Winners of Dow’s 2020 Packaging Innovation Awards Announced

Dow announced the winners of its 2020 Packaging Innovation Awards recognizing packaging achievements in design, technology, sustainability and user experience.

The highest honor, the Diamond Award, went to Henkel AG & Co KGaA’s Social Plastic Ecosystem in partnership with Plastic Bank. To create a new line of sustainable cosmetic packaging, Henkel conducted a pilot program that utilized recycled materials from Plastic Bank, a social enterprise which aims to stop plastic waste from entering the ocean and provide economic opportunities for people in extreme poverty. Since its launch in 2018, Henkel has produced and sold 15 million bottles made from recycled plastic across Western Europe.

“I am especially inspired by this year’s Packaging Innovation Awards winners because of the industry’s continued focus on innovation and sustainability, despite the difficult global conditions caused by the pandemic,” says Diego Donoso, business president for Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “The entry and judging processes were fully virtual this year for the first time, and it still produced strong competition with rigorous judging to recognize the top innovations.”

The judges evaluated more than 175 entries from companies around the globe. Entries ranged from personal care and health and hygiene, to food and beverage and industrial innovations. In addition to the Diamond Award, the judges also selected three Diamond Finalists, six Gold Award Winners, five Silver Award Winners, two Honorable Mentions for Emerging Applications and one Honorable Mention for Advancements in Industrial Distribution systems.

“I’ve been a judge in the Packaging Innovation Awards for many years, and this one presented a unique challenge in the way it was structured,” says lead judge David Luttenberger, global packaging director for Mintel Group, Ltd. “Despite the challenging circumstances, the participants delivered the same quality of innovations as in previous years.”

The 2020 Packaging Innovation Awards hosted by Dow is now in its 32nd year. The judging panel consists of professionals from around the world in a wide range of fields, including design, engineering, retail, converting and academia.

The full list of winners includes:

Diamond Winner

Henkel AG & Co KGaA in collaboration with Plastic Bank, Social Plastic Ecosystem

Diamond Finalists

Zacros in collaboration with The Procter & Gamble Company of Japan Limited, ARIEL PLATINUM SPORTS Refill Pouch
Alico, Metal-Free Recyclable Coffee Packaging
Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. in collaboration with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, New Thin Film Deposition Technology for PET Bottles Using Hot-Wire CVD Device

Gold Award Winners

CJ CHEILJEDANG, KIMCHI EASY CARRY POUCH
Packaging Industries Limited in collaboration with Policy and Market Options and SNV Netherlands Development Organization, Mama Silage Bag
ProAmpac in collaboration with L’Oréal, Maybelline FitMe Matte + Poreless Foundation
Danone in collaboration with Goplas, Mexico Yoghurt Cup
Parnaplast in collaboration with Interpack Packaging Solutions, Oxi-free High Barrier Green Grain Coffee Packaging
Reckitt Benckiser Brazil in collaboration with Gualadispensing, Narita Design, Logoplaste Brasil, Alpla and Flexoprint Labels, Veja Specialists Redesign

Silver Award Winners

Natura in collaboration with Silgan, IFF, Wheaton, Grupo Pochet do Brasil, Inobi and Kawagraf, Ekos Alma - new Natura fragrance • Flexinnova kft in partnership with Foltrade kft, GripTop antislip bag
Sunrise Packaging Material (Jiangyin) Co., Ltd in collaboration with Guangdong Wuqiong Food Co., Ltd, High barrier, retort and easy-peel packaging for Chinese style spiced corned egg
Amcor, Matrix -paper-based recyclable cheese wrap
UPM Raflatac in collaboration with UPM Biofuels and Vellamo - Ice Age Water Ltd, UPM Raflatac Forest Film