IOPP to Open Entries for AmeriStar Package Awards

It's that time of year again! The 2017 AmeriStar Competition will be opening soon and there are some new things to look forward to.

AmeriStar honors the top packages of the year judged in multiple categories. Enter the best package you and your team developed within the past year and be recognized for changing the face of packaging! LIVE judging will occur at the end of April 2017, ensuring your packages are being evaluated and analyzed objectively without bias. Judging criteria for our awards can be found here.

We are now proud to announce that there will be a new category: the Packaging that Saves Food Awards for North America. We will offer the new awards as a sponsoring member of the World Packaging Organisation’s (WPO) Packaging that Saves Food initiative, which also is being supported by many packaging organizations around the world. More information is provided below.

The AmeriStar Package Awards Competition includes:

AmeriStar Award
The AmeriStar Award honors those packaging professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the packaging community, recognizing their foresight and innovative spirit.

Best of Show
The Best of Show Award honors the package that surpassed all judging criteria and was unanimously selected by the judges to be outstanding in every category.

Sustainable Packaging Award
In recognition of the package that judges scored the highest when considering how packaging can be developed to reduce the impact on the environment. This includes efficient energy usage, recycling efforts, effective use of packaging materials, recover or eco-friendly raw materials.

Design Excellence Award
This award honors the package that exhibits a shining example in which structure and graphic design integrate to create a compelling package. Judges considered factors such as design benefits that could include enhanced product findability on shelf, improved package functionality that entices consumers to think about a product or product category in a new way, improved product presentation in-store, and others.

Packaging that Saves Food Awards
These awards will recognize companies that are developing innovative and sustainable packaging that minimizes food losses and food waste, extends shelf life and improves the supply of food. They are divided into three separate categories to recognize the importance of packaging that works to save food. Details on each award are provided below.

Save Food – Agriculture
Packaging systems/format used to contain and distribute fresh produce from farm to wholesale market and/or retail outlet. Entries must demonstrate how their packaging protects the fresh produce and reduces/prevents damage during transit and/or display while also extending shelf life and minimizing food waste. This may be achieved by reducing crushing, enhanced cushioning, enhanced ventilation and avoiding double handling.

Save Food – Food Service
Packaging systems/format used to contain and distribute food into foodservice establishments. Entries must demonstrate how their packaging contains, protects and distributes their food product from manufacturing location through to the foodservice establishment, while also extending shelf life and minimizing food waste. This may be achieved through bulk sizing, individual servings, opening and or dispensing features, re-sealable/re-closeable features and improved communication on-pack.

Save Food – Retail (Primary Packaging)
Packaging system/format used to contain, protect and distribute food from manufacturer to retail shelf and then through to consumer use (e.g., in household, on-the-go). Entries must demonstrate how their packaging contains, protects and enables consumers to store and use the food item, while also minimizing food waste. This may be achieved through individual servings, bulk sizing, opening and or dispensing features, re-sealable/re-closeable features and improved communication on-pack.

Recognition: