SIAL FOR CHANGE 2026 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
With the application phase opening tomorrow, SIAL for Change is moving into a new cycle for 2026. The competition, launched by SIAL Paris in 2024, will again run alongside the October event, but this time with a broader reach. Applications will be accepted until 1st July, the jury evaluation will take place in September and the awards ceremony will be held on 18 October on the SIAL Talks stage.
Who can enter
The main structure remains familiar. Registered exhibitors at SIAL Paris, whether start-ups, SMEs or large groups, are eligible to apply and can submit their entries through the exhibitor platform. What changes in 2026 is the creation of “SIAL for Change by The Foodies”, a new category open to European start-ups and SMEs in the agri-food ecosystem that are not exhibiting at the show.
This new category reflects the profile of the European market and marks the collaboration, supported by the European Commission, between SIAL Paris and The Foodies competition created by FoodDrinkEurope, which will be held at the show this year. FoodDrinkEurope’s latest data shows that the EU food and drink industry employs 4.8 million people and generates €1.5 trillion in turnover. The same report shows that the sector includes over 306,000 SMEs, representing 99.2% of food and drink companies and employing 2.6 million people. Opening part of SIAL for Change to non-exhibiting SMEs reflects how much of the industry is built by smaller businesses.
How the competition works
At its core, SIAL for Change is designed to assess how sustainability and social responsibility are embedded in a business, rather than isolate a single initiative. For exhibitors, the framework covers six CSR pillars, including governance, responsible innovation, sector-specific challenges, social impact, environmental practices and working conditions. For the new non-exhibitor category, the criteria shift towards originality, impact, scalability, sustainability and economic viability, while also linking projects to seven European sustainability objectives such as healthier diets, waste reduction, circularity, climate neutrality and sustainable sourcing.
The competition also works as a visibility platform. Selected companies can be highlighted in the online catalogue, mentioned at the September press conference and promoted across SIAL Paris communications before the show opens. During the event itself, shortlisted and winning companies can be featured on stands, in visitor tools and on the CSR visitor trail, while the awards ceremony and related speaking opportunities place the selected businesses in front of buyers, partners and media. Winners will be revealed on 18 October on the SIAL Talks stage.
Looking back at the 2024 edition
The first edition set the tone. The jury reviewed 66 applications in the inaugural year. The overall winner was Biscuiterie de l’Abbaye, recognised for what SIAL Paris described as a broad CSR approach spanning sourcing, organic production, packaging, social measures and food waste reduction. Alongside the main prize, awards went to Andriani S.p.A, Cherubino Valsangiacomo Bodega, Limbua and Lionheart Farms, a group that showed how differently responsible practice can take shape across the food and beverage market.
This mix shows that the competition had range right from the outset. Some winners were recognised for industrial systems and measurable indicators, others for regenerative agriculture, traceable sourcing, social commitments or local environmental action. The result was a snapshot of the many ways companies are trying to rework the relationship between product, supply chain and responsibility.
What changes in 2026
The upcoming edition pushes this idea further. In its recent presentation of the 2026 format, SIAL Paris described SIAL for Change not simply as an award, but as a more active space within the event, with talks, keynote sessions, networking and the integration of SIAL Jobs. The organisers have also framed the addition of “SIAL for Change by The Foodies” as a way to connect a wider pool of sustainable businesses with the commercial visibility of a major food industry trade show.
This lends weight to this year’s call for entries. SIAL for Change is a competition, but it is also a working showcase for how responsibility is being translated into products, sourcing models, operations and company culture. As the application window opens, it offers exhibitors and newly eligible non-exhibiting SMEs a route into one of the most closely watched parts of SIAL Paris.