Winners announced for Packaging Innovation Design Awards

3 May 2019

Winners announced for 2019 Australasian Packaging Innovation

& Design Awards

The winners of the 2019 Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design Awards (PIDA) for Australia and New Zealand were announced at a gala dinner on the 30th of April at the SOFITEL Wentworth, Sydney.

The Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design Awards (PIDA) have been designed by the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) and Packaging New Zealand to recognise companies and individuals who are making a significant difference in their field across the two countries. The PIDA Awards are the exclusive feeder program for the prestigious WorldStar Packaging Awards run by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) with the 2019 PIDA winners automatically eligible for entry into the 2020 international competition.

2019 Packaging Innovation & Design of the Year Award - Beverage Category

The Beverage category recognises organisations that have designed innovative packaging and processing materials, packaging and machinery/equipment within packaging and processing for liquid or dry tea, coffee, water and soft drinks including wine, beer and spirits.

Gold Winner: PACT Group for the New Zealand brand Lewis Road Creamery post-consumer sourced PCR, 100% recycled rPET milk bottle range. The rPET bottles and simple label design stand out on shelf as they are based on old-style glass milk bottles. This has enabled the boutique brand to achieve a nostalgic feel and a new level of authenticity. The rPET bottles have a sturdy glass like premium-feel that captures the brand’s history and credentials. This is the first Australasian milk producer to change to 100% rPET that is also 100% recyclable.

Silver Winner: Stay tray for their reusable drink tray that is designed with 100% recycled material sourced from Australian businesses to reduce single use.

Bronze Winner: Moonuka Milk Limited for the world’s first Milk and Mānuka Honey beverage designed in New Zealand in an old-fashioned Aseptic PET milk bottle with a removable PET shrink sleeve.

2019 Packaging Innovation & Design of the Year Award – Food Category

The Food category recognises organisations that have designed innovative packaging and processing materials, packaging and machinery/equipment within food packaging and processing including fresh, frozen or other.

Gold Winner: Danone ELN NZ Supply Point for their sachet multipack for both Aptamil and Karicare Infant Formula ranges for sale in Australia and New Zealand. The packaging format had to meet the consumer expectations of being easy-to-open (no tools to assist opening such as scissors), easy-to-pour (must have a pour opening that will fit inside a baby bottle) and easy-to-carry around in a handbag or baby bag. Danone also designed their own sealing jaw that was manufactured locally and incorporates a cutting form that allows for perforations to be formed in the modified sealing area. This allows for easy opening by the consumer without scissors. Danone are the first to develop an easy-to-open pack without the use of scissors in this category across ANZ.

Silver Winner: Don KRC, a Division of George Weston Foods, for their Just Add Don convenient stand-up pouch for a range of smallgoods cooking ingredients, perfectly cut and portioned to help prepare meals easily. Previously such products were packaged in modified atmosphere trays and were difficult to open and reclose. The new pouch is resealable, lightweight, designed to extend shelf life and meets redcycle criteria.

Bronze Winner: OJI Fibre Solutions for RJ’s Licorice open top & open front Shelf Friendly Packaging that was designed to withstand export from New Zealand to Australia as well as handle stacking from pallet displays straight into supermarkets.

2019 Packaging Innovation & Design of the Year Award – Health, Beauty & Wellness

The Health, Beauty & Wellness category recognises organisations that have designed innovative packaging and processing materials, packaging and machinery/equipment within cosmetics, toiletries, personal hygiene, supplements, vitamins, perfumes, hair body and oral care.

Gold Winner: Impact International for the Sarah, Craig and Margorie 100% recycled PE and sugar cane PE tubes. The Craig tube can also be offered as a 5-layer EVOH tube, which helps improve product shelf life by increasing the oxygen barrier properties of the tube. These tubes are designed to be environmentally-friendly, improve packaging functionality, utilise smart technologies and also provide protection to the brand owner against counterfeit products. By scanning the QR code on the Sarah and Margorie tubes, you will be redirected to the Impact website, which explains what makes each tube unique and special.

Silver Winner: PACT Group for the New Zealand’s Mix Ltd Essano brand post-consumer sourced (PCR) 100% recycled rPET shampoo bottle range. The new rPET range replaced the former HDPE design. Based on Essano’s volumes, this equates to approximately 56 tonnes kilograms of plastic that has been reused and diverted from landfill.

Bronze Winner: OJI Fibre Solutions for EcoStore gift packs that hold product in place in smaller, lighter, eco-friendly 100% recyclable and compostable boxes.

2019 Packaging Innovation & Design of the Year Award – Domestic & Household

The Domestic & Household category recognises organisations that have designed innovative packaging and processing materials, packaging and machinery/equipment within domestic and household items, toys, stationary, gifts, clothing, garden equipment, decorating.

Gold Winner: Nulon Products Australia & Caps and Closures for the Nulon EZY-SQUEEZE fluid transfer system which replaces the traditional rigid packaging with a flexible pouch and applicator that has made accessing hard-to-reach fill points on a car quick and easy.

Silver Winner: OF Packaging for the Kookaburra Worm Farms Flat Bottom Bag with Perforated Side Gussets providing the required oxygen levels for the living product inside. The bag is also self-standing and rectangular in nature, which offers optimal space-utilisation for both packing and shipping procedures compared to other formats.

2019 Packaging Innovation & Design of the Year Award – Labelling & Decoration

(NEW AWARD)

The new Labelling & Decoration Category is designed to recognise the addition of content to a pack which creates a unique or innovative appearance, function or communication. This may include labels, sleeves, tags, coding/markings, etching, directly applied inks or by any other similar process. This is a WorldStar Packaging Award Category.

Gold Winner: Currie Group for their new transformational printing technology for packaging that showcases high-end printing, finishing, coding, marking and AR technology driving awareness to The Australian Rhino Project (TARP).

Silver Winner: Metalprint Australia for Chobani Australia Spooky Vanilla Ghost Shaped Pouch which is a unique non-symmetrical packaging design.

2019 Accessible Packaging Design Special Award (NEW AWARD)

The new Accessible Packaging Design Special Award is designed to recognise packaging that is accessible, intuitive, easy-to-open and innovative. Accessible Packaging Design needs to include measuring techniques, understanding injuries caused by packaging and consumer satisfaction levels with packaging accessibility. This award category is sponsored by Arthritis Australia and Arthritis New Zealand.

Gold Winner: SPC Ardmona for their SPC ProVital Easy-Open Diced Fruit in Jelly range that is designed for all consumers to open, including those with reduced fine motor skills, dexterity and strength. This design achieved an ISR +8 accessibility rating (i.e. the product is universally easy-to-open, with 95% of the population able to open the pack without tools). The key design features of the ProVital pack is the textured and lengthened pull tab, combined with the easy grip decagon cup shape and low opening force. Testing undertaken by SPC has shown that the majority of patients experienced no pain when opening the pack. The final aspect that set this entry apart was the presentation of all the key information on the packaging. The instructions were clear and helpful, and the required information was very easy to read, with the use of the appropriate font size and excellent print contrast.

Silver Winner: Flavour Creations for their pre-thickened Ready-To-Drink (RTD) range packaged in the new Dysphagia Cup and Cup Holder which is designed to specifically increase rates of hydration and decrease rates of malnutrition for residents/patients with Dysphagia. Along with the reusable holder and plastic over seal, the snap fitting portion control cup has a large overhanging tab that is textured. The clear and legible ‘peel back’ wording allows consumers to understand how to open the product.

Special Commendation: Moana New Zealand & Sealed Air for Cryovac® Grip and Tear® (including 'small tab') was designed to foster ease-of-use for packaged meat, poultry, seafood products for processors, food service and retail markets. This Accessible Packaging Design enables convenient product access using a packaging design that is simple and intuitive for consumers to use; irrespective of their age or functional abilities. Previously these difficult to open items required opening tools, which could easily cause injuries. The Grip and Tear feature means the packs can now be easily opened by a simple hand action. Sealed Air have undertaken significant design innovation in the development of the Grip and Tear feature to meet both the food handling and food protection requirements for the range of products proposed for the packaging format.

2019 Save Food Packaging Design Special Award

The Save Food Packaging Design Special Award is designed to recognise companies that have developed innovative and sustainable packaging solutions that minimises food losses and food waste. This is a WorldStar Packaging Awards category. The winner was awarded a custom EcodEX packaging environmental assessment valued at $10,000, sponsored by Empauer.

Gold Winner: Hazeldene's Chicken Farm & Sealed Air for Cryovac Darfresh on Tray vacuum skin technology that has been engineered to address key challenges facing our world's food processing industry including food safety, shelf life extension, operational efficiency and brand building. The pack can provide an increase of shelf life by 25% over existing MAP applications. Food waste reduction is further facilitated by the fact that the packaging is easy-to-open as the tear tab and peelable top film allows for easy product access. This means no knives and no product damage. The pack is also freezer-ready and the vacuum environment ensures no product dehydration. The shelf life is visible and easy to find on the front of the pack which makes meal planning for less waste easier. Serving size has been optimised to serve 2x which meets the needs of today's typical household. This efficient portion size also further helps reduce food waste.

Silver Winner: Flavour Creations for their pre-thickened Ready-To-Drink (RTD) range of packaging which are shelf-stable products with 12 months shelf-life when unopened. When the RTD’s are packaged in the new Dysphagia Cup and Cup Holder they are designed to reduce food for special medical purposes by enabling better motor control of the drinking process, improving grip, stability and ensuring the ability to consume the full contents. Best Before Dates are clearly legible on all packaging which further helps to reduce food wastage.

2019 Sustainable Packaging Design Special Award

The Sustainable Packaging Design Award is designed to recognise companies that have developed innovative packaging or processing solutions that incorporates sustainability considerations. Elements include Social, Material, Source Reduction, Energy and Recovery.

Due to the overwhelming number of submissions to this category and the difference styles of packaging entered, the award winners were separated in to two subset categories 1. Materials and 2. Circular Economy. The Gold winners for each category were awarded a custom EcodEX packaging environmental assessment valued at $10,000 sponsored by Empauer.

Materials Gold Winner: Punchbowl Packaging for the Kaituna Blueberries peel-able, re-sealable, tamper-proof top seal fibre punnets.Punchbowl’s design approach was to deliver a simple, practical and sustainable solution for customers, while ensuring a range of ‘end of life’ options for the packaging. In designing this sustainable packaging format, Kaituna have been able to achieve a 10% weight reduction compared with the standard 125 grams blueberries plastic labelled clamshell. The punnet is made from renewable unbleached wheat straw and is compostable in industrial compost systems. The punnet is also recyclable, with pulpability testing indicating a 95% fibre yield result and cleverly Kaituna have developed reuse opportunities for the punnet as seedling plant pots.

Materials Silver winner: Plantic Technologies for the NEAT Meat Tray using PLANTIC™ RV high barrier Skin Pack recyclable material to replace their previous non-recyclable tray made from black HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene). The rPET is sourced from New Zealand and Australian recycled post-consumer PET bottles and in plant PET waste from both the manufacturing of the PLANTIC™ RV tray and other waste PET streams. The addition of the Australasian Recycling logo to the Neat Meats pack will assist consumers to correctly dispose of the packaging.

Materials Bronze Winner: Impact International have taken an innovative & sustainable approach to offer to their customer three tube packaging options to replace fossil fuel plastic tube packaging. The Sarah, Craig and Margorie range are 100% recycled PE and sugar cane PE tubes. The Sarah & Margorie tubes use of recycled PE meets the 2025 Targets of including recycled content. Impact International is a registered public drop off point for a global recycling program which provides consumers an additional facility to return and recycle tubes.

Materials Special Commendation #1: Woolworths have undertaken a major project in replacing their previous black plastic non-recyclable plastic trays with a renewable sourced pulp/plant-based fibre sourced from unbleached bamboo (40%) and unbleached sugarcane (60%). This national change over into all stores for over 50 in store bakery products, represents 75% of all products that were previously packed in the black plastic non-recyclable tray. This reduced 265 tonnes of plastic annually from their bakery department.

Materials Special Commendation #2: Ranpak for their Thermal Paper Packaging Solution. Ranpak’s packaging is biodegradable, recyclable and renewable and using the Ranpak equipment it provides companies with flexibility to generate packaging as required, pre-sized and pre-cut. This flexibility provides huge space saving opportunities compared to plastic and EPS versions of thermal protection.

Circular Economy Gold Winner: PACT Group for the New Zealand brand Lewis Road Creamery post-consumer sourced PCR 100% recycled rPET milk bottle range. The rPET bottles and simple label design stand out on shelf as they are based on the old-style glass milk bottles. This has enabled the boutique brand to achieve a nostalgic feel and a new level of authenticity. The rPET bottles have a sturdy glass like premium feel that captures the brand’s history and credentials. This is the first Australasian milk producer to change to 100% rPET, that is also 100% recyclable.

Circular Economy Special Commendation: This special commendation recognises Detpak’s initiative and investment in the development of the RecycleMe system, combining circular economy thinking to maintain high material value to address a single use packaging item. In the development of the program, Detpak started at the end-market (mill) perspective to ensure the acceptance of their innovative cup lining technology. The system also provides a solution for the cup lid which can now be collected and recycled into products such as plastic photo frames. With this right industry partnerships, the RecycleMe™ System is scalable and able to be rolled out across many locations in Australia and New Zealand.

2019 Industry Packaging Professional of the Year Award

The Industry Packaging Professional of the Year Award is designed to recognise and acknowledge the outstanding achievements and contribution by an individual currently working within the Packaging industry. The judges were looking for an individual who have demonstrated vision and leadership, shows innovation and who is not afraid to take risks.

The winner is Joe Foster, Co-Founder & Director, OF Packaging. Joe Foster has had a passion for flexible packaging for most of his life and has run four businesses across four countries over the last forty years. Joe has spent the majority of his career working to not only understand flexible packaging at its core but progress the possibilities of flexible plastics with a continued focus on packaging innovation. Joe Foster’s true legacy has nothing revolves around his resoundingly passionate attitude towards flexible packaging. Joe sees beyond what flexible packaging is, to what it can be, and hopes to create an evolved understanding of flexible packaging and the place it holds in society. His goal is to improve the relationship we have with flexible packaging and plastics, helping inspire new respect for packaging and improving consumer and waste behaviours along the way.

2019 Packaging New Zealand Scholarship

The Packaging New Zealand Scholarship provides a Packaging professional who is looking to further their education the opportunity to enrol in the Diploma in Packaging Technology valued at $9000.

The winner is Poonam Patel, Senior Packaging Technologist, Goodman Fielder. Poonam believes that with a Diploma in Packaging Technology in hand she will have a strong platform to solidify her career path to specialise in the packaging field. Not only that, the knowledge gained from the Diploma will empower her to utilise her skills in teasing out ideas, risks and mitigations with a more focused and technical view. Using the knowledge she gains from this course Poonam would like to turn theory into practice that is engaging; inspiring future generations with little awareness of this fascinating sector. For Poonam the journey doesn’t just stop at creating and innovating. She recently read about the importance of women in the manufacturing environment and the part they actively play to grow the success of this sector. Her aspiration is to not only be a part of this movement but to advocate to the up-coming generation of women joining the work force on the viability of a career in packaging technology.

2019 Young Packaging Professional of the Year Award

The purpose of the Young Packaging Professional of the Year Award is to provide incentive and recognition to young professionals who are both currently working in and wish to continue their career path within the Packaging industry.

The Winner is Karunia Adhiputra, Packaging Technologist – Technical & Production, Nestle Australia. Whilst Adhi has already achieved a significant number of things in his career the one that stands out is the development of the Australasian Recycling Label program tracker and generator for Nestle. During the implementation and training of the ARL for Nestlé products, Adhi created an excel tracker which captures all products across Australia and New Zealand to assist in the auditing requirement of APCO members. Adhi is now responsible for training all Nestle packaging technologists in both ARL and PREP tools and he hopes that one day he will become a mentor to new packaging technologists and provide them with the skills required to become a successful and valuable contributor to the packaging industry.

The AIP & Packaging New Zealand acknowledges the following sponsors: Wellman Packaging, Auspouch, Currie Group and HP, Esko, Kodak Australia, Mosca, Qenos, Sealed Air, Caps and Closures, Omniverse Foster, EcodDex, Empauer, Arthritis Australia, Arthritis New Zealand

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