OPPack Awards won on appeal and added value

The winners of the OPPack Awards 2003 reflected the growing trend for innovative packaging that adds value to a product and provides enhanced consumer appeal. The awards were judged in the Luxembourg headquarters of ExxonMobil Chemical Films Europe, on December 12.

The jury of independent packaging experts comprised: Kim Norland, from the Design:Success design agency, based in Denmark; Gilbert Bureau, head of the ESIEC Packaging School in France; Claudio Colombo, editor of Italian journal Rassegna dell'Imballaggio; Nico de Kruijf, head of the Packaging Research Department for TNO, based in The Netherlands; and Denis Eugene, division r&d manager of SICPA, in France.

The pack they chose for the Gold Labelling Award was Shepley Spring's Ice Valley mineral water, labelled in 50 micron Label-Lyte Lithor LTG702 cut and stack film. The converters were Printpack Europe and S&C Labels, both in the UK. The jury remarked: "This water has a striking direct appeal which gives several positive characteristics and illusions. A tactile, embossed look matches the product – it looks like a glass bottle with an exclusive print – a no-label look."

Winner of the Gold Award was Touch' Salade seasoning wrapped in a 19 micron Bicor MB 440 with PE coextrusion. It was produced in France - the converter, Deltasacs, and the end user, Ducros. The judges complimented the pack for its "absolute added value through an eye catching, innovative look that stands out". They remarked that "it is amazing how such a simple technique can have such a striking impact and even though it is not genius, it is very different and sells its 5g product very well".

The Silver OPPack Award went to Menu Vital Pet Food, wrapped in 25 micron Bicor MB 866 laminated to PE. German converter Schur Flexible produced the pack for Vitakraft-Werke. It was chosen "for its tremendous improvement over the traditional cardboard box". The jury considered the pack very innovative in its category through its reclosability feature, which keeps the aroma and extends the shelf life. "A dream for every kid, his/her mother and hopefully also for the pet!"

The pack selected for the Bronze OPPack Award was Milano/Kägi Frettli wafers, wrapped in 35 OPPalyte MU842 laminated to a 20 micron coex. The converter was Amcor Schüpbach, of Switzerland, and the end user Kägi Söhne The jury commented that the packaging showed "a very good print quality and replacement of paper/aluminium foil with an all-polyolefin structure resulting in a more environmentally friendly pack". The judges found the pack to be innovative in its "at-home consumption" category.