The go-to hub for industry professionals to discover the latest innovations in food and beverages, the World Food Innovation Awards once again did not disappoint in terms of entires, delivering some of the most original packaging designs of the year. Sponsored by Tetra Pak and organised in association with the IFE, this year’s awards’ packaging entrants showcased not only visually appealing and functional creations but also fun revamps and unique interpretations of nostalgic designs.
Best packaging design
The winner in the best packaging design category was Ardagh’s unique citrus jar which was created for Duerr, one of the oldest family-owned jam makers in the UK. The technical challenge for Ardagh was to create a new design that will shake up the category, which will at the same time meet the historic background of the company, as well as the practicalities of volume production and outstanding shelf presence. Ardagh’s winning citrus effect design was created by sculptured embossing, which enables the designer to manually sculpt the intricate peel effects onto the surface of the container.
Auga’s organic soup range joined the finalists with their lightweight plastic pouches. The packs are proven to have significantly less CO2 emissions during the product lifecycle compared to a glass jar of the same size, thanks to their energy efficient production, transportation, and lower residual waste figures.
Berlin Packaging’s design for the two-star Michelin chef Moreno Cedroni’s jams and marmalades impressed the judges with their interlocking stackable glass jars. Conceived as a gift package, every jar is sealed with a different overwrap, in a colour appropriate to each of the distinctive flavour varieties like fig and tangerine or strawberry and thyme. A deep indent in the bottom of each jar allows the next jar to stack securely, creating a tower of delicious toppings. Popcorn Shed’s gourmet popcorn packages stood out in the category, reinventing the standard popcorn bags with their little shed-shaped boxes. The salted caramel shed is inspired by British beach huts, while pecan pie is housed in an American barnyard-style shed in autumnal colours, and the rich chocolate shed is designed like a lumberjack’s log cabin.
ProAmpac’s new design for Farmhouse’s Kraut line of probiotic sauerkraut also credited as a convenient packaging that features HD flexographic printing, leak-resistant valve technology, and a laser perforation for a clean, easy tear opening. Not only a finalist in best packaging design but also in the best convenience or on-the-go packaging design category, E-Z SnackPak by Ampac is a new packaging format for the single-serve snack food market. This tetrahedron-shaped pouch transforms into a serving tray upon opening, providing a unique consumer experience. The tetrahedron shape adds package support, which provides product protection during shipping and handling. The geometric design can be packed into a corrugated shipper with an efficient interlocking pattern, or displayed in a shelf-ready carton at point-of-sale to make the product stand out on shelf.
Best convenience or ‘on-the-go’ packaging design
The winner of the category, T-Sticks, takes versatility to next level with their innovative packaging design that utilises the diffuser technology to create a premium tea-to-go experience. The concept uses recycled foil in the packaging and also helps reduce water wastage thanks to the infuser format that ensures there are no drips. Another finalist in the category, Innovative Blending’s Smoothie Vending Machine is a device that allows customers to pick their own ingredients (puréed fruits or vegetables, proteins, and vitamins) for their own smoothies. Simply, the custom vending machine allows commuters to create their very own recipes on-the-go.
Best sustainable packaging
One of the most important categories in the packaging segment, the best sustainable packaging category welcomed brilliant products this year, and Yumpa’s compostable wrappers were the winner. The brand produces a range of natural energy bars made with cricket flour, which is a healthy and natural source of protein. With a mission to reflect that on their packaging as well, they opted for plant-based packaging that is part of Parkside’s range of barrier laminates that have completed the rigorous disintegration and eco-toxicity testing for home composting with recognised European laboratory, OWS. The duplex laminated structure is granted full accreditation under Vincotte’s OK Compost Home and Seedling certification after achieving a high degree of compostability – 90% of packaging material must degrade in the 26-week test.
The Hotray by W-Cycle was also highly commended as a unique product in the hot/chilled ready meals market. The product can be safely kept for eight days in a chilled space and can be heated in an oven up to 220°C for an extended time. On a similar vein, One World Packaging’s Ovenable and OK Compost containers and trays were recognised in the category for addressing issues such as the impact of the packaging waste in the environment and the problem of food waste. Offering a sustainable alternative to plastic, the tray is 100% compostable, cool to touch, microwaveable, freezable and ovenable up to 180°C.
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