Hybrid container takes top prize in DuPont packaging awards

From catheters to cheese to cement, plastic packaging is in the spotlight.

But it's a new hybrid container from IPL Inc., which combines the advantages of flexible and rigid packaging that's taking home top honors in this year's DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation.

The hybrid container SkinnyPack developed by IPL is made by fusing a flexible in-mold label to a sturdy, rigid frame to create the injection molded unit.

Diamond Award winner SkinnyPack uses 54.8 percent less plastic than previous packaging used for Ana's Foods salsa. Making the container from only one resin, PP, allows it to be 100 percent recyclable, according to DuPont.

“In developing the SkinnyPack, IPL and Ana's Foods took existing technology to a whole new level. With the properties of both flexible and rigid packaging, the SkinnyPack highlights the world of possibilities that exists for packaging,” DuPont said.

The DuPont Awards calls itself “the longest-running, global, independent judged celebration of innovation and collaboration throughout the value chain.”

This year brought nearly 140 entrants from 25 countries.

Along with the big winner, a panel of judges also awarded gold and silver awards. Gold winners along with comments from DuPont include:

Squeezable mascara tube from AmorePacific. “An eye-opening innovation, AmorePacific's squeezable mascara tube eliminates consumer frustrations with inconsistent delivery, dried out product and inability to extract mascara from the tube. This squeezable mascara tube is the first matte silicone mascara tube in the world.”

New ultra slim spray bottle from MiiSTS Int'l Inc. and HotPot Design. “MiiSTS is the only flat travel-size bottle in the market. The ultimate in portability and convenience, the MiiSTS bottle is the rough dimensions of a credit card and just 5 millimeters thick at its thinnest point.”

Medi-CRREO child resistant pouch from Pactech Packaging and Reynolds Presto Products. “This new technology will allow products that had been previously packaged in child-resistant boxes or bulk plastic containers to be packaged in flexible packaging.”

EnVeo R packaging for catheter devices from Medtronic CardioVascular and Prent Corp. “Previous packages for TAVI (transcatheter aortic valve implantation) catheter devices required significant hospital preparation and resources to preparing the catheters for use. The new EnVeo R Packaging is designed with added functionality that helps streamline the value preparation and loading process before surgery.”

Silver winners with comments from DuPont include:

Oral-Rehydration-Salt package from Mix Pak System SL and Interapothek. “The ORS package is a dual chamber pouch, with one compartment containing a precise dose of powder supplements and the other containing fresh water. The two chambers are separated by a frangible seal, made with DuPont Surlyn resin, which can be opened by applying pressure on the water compartment.”

Super-sizing peal-and-reseal technology for club store cheese from Bemis Co. Inc. “The new BelGioioso Mild Provolone package raises the bar for resealable packaging at the club store level. Made up of two individually sealed compartments, this transformational package provides consumer convenience by allowing the user to easily peal and reseal the package 20 times or more with fingertip pressure.”

Gillette Venus Swirl razor package from Gillette Co., think4D Inc. and Placon Corp. “The multi-dimensional graphics and eye-catching design of the Gillette Venus Swirl package give consumers a multi-sensory experience right at the store shelves. Printed with think4D technology, the thermoformed lid features a multi-dimensional silver ball printed and formed in precise detail to showcase the new FLEXIBALL design of the Venus Swirl razor. The arched bottom tray reflects the razor's own curves.”

BBLUNT hair conditioner containers from Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. and Classy Containers. “BBLUNT conditioners have high viscosity which provides superior product performance, but are difficult to dispense from bottles made of regular polymers. Therefore, polyethylene copolymer with the lowest modulus was chosen for the bottles to provide great squeezability even at high wall thickness. However, the polyethylene copolymer made the surface dull and prone to scratching. Godrej found that a thin layer of DuPont Surlyn resin delivers superior surface gloss, scratch resistance and a rich feel.”

Lipstick samples in a new, sanitary way in Brazil from Grupo Boticario and Ycar Artes Graficas. “The sampling lipstick is a single dose of lipstick ‘printed' on coated cardboard through a process similar to graphic printing. To test, the consumer simply removes the plastic film, folds the cardboard in half and applies the lipstick directly to the lips, without needing to use fingers to spread the lipstick on. Each sampling lipstick is used once and then disposed.”

Moisture–proof cement bag from Uflex Ltd. “The cement industry in India is the fourth largest in the world, but more than 3 percent of the cement produced is lost in the supply chain. This loss is largely attributed to the cement bags being stored in open environments across the supply chain, making them vulnerable to damages caused due to exposure of cement bags to rain, unpredictable outdoor conditions and extreme climate.

“The Flex SafePack is specially designed to provide a barrier to moisture and water from entering into the bag, helping the cement withstand harsh environments and maintain its full functionality over an extended period of shelf life.”

“The novelty this year lies in the fact that we saw packaging designs that added intuitive functionality in a way that was both simple and meaningful for the user,” said David Luttenberger, global packaging director at Mintel Group Ltd. and lead judge, in a statement.  “There's frequently a lot of technology behind seemingly simple designs, but when you can design packaging in a way that resolves an issue and is intuitive to use, that's value.”