Trends emerge from DuPont packaging awards

The 2016 Awards for Packaging Innovation — the 28th occasion that materials group DuPont Co. has issued the awards – revealed how manufacturers and brands are responding to pressures and trends currently bearing down on packaging.

The drive for greater sustainability has been a major influence on packaging development for some years. Independent judges in the DuPont awards noted that entries reflected the packaging industry's continuing commitment to sustainability, with innovations around source reduction, lowering energy use during manufacturing, reusability and reducing food waste.

“A theme that I've noticed is that packaging sustainability and environmental impact is still alive and well," said Jeff Schuetz, staff vice president for global technology consumer packaging at Sonoco Products Co. "We don't talk about it so much, but it's become much more mainstream in terms of how people are designing packaging with environmental impact in mind.”

Judges revealed their thoughts about trends emerging from the 2016 awards in a series of videos released by DuPont. “I think there are a number of trends”, said Colin Yates, global petcare packaging sustainability director for Mars Inc. in Germany, “Everything from e-commerce [to] customization, but still trying to maintain mass production.”

The connection between sustainability and packaging innovation is being seen as an opportunity. Ramon Agustines, general manager of flexible packaging division at Philippines-based Universal Robina, said: “The conception of the package is an opportunity for developers to say something about why the package is important and why it is created. They can communicate that thoughtfulness to the public so people can be more conscious about selecting the product, focusing on not just what's inside, but how the packaging was thought out and how it should be either used or discarded, and how it improves the functionality of the package.”

Looking at just the flexible pouches in the awards, there were a few companies gaining recognition this year.

Aptar Food & Beverage partnered with Daisy Sour Cream in the U.S. to create the Daisy Squeeze-Flexible pouch, which was recognized as a diamond finalist winner in the 2016 DuPont awards. This is an inverted, wedge-shaped pouch with an innovative flip-top dispensing closure, creating a stand-out design with shelf appeal.

The self-sealing valve-in technology coupled with the ring pull fitment seal, custom closure and film structure work effectively together as a total packaging solution. The Daisy Squeeze package helps eliminate risks of contamination from dirty utensils, minimizes wasted product and provides easy-to-control and drip free dispensing.

“What surprised me most about this year's entries is the continued focus on the consumer,” said lead judge David Luttenberger, global packaging director for the Mintel Group. “While graphics and shelf appeal are always important, we're really seeing converters and brands come together to really focus on those solutions-based, functional, hard-working elements of packaging.”

The influence of the millennial lifestyle on design was apparent to Amazon's senior manager of supply chain packaging Suzanne Fisher who said: “A few of the things that they love … is the ease of convenience. They want to make sure they can be on the go with their package.”

Improving usability was clearly important for U.S.-based Printpack Inc., which won a gold award for its packaging of Rust-Oleum SpraySmart marker paint, which replaces a conventional aerosol can with a technology enhanced barrier pouch. Recognized for “responsible packaging” and “enhanced user experience,” the barrier pouch increases efficiency and reduces weight for the user, and also replaces a potentially hazardous can. The pouches mix and evacuate the paint more effectively, providing more paint coverage for the same package weight.

Beer is another product usually associated with metal packaging. Mondi Jackson developed a beer cartridge pouch for the dispensing company Synek in the U.S., earning the packaging group a gold award. The pouch can be filled with craft brewed beer either at a pub or from a home brewing system, maintaining freshness and carbonation for up to 30 days.

The pouch has a proprietary multi-layer barrier structure to extend the shelf life of the beer and offer increased puncture resistance. Withstanding pressures of 25+ PSI, the Synek pouch performs like a keg but weighs only 0.16 pounds and is flat in transit, reducing shipping and storage costs and reducing warehousing. The filled cartridge remains chilled at a predetermined temperature and pressure.

Judges' comments on the Daisy sour cream package.