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.
Waterless Internet Flower Packaging
Awards: Gold – Extending the Use of Flexible Packaging
Gold – Technical Innovation
Silver – Packaging Excellence
Silver – Sustainability
Manufacturer: Flex Films (USA) Inc.
Contact: Ashwin Palwai, Manager, Ashwin.Palwai@flexfilm.com, 270-982-3456
Description: Flexfresh™ is the first biodegradable (by composting) film that maintains the hydration of flowers using a closed loop system. Flowers are put to slow respiration mode for preventing excess oxidation and spoilage. Flexfresh™ keeps the flowers breathing in hydrated oxygen and releases excess humidity keeping them touch dry. The flowers can go without water for five days, and once the package is received by the customer and opened, the bouquet remains fresh in a vase for at least a guaranteed seven days. This packaging solution completely alleviates the use of millions of gallons of water from the flower supply chain currently used, thereby making it one of the most sustainable packaging solutions.
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)
