MIDLAND, MI—The Dow Chemical Company announced the winners of the 2018 30th Awards for Packaging Innovation, which recognizes the packaging industry’s top achievements in innovative packaging designs, materials, technologies and processes.
The highest honor, the Diamond Award, went to Procter & Gamble’s Air Assist, a breakthrough in performance and sustainability for e-commerce and brick-and-mortar packaging. The liquid packaging technology uses compressed gas to provide tailored rigidity to create structure in flexible films. By utilizing a proprietary one-way valve, the new packaging form delivers cleaner dispensing, more controlled dosing and more convenient one-handed use while still being tough enough for e-commerce shipping without extra protection. Air Assist also uses 50 percent less plastic than a traditional rigid bottle and has a 360-degree palette for design, making it a more resource-efficient solution.
“We received hundreds of very strong submissions this year, collectively demonstrating a deep global commitment to serving consumer needs and addressing worldwide challenges,” said Diego Donoso, business president for Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “This year’s winners display customer-first designs with improvements in material technology and responsible resource use, from new formats in food packaging and e-commerce protection to improved medical and hygiene packaging.”
Dow’s 2018 30th Awards for Packaging Innovation successfully continues the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation program, which is the industry’s longest-running independently judged packaging awards program. As in years past, the judging panel featured experts with diverse backgrounds, providing global perspectives across design, engineering, retail, converting and academia.
“It’s amazing to see firsthand these innovations that are improving consumers’ lives throughout the world,” said lead judge David Luttenberger, global packaging director for Mintel Group Ltd. “I’m humbled to be a part of this experienced, expert judging panel, and excited to see companies around the world innovate to create packaging that meets ever-changing consumer demands and sustainable practices.”
The judges evaluated more than 200 entries from companies in 30 countries. In addition to the Diamond Award, the top honor of the competition, the judges also selected nine Diamond Finalist Winners, eight Gold Award Winners and eleven Silver Award winners:
Diamond Winner
Air Assist —Procter & Gamble
Diamond Finalists
Febreze ONE — Procter & Gamble
Flat Wine Bottle — Delivering Happiness Limited trading as Garçon Wines
LDS 2cc ECOM Dispensing Pump — Rieke
LiquiForm — Amcor Rigid Plastics
Seed Phytonutrients Shower-Friendly Paper Bottle — Ecological Brands Inc
Simply Beverages Recycle Code No. 1 Extrudable PET Juice Container — The Coca-Cola Company
StealthWrap — Sealed Air
Tubairless — Pumpart System
Waterless Internet Flower Packaging — Uflex Limited
Gold Award Winners
Doritos Crunch Prism Pack — PepsiCo Frito-Lay
Doritos E-Z SnackPak — ProAmpac
Dual Hoop Catheter DISK — CleanCut Technologies
Extra Rich Rose Foam Facial Wash packaging — Kanebo Cosmetics Inc
Green Giant Veggie Spirals PrimaPak — Sonoco Products Company
Head & Shoulders Beach Bottle — Procter & Gamble
VOLTAREN “No Mess” applicator — GSK
Wave Seal Technology — Wave International
Silver Award Winners
ASAHI SUPER DRY ICE COOLER PACK — WestRock, K.K.
CleanPouch Aseptic Spouted Pouch System — Scholle IPN
Danoninho para Levar — Danone Brazil
Downy (Lenor) Parfum des Secrets Package — Procter & Gamble
KitKat Celebreak Box — CBA B+G
Mix On Command (MOC) shaker bag — JPro Dairy International Inc
PaperBoat Thandai Retortable Profile Pouch — Huhtamaki PPL Ltd
Ariel PurClean package — Procter & Gamble
PushPop Technology — Amcor Flexibles
Stain Remover Qualitá, New Again Plastic Container — GPA Group
Two-Layer Laminate Sachet for Packaging Margarine — PrimePak Industries Nigeria Limited