2007 ‘Package to Thrill’ Awards

8th May, 2007

28 days to go before entries close for the 2007 ‘Package to Thrill’ Awards for Excellence which will showcase packaging at its most sustainable and best.

What have deep nest poultry crates, a 60 litre plastic oil drum, Coca-Cola bottles and containers for chilling fish in transit got in common? They have all won supreme honours in the biennial Environmentally Acceptable Packaging Awards run by the Packaging Council of New Zealand since 1999.

Paul Curtis, Executive Director of the Packaging Council who runs the awards said that this year’s awards will be the first real test under the Packaging Accord (2004) to showcase the major improvements made in the environmental design and resource recovery of packaging:

“ Eight years ago we set out to encourage and recognise companies that were making exceptional progress in their packaging. Packaging has to protect and transport the contents and ensure they are fit for purpose but if brands and packaging manufacturers do not factor in its environmental impacts, then it is simply not sustainable. The 2007 Awards programme recognise not just the "package" but its conception through design, material selection, transport, recovery and ultimate disposal.”

Curtis said that they are looking for examples from brands, packaging materials manufacturers and recycling operators which show new product design, new markets for recovered materials and new partnerships.

“When we started all this was seen as “green stuff” but its now absolutely part of business as usual in the packaged goods industry. There are new markets in New Zealand for recycling plastic bags, using glass in aggregate and construction and better systems for processing recovered resources. Unsustainable packaging design has ramifications for brand owners so it’s in everyone’s interests to get this right and these awards allow us to promote and value producer’s achievements. In 1999 we had 26 entries with over 61 in 2005 – we expect this year’s to surpass this.”

Ten categories cover the materials commonly used in packaging such as paper, plastics and metals as well as innovation, resource recovery, systems and improved environmental impact. Brand owners are included, as are tertiary students with a category dedicated to their conceptual designs.

This year’s categories include two new ones which will honour new improved consumer information and involvement and innovative use for surplus waste container glass.
Awards entries close at the end of May.

Entries being received reflect the success of the Packaging Accord 2004 in focusing the packaging industry on waste reduction. Entries for the Environmentally Acceptable Packaging Awards are open to all in the packaging industry whether or not they are members of the Packaging Council.

Organisations from throughout the packaging and associated packaging design industries are invited to submit entries either on their own or in partnership with their clients. Information on the 2007 Packaging Awards can be found on www.packaging.org.nz. For entry forms phone Deb Statham 021 706 455 or email d.statham@packaging.org.nz

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