Anniversary of the European Carton Excellence Award. This important prize for packaging design and the best cartonboard packaging was awarded for the 25th time. Outstanding, forward-looking, fibre-based packaging concepts were honoured. packaging journal presents the winners.
Fibre-based packaging has probably never been as popular as it is in this anniversary year. Many companies are either reducing the amount of plastic in their packaging or doing away with plastic altogether. This is also clearly evident in the submissions for this award:
„As you can see from some of this year's award winners, folding cartons don't have to be complex creations. The box that won the award for the most innovative packaging not only has a simple structure, it is also one of the smallest boxes we have ever judged. The point here is that this box has been well thought out and carefully designed to guarantee a tangible benefit for the consumer AND the environment.
Jury chairwoman Satkar Gidda
To mark the anniversary Per Carton created a very special award, the Champions’ Trophy, which is awarded to the cartonboard and folding carton manufacturers who have won the most Carton of the Year awards in the 25 years of the award. The congratulations go to Westrock, Stora Enso and Iggesund, who receive this special trophy in recognition of their continuous top performance.
1st place for the best carton packaging. The jury crowned „Bodegas Balsamic” from Durero Packaging made from cardboard from Holmen Iggesund to the Carton of the Year 2021, and they also received the new Carton Excellence Cup.
Jury statement:
„This folding box is a beautiful example of gift packaging. The design presents and protects the product beautifully. I liked the dramatic effect of the outer packaging, which fans out to reveal the bottle inside, and the filler carton used reflects the high quality of the whole product. Opening the packaging provides an immersive experience as the carton protects the product really well and also provides an element of surprise. All in all, a really well thought-out, well-executed gift box.“
The Save the Planet Award went to „PaperSeal® MAP Tray Burger Solution“ from Graphic Packaging International with BillerudKorsnäs.
Jury statement:
‚PaperSeal®‘ replaces plastic trays and thus reduces plastic consumption enormously compared to conventional modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). The packaging is aesthetically pleasing, has an excellent design, and by retaining the rounded corners of the previous packaging, it remains familiar to customers. The transparent inner lining of the packaging and the outer carton carry the product branding and consumer communication.“
The third major award, the Innovation Award, went to Cardbox Packaging for „Karlo Spoon“ - produced by Stora Enso.
Jury statement:
„I haven't seen many products like this spoon on the market and we believe it will be very popular with consumers. The spoon comes folded, so it's very compact, it's easy to unpack and assemble, and the structural design ensures that it holds food really well. Disposable cutlery used to be made from plastic, sometimes wood, but this spoon is made from 100 % cardboard, making it recyclable and sustainable.“
„GER Coffer“ by Alzamora Group and BillerudKorsnäs won in the General Packaging Virgin Fibre category for its structural design and sophisticated workmanship. The packaging is made entirely of cardboard, without any plastic elements, and is fully recyclable and biodegradable.
The „Plastic-free Toothbrush Packaging“ from Karl Knauer is plastic-free and consists of around 90 % sustainably sourced and recyclable materials. The packaging has an innovative, plant-based and consumer-friendly window without plastic so that the consumer can still see the toothbrush head and the familiar Flex-Zone neck.
The „Mergulo Plant Based Butter Carton“ from Graphic Packaging International with MM Board & Paper is a fibre-based, recyclable alternative to plastic packaging, designed to reflect the brand's natural, sustainable ethos. The packaging combines moisture and fat barriers, yet is recyclable and biodegradable via conventional waste collection systems.
The „Fruit Basket“ was developed by MMP Neupack Austria for the storage and transport of stone fruit as an alternative to conventional thermoformed plastic trays. The folding box made of flexible and environmentally friendly brown cardboard can be branded and easily adapted to different fruit sizes and individual customer requirements.
All winners and jury statements are available at ProCarton online at a glance.
