Categories & Criteria

Take time to read through the categories and decide which you will enter.

Performance Awards
The Performance categories reward consistent business excellence, both in terms of products and finances, as well as outstanding individual achievement. The year under review is 1 May 2009 to 30 April 2010.

A Packaging Company of the Year
The ultimate accolade in the packaging industry recognises outstanding financial and business performance over the year under review. Entrants must provide the company’s full report and accounts, a 500-word summary of performance during the year, and supporting evidence such as letters of commendation from customers and samples of work.

B SME of the Year NEW
Like the flagship Packaging Company of the Year category, this award recognises outstanding financial and business performance. To qualify in this category, companies entering must have annual turnover of less than £10m. Entrants must provide the company’s full report and accounts, a 500-word summary of your performance during the year, and supporting evidence such as letters of commendation from customers.

C Design Team of the Year
Open to both design agencies and in-house design teams, this category rewards outstanding creative output alongside solid financial performance. Entries should include a 500-word statement on why the team deserves to win and five examples of outstanding designs produced during the period under review. Agencies should submit their full report and accounts, while in-house teams should show evidence of their company’s financial strength.

D Outstanding Contribution to the Industry
Sponsored by Mercury Search and Selection
This award recognises individual achievement in the packaging industry. Unlike the other awards it is decided by the Packaging News editorial team, who will take into consideration achievements across a career, rather than solely in the year under review. The industry is invited to nominate candidates for the award by contacting Packaging News editor Josh Brooks at josh [dot] brookshaymarket [dot] com.

E Investment Project of the Year NEW
This award is new for 2010 and will honour the investment or installation project which has had the greatest impact on a company or the wider market. Entrants must submit a 500-word statement giving full details of the project, including the amount of money spent and what was installed, and explaining how the investment has changed their business. Supporting materials such as product samples or customer testimonials may be included. The project must have come on-stream in the year under review.

F Environmental Initiative of the Year NEW
Environmental initiatives abound in packaging, from small-scale projects such as encouraging recycling at work to major schemes such as remodelling of logistics to reduce lorry journeys. This new award seeks to honour the best of these. Entrants must submit a 500-word statement explaining what they did and how they did it alongside supporting material. Judges will be looking for clear evidence of strong environmental benefits as well as excellent ROI.

Quality Awards
The Quality Awards recognise excellence in packaging production, design and innovation. They are open to anyone involved in packaging production, specification or design.

Unless stated otherwise, entries must include two samples of the entire filled pack and a 250-word summary of how the pack demonstrated excellence in production, including in its structure and decoration. Some categories require supporting testimonials from customers. Entries to the Materials categories, denoted with a (*), must be made predominantly from the relevant category material, but caps, components and windows can be made from other materials. Please provide details on who has been involved in creating the pack, including names of material suppliers, manufacturers, designers and clients.

All entries to the Quality Awards must have been launched commercially and companies’ own promotional work is not eligible.

G Metal Pack of the Year*
Sponsored by the Metal Packaging Manufacturers’ Association
Judges will be looking for unique shapes and structures, excellent functionality, unique opening techniques, and high quality decoration.
**MPMA members can enter this category at a reduced rate of £60 + VAT.

H Corrugated Pack of the Year*
Entries should provide maximum product protection, minimise the risk of damage to contents, enhance supply chain efficiency, and feature high print quality.

I Cartonboard Pack of the Year*
Judges will be looking for cartonboard packs that stand out onshelf, incorporate clever structural design, high-quality print and special finishes such as embossing or varnishes.

J Glass Pack of the Year*
The glass packaging category will recognise and reward clear, frosted or coloured glass containers with unique shapes and decoration that enhance a brand.

K Flexible Plastic Pack of the Year*
Flexible packs such as pouches, sachets, trays and films are under scrutiny in this category. Judges will be looking for high quality print and conversion techniques and outstanding impact. Flexible packs made from cellulose, PE, PET, PVC, PP, PS, Polyamide and bioplastics are eligible for consideration.

L Rigid Plastic Pack of the Year*
This category will reward high-quality blow moulded, thermoformed and injection moulded packs made from materials including PP, PET, LDPE and HDPE, plus bioplastics. Judges will also be interested in packs that use a high proportion of recycled content while maintaining quality and durability.

M Label of the Year*
Design, print quality, special effects and functionality will all be under scrutiny in this category, which invites entries from the full range of printed labels for packaging, including sleeves, pressure sensitive, wet-glue and leaflet labels.

N Sustainable Pack of the Year*
Judges will take into account material selection, material transportation, production processes, lightweighting efforts, and recyclability, biodegradability or reusability. The 250-word summary must explain how the pack’s impact on the environment has been missed.

O Innovation of the Year
Sponsored by Pro2Pac
This category rewards packs that have brought something completely new and unexpected to the market and delivered real benefits to a brand. The 250-word summary must explain why this pack is the first of its kind and the background to its development, as well as technical details of the production process.

P Best Packaging of a New Product
This pack recognises packs that have been an essential element in the success of a new product. Entries should include a 250-word statement from the brand owner explaining how the product’s packaging has affected its commercial success, and a 250-word statement explaining how the pack was produced.

Q Best Re-Packaging of a Brand
This category rewards redesigned packaging that has breathed new life into an established brand. Judges will be looking for proof that the revamped packaging has led to commercial success. Please supply a 250-word testimonial from the brand owner and your own 250-word summary on how you interpreted your brief.

R Retail-Ready Pack of the Year
Judges will be looking for examples of outer transport cases or trays containing multiple products that can be placed directly on retail display without unpacking. Packaging will be judged on its design, structure, print quality, and ease of use to both store merchandisers and consumers. Along with a 250-word summary of the job, please supply one full pack, one flat pack (if applicable), and one that is fully constructed but empty.

S Supply Chain Solution of the Year
This category recognises packaging that has helped products travel safely, conveniently and cost-effectively through the supply chain. Entries can include one way or returnable outercase transit packs, crates and pallets. Please supply one full pack, one flat pack (if applicable) and one pack that is fully constructed but empty, plus a 250-word summary.

T Consumer Convenience Award
Entries to this category must demonstrate ease of opening, use, storage and disposal. Judges will reward a pack that is constructed to deliver all of these benefits.