Vacuum packaging wins accolade

Vacuum packaging that reduces food waste by keeping meat fresh for longer received first prize in the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation.

Retail packaging that increases shelf appeal, a robust packaging recycling project and modular industrial packaging that cuts waste and cost captured gold awards.

Several leading brands – Heinz, Kraft, Pepperidge Farm, Cadbury and Unilever – also took home diamond, gold or silver awards in the 24th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation, the industry's longest-running, global, independently judged celebration of innovation and collaboration.

The 2012 diamond winner exemplifies the role packaging plays in helping to feed a growing population around the world.

“FreshCase® packaging technology for meat, selected by the jurors as this year's diamond winner, addresses the important effort to help ensure food maintains its nutritional value and freshness,” says William J. Harvey, president of DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers.

“In the face of a growing population with limited resources, food waste from spoilage must be greatly reduced, and innovative packaging solutions will play a critical role in that story.”

An expert panel evaluated 200 entries from 21 countries and awarded one diamond winner, five gold winners and 10 silver winners based on 'excellence' in one, two or all three categories: innovation, sustainability and cost/waste reduction.

“The common thread was a focus on collaboration,” says lead DuPont Awards juror Brian Wagner, vice president, Packaging Technology Integrated Solutions.

“It wasn't just one company doing it by themselves; they leveraged their suppliers strategically. There was a real focus on consumer insight on the impact of packaging at shelf and throughout the user experience.”

Highlights of this year’s winners:

Diamond

• New Meat-Packaging Technology Keeps Meat Fresher Longer to Reduce Food Waste – FreshCase® Packaging for Fresh Red Meats by Curwood Inc. – a Bemis division – USA

Gold

• New Goldfish™ Bread Packaging Makes a Splash on Store Shelves – Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats® thin rolls and Goldfish Sandwich Bread™ (Flats). Packaging by Pepperidge Farm; CP Flexible Packaging; Printpack Inc.; Sealstrip Corporation – USA
• Closed-Loop Recycling System Conserves Natural Resources and Engages Consumers – Ciclo Verde Taeq® – White Tea by Grupo Pão de Açúcar; Papirus – Brazil
• Multi-Dimensional Packaging Solution Combines Ready-to-Ship, Ready- to-Display and Ready-to-Sell Capabilities … and it’s Re-Useable – “THE CUBE®” (Packaging System) by Smart Packaging Systems; My Compadre, LLC; Impact Mfg; Incrementia Inc.; One Way Display; Acme Packaging, an ITW Company – USA/Canada
• Innovative Aerosol Dispenser Technology Cuts Use of Propellants – AirOPack® by IPS Innovative Packaging Solutions AG – Switzerland
• Flexible is Key in New Cost-Saving Packaging Dividers – Soft Flexible Divider by ITB Packaging LLC – USA

Silver

• Easy-Open Condiment Package Helps Protect the Environment – Kraft YES Pack by Kraft Foods; Exopack; Foth Production Solutions, LLC; PE International; The Food Group; Smart Bottle, Inc.; – USA
• Electro-Conductive Packaging Helps Keep Frozen Food Fresh – Ultra-Freshness Preservation Freezing System Using High “Electric Potential” and Electro Conductive Packaging by Mutsumi Chemical Industry Co, Ltd; SUN Electric Company, Ltd.; Enshu-Kasei Co. Ltd.; – Japan
• New Bottle Design Dramatically Reduces Material Use, Increases Customer Convenience and Visibility for Shoppers and Reduces Cost – Short Neck Jar for Confy by Kraft Foods – Cadbury India Limited – India
• Simplified Closure System Reduces Waste, Cost and Supply Chain Complexity – Project Galvanise for Ponds Talcum Powder by Hindustan Unilever Ltd – India
• Desiccant Laminate Decreases Contamination Risks in Pharmaceutical Packaging – Formpack Dessiflex™ Plus by Amcor Flexibles Singen GmbH – Germany
• Jewel-like Brilliance Achieved in Premium Injection Molded Cosmetics Jar – Sulhwasoo Dahamsul cream jar by AmorePacific – Korea
• Microwaveable Food Tray Cuts Cost, Waste through Responsible Sourcing – Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® “Eco-Friendly Tray” for Frozen Entrees by H.J. Heinz; Pactiv Foodservice – Food Packaging – USA
• Consumer-Inspired Design Revolutionizes Laundry Experience with Tide PODS Liquid Unit Dose Laundry Detergent – Tide PODS Liquid Unit Dose Laundry Detergent by The Procter and Gamble Company and MonoSol; Plastipak Holdings Inc.– USA
• Packaging Differentiates High-End Pet Food – Laminate with Hot Foil Stamping, Matte Surface and High-Definition Flexo Print by Mondi Coatings & Consumer Packaging GmbH – Austria
• Microcellular Technology Keeps Food Containers Cool or Hot – InCycle® CPET Tray and Cold Party Cup by MicroGREEN Polymers, Inc – USA

For more information:

Visit: http://www2.dupont.com/Packaging_Resins/en_US/whats_new