Best Packaging 2019: Environmental packaging

Structure and value of innovation in sustainable terms of the 23 finalist packaging solutions of the 2019 edition of the contest organized by Packaging Meeting, and promoted by the Italian Packaging Institute in partnership with Conai.

Sustainability in the forefront for the 2019 edition of the now historic Italian Packaging Oscar, which in packaging means adopting preventive actions, such as those promoted by Conai - the Italian National Packaging Consortium: re-use, saving of raw materials, use of recycled/recovered material, facilitation of recycling activities, optimization of logistics, simplification of the packaging system and optimization of production processes.

In addition to the lower environmental impact, the expert jury evaluated the innovative aspects for the use of technologies and materials, but also the functional ones, namely planning and design.

The initiative recounted the long process that involves an entire industrial chain, from design to domestic segregated collection.

Essential starting point: the content, which determines the choice of materials and the best type of packaging, designed to preserve it, protect it and sell it on the target market, placing the focus on the end of life as a priority: its easy recyclability or compostability.

ADERCARTA SPA | Eco barrier bag
COOP ITALIA SOCIETÀ COOPERATIVA | Tray with lid for fruit and vegetables
GOGLIO SPA | Monomaterial packaging
NONNO NANNI | Pack for 100g stracchino
PARMALAT SPA - TETRA PAK ITALIANA SPA - SANTAL | Green Box Project

FERRERO TECHNICAL SERVICES SRL | Estathé Glass Bottle

BARILLA G&R FRATELLI SPA | New case - Display Stand

BTICINO SPA
BIOPLAST SRL
COOP ITALIA SOCIETÀ COOPERATIVA
CELLOGRAFICA GEROSA SPA
DAVINES SPA
DI MAURO OFFICINE GRAFICHE SPA
INTERNATIONAL PAPER SRL
KEMIPLAST SRL
MPG MANIFATTURA PLASTICA SPA
PARMALAT SPA E SCATOLIFICIO SANDRA SPA
POPLAST SRL
PLASTOTECNICA SPA
SALES SPA - ANTICA ERBORISTERIA SPA - AVERY DENNISON
POLYCART SPA
TUBETTIFICIO FAVIA SRL
SMILESYS SPA E MORATO PANE
VIMAR SPA

ADERCARTA SPA  |  Eco barrier bag
ENVIRONMENT AWARD
The advantages identified included simplification of segregated collection, where even the food contaminated bag can be collected as bio waste, easier handling, optimization of the transport phase and raw material savings.

Definition Ecobarrier Bag in recyclable and compostable paper, resistant to liquids and fats, for rotisseries and fishmongers and largescale retail.

Material Special semitransparent cold-coated paper with a very thin layer of eco-compatible resin that makes it waterproof. In compliance with the strictest food and HACCP regulations, it is composed exclusively of FSC certified virgin fibres, is produced in Italy with totally Italian materials, is traceable and uses waterbased inks for personalisations.

Design The bag is designed with a double folded bottom, without thermo-reactive plastics, which seals it and guarantees a perfect seal against liquids. The line of bags guarantees excellent performance also in terms of lightness, transparency (for accurate verification of the content) and robustness.

Environmental pluspoints   -20% paper, -45% overall raw material, -40% waste; energy saving, 100% recyclable, biodegradable and compostable, and therefore reusable as a container for bio waste.

COOP ITALIA SOCIETÀ COOPERATIVA  |  Tray with lid for fruit and vegetables
ENVIRONMENT AWARD
Produced in over 80% post-consumption PET, it represents the closure of the recycling circle. Interesting in terms of the large amounts involved

 

Definition 1 kg plastic hinged tray, used for packaging Coop brand fruit and vegetables.

Material Minimum 80% post consumption recycled plastic.

Design The tray is designed with a hinged and resealable lid. It includes downweighting of material.

Environmental pluspoints Based on estimates of 2017 sales figures, a use of 43 tons/year is envisaged for 1kg trays which, covering all formats, leading  to a consumption of 203 tons/year of recycled plastic.

GOGLIO SPA  |  Monomaterial coffee pack
ENVIRONMENT AWARD
Innovative monomaterial multilayer, with barrier effect and integrated degassing valve. The packaging also allows raw material savings with positive effects on logistics.
 

Definition The new mono-material solution - with one-way degassing valve - represents an effective alternative to the use of the aluminium layer, ensuring comparable storage performance, valid in all cases where the conditions allow it.

Material Two layers of polypropylene, 100% recyclable, with waterbased barrier lacquering.

Design The composition of the material guarantees the barrier effect. The valve is applied to the bag, so as to become an integral part of it. The mirror-effect ink and the matt register paint give the pack aesthetic appeal.

Environmental pluspoints 100% recyclable thanks to the mono material components.

NONNO NANNI  |  Biodegradable and compostable packaging for stracchino cheese
ENVIRONMENT AWARD
It facilitates segregated collection, enabling all the container components (tray and flow pack) to be collected as bio waste.
 

 

Definition New packaging with a thermoformed tray and flow pack for Nonno Nanni brand 100g packs of stracchino cheese. It maintains the organoleptic properties and shelf-life of the product.

Material 100% compostable and bio-based, compostability certificates issued by DINCERTCO.

Design The material composition of the new packaging has been changed, though retaining the same image and appearance, remaining recognizable for the consumer.

Environmental pluspoints Totally compostable in an industrial composting environment (EN13432). Furthermore all the materials characterizing the compostable packaging can be defined as biobased.

PARMALAT SPA E TETRA PAK ITALIANA SPA  | SANTAL Green BoxProject 
ENVIRONMENT AWARD
A circular economy project, where the primary container processing waste is used in the production of secondary packaging, drastically reducing raw material waste

 

 

Definition  Green Box Project is a circular economy undertaking. Recovering the primary packaging to turn it into a new raw material for the production of secondary cardboard packaging is now possible thanks to RIcarta^®, the project developed by Parmalat with the collaboration of Tetra Pak^®, Cartiere Saci Spa and Sandra SpA. The objective is to recover the primary packaging destined for disposal as a new raw material to produce secondary packaging in corrugated cardboard.

Material Paper produced from scrap used to produce a corrugated cardboard box.

Design The cardboard box made of recycled paper weighs 254 g, equivalent to the paper contained in 11 one litre TPA packs.

Environmental pluspoints  The innovation of RIcarta^® enables the increase in use of recycled material  (replacement of virgin cellulose paper) from 50% to 100%, with a 73% reduction of the waste generated during the production of the box, equivalent to 14 tons of cardboard saved annually.

FERRERO TECHNICAL SERVICES SRL  | Estathé Glass Bottle
QUALITY DESIGN AWARD
The iconic Estathè PET beaker has been updated and redesigned, switching to a glass bottle with a pull-off cap, while maintaining the characteristic decor of the traditional container.

 

Definition Estathè launches a new packaging for out-of-home consumption for the first time in a glass bottle (in lemon and peach flavors) with a ring-pull cap.

Material Transparent glass.

Design The unique and innovative shape that reflects the fun spirit of Estathé, is destined to become iconic, reinterpreting the ‘straws’ of the traditional brik in a modern way, in full respect of the brand identity. The value and transparency of glass play a leading role. The twisted ridges gives dynamism to the design, making the product range even more premium. The project is the result joint cooperation between the Ferrero team,  MrSmith Studio - design and Verallia - production.

Environmental pluspoints The innovative and practical ring-pull cap, the first in its category, allows easy separation of the two monomaterial components and 100% recyclability.

BARILLA G&R FRATELLI SPA  |  New biscuits display case
OVERALL AWARD
It combines various aspects, including optimization of shape and materials, structural redesign as well as operator service.

 

Definition Display case for 350 gr Mulino Bianco biscuits, which simplifies the transport and display phases beyond the counter or on the shelf.

Material  Corrugated cardboard, printed and pre-cut to facilitate opening and display.

Design The solution is designed to show the products directly, avoiding repackaging and eliminating extra display cases, that have been simply replaced by the transport box. It enables waste reduction and avoids potential breakages.

Environmental pluspoints -44% material consumption, -30% overall environmental impact, assessed on the various LCA indicators.

BTICINO SPA  |  Case for Living Now Plates
2019 Finalist
 

Definition Designed to protect delicate components during handling on site and during transport, the packaging is completely sealed and features three different types of opening: a machinable closure (closable and glueable in line), a case closure (sealed by the label with data and barcodes), a quick tear-off opening for the building site. Inside is a cardboard that holds the plate, preventing it from coming into contact with the walls.

Material Coated cardboard, inside wood paste with thick manilla back, with high mechanical strength for packaging on automated lines.

Design Gurantee of consistency between the image of the content and the packaging. Die-cutting, creasing and gluing take place in a single operation in paper converting where transparent, vertical and narrow windows are applied to highlight the graphic element of the line, useful for recognizing the finish on the product contained. Three-color offset printing with matt register lacquering on some graphic elements.

Environmental pluspoints monomaterial disposable on site; no flowpack needed.

BIOPLAST SRL   |   Espresso Coffee Promotion Pack
2019 Finalist
 

Definition  Espresso coffee primary packaging with high barrier characteristics to both oxygen and water vapor.

Material  It marks the transition from a multi-material and aluminium triplex to a single-material polypropylene triplex configuration, where the aluminium film is replaced by a layer of metallised BOPP COEX, which allows it to maintain high barrier properties.

Design The film has been laminated on one side with BOPP film for gloss and transparency for printing, while on the other with a PP CAST film. The proposed solution does not change the perception of the image and allows an easy conversion of the production process.

Environmental pluspoints Compared to traditional packaging, it is  recyclable with a lower specific weight that, during production, ensures the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and reduced energy consumption.

CELLOGRAFICA GEROSA SPA  |  500gr Coffee Pack
2019 Finalist
 

 

Definition Highly performant packaging, developed with a view to sustainability, end of life, reducing the impact on the environment, maintaining or improving food protection characteristics (barrier to flavor and light).

Material The heterogeneous starting structure (triple film, formed by PET, aluminium and PE) has been replaced by a polyolefin based (PP and PE) composition and functional coatings for the barrier effect.
 

Design Bag of 500g for coffee beans, with degassing valve.

Environmental pluspoints  -20% weight, -8% total thickness of the layers, favorably affecting logistics, equivalent to -18% of europallets used in transport. The selection of polyolefin-based polymers simplifies end-of-life management.

DAVINES SPA  |  The Circle Chronicles Jar
2019 Finalist
 

 

Definition Designed for professional haircare products of the Circle Chronicles line, intended for millenials, the packaging is CO₂ neutral. Jar capacity: 750 ml.

Material 90% post-consumer recycled white PET.

Design The system does not include a secondary case and the jar has been downweighted as much as possible. The aluminium and PE polespan cap has been designed so that it can be easily separated and conveyed for recycling.

Environmental pluspoints It enables the reduction of use of virgin raw material, with a total saving of 3,892 kg/year of virgin material. The label is produced in bio-based PE from renewable sources.

DI MAURO OFFICINE GRAFICHE SPA  |  Doypack Recycle Ready 
2019 Finalist
 

Definition Doypack for food use, suitable for various products, according to the composition of the laminate.

Material Mono-material laminate in PE or PP, with different properties based on different packaging requirements, also available with barrier properties.

Design Flexible stand-up gravure printed pouch.

Environmental pluspoints Mono-material packaging, consisting of a single type of polyolefin-based polymer, enabling selection and recycling in the polyolefin supply chain.

INTERNATIONAL PAPER SRL  |  V Gamma Tray
2019 Finalist
 

 

Definition Tray designed to improve logistics efficiency in the transport of fresh cut convenience produce.

Material Corrugated cardboard.

Design he tray design facilitates the insertion and extraction of the contained traylets, thanks to the elimination of the upper closing flap, as well as allowing the reduction of the surface. The optimization of the shape and of the production process have also allowed the production of 50% more corrugated cardboard sheets, destined for the production of the new tray.

Environmental pluspoints 100% recyclable, ensures material saving and improvement of logistic efficiency.

KEMIPLAST SRL  |  Freshness Paper Bio
2019 Finalist
 

 

Definition  Paper packaging with gas barrier, suitable for a wide range of foods, such as bread, cold cuts, non-wrapped fruit and vegetables.

Material It is composed of a first layer based on biodegradable paper and a second layer comprising a lacquer.

Design The paper is micro perforated, with controlled transpiration to create an optimal environment for packaged products. Coils and sheets usable for both manual and automatic packaging, with a wide range of perforations and the possibility of printing up to 10 colors.

Environmental pluspoints Biodegradable and compostable.

MPG MANIFATTURA PLASTICA SPA  |  Tray for ice cream
2019 Finalist
 

Definition Ice cream tray, with removable label, reusable at home.

Material Injection polypropylene, with IML label.

Design With an attractive shape and color, with an easily removable label to encourage the consumer to keep it for home use.

Environmental pluspoints Recyclable, suitable for domestic reuse, weighs about 60 grams thanks to the reduction of raw material used.

PARMALAT SPA - SCATOLIFICIO SANDRA SPA  |  Automatic tray for 6 500 g jars of yogurt 
2019 Finalist
 

 

Definition Tray made of corrugated cardboard, designed to accommodate six 500 gram jars of yogurt, with integrated jar support on the bottom and on the walls of the tray.

Material  Corrugated cardboard.

Design The redesign has integrated the jar support function, eliminating the honeycomb, by modifying the tray production die board by the insertion of cutting and hatching lines on the walls and on the bottom, not to mention the elimination of the honeycomb insertion station.

Environmental pluspoints Reduction in the amount of cardboard used, (-11.9% of the total weight of the tray) compared to the previous solution and -53.7% of die-cutting scraps. Secondary product packaging made 100% with recycled paper, thanks to the elimination of the honeycomb.

POPLAST SRL |  Ecopopack 
2019 Finalist
 

 

Definition  Ecopopack recyclable packaging for single coffee pods, with high barrier to oxygen, water vapor and aromas.

Material PP multilayer, replacing the plastic/aluminium/plastic triplex.

Design Customizable with internal printing between the outer OPP20 my layer and the central PP20 my high barrier layer.

Environmental pluspoints 100% recyclable , -31.4% of established weight.

PLASTOTECNICA SPA  |  100% recyclable mono material laminate
2019 Finalist
 

 

Definition 100% recyclable laminate for small and large format preformed bags for Monge brand dry petfood.
Printing, laminating and bag-making done by IPV Pack Srl.

Material  Replacement of a laminated multilayer (PP/PET/PE or PET/PE) with a completely laminated mono-material.

Design The graphics of the new packaging include specific symbols that clearly help consumers choose the appropriate disposal procedure.

Environmental pluspoints   The mono-material structure guarantees the ease of recycling operations and the subsequent production of a post-consumption granule that can be reused in subsequent production processes

SALES SPA - ANTICA ERBORISTERIA SPA - AVERY DENNISON  |  Blottle for Herbatint products
2019 Finalist

 

Definition  The Herbatint project came into being as a sustainable solution studied on the Moringa Bio Haircare Shampoo and Conditioner Line: the case and the leaflet have been eliminated, the product appears only in its primary pack with a self-adhesive label that contains all the  information and instructions for use.

Material  Regarding the bottle, the virgin HDPE have been replaced with 35% recycled HDPE. Regarding the label, paper, PP and siliconised support have been replaced by composite PE/marble processing waste, with a 30% recycled PET film substrate. Plastic lamination has been replaced by a matt varnish. Drying when printing the traditional UV label has been replaced with UV LED.

Design The intervention focused on the new label, which takes on a wide-ranging information function.

Environmental pluspoints The elimination of secondary packaging has enabled the reduction of the use of raw materials, simplification of the pack and the optimisation of the logistics processes. The different components can be recycled individually.

POLYCART SPA  |  Bag in Mater-Bi for mozzarella
2019 Finalist
 

Definition Biodegradable and compostable pouch for buffalo mozzarella, also suitable to contain the protective liquid.

Material Mater-Bi, with a content of renewable raw materials greater than 50%, produced by Novamont with non genetically modified corn starch and vegetable oils, and cultivated in Europe with traditional agricultural practices.

Design The bag has been designed with resistant welds to contain liquids and the serum required for maintaining the buffalo mozzarella.

Environmental pluspoints Certified according to the UNI EN 13432 standard, the bag can be disposed of with food waste and, if sent to the composting plant, it can be turned into compost.

TUBETTIFICIO FAVIA SRL  |  ToBeNaturAL
2019 Finalist
 

Definition  Aluminium tube with biodegradable capsule.

Material  Deformable tube in aluminium and closure capsule in IamNature® technopolymer, a bio-based polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthesized from various bacteria, which preserves its integrity in the context of use for a long time but, once its use cycle has terminated, it can be disposed of as organic waste as it has the ability to degrade completely. Winner of  the Bioplastic Award.

Design ToBeNaturAl lends itself to all digital printing processes on aluminium, including ToBeUnique, an exclusive Favia digital printing technique that involves the aluminum body of the tube and the capsule in a single printing process. The capsule is press-molded in a special extended cycle to enable the desired result to be obtained at a lower temperature, given that the material is sensitive to high temperatures.

Environmental pluspoints Use of totally recyclable aluminium and biopolymer.

SMILESYS SPA E MORATO PANE  |  Smile Pocket
2019 Finalist
 

Definition Packaging for sandwich bread, suitable for keeping the product fresh and fragrant, which guarantees perfect reclosing without the use of labels.

Material  100% PET or PP or polyester, with elimination of the backing in siliconed paper or silicone PET to protect the adhesive.

Design Wide opening with perfect function when re-closing the pack, without the need to use stickers: using a particular cutting system  the open-close system  can be directly integrated during the lamination phase.

Environmental pluspoints  -70% raw materials used, -45% energy consumption, -60% waste material compared to labeled solutions.

VIMAR SPA  |  Packaging system for the TAB JR wall intercom
2019 Finalist
 

Definition  The optimisation of the packaging system for the Tab JR  wall intercom  entails raw material savings on container and box, the resizing of the instruction manual and the removal of the partition.

Material Corrugated cardboard.

Design The cardboard wrapper has been scaled down - (from a volume of 4,015.12 cm3 to a volume of 1,194 cm3) and the partition is eliminated with the relative shrink film. The  label and  cardboard box size has also been reduced, while increasing their capacity from 8 to 10 pcs.

Environmental pluspoints  -60% raw materials used, optimization of logistics and shipping volumes (a pallet can now carry as many as 48 cases for a total of 480 products against the 12 previous cases, which contained only 96 products).