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Flexible Packaging | PPT Earns Top Prize in FPA Awards

Published: March 14, 2018

Flexible Packaging Assn. says Bunny Snacks "box pouch" advances the industry.

The Flexible Packaging Assn. (FPA), Annapolis, MD, has announced the winners of its 62nd Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition. The winning entries were recognized during the FPA Welcome Dinner & Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Ceremony held Tuesday, March 13, in conjunction with the 2018 FPA Annual Meeting (March 13-15) at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, FL.

This year, 66 packages were submitted in the competition, for a total of 164 entries (some packages were entered into multiple categories). Twenty packages were honored with 31 Achievement Awards in various categories.

Sustainability continues to be a focus, with a number of entries reducing layers and downgrading thickness to reduce overall material volume. Several entries addressed how flexible packaging can help reduce food waste.

There was an increase in the number of entries relating to consumer convenience for easy opening and storage after opening. Several of the entries also highlighted the transition of products previously packaged in rigid containers to flexible packaging.

Here is a look at the top winners.

 

highest achievement award

The Highest Achievement Award is evaluated by the judges as possessing overall packaging excellence, significant attributes in all award categories, and contributing most to the advancement of the industry.

When Wells wanted to break from the "Sea-of-Sameness" in the frozen treats section, it turned to flexible packaging for innovation. Having recently converted its regular ice cream products to clear plastic tubs, Wells launched four flavors of "Bunny Snacks" in carton-like "Box Pouches." This pouch format provided vibrant graphics to coordinate in the typical display while providing clear windows to see the tasty treats, along with a unique closure system for resealing.

In addition to the Highest Achievement Award, this entry also earned Gold Awards in Packaging Excellence and Sustainability as well as Silver Awards in Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging and Printing and Shelf Impact.

 

GOLD AWARD - TECHNICAL INNOVATION

Autobahn is the next generation in flow wrap packaging. It provides extremely fast line speeds, approaching 400 packages per minute, without sacrificing seal integrity. At the same time, its easy-to-open mechanism, achieved by harmonizing the sealant and surface layer orientation, allows simple and reliable access to the product. The end result is a composite that has robust sealability, requiring minimal effort to tear open.

 

GOLD AWARD - SUSTAINABILITY

A flexible peanut bag made of certified compostable materials was developed for arenas and stadiums to help sports teams, venues, and leagues achieve the next level of landfill waste diversion by eliminating a pesky food scrap contaminant. The chief benefit of the new bag is that it reduces the amount of labor previously devoted to the manual sorting of materials collected during clean-up after games. The economic benefit is the lowering of overall waste management costs for the venue. The environmental benefits of this package centers around the use of renewable resources and its easy inclusion into the venue managed composting program.

 

gold awards - Expanding the use of Flexible Packaging and Sustainability

  • ConservaCube Recyclable Flexible Package
  • Manufacturer: ConservaCube

ConservaCube is a unique cube-shaped flexible package, providing four display panels, ready for shipping/display/selling, utilizing built in handles for customer ease of use, and a sustainable innovation for today’s flexible packaging demands. The design is brand friendly by providing four display panels for graphics; enables rigid replacement providing a more sustainable packaging solution; and is a ship ready package, providing freight savings via maximized loads for delivery and reduced waste due to breakage. The package is available in sizes up to 55 pounds capacity, and is made completely with polyethylene making it more readily recyclable without loss of quality.

This package also won Silver Awards for Packaging Excellence and for Technical Innovation.

 

GOLD AWARD - EXPANDING THE USE OF FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

  • FLP - Rejuvenate Marine Products
  • Manufacturer: Glenroy Inc.

For Life Products (FLP) recently launched a new Rejuvenate Marine line of biodegradable products in stand-up flexible pouches. Sold exclusively at West Marine stores, the shaped design, along with vivid graphics, makes it stand out among competitive products on the shelf. Glenroy utilized its technical expertise to develop both the structure and shape that meets the needs of boaters, allowing them to store all of their cleaners on board without worrying about breakage or leakage.

 

gold award - printing and shelf impact

Unilever introduced its new Knorr One Skillet Meals line with a different twist to their traditional white high-end glossy package design. The new three-ply film package features a darker background color, giving it a softer, more prestigious look, with a registered matte lacquer allowing the brand logo and product image to remain glossy and truly jump off the package.

 

gold award - packaging excellence

Perfetti Van Melle Mentos SHARE-A-BOWL PrimaPak package is a flexible, stackable, and reclosable package produced from a single roll of film on vertical form-fill-seal machinery. Designed as a replacement for stand-up pouches and rigid packaging such as trays or jars, the PrimaPak package provides enhanced merchandising through its efficient cube shape and six panels. Due to its lightweight rectangular shape, the PrimaPak package improves package cube by up to 30% or more; maximizes manufacturing efficiencies; reduces warehousing space; and minimizes transportation demands.

This package also won Silver Awards for Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging and for Technical Innovation.

 

gold award - technical innovation

  • Shudh Plus Ultra - Sparkling Tactile Sachet with 3D Embossing for Mouth Freshener
  • Manufacturer: Flex Films (USA) Inc.

The mouth freshener market category is inundated with several brands, and the point-of-sale impact infused through packaging reproduction and design elements can drive impulse purchasing behavior. The Shudh Plus Ultra Mouth Freshener (no tobacco; no nicotine) artwork was given to Uflex with an objective of creating a never seen before design. The team at Uflex brainstormed design elements, and came up with a print reproduction having a combination of (1) tactile effect; (2) glitter effect; (3) embossing effect on the brand; and (4) provided a combination of gold and silver anti-counterfeiting 3D embossed effect bearing the logo of the client. All these critical parameters were achieved with a combination of rotogravure, flexography, and electron beam coating using a surface printed registered application on paper with a unique combination of gold and silver hot foil stamping.

This package also won a Silver Award for Printing and Shelf Impact.

 

gold award - printing and shelf impact

  • Sunrise Growers Organic Cherry Berry Fruit Blend
  • Manufacturer: ProAmpac

The Sunrise Growers frozen fruit pouch is a unique application of HD flexo surface printed rollstock. The polyethylene film manufactured by ProAmpac is designed to provide a strong base for printing, providing increased shelf impact for the organic pouch. The matte varnish/over lacquer protects the print and provides a natural look and feel in association with the organic fruit inside.

 

Gold Award - Technical innovation

  • Whitney Farms Organic Planting Soil
  • Manufacturer: ProAmpac

The Whitney Farms Organic Planting Soil package is UV surface printed with high chemical resistance properties and longevity to withstand outdoor elements. A high COF matte overcoat was developed specifically for this large format to eliminate product shifting as well as to provide an organic look and feel to the package, while increasing both the retailers’ and consumers’ satisfaction. A proprietary energy curing process was developed to protect the package against UV color degradation, which is key to shelf appeal.

This package also won a Silver Awards for Packaging Excellence.

 

holding the gavel

The judges for this year’s competition included Lisa Pierce, executive editor, Packaging Digest; Dr. Joongmin Shin, associate professor, Industrial Technology and Packaging, California Polytechnic State University; and Brian Wagner, co-founder and principal, PTIS LLC.

For more information and awards, visit the Flexible Packaging Assn. at flexpack.org.

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