Paperboard Packaging Council Announces Competition Winners
The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) revealed the winners of its 72nd annual North American Paperboard Packaging Competition at the association’s Fall Conference in Indianapolis. With unique structures, state-of-the-art finishing techniques, and creative solutions for stacking and shipping, the winners represented both smaller independent companies and large integrated folding carton manufacturers, as well as rigid box producers.
Entries were submitted into three categories: Eco included cartons that reduced or eliminated the need for less sustainable substrates and/or saved on energy or materials; Innovation was for entries that featured a unique structural design or used cutting-edge substrates, inks, laminations, coatings, and/or converting processes; General was for cartons that demonstrated excellence in meeting client objectives, brand enhancement, shelf appeal, shipping and distribution, and beyond.
The Paperboard Package of the Year, the competition’s top award, was presented to The Ellis Group of Ontario, Canada, for its Toblerone One by One Gifting family of cartons. A departure from Toblerone’s previous designs, the boxes were designed as a gift that does not require rewrapping. The graphics feature a ribbon that flows between the lid and base. The cartons are also right-sized to eliminate the need for false bottoms or void fillers and are optimized for efficient pallet configuration.
Bert-Co Industries of Ontario, California, was awarded Folding Carton of the Year for its GlamGlow Flashmud entry, a striking design with a distinctive “X” shape that has the look of an upscale rigid box. The pack also features soft touch coating, detailed foil stamping, and an inner panel that makes the unboxing experience fun.
Taylor Box of Warren, Rhode Island, took the Rigid Box of the Year award for its HBO Influencer Kit. Ribbons secured under the interior hinged lids lift the inner tray upon opening, adding movement and putting the contents on a “pedestal”. Upon re-closure, the tray slides inwards while hidden edge magnets seal the box with a crisp snap.
This year’s Eco Award went to The Ellis Group for its Cadbury Crème Egg cartons. By substituting plastic trays and shrinkwrap sleeves with renewable, recyclable paperboard, this new design is more environmentally friendly than its predecessor and allows more of the eggs’ primary packaging to show through. Furthermore, diecuts in the bottom and top of the pack allow the cartons to nest, thus optimizing both pallet and shelf configuration.
The Innovation Award was given to All Packaging of Aurora, Colorado, for its O.penVAPE Reserve carton. Featuring a distinctive hexagonal shape and telescoping lid, these cartons were simple to assemble (the top panels pop into shape automatically, leaving only the bottom to be closed and locked) and pack together like puzzle pieces for easy shipping and storing.
Three Judges’ Awards were given out this year. The first went to TPC Printing and Packaging of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for its Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur carton. The second went to Paperworks Industries of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, for its Brasseurs du Nord six-pack beer carrier with its unique retractable handle. WestRock of Richmond, Virginia, took the third Judges’ Award for its metallized Mixx Tails Beer carton.
“PPC’s Carton Competition is an opportunity for PPC members to showcase all they have accomplished,” said Ben Markens, PPC president. “Each year, I’m blown away by the caliber of the entries. The highest level of excellence clearly runs throughout the folding carton industry.”
For more information on the competition and a complete list of honorees and photos, visit paperbox.org/CC.
