We started the 2023 Paperboard Packaging Council Fall Meeting strong with honoring the best of the best in our annual Paperboard Packaging Competition and Student Design Competition. Our evening was a celebration of creativity, innovation, and the artistry of paperboard packaging. The event served as the perfect kick-off to our Fall Meeting & Leadership Conference which commences tomorrow morning. The atmosphere was electric with excitement as we gathered to recognize the outstanding achievements of the packaging community.
The top winners of this year’s awards feature a diverse array of categories, from food and beverage packaging to health and beauty products. The designs are a testament to the incredible talent and expertise within our industry, with entries that were not only visually stunning but also highly functional and sustainable.
Package of the Year
WestRock Company
WhistlePig Whiskey Piggybank
We all have fond memories of saving up change to spend on candy at the corner store. With the WhistlePig Piggybank folding carton, WestRock has taken this nostalgic trop and instead put the treat inside of the package – and this time, it’s something for the adults.
The bespoke packaging, comprising a removable lid and secure base holds the unique pig-shaped glass bottle while a sleek black sleeve with precisely cut windows accentuates the bottle’s graphic design. Foil stamping adds a touch of luxury to make the carton stand out even more on the shelf. Ecological Fibers, Inc‘s Rainbow Eggshell Antique paperboard for the lid and base, along with Neenah Classic Crest Epic Black Smooth Cover for the sleeve, were chosen for their tactile quality and premium finish.
During the converting process, careful attention was paid to aligning die-cuts, graphics, and foil stamping. Approximately 8,000 of these premium packages were produced, making this limited run a true collector’s luxury item. WestRock’s commitment to detail and structural innovation is apparent immediately, making the WhistlePig Piggybank carton a prime example of premium packaging that ensures a memorable unboxing experience.
Richard DePaul Award for Structural Design & Converting
Colbert Packaging
Single-Dose Syringe Folding Carton
Colbert Packaging Corporation’s Single-Dose Syringe Folding Carton is a model for both functionality and sustainability in pharmaceutical packaging. This packaging is important to get just right because it contains some of the most precious cargo out there, and a lot of very specific and important information must be included on the package.
The customer’s objective was to create a more patient-friendly and sustainable packaging solution. By collaborating closely with the customer product team, Colbert Packaging developed a multi-layered, fully recyclable solution. The package includes a precisely cut platform, product sleeve, and informational inserts, all housed within a folding carton.
Crafted from 18pt Candesce SBS by Clearwater Paper Corporation, it provides a bright, smooth surface for critical pharmaceutical content and graphics, ensuring uniform ink absorption. The robust paperboard maintains product integrity while meeting branding standards. The design focuses on ease of use and tamper-evident packaging, protecting the syringe from damage and light exposure. A custom foam pad prevents damage to the perforated flap during transport, ensuring cartons arrive intact and ready for fulfillment.
Sustainability of the Year
Graphic Packaging International, LLC
Unilever Skip Laundry Detergent Capsules
In the laundry detergent aisle, Graphic Packaging International’s Unilever Skip Laundry Detergent Capsule carton is a pillar of sustainability in a sea of plastic tub packaging. This forward-thinking packaging aligns with Unilever’s Clean Future initiative, focusing on sustainability in product formulation and packaging while promoting their brand identity. Crafted from 100% recyclable materials, the cartons feature GT4 ESK Fully Sized FSC from Smurfit Kappa for the lid and KR CrownBoard Craft 460g FSC from Billerud for the base.
The design showcases a user-friendly opening mechanism that is both childproof and easily accessible for adults. Preventing accidental access while eliminating plastic was a priority that took innovative design to achieve. In addition, an intelligent folding process and absorbent pad provide reliability and moisture resistance; the cartons can be used on high-speed packing lines; and, unlike plastic tubs, they can be efficiently stacked. The cartons also offer ample space for marketing and safety messages and can billboard sustainability efforts effectively.
Unilever’s Life Cycle Assessment demonstrates a minimum 20% lower carbon footprint compared to previous plastic packaging, aligning with Unilever’s sustainability goals and preventing over 6,000 tons of plastic waste annually. GPI’s solution combines functionality, sustainability, and brand excellence, setting a new standard for detergent packaging.
Folding Carton of the Year
Mill Rock Packaging Partners
Wander + Ivy Single Varietal Sets
By nature, folding cartons bring strength and product protection through six sides that meet at the edges – yet somehow, the Wander & Ivy Single Varietal Sets from Mill Rock Packaging manage to defy the laws of physics with huge cutouts to showcase the product while still maintaining rigidity and holding the weight of four bottles of wine.
The attractive, modern package, composed of .024 SBS paperboard from Clearwater Paper Corporation, is designed to securely hold four glass bottles while presenting a premium image. The converting process focused on creating lateral strength and also employed a soft-touch coating for a premium feel. The packaging delivers an intuitive shopping experience and giftable product selection.
The unique box structure features inner partitions that lock together, ensuring bottle protection and box stability. It assembles easily and includes top layers for added branding and messaging. Importantly, the carton’s corner windows allow the wine to be visible from any angle on the shelf. Choosing a flat-packed alternative over a setup box resulted in space savings during shipping and storage.
Mill Rock Packaging successfully fulfilled their customer’s objectives of elegance, simplicity, and efficiency with the Wander & Ivy Single Varietal Sets, making them an ideal choice for a gift – especially as a gift to yourself.
Judge’s Award
Pacific Southwest Container, LLC
Soap Cauldron Tome Gift Set
Hip niche brands have been turning to paperboard more and more to deliver unique packaging to help them stand out and get a foothold in their market. Pacific Southwest Container’s Tome Gift Set for Soap Cauldron is a bewitching example of such packaging creativity that transforms a product into a full experience for the consumer.
Soap Cauldron’s founder sought a captivating package that would enchant customers, and PSC rose to the challenge by creating a realistic book cover crafted from SFL E flute and 10pt SBS-23M-35L produced in-house. This three-piece package resembles a spell book with a curved spine and a tongue lock as a “locket.” Cold foil and matte varnish were added to bring the graphics to life.
The converting process included a meticulous tape job to ensure the preloaded packages were seamlessly inserted into the book cover without tape visibility. Additionally, the project features interchangeable outer covers for seasonal flexibility.
This spellbinding collaboration between structural and graphic designers resulted in a visually stunning package that exceeded customer expectations. The Tome Gift Set packaging makes using the product a full experience, providing a sense of enchantment and aligning perfectly with Soap Cauldron’s unique brand identity.
Rigid Box of the Year
TPC Printing and Packaging
Hardins Creek Clermont Tube
At first glance and even upon further inspection, it is hard to believe that the Hardin’s Creek Clermont Tube from TPC Printing and Packaging isn’t made from metal. For this project, TPC was specifically tasked with finding a sustainable and economical replacement for the previous tin tube packaging. TPC’s proprietary tube rolling process eliminates the need for additional materials beyond the lid, aligning perfectly with the customer’s goals.
To replicate the look of metal, the rigid tube was printed on 20pt MPE metalized poly board, achieving an eye-catching appearance. The team’s expertise in ink matching to foil, combined with precise coatings, transformed paperboard into a unique alternative to metal containers. This innovative tube solution offers an alternative to traditional tin packaging that retains the exact look and aesthetic of metal.
TPC Packaging’s Hardin’s Creek Clermont Tube offers a sustainable, cost-effective, and visually striking solution, proving that innovative packaging can meet both customer objectives and environmental goals.
Innovation of the Year
WestRock Company
Costco Wholesale Kirkland EnduraGrip™
Performance doesn’t need to be compromised when it comes to sustainability, and WestRock’s fiber-based EnduraGrip™ solution addresses both circularity and functionality. Costco sought an eco-friendly alternative to plastic clips and shrink film for their Kirkland products, and WestRock delivered a product that will have a broad effect on packaging for years to come.
EnduraGrip™ is designed to replace plastics used on multi-packs and fit various bottle shapes and sizes while maintaining product integrity. Engineered to provide both strength and handling comfort, EnduraGrip™ is also fully printable to enable brand customization and enhance the consumer experience. Crafted from WestRock’s CustomKote® paperboard, EnduraGrip™ is constructed using renewable material and is recyclable, depending on product dimensions and substrates. It’s pre-glued with standard cold glue for easy application, reducing manufacturing costs. EnduraGrip™ was swiftly integrated into Costco’s processes, maintaining comfort for consumers while reducing plastic waste.
This product is estimated to eliminate 145 tons of plastic waste annually when implemented just in Kirkland Cooking Oil and has the potential to be used with many more products across industries. EnduraGrip™ showcases the potential of fiber-based packaging to replace single-use plastics, offering a win-win for sustainability and cost-efficiency.
Paperboard Packaging Competition Magazine
