FPA Reveals 2017 Flexible Packaging Achievement Award Winners

The Hunt's Recipe Ready Tomato Paste Pouch, produced by Bemis Company, Inc., received the Highest Achievement Award.

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has announced the winners of its 61st Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition. The winning entries were recognized at the FPA Welcome Dinner & Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Ceremony held Wednesday, March 1 in conjunction with the 2017 FPA Annual Meeting (March 1-3) at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Boca Raton, Fla.

This year, 75 packages were submitted in the competition, for a total of 152 entries (some packages were entered into multiple categories). Nineteen packages were honored with 30 Achievement Awards in various categories.

The judges for this year’s competition included Eric Fish, editor in chief, Flexible Packaging Magazine; Dr. Robert Kimmel, Sc.D., associate professor, director, center for flexible packaging (CEFPACK), Clemson University; and Dr. Michael Richmond, VP, Consulting Solutions, Packaging, HAVI.

“This is a year of more,” according to Richmond. “There's more innovation, there's more sustainability, there's more nonfood, there are more holistic solutions.”

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 the healthcare industry that showcased innovation, both for reducing materials and using materials more efficiently. The entries recognized the need for sterility and customer convenience.

Several of the entries also highlighted the transition of products previously packaged in rigid containers to flexible packaging.

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.

Hunt’s Recipe Ready Tomato Paste Pouch - Bemis Company, Inc.

The Hunt's Recipe Ready Tomato Paste Pouch also received:

Gold Award - Extending the Use of Flexible Packaging
Gold Award - Packaging Excellence
Gold Award - Sustainability
Silver Award - Printing and Shelf Impact

Gold Achievement Awards

Gold - Technical Innovation
Amcor's Fortis - Amcor Flexibles

Gold - Printing and Shelf Impact
Cape Cod Bags of Cash Promo Package - Printpack

Gold - Sustainability and Silver - Extending the Use of Flexible Packaging
Clinic Plus Strong & Long Health Shampoo - Paharpur 3P

Gold - Printing and Shelf Impact
Nudges Grillers Dog Treats, 5 oz. - American Packaging Corp.

Gold - Extending the Use of Flexible Packaging and Gold - Packaging Excellence
Shaker Bag - Precision Color Graphics Ltd. & Specialty Packaging Technologies Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary

Gold - Extending the Use of Flexible Packaging, Gold - Technical Innovation, Silver - Packaging Excellence, Silver - Sustainability
Waterless Internet Flower Packaging - Flex Films (USA) Inc.

Silver Achievement Awards

Silver - Printing and Shelf Impact
Banquet Dino-Shaped Chicken Nuggets - American Packaging Corp.

Silver - Sustainability
CAF’s “ORUS” Squeegee Bucket Solution “Box Pouch” — 5.25 lb. - Plastic Packaging Technologies, LLC.

Silver - Technical Innovation
Cryovac Sealappeal OSF AW Ovenable Bag for Whole Bird - Sealed Air Corp.

Silver - Packaging Excellence and Silver Sustainability
FormFoil Lite Suture Package - Rollprint Packaging Products, Inc.

Silver - Printing and Shelf Impact
gather Free Acres Adult Canine Diet, 6 lb. - Peel Plastic Products Ltd.

Silver - Extending the Use of Flexible Packaging and Silver - Sustainability
General Mills Totino’s Pizza Overwrap - Printpack

Silver - Technical Innovation
Hershey's Twizzlers with FreshPak Resealable - Sealstrip Corp.

Silver - Extending the Use of Flexible Packaging
hth Showpack - Printpack

Silver - Technical Innovation
NFI/UPM Pharmaceuticals’ Lidocare Pain Relief Patch Pouch - Bemis Healthcare Packaging

Silver - Technical Innovation
REDKEN HEATCURE At-Home Self-Heating Mask - Printpack

Silver - Sustainability
Smart Mix Pro - Sealed Air Corporation, Diversey Care

Silver - Printing and Shelf Impact
Starbucks Coffee - Mexico Chiapas - Printpack

Source: Flexible Packaging Association.