Boca Raton, Florida – The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has announced the winners of its 61st Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition. The winning entries were recognized at the FPA Welcome Dinner & Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Ceremony held Wednesday, March 1st in conjunction with the 2017 FPA Annual Meeting (March 1-3rd) at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Boca Raton, FL.
This year, 75 packages were submitted in the competition, for a total of 152 entries (some packages were entered into multiple categories). Nineteen packages were honored with 30 Achievement Awards in various categories.
Cryovac® Sealappeal® OSF AW Ovenable Bag for Whole Bird
Award: Silver – Technical Innovation
Manufacturer: Sealed Air Corporation
Contact: Marie Fahey, VP, Global Marketing Communications, marie.fahey@sealedair.com, 864-433-4077
Description: The Cryovac® Sealappeal® OSF AW Film protects fresh poultry in a hermetic, leak-proof pack from factory to fork. Designed specifically for safety and convenience, it goes straight from the retail counter to the consumer’s oven, eliminating raw poultry manual handling, reducing risk of cross-contamination, and contributing to health protection. The Cryovac® Sealappeal® ovenable bag enables retailers to target specific segments and offers extended shelf life. Food processors benefit from high speed machinability which reduces operating costs.
The judges for this year’s competition included Eric Fish, Editor in Chief, Flexible Packaging Magazine; Dr. Robert Kimmel, Sc.D., Associate Professor, Director, Center for Flexible Packaging (CEFPACK), Clemson University; and Dr. Michael Richmond, Vice President, Consulting Solutions, Packaging, HAVI.
“This is a year of more,” according to Richmond, “there's more innovation, there's more sustainability, there's more non-food, there are more holistic solutions.”
Sustainability continues to be a focus, with a number of entries reducing layers and downgrading thickness to reduce overall material volume. Several entries addressed how flexible packaging can help reduce food waste.
There was an increase in the number of entries relating to the healthcare industry that showcased innovation, both for reducing materials and using materials more efficiently. The entries recognized the need for sterility and customer convenience.
Several of the entries also highlighted the transition of products previously packaged in rigid containers to flexible packaging.
Source: The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA)
