The European Tube Manufacturers Association (etma) presented the winners of its Tube of the Year 2026 competition during its annual meeting on 20 May in Lisbon, with a seven-member jury selecting entries across aluminium, plastic, laminate, sustainability and prototype categories.
Packaging design, material selection and recyclability were key features across the winning entries.
In the aluminium category, Alltub Italia was recognised for a tube developed for Rituals’ limited-edition body scrub. The pack is made from 100 per cent post-consumer recycled aluminium and features a bronze-copper metallic finish with a transparent effect designed to highlight the material. The decoration includes three colour gradients achieved without halftone printing, alongside amber tones and smoky visual effects. A black conical cap completes the pack, with matching aluminium cans used across the product range to support brand consistency.
EPL Europe received the laminate tube award for its BARBERO men’s care range. The tubes use the company’s PLATINA ME structure, an HDPE-based laminate with a metallised PE layer designed to deliver barrier performance while meeting EU regulatory requirements. The packs feature high-definition flexographic printing, combined with matte and selective gloss varnishes, as well as large-area screen printing to add tactile effect and depth. Lightweight HDPE shoulders and colour-matched slim flip-top caps are used to support recyclability and reduced material use.
In the plastic category, Albéa Tubes was recognised for a redesigned shower gel tube for Weleda. The mono-material HDPE pack combines a lightweight PE cap with a PCR Max sleeve and a reduced wall thickness of 350 μm. The tube contains more than 57 per cent post-consumer recycled content, excluding the cap, and is designed for recycling within existing HDPE rigid packaging streams. The company said its PrimePrint technology enables photorealistic graphics, colour vibrancy and visual depth.
Albéa Tubes also received the sustainability award for its Fill-Up refill solution developed for L’Occitane. Made from mono-material PE and featuring an EcoTop closure, the tube is designed to be opened along designated tear lines to enable refilling. Positioned as an alternative to refill pouches, the format replicates the branding of the original bottle and is designed for clean dispensing and handling without leakage. The solution is compatible with existing tube-filling equipment, according to the company.
The prototype award went to Tubex Aluminium Tubes for MonoSense, which the company describes as the “world’s first all-aluminium applicator tube”. Manufactured from a single piece of aluminium containing 95 per cent post-consumer recycled content, the design removes mixed materials to simplify recycling. The applicator is designed to deliver controlled and hygienic dispensing, with aluminium providing a cooling effect on contact. The tube also offers barrier properties and eliminates a suck-back effect to support product integrity, making it suitable for beauty and pharmaceutical applications.
