WorldStar Award - These are the best packaging in the world
The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) has announced the winners of the WorldStar Global Packaging Awards 2026. A total of 234 packaging solutions from 36 countries were recognised for their...
The World Packaging Organisation (WPO) announced the eagerly awaited winners of the WorldStar Awards on 9 January 2026. From a total of 481 entries from 36 countries, a jury of experts selected 234 packaging products that set standards in their respective categories. According to the WPO, the record participation reflects the global significance of the award and the dynamic development of the industry.
The most important prize in the packaging world
The WorldStar Award, which has been presented by the WPO since 1970, is considered the most prestigious global award in the packaging industry.
A special feature of the competition is the qualification procedure: Only products that have already won a national or regional packaging award recognised by the WPO are eligible to enter.
This approach ensures that only the best of the best compete on an international level. The aim of the award is to promote innovation in areas such as sustainability, functionality and design and to serve as a global benchmark for excellence.
Strong participation and clear trends
Most of this year's awards went to Japan (24), followed by Austria (21) and Germany and China (18 each).
According to Luciana Pellegrino, President of the WPO, the award-winning submissions particularly emphasise innovations in the areas of technology, sustainability, convenience and functionality.
Soha Atallah, WorldStar Coordinator, added that the diversity of the winners highlighted the industry's progress in material efficiency, circular economy and consumer-centred design.
Award ceremony at the interpack 2026
The submission phase for the competition ran from 15 July to 15 October 2025. The award ceremony will take place on 8 May 2026 as part of the interpack trade fair (7-13 May 2026) in Düsseldorf.
The winners of the special categories, including the President's Award, the Sustainability Award and the Marketing Award, will also be announced at the gala.
Messages from the award winners
Mondi triumphs at the WorldStar Awards 2026
Mondi, was honoured with no fewer than nine WorldStar Global Packaging Awards 2026 for its innovative strength.
The award-winning, paper-based solutions replace less sustainable materials such as plastic or polystyrene with highly functional and recyclable alternatives in industries ranging from eCommerce to food and transport. According to CEO Andrew King, the awards emphasise the company's commitment to combining innovation and sustainability on a large scale and reflect its strong partnerships with customers. The awards, which are presented annually by the World Packaging Organisation, recognise outstanding achievements in packaging design and technology worldwide.
Werner & Mertz wins double gold
The Mainz-based cleaning products company Werner & Mertz has achieved a record success: Two innovations were honoured with the prestigious WorldStar Packaging Award 2026.
A refill bag for Frosch products, which uses recycled plastic from the Yellow Bag for the first time, and the clever „Switch“ dosing system for professional cleaning were honoured. According to owner Reinhard Schneider, the awards demonstrate the company's breadth in advancing sustainability in various technologies. Both solutions impressed the international jury in the „Household“ category and set new standards for the circular economy in the entire industry.
The winners from Germany 2026
The alternative to the polystyrene box
The Fiber Box - Beyond The Catch is an innovative packaging solution made from recyclable cast fibre that serves as a sustainable replacement for polystyrene boxes. It was specially developed for the transport of temperature-sensitive foods such as fresh fish.
The box received the award because it is a completely plastic-free alternative that can be recycled in waste paper and has been proven to keep the contents cool for over 72 hours. It therefore combines high functionality with genuine sustainability.
Winner: PAPACKS SALES GmbH
The beer tank system of the future
The Revolutionary Beer Tank System is a sustainable tank system for beer that was developed as a modern alternative to traditional steel kegs. It uses a special two-bag system made from a fully recyclable mono-material.
This solution was honoured because it combines sustainability and efficiency in a unique way. The system requires no CO2 for tapping, which ensures beer quality and saves costs. The recyclability and lower weight also significantly reduce CO2 emissions during transport.
Winners: FIB Beer Systems B.V, Liner Factory GmbH, NITTEL Halle GmbH
Sustainability for refilling
The award-winning stand-up pouch for Frosch fabric softener is a pioneering project for the circular economy. It was recognised for its use of 40 % recycled plastic (PCR), which comes directly from household collection. The innovation lies in producing high-quality packaging material from post-consumer waste without compromising on safety or design. This represents an important step towards closing the material loop for flexible packaging.
Winner: Werner & Mertz GmbH and Mondi
The folding giant made of cardboard
The Boxli 1000 is an innovative large load carrier made of heavy-duty corrugated cardboard that serves as a lightweight and sustainable alternative to wooden or plastic crates. It is designed for transporting large goods and can be assembled and disassembled in less than a minute without tools. The Boxli won the award because it revolutionises logistics: it is up to 80% lighter than conventional containers, fully recyclable and significantly reduces transport costs and CO2 emissions thanks to its low weight and flat return.
Winner: Evopack GmbH & Tricor Packaging & Logistics AG
Protection that dissolves in water
Aquawave are revolutionary air cushions that serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plastic filling materials. What makes them special: The cushions are made from a material that dissolves completely in water without leaving any residue and is biodegradable. This solution was honoured because it enables a genuine circular economy. It avoids plastic waste and microplastics and is also certified for home composting without compromising on the protective effect.
Winner: Flöter Verpackungs-Service GmbH
Less plastic, more protection
The Kallfass-wrap® is an innovative packaging solution that was developed as a resource-saving alternative to conventional shrink-wrap packaging. It wraps products in a sheet of paper that is only sealed with a narrow, recyclable sealing strip. The award was given for the massive reduction of plastic by up to 80% while maintaining the same high level of product protection and excellent machine performance.
Winner: Kallfass Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
Safe transport for solar energy
Solar Module Packaging is an innovative packaging solution made from heavy-duty corrugated cardboard that has been specially developed for the safe transport of sensitive solar modules. It replaces conventional wooden packaging and significantly reduces weight and CO2 emissions. It was honoured for its clever design, which fixes and protects the modules without the use of plastic. The packaging is 100 % recyclable and optimises the entire logistics process.
Winner: Smurfit Westrock GmbH
Luxury meets sustainability
The Sebastian Prestige Shampoo Bottle is a flagship project for sustainable premium packaging. The bottle consists of 93 % recycled plastic (PCR) and is itself fully recyclable without losing its high-quality, luxurious appearance. This solution was honoured because it proves that sophisticated design and a consistent circular economy are not mutually exclusive. The additional refill option emphasises the sustainability concept.
Winner: WELLA Company
Premium gift, sustainably packaged
The Jägermeister Manifesto gift packaging sets new standards for sustainable premium spirits packaging. It is completely plastic-free and uses only FSC-certified cardboard. The design was recognised for its intelligent folding construction, which protects the bottle securely, and for the high-quality finish, which emphasises the premium character of the product while remaining fully recyclable.
Winner: Mast Jägermeister SE
Safely braked, safely packaged
The Disc Safe - Brake Disc Packaging is a clever packaging solution made from 100 % corrugated cardboard that replaces the previous standard of plastic bags and cardboard. It fixes heavy brake discs securely in the centre of the packaging and thus optimally protects them from transport damage. The solution was recognised for its efficiency and sustainability: it simplifies the packaging process, reduces the amount of material used and is fully recyclable.
Winner: Smurfit Westrock GmbH
A twist for the environment
The Switch Dosing & Refill System is an intelligent refill and dosing system that drastically reduces packaging waste. The reusable dosing head is screwed onto a refill bottle and enables precise and clean dosing of concentrates. The system received the award because it promotes the circular economy by encouraging the reuse of bottles and saves significant amounts of packaging material and transport emissions by using concentrates.
Winner: Werner & Mertz GmbH
Sustainability in a blue tin
The Nivea can with 80% recycled aluminium is a milestone on the way to more sustainability. The conversion of the iconic blue can to over 80 % recycled aluminium conserves resources and significantly reduces the CO2 footprint. This step was honoured because, despite technical challenges, it was possible to maintain the usual high product quality and thus combine brand tradition with a forward-looking circular economy.
Winner: Beiersdorf AG
The robust packaging made from recycled material
Walpack packaging with recyclate is a high-strength packaging film that consists largely of recycled plastic (PCR). It is used for demanding and heavy products such as peat or potting soil. It was honoured because it proves that a high proportion of recycled material can be used for heavy-duty packaging without compromising on stability and tear resistance. It therefore makes an important contribution to closing the plastics cycle.
Winner: Bischof+Klein SE & Co. KG
Lasting elegance for good hearing
The Phonak Sustainable Pack is an innovative packaging for hearing aids that uses no plastic at all and is made from recyclable virgin fibre cardboard. It was honoured for its successful combination of sustainability, functionality and premium design: not only is it plastic-free, it is also supplied flat to save space, which reduces transport emissions. It is also easy to open and can be reused as a practical storage box.
Winner: PAWI Packaging Deutschland GmbH
The winners from Austria 2025
Drinking pleasure with less plastic
The Comforlid With Low Carbon Aluminium is an innovative lid solution that replaces plastic lids and straws on drinking cups. It was awarded for its enormous savings in plastic and CO2, which are achieved through the use of low-CO2 aluminium. The clever separation of materials also ensures optimum recyclability and thus consistently promotes the circular economy.
Winner: Constantia Flexibles International GmbH
The label as a work of art
The label for Munakra - Botanical Rum is a masterpiece of the art of printing that captivates with its mystical design featuring exotic plant motifs. It was honoured for its exceptional technical implementation: the double-sided print, which is visible through the bottle, and the finishing with copper foil and embossing create a unique experience that underlines the premium character of the product.
Winner: Ulrich Etiketten GmbH
The mattress in paper
The Re/cycle Compresswrap is a revolutionary paper packaging solution that replaces conventional plastic film for compressed mattresses. A special barrier coating enables secure vacuum packaging and reliably protects the product. This innovation was honoured because it is a fully recyclable alternative that works on existing machines and massively reduces plastic waste in the household goods sector without compromising the safety of the product.
Winner: Mondi
Stable transport without polystyrene
The Transport Tray For Mirror Motors is an innovative transport tray made of corrugated cardboard that completely replaces a previous solution made of polystyrene. It was developed for the automated transport of sensitive mirror motors in the automotive industry. It was honoured for its extremely stable and intelligent design, which uses triangular struts to achieve an enormous load-bearing capacity with minimal use of material. This not only eliminates the need for polystyrene, but also enables seamless integration into existing robot systems.
Winner: Rondo Ganahl Aktiengesellschaft
The coffee cycle
The Re/cycle Vacuumpack is one of the world's first vacuum packs for coffee that consists of just one material and is therefore completely recyclable. It replaces conventional, non-recyclable packaging made of aluminium. This innovation won the award because it guarantees full aroma protection for the demanding product coffee even without aluminium and can be processed on existing machines. It thus closes an important gap in the packaging cycle.
Winner: Mondi
The revolution in the bag
The murFLEX® PP Standup Pouch is a pioneering standup pouch made entirely of polypropylene (PP) and is therefore 100 % recyclable. It replaces conventional, non-recyclable multilayer packaging, even for demanding, sterilised products. It has been recognised as a milestone for the circular economy: thanks to an innovative, transparent high-barrier layer, aluminium is not used without compromising product protection. This enables a closed material cycle for high-performance pouches for the first time.
Winner: Rattpack Flexibles Gmbh
Safe shipping, without any plastic
The Protective Mailer is an innovative paper mailing bag that replaces conventional plastic bubble bags. Thanks to a clever, open corrugated structure, it reliably protects products and is fully recyclable. This solution was honoured for its uncompromising combination of outstanding protection, sustainability and ease of use for online retail.
Winner: Mondi Ag
The recyclable clip film
murFLEX® PP Clip Foil is a revolutionary clip film for pasty products such as spreads or sausage products that is made entirely from polypropylene (PP) and is therefore 100 % recyclable. It won the award because, for the first time, it offers a recyclable alternative to conventional, non-recyclable multilayer films with aluminium, thus enabling a closed material cycle for sterilised products.
Winner: Rattpack Flexibles Gmbh
Efficiency squared
The Cubo is a square yoghurt pot that was developed as a logistically optimised alternative to conventional round pots. It won the award for its revolutionary efficiency: the square shape means that up to 35 % more pots fit on a pallet, saving countless lorry journeys and significantly reducing CO2 emissions. At the same time, the shape improves its presence on the supermarket shelf and utilises space in the fridge at home.
Winner: Greiner Packaging International GmbH
Safe protection for pure water
The Transport Box for Mach Water Filters is an intelligent transport packaging specially developed for high-quality water filters. It was honoured for its clever integrated use: a triangular inlay made of corrugated cardboard lifts the filter and protects it optimally from impacts. The solution can be used flexibly for two different filter variants and accessories and ensures safe and efficient transport.
Winner: DS Smith Packaging Austria GmbH
Robustness meets brilliance
Ad/vantage Smooth Brown Semi Extensible is an innovative kraft paper that bridges the gap between high-strength sack paper and smooth, brilliantly printable paper. It was honoured for this unique combination of high tear resistance and excellent printability. This makes it an ideal base material for sophisticated packaging for heavy or sharp-edged products without having to compromise on print quality.
Winner: Mondi
Order in the bag, without plastic
The re/cycle ProtectorBAG PocketForm is an innovative paper mailing bag that serves as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastic packaging for small items. It was honoured for its ingenious interior: Up to seven customisable compartments allow different products to be transported safely and organised in a single, plastic-free package. This not only saves material and waste, but also optimises the entire logistics process.
Winner: Mondi
Flexible protection for shipping
The packaging for the Biocat KS-C is a highly functional transport solution that is characterised by its enormous flexibility and stability. It was honoured because it can securely pack three devices of different lengths with just one construction. Rigid wedges and special inserts hold the device in place perfectly, while a hinged side wall makes it easier to remove and everything is optimised for worldwide shipping on Euro pallets.
Winner: Rondo Ganahl AG
High-performance paper protection
Re/cycle Hiprotex Paper is a paper-based high-barrier packaging solution that replaces complex laminates with aluminium or plastic. It was honoured because for the first time it combines the protection of sensitive products from oxygen, moisture and light with complete recyclability in the paper cycle. This paves the way for sustainable packaging for highly sensitive contents.
Winner: Mondi
Visibly sustainable packaging
The paper-based lid label for fruit and vegetable trays is an innovative banderole that replaces conventional plastic film while still revealing the product. This solution was honoured using the example of "Drillinge" potatoes because it proves that fully recyclable, visible paper packaging without any plastic is technically and industrially feasible - a showcase project for sustainable fresh produce packaging.
Winner: Ulrich Etiketten GesmbH
Clear view without plastic
The Saveol - Coiffe 1 Kg is a cardboard lid for a 1 kg tomato peel that replaces a conventional plastic solution. It was honoured for its clever combination of plastic reduction and full product visibility, which is achieved through a large cellulose window. At the same time, the lid serves as a strong advertising space and makes the packaging an eye-catcher on the shelf.
Winner: MM Service Gmbh
The treasure chest for fine wines
The Assortment Box is a multifunctional packaging for bitter drops that looks like a handmade wooden box. It was honoured for its ingenious versatility: it is sales, gift and shipping packaging in one. The glue-free corrugated cardboard construction provides optimum protection for the bottles and can be reused as a box after use.
Winner: Rondo Ganahl Aktiengesellschaft
Brilliant print, green conscience
The Ecoprint Revolution is an innovative printing process for packaging that combines brilliant colours and high print quality with maximum sustainability. This solution was honoured because it significantly reduces the ecological footprint of packaging printing without compromising the visual impact at the point of sale. It proves that sustainability and a strong brand presentation can go hand in hand.
Winner: Dunapack Packaging
The winners from Switzerland 2025
Freshness in a circulation bag
The Mono Pp Pouches For Fermented Vegetables And Sauerkraut are innovative stand-up pouches made entirely from polypropylene (PP) and are therefore 100 % recyclable. This solution won the award because it combines sustainability with high functionality: it can be pasteurised, guarantees a long shelf life and is even suitable for microwaving thanks to the absence of aluminium - perfect, recyclable packaging for modern food.
Winners: Wipf AG, Hengstenberg GmbH & Co. KG
Sustainable protection in the operating theatre
The MED-Pack eco is a highly innovative sterile packaging for medical implants such as bone screws that combines sustainability and maximum safety. The solution was honoured because it is made from recycled monomaterials and has a carbon footprint 52 % lower than conventional packaging. A patented, flexible inlay optimally protects even sharp-edged products, while the „no-touch“ design enables safe and hygienic removal in the operating theatre.
Winner: Medipack AG