The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) recently revealed the winners of its 72nd annual North American Paperboard Packaging Competition at the association’s Fall Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. With unique structures, state-of-the-art finishing techniques, and ingenious solutions for stacking and shipping, the winners represented both smaller independent companies, large integrated folding carton manufacturers, and rigid box producers. The Paperboard Package of the Year, the competition’s top award, was presented to The Ellis Group (Mississauga, Pickering and Guelph, Ontario) for its Toblerone One by One Gifting family of cartons.
A departure from Toblerone’s previous designs, the boxes were designed as a gift that doesn’t require re-wrapping. The graphics feature a ribbon that flows between the lid and base. The cartons are also right-sized to eliminate the need for false bottoms or void fillers, and are optimized for efficient pallet configuration.
Entries were submitted into one of three categories: Eco, for those cartons that reduced or eliminated the need for less sustainable substrates and/or saved on energy or materials; Innovation, for entries that featured a unique structural design or used cutting-edge substrates, inks, laminations, coatings, and/or converting processes; and General, for cartons that demonstrate excellence in meeting client objectives, brand enhancement, shelf appeal, shipping and distribution, and beyond.
This year’s PPC Eco Award also went to The Ellis Group for its Cadbury Crème Egg cartons. By substituting plastic trays and shrinkwrap sleeves with renewable, recyclable paperboard, this new design is more environmentally friendly than its predecessor and allows more of the eggs’ primary packaging to show through. Furthermore, diecuts in the bottom and top of the pack allow the cartons to nest, thus optimizing both pallet and shelf configuration.
Bert-Co Industries (Ontario, California) was awarded Folding Carton of the Year honours for its GlamGlow Flashmud entry, a striking design with a distinctive “X” shape that has the look and feel of an upscale rigid box. The pack also features soft-touch coating, detailed foil stamping, and an inner panel that makes the unboxing experience fun.
Taylor Box Company (Warren, Rhode Island) took the Rigid Box of the Year award for its HBO Influencer Kit. Ribbons secured under the interior hinged lids lift the inner tray upon opening, adding movement and putting the contents on a “pedestal.” Upon re-closure, the tray slides inwards while hidden edge magnets seal the box with a crisp snap.
The Innovation Award was given to All Packaging Company (Aurora, Colorado) for their O.penVAPE Reserve carton. Featuring a distinctive hexagonal shape and telescoping lid, these cartons were simple to assemble (the top panels pop into shape automatically, leaving only the bottom to be closed and locked) and pack snugly together like puzzle pieces for easy shipping and storing.
Three Judges’ Awards were given out this year. The first went to TPC Printing and Packaging (Chatanooga, Tennessee) for its sumptuous Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur carton. The second went to Paperworks Industries (Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania) for its Brasseurs du Nord 6-Pack beer carrier with its unique retractable handle. WestRock (Richmond, Virginia) took the third Judges’ Award for its metalized Mixx Tails Beer carton.
“PPC’s Carton Competition is an opportunity for PPC members to showcase all they have accomplished,” said Ben Markens, PPC President. “Each year, I’m blown away by the calibre of the entries. The highest level of excellence clearly runs throughout the folding carton industry.”
For more information on the competition and a complete list of honorees and photos, please visit www.paperbox.org/CC.
Now in its 86th year, PPC is the leading industry association serving suppliers and converters of all forms of paperboard packaging.
PPC works to grow, promote and protect the paperboard packaging industry while providing its members with resources and tools to compete effectively and successfully in the marketplace.
For more information visit www.paperbox.org.
Ontario’s Ellis Group wins two top awards in PPC’s prestigious 2015 Paperboard Packaging Competition
