Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards
2024 Winners
Congratulations to the 22 winners of the 2024 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards competition! These winning packages exemplify the very best in flexible packaging solutions.
The Flexible Packaging Association is pleased to present the winners of the FPA's 68th Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition. The competition winners exhibit flexible packaging solutions that meet expectations and needs through advancements in materials, graphics, structure, new uses, extended shelf life, and sustainability. FPA also publishes the Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards & Innovation Showcase which highlights all the winners and entries in the competition.
For this year’s competition, FPA received 106 package entries, with a total of 332 entries (some packages were entered into multiple categories).
WD-40 Specialist® EZ-Pods Pouch Family
Highest Achievement Award
GOLD – Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging
GOLD – Packaging Excellence
GOLD – Sustainability
GOLD – Technical Innovation
A household name in the chemical industry since 1953, WD-40 Company products are well known for their iconic aerosol packaging. In 2023, the company broke from that tradition by launching WD-40 Specialist® EZ-Pods, a degreasing product in a pod format — in sustainable flexible packaging. Without sacrificing performance, cost, or aesthetics, WD-40 settled on two recyclable flexible packaging formats: a stand-up pouch with a child-resistant closure and a sample-sized three-side sealed pouch. Both options are recyclable through store drop-off collection services.
Manufacturer: Brook + Whittle
End-User/Customer: WD-40 Company
Plant: Northbrook, IL, US
Designer/Design Firm: Jam Your Brand
GOLD – Sustainability
Certified-Circular Content Pet Food Package
Peel Plastic and Berry Global launched a new pet food flexible packaging portfolio that contains ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certificate) PLUS certified-circular plastics for Hill’s Pet Nutrition by leveraging ExxonMobil’s Exxtend™ technology for advanced recycling. This new product offering demonstrates Hill’s commitment to sustainability and showcases Peel Plastic’s and Berry Global’s manufacturing expertise to deliver flexible packaging solutions using certified-circular materials.
Manufacturer: Berry Global
End-User/Customer: Hills Pet Nutrition (a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive)
Plant: Orillia, ON, CA
Key Suppliers: Berry Global; Peel Plastic Products Ltd.; and ExxonMobil
GOLD – Technical Innovation
SILVER – Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging
SILVER – Packaging Excellence
Dual Function Frozen Yogurt Package
This Danoninho ice pop launched in Brazil with Danone and Gualapack is the first yogurt pouch that can be converted into an ice pop for kids. The top of the pouch has a spout that is used to drink the yogurt. However, if placed in the freezer for a few hours, the contents of the pouch become an ice cream that can be consumed from the bottom of the pouch, thanks to the two notches and the laser cut, allowing the consumer to open the pouch and eat it like an ice pop.
Manufacturer: Amcor Flexibles
End-User/Customer: Danone
Plant: Londrina, PR, BR
Key Suppliers: Gualapack
GOLD – Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging
Gulf Coast Sawyer Pouch
The Gulf Coast Sawyer® Fitment Pouch stands as a remarkable innovation in the realm of pouches. It offers versatile filling options, allowing users to fill it from natural water sources like lakes, streams, or rivers, as well as under a faucet. This pouch can be directly attached to a Sawyer MINI, Micro, Dual, or Squeeze Water filter, enabling both direct drinking and filtering into containers. It proves invaluable in situations where potable water is scarce or unavailable, making it an ideal choice for various outdoor activities, including hiking, backpacking, camping, travel, and emergency preparedness.
Manufacturer: PPC Flex
End-User/Customer: Sawyer®
Plant: Pewaukee, WI, US
GOLD – Printing
SILVER – Shelf Impact
SILVER – Technical Innovation
Horayra Cat Food, 14kg
A combination of PET/MET PET/special film/high-dart PE layers is used for the lamination of this pouch to improve the dart impact, sustain drop tests, and improve bursting strength during transport and handling of the 14 kg package. To print this job, Emirates Printing Press used three sets of cylinders and printed it three times—printing the front, back, and gussets of the pouch separately due to its large size. The quad-seal pouch has a zipper for easy multiple-opening. This packaging is easily recognizable as cat food, with elegant and eye-catching contrast colors and a matte effect that gives this huge pouch a vibrant look on the shelf.
Manufacturer: Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C.
End-User/Customer: Delicious Food Factory
Plant: Dubai, Dubai, AE
GOLD – Shelf Impact
Hunter’s® Gourmet Smoky Tandoori, 125g
The combination of matte film, dense black and opulent metallic gold, and attractive product images are the key elements that make this package design stand out on the shelf. The pouch is vibrant, colorful, and attractive, and conveys the product’s flavor to the end consumer. The overall print and the background black color make the package attractive and create a better shelf appearance.
Manufacturer: Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C.
End-User/Customer: Hunter Foods®
Plant: Dubai, Dubai, AE
GOLD – Sustainability
SILVER – Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging
SILVER – Technical Innovation
McCoy™ Dunnage Free IBC Liners for Bulk Liquid Aseptic Products
The McCoy™ dunnage free IBC liner protects up to 330 gallons of aseptic food products such as diced tomatoes through the supply chain via abusive intermodal transport. This industry-changing solution is one of the many hardworking industrial flexible packages that never sees a retail shelf. The stronger, lighter IBC virtually eliminates the need for layers of protective dunnage at the top and bottom of containers, which significantly reduces packaging waste and cost, streamlines processing, and improves sustainability. Benefits include 40% system cost savings over conventional liners and a 25% reduction in carbon footprint.
Manufacturer: Amcor Flexibles
End-User/Customer: Bulk liquid aseptic producers
Plant: Oshkosh, WI, US
GOLD – Shelf Impact
Perfect Balance Dog Food
To support the customer’s need to export this product, these bags were developed to reduce any risk of pinholes or unsealing during transport. This was achieved through the use of metallized PET and clear sealant film that provides a larger sealing window as well as an optimized structure that provides a superior level of support for shipping and handling. Perforations in the bag facilitate air excavation for optimal palletization.
Manufacturer: TC Transcontinental Packaging
End-User/Customer: Muenster Pet Food
Plant: Tomah, WI, US
Designer/Design Firm: TC Transcontinental Packaging
GOLD – Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging
RoadRescue® Asphalt Repair, 50 lbs.
Polymerall introduced a groundbreaking two-sided seal pouch, setting new standards in packaging. This innovation features a striking 10-color print job produced on a cutting-edge BOBST 20SEVEN flexographic printing press, ensuring exceptional printing quality for a captivating presence on retail shelves. Designed to hold 50 pounds of asphalt mixture for pavement repair, it tackles the challenge of UV exposure with a UV-resistant substrate, preserving print vibrancy in sunlight. Moreover, the pouch incorporates gas exchange vents and facilitates secure palletization, making it a practical and visually appealing choice for packaging needs.
Manufacturer: Polymerall Flexible Packaging
End-User/Customer: Blades Group
Plant: TEPANCO DE LOPEZ, PUEBLA, MX
Designer/Design Firm: Blades Group
Key Suppliers: BOBST (flexographic printing press); Esko (DTP setup); Flint Group (inks); MacDermid Graphics Solutions (flat-top dot plates); Polymerall Flexible Packaging (package converter), and Totani Corporation (pouch machine)
GOLD – Packaging Excellence
GOLD – Printing
GOLD – Shelf Impact
GOLD – Technical Innovation
Shehrazade Basmati Rice Blue Pouch, 5kg
The pouch’s previous version was created with tailor-made window metallized film, which is costly and limited in availability. To replace the window, Emirates Printing Press used a registered metallized PET lamination printed with reverse print and surface matte. The Shehrazade pouch is printed with an inline-registered matte coating, which creates an eye-catching look on the shelf. High-dart PE is used to meet the dart impact of the laminate, sustain drop tests, and improve bursting strength during transport and handling. The D punch helps consumers to carry the bag easily.
Manufacturer: Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C.
End-User/Customer: Foodco National Foodstuff PJSC
Plant: Dubai, Dubai, AE
GOLD – Printing
GOLD – Shelf Impact
Voyager™ Dog Food Co. Clean and Complete Wholesome Recipe
The Voyager™ Dog Food Co. package establishes the value and philosophy of the brand, clearly communicating its mission and the product’s healthy attributes. This unique package design truly stands out on the shelf, with artwork-like printing attractive enough to hang on a wall. Voyager takes advantage of each of the panels of the flat bottom pouch by displaying simple and clean branding to clearly convey the Clean & Complete Wholesome Recipe for dogs.
Manufacturer: TC Transcontinental Packaging
End-User/Customer: VoyagerTM Dog Food Co.
Plant: Tomah, WI, US
Designer/Design Firm: TC Transcontinental Packaging
SILVER – Sustainability
Amcor HealthCare™ AmSky™ Recycle Ready Blister Packaging System
Amcor’s AmSky™ recycle ready pharmaceutical blister package offers a sustainable alternative to a 50-year-old packaging technology that is one of the least sustainable consumer packages. Current blister packages use PVC, defined by the U.S. Plastics Pact and other sustainability-oriented organizations as a “problematic and unnecessary material.” Current packages also have a thick layer of aluminum foil welded to the PVC, exasperating any opportunity for recycling. AmSky™ is formulated using HDPE, one of the most recycled plastics in the world, and is designed to drop into existing blister packaging applications. It has APR Critical Guidance recognition.
Manufacturer: Amcor
End-User/Customer: Various
Plant: New London, WI, US
SILVER – Shelf Impact
Earth To Malibu Sachet
Earth To Malibu’s founders recently partnered with Nosco to craft sample-size sachets for their premium skincare line, driven by their personal battle with melanoma and a deep commitment to eco-conscious sun protection. With the aid of Nosco’s “Design It For Me” service, Earth To Malibu designed pouches that seamlessly aligned with its brand’s primary packaging components, featuring a premium soft touch laminate for an opulent look and feel.
Manufacturer: Nosco
End-User/Customer: Earth to Malibu
Plant: Pleasant Prairie, WI, US
Key Suppliers: ACW (film supplier); Nobelus (laminate supplier); HP Indigo ElectroInks (ink supplier); HP Indigo 20000 Digital Press (printing press); and Karlville Pack Ready Laminator (laminator)
SILVER – Printing
FOIE GRAS 125g
The excellent background green color and the overall design give this package an improved look and shelf appearance. The first thing consumers remember about a brand is its color. The print on matte OPP with a green background and multiple colors gives the package a very rich look, and the shelf appearance influences the consumers to buy the product. The structure of the package is 20 matte OPP + 12 metallized PET + 60 LDPE-TR and maintains the required barrier for the chips.
Manufacturer: Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C.
End-User/Customer: Hunter® Foods
Plant: Dubai, Dubai, AE
SILVER – Shelf Impact
KitKat® Mini Moments
The registered matte coating improves the shelf appearance of this package. The product images are glossy, and the package background has a matte coating. The matte background and the shine of the product image give the package a superior look on the shelf.
Manufacturer: Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C.
End-User/Customer: Nestlé
Plant: Dubai, Dubai, AE
SILVER – Printing
Koochikoo® Lovely Yellow Lemon, Lolly Pop Rainbow, and Cool Mint Treat, 60g
This new package designed for Koochikoo® is a first in this category of candy packaging. It is uniquely designed for a premium look. The best part of the pouch is the brilliance in printing. The combination of the gloss and matte effect gives an abstract look to highlight certain areas of the package. The pouch is well printed with eight colors by the rotogravure process. The pouch has an attractive traditional look. The design is done in such a way that it gives a simple yet rich matte corrugated sheet-like look, even though it’s a plastic laminate. The stand-up pouch feature helps in better utilization of space in the market shelf display.
Manufacturer: Paharpur 3P
End-User/Customer: Glamy Candy Private Limited
Plant: Sahibabad, UP, India, IN
Designer/Design Firm: Glamy Candy Private Limited and Paharpur 3P
Key Suppliers: Ester Industries Ltd.; Henkel Adhesives Technologies India; and Sakata Inx (India) Private Limited
SILVER – Shelf Impact
Liquid I.V.® Hydration Multiplier® Mocktail Edition
Liquid I.V.® Hydration Multiplier® Mocktail Edition is a unique product that is sustainability conscious. Liquid I.V. designed the package to draw consumers’ attention to its flavor. To produce this pouch, PPC Flex used the latest Miraclon NX water plates to create this print, printed and laminated on recyclable film provided by Charter Next Generation. A Reynolds Presto Products recyclable zipper with a laser score allows for an easier tear.
Manufacturer: PPC Flex
End-User/Customer: Liquid I.V.®
Plant: Payson, UT, US
Key Suppliers: Charter Next Generation (CNG); E. C. Shaw Company; INX International Ink Co.; Miraclon, Home of Kodak Flexcel Solutions; PPC Flex; and Reynolds Presto Products
SILVER – Technical Innovation
Omega-3 Deluxe Mix Recyclable Bag, 26 oz.
The MDO PE and the PE combination allows the recycling of these pouches without any hassle. The matte coating and reverse printing combination give an extraordinary look to the pouch. Printing on 25mic MDO PE with high speed is very challenging. Emirates Printing Press’ high-end equipped presses give excellent results on printability and high-accuracy registration. The color combination and the matte effects make the pouch the center of attraction on the shelf. Before printing, applying the barrier coating on the MDO PE 0.5 to 0.7 GSM barrier coating gives the barrier of WVTR 3.5 gm/m²/day and OTR 90cc/m²/day. The high barrier keeps the filled product fresh for a maximum of 12–18 months.
Manufacturer: Emirates Printing Press, L.L.C.
End-User/Customer: CIBO VITA Inc. USA
Plant: Dubai, Dubai, AE
SILVER – Printing
SILVER – Technical Innovation
StreamTwo® Pouch Recycle-Ready All HDPE Packaging
The StreamTwo® recycle ready pouch introduces a packaging solution that allows medical device manufacturers to meet their sustainability objectives without sacrificing package performance and user experience. Uncoated Tyvek® is paired with HDPE film coextruded with PAXXUS’ proprietary Allegro® T sealant, resulting in an all-HDPE structure that is ready to be recycled entirely in the #2 HDPE recycle stream. With its broad sealing window, bright white seal indicator, and mono-material construction, the StreamTwo® pouch provides significant performance and sustainability advantages from production to end use.
Manufacturer: PAXXUS, Inc.
Plant: Addison, IL, US
Key Suppliers: DuPont Tyvek®
SILVER – Sustainability
Tyson Foods Foam Tray Replacement with Forming/Nonforming Film From Amcor
Tyson and Amcor launched a new forming/nonforming solution for EPS tray replacement used in fresh poultry. This important product launch replaces the traditional foamed polystyrene tray that has been a mainstay in the fresh meat industry for decades. With EPS being increasingly restricted in some states and municipalities, an alternative was needed, and a flexible forming/nonforming vacuum package offers sustainability benefits compared to rigid package alternatives. These sustainability benefits show the innovation possible with flexible packaging and are part of the long-term trend of rigid to flexible conversion.
Manufacturer: Amcor Flexibles
End-User/Customer: Tyson Foods, Inc.
Plant: Oshkosh, WI, US
SILVER – Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging
SILVER – Packaging Excellence
US Waffle™ Jus-Rol™ Poffitz Club Pack with Sealstrip’s SealAcross® Reseal
US Waffle™ Jus-Rol™ Poffitz Club Pack with Sealstrip’s SealAcross® Reseal delivers customer satisfaction, food waste reduction, and brand impact. Frozen food packaging is challenged by freshness preservation, lack of convenience, and differentiation. The decision to enhance the Poffitz packaging for Sam’s Club with gussets and an easy-open, tamper-evident, reseal feature provides an impressive entrance into the market for a product new to the US. Poffitz is the first to feature SealAcross, including patented TamperTear® technology.
Manufacturer: Sealstrip Corporation
End-User/Customer: US Waffle Company
Plant: Gilbertsville, PA, US
Designer/Design Firm: Matrix Four Ltd.
Key Suppliers: Atlantic Packaging
Awards Announcement Video
This video highlights the winning packages from the 67th Annual FPA Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards competition.