primary findings of your packaging research.
Use tables, figures, or diagrams to illustrate key data.
Include any statistical analysis if applicable.
4. Discussion (approximately 1-2 pages):
Interpret the results in the context of the research question and objectives.
Discuss the implications of the findings for the packaging industry or related fields.
Address any limitations encountered during the research.
Suggest areas for further research in packaging.
The result and discussion section can be joined if the authors consider it more effective.
5. Conclusion (approximately 1/2 page):
Explain how the study and its findings have answered the scientific question or hypothesis set down in the introduction.
Emphasize the significance of the research in the field of packaging.
Offer a concise closing statement.
6. References
Author Last Name First Initial Middle Initial. Title in sentence case. Abbreviated Journal Title in Title Case. Year; Volume (Issue#): PP-PP. doi: ##
Book: Author’s last name Initials. Book Title: Subtitle. Publisher; Year.
Journal: Author last name Initials. Article title. Journal Name. Year; Volume (Issue): Page range. doi or URL.
Reference style. AMA – American Medical Association.
All references should be numbered consecutively in order of appearance and should be as complete as possible. In text citations should cite references in consecutive order using Arabic superscript numerals.
Use a 10-point font, single-spaced.
7. Acknowledgments (optional):
Figures
Tables
Equations
Language
Submission
LINK
Here’s a structured guide for authors preparing a 4-page companion paper that accompanies their poster submission. This short paper helps attendees understand the research project in greater depth than the poster alone can provide, while remaining concise and accessible.
Guide for Writing a 4-Page Paper to Accompany a Poster Presentation
Purpose of the Paper
This paper is not a full journal article. Instead, it is a structured summary of the work behind your poster that allows conference attendees (and later readers of the proceedings) to:
1. Paper Format
2. Recommended Structure
A. Title and Authors
B. Abstract (150–200 words)
C. Introduction (0.5–1 page)
D. Methods / Experimental Approach (1 page)
E. Results (1–1.5 pages)
F. Discussion (0.5–1 page)
G. Conclusions and Future Work (0.5 page)
H. Acknowledgments Optional
I. References
3. Style Guidelines
4. Checklist for Authors
All accepted abstracts and general stream papers will be published, either in printed format or electronically, in an IAPRI handout and distributed to the attendees at the conference.
Peer Reviewed may be published by PTS in either an IAPRI issue or individually in regular issues. In addition, some papers may be considered for possible expansion into a peer review paper for publication by PTS. Authors may be required to sign a copyright transfer or license agreement.
At least one author of each accepted submission must register for the conference by the specified deadline. Registration fees and policies will be provided with the registration information. Authors are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. If you do not register as a speaker by the deadline, your presentation may not be included in the conference program.
Authors submitting an abstract for consideration at the IAPRI Research Conference must review and initial on the application to indicate agreement.
Authors must initial the following Agreement Points for Abstract Submission when submitting your abstract.
Accepted authors must present their work in person at the conference. Formats include:
At least one author must be present to deliver the presentation.
Tips for Creating your PowerPoint Presentation
Body Text:
Headings:
Color:
Images, Charts and Diagrams:
Slide Timing:
For more information about PowerPoint or sample PowerPoint templates please click here.
Poster Size and Orientation
Recommended Poster Layout and Required Elements
Title Block
Authors, Affiliations & Conference
Introduction / Background
Methods / Experimental Approach
Results
Conclusions
Recommendations, References, & Acknowledgments
Visual & Design Guidelines
3-MINUTE ORAL POSTER PITCH INSTRUCTIONS