FPA Announces 2019 Flexible Packaging Achievement Award Winners

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has announced the winners of its 63rd Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition. The winning entries were recognized during the FPA Welcome Dinner & Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Ceremony on March 6, in conjunction with the 2019 FPA Annual Meeting at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch in Scottsdale, Ariz.

This year, 54 packages were submitted in the competition, for a total of 140 entries (some packages were entered into multiple categories). Fourteen packages were honored with 26 Achievement Awards in various categories.

The judges for this year’s competition included Cory Francer, senior editor for packagePRINTING magazine; Robert Kimmel, associate professor and director at Clemson University Center for Flexible Packaging, Clemson University; and David Luttenberger, global packaging director for Mintel Group Ltd.

Sustainability continues to be a focus, with a number of entries using bio-based and compostable materials.

“We saw several examples of bio-based and compostable materials,” said Kimmel in a statement. “But what we thought was most significant is several excellent examples of conversion of multilayer films, which have previously been diverse materials, into materials that will be recyclable in the existing recycle streams, particularly the polyethylene stream. We feel this is very important for the future of the industry.”

Multisensory elements incorporated into flexible packaging was a growing trend seen in this year’s competition. Industry collaboration on packaging was also seen as a growing trend.

“We saw collaboration this year not just between one or two suppliers but among multiple suppliers—sometimes two, three or four suppliers,” said Luttenberger in a statement. “But what impressed me even more was that we're seeing collaboration across continents, looking at technologies developed in one region and applying them to another, on a global scale. I think that's going to really take the industry forward as well.”

Several of the entries also highlighted the transition of products previously packaged in rigid containers to flexible packaging and addressed consumer convenience, making it easier for the consumers to shop, transport, dispense from and use flexible packaging.

Here are the 2019 award recipients:

Highest Achievement Award

Gold Achievement Awards

Silver Achievement Awards