And the winner is …

Packaging has various functions. A lot of work and creativity is put into their design all over the world. This is recognised by a wealth of awards for packaging of all kinds.

Packaging fulfils many purposes: it protects the packaged product, makes it identifiable, informs about the product inside. They can underline its value and “catch the eye” as packaging itself. Moreover, since the new Packaging Act came into force at the latest, packaging should be as sustainable as possible. Particularly functional and/or attractive packaging is regularly awarded prizes. There is a large number of awards. Some of them are presented here as examples.

Traditionally, the “German Packaging Prize” is awarded at the important European trade fair FachPack, which takes place in Nuremberg in 2019 from 24 to 26 September. The international packaging prize, which honours the best materials, designs, machines, strategies, processes and application scenarios, is awarded under the patronage of the Federal Minister of Economics and Energy. The renowned exhibition is organised by the German Packaging Institute (dvi) in Berlin. Entries can be submitted until 30 June 2019 (https://www.verpackungspreis.de/dvp-anmeldung.html).

Awards for sustainability

The “Sustainability Awards” of the British web portal Packaging Europe will also be presented for the first time at FachPack. They address the topics of packaging waste, climate change and other environmental risks. Accordingly, the award categories include “Bio-based Packaging”, “Recyclable Packaging” and “Best Sustainable Packaging Innovation”. Submissions are still possible until 20 May (https://thesustainabilityawards.awardsplatform.com).

The Meyer-Hentschel Institute, Zurich | Saarbrücken, also awards sustainable packaging with its “SilverPack Award for Polite Packaging”. In this case, “polite” means that the award-winning packaging should be consumer-, environmentally- and product-friendly (protective). The challenge is to score points in all three areas.

For the first time this year, the Stiftung Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis e.V. and REWE Group will award a special prize for sustainable product packaging ideas. The winner will receive the “German Sustainability Award” on 22 November 2019 at the German Sustainability Day in Düsseldorf.

Innovative and sustainable packaging will also receive the ISM Packaging Award powered by ProSweets Cologne at the ISM International Confectionery Fair Cologne. However, many other, more product-related categories play a role in the competition.

Awards with a focus on design

Several different awards focus on packaging design, which generally receives a lot of attention. The best known is probably the “Red Dot Award Packaging Design”, which is presented as part of the “Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design”. The award was created by Red Dot GmbH & Co. KG, Essen, whose roots go back to the “Verein Industrieform e.V.” founded in 1954. There is also the “German Design Award” presented by the German Design Council for “Excellent Communications Design Packaging”. Finally, the iF International Forum Design GmbH from Hanover organises an internationally renowned design competition every year: the “iF DESIGN AWARD”. This award is also presented in the packaging discipline. Here, packaging materials, packaging graphics and materials are evaluated.

On the other hand, the “Corrugated Board Innovation Award”, which is presented by the Association of the Corrugated Board Industry (Verband der Wellpappen-Industrie e.V.), is material-related. (VDW) awards innovations from the industry in its competition every two years. The prizes are awarded for transport packaging, e-commerce packaging, sales and/or shelf packaging and displays.

The POPAI Award of the US association POPAI Point of Purchase Advertising International occupies a special position among the “German” packaging awards, although many of them are international in scope.

The POPAI Award for outstanding POS activities is presented annually by the US association POPAI "Point of Purchase Advertising International" for "Product Packaging" and "Promotion Packaging" in 14 countries and regions, including Germany since 2009.

European Awards

The “European Carton Excellence Award” of The European Carton Makers Association (ECMA) is advertised as a pan-European award for cardboard packaging. The “epda Award” of the European Brand & Packaging Design Association (epda), Basel and Ratingen, as well as the “European Design Awards”, which are presented every year in another European city as part of a festival in the packaging category in the areas of alcoholic beverages, food and beverages as well as health and beauty, also have this multinational claim.

In addition, internationally renowned competitions for packaging will be held in other European countries. The respective awards include the “Swiss Packaging Award” from the Swiss Packaging Institute SVI, the British “UK Packaging Awards”, the Czech “Obal roku” award (Packaging of the Year) and the Belgian “Pentawards” for packaging design.

Finally, the winners of national and international competitions can also take part in the WorldStar competition of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), founded in Tokyo in 1968, whereby the previously acquired award is a prerequisite for participation. The reputation of the “WorldStar Packaging Award”, which has been awarding winning packaging from all over the world since 1970, is correspondingly high. In 2018, WorldStars went to 318 participants from 38 countries worldwide.

At FachPack you will find exhibitors with the right innovations from the packaging process chain. Meet these companies with innovations. More information can be found here.

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