Environmental Packaging 2016

May 10, 2016

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The 59th Packaging Oscars: 19 nominees, 8 Best Packaging awards presented. The products in competition were judged on the basis of environmental performance, as well as level of technological innovation and design quality.

Once again the event organized by Istituto Italiano Imballaggio - this year in partnership with Conai - managed to throw the curtain wide open on the packaging industry, getting manufacturers as well as users involved, and this time with an additional trump card: an orientation towards sharing the potential of an industry of excellence with the public at large.
The award ceremony was held on 15 April at the Corriere della Sera’s Sala Buzzati, in the heart of Milan’s Brera district, which during Design Week hosts many Fuori Salone events. Comedian Diego Parassole acted as comic foil to co-host Pier Luigi Vercesi, editor-in-chief of the weekly Sette, who also interviewed the president of the jury, Prof. Mario Grosso of the Polytechnic of Milan, on the ceremony stage alongside Antonio Feola, President of the Istituto and Walter Facciotto, Director General of Conai.

The award ceremony was held on 15 April at the Corriere della Sera’s Sala Buzzati, in the heart of Milan’s Brera district, which during Design Week hosts many Fuori Salone events. Comedian Diego Parassole acted as comic foil to co-host Pier Luigi Vercesi, editor-in-chief of the weekly Sette, who also interviewed the president of the jury, Prof. Mario Grosso of the Polytechnic of Milan, on the ceremony stage alongside Antonio Feola, President of the Istituto and Walter Facciotto, Director General of Conai.

Who won and why
The 2016 edition (sponsored by Altroconsumo, Ipack-Ima 2018 and the Polytechnic of Milan’s School of Design) was entirely dedicated to sustainability, which in packaging means adopting prevention actions like the one promoted by Conai - the Italian National Packaging Consortium: reuse, saving on raw materials, using recycled/recovered materials, facilitating recycling activities, optimized logistics, simplified packaging solutions and optimizing production processes.

In addition to reduced environmental impact, the jury also evaluated the solutions’ innovation in terms of technologies and materials, but also functionality, planning and design.
In all, 19 finalist packaging solutions met the compliance standards of the Ethical Packaging Charter, which is based on the principle that packaging should be socially responsible, balanced, safe, accessible, transparent, informative, up-to-date, forward-looking, educational and sustainable.

Below are the award-winning solutions in pictures, and the jury’s reasons for selecting them.

• ENVIRONMENT PRIZE

Davines Srl for 19 grams less plastic in the Activator flacon
The environmental strength of this product is the saving on raw material. The innovation is particularly significant considering its outlet in products for professional use, which are generally slower to innovate. The squeezable structure makes the flacon accessible, facilitating use of the contents and preventing wastage of the product. The design is balanced.

Goglio SpA for Fres-Co Spready integrated dispenser
This standup bag for granular products to be dosed focuses on cutting back on raw materials consumption and recyclability, considering that it is a monomaterial solution. It is a simplified packaging system, and the design is up-to-date.

Lucaprint SpA for a solution made from beans
The carton represents a high degree of innovation thanks to the use of a new material obtained from non-edible food byproducts. Of note is the short supply chain required. The project is forward-looking.

Vimar SpA for ultralight bag for electrical outlets
Applied to the durable consumer goods sector, this packaging has been heavily simplified, transformed from a blister to a simple bag. The raw materials used are reduced, and the manufacturer makes the bag from recycled material. The solution makes it easier to recycle and optimizes logistics. The new packaging is accessible, balanced and sustainable.

• SPECIAL PRIZE QUALITY DESIGN

PET Engineering Srl for 9.3, light, economical, cool
The PET bottle for pasteurized beer has a design featuring outstanding balance and hygiene, with a classic look but innovative materials. It offers the consumer service thanks to a cap that can be opened without an opener. It is up-to-date and accessible.

• SPECIAL PRIZE TECHNOLOGY (TIED)

Sealed Air Srl for Cryovac® Sealappeal® line
Tied for technical innovation bought to a thin film to guarantee peelability performance, an appealing look and antifog properties for baking goods. Accessible, transparent and safe.

Tubettificio Favia Srl for ToBeUnique
Tied for innovating with a new digital printing technology that enables completely covering the packaging with graphics, from body to cap. It is forward-looking and informative, thanks to the many communication possibilities offered.

• OVERALL JURY PRIZE

Smilesys Srl and Besana SpA for Top Smile Lite for dried fruit
This solution combines the sustainability of cutting back on raw materials and simplifying the packaging with customer service, limiting product waste thanks to a system that enables the packaging to be efficaciously reclosed countless times. In brief, it is sustainable, responsible and safe.