Top Packaging Innovation Award Goes to Henkel in Collaboration with Plastic Bank

The top award of the 2020 Packaging Innovation Awards hosted by Dow, Midland, Mich., (the Diamond Award) went toHenkel AG & Co  KGaA’s Social Plastic Ecosystem in collaboration with Plastic Bank. To create a new line of sustainable cosmetic packaging, Henkel conducted a pilot program that utilized recycled materials from Plastic Bank, a social enterprise which aims to stop plastic waste from entering the ocean and provide economic opportunities for people in extreme poverty. Since its launch in 2018, Henkel has produced and sold 15-million bottles made from recycled plastic across Western Europe.

Dow’s packaging innovation awards is now in its 32^nd year and is the industry’s longest running, independently judged packaging awards program. It recognizes breakthrough packaging achievements in design, technology, sustainability and user experience, with a judging panel of professionals from around the world in a wide range of fields, including design, engineering, retail, converting and academia.

Said Diego Donoso, business president for Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics, “I am especially inspired by this year’s Packaging Innovation Awards winners because of the industry’s continued focus on innovation and sustainability, despite the difficult global conditions caused by the pandemic. The entry and judging processes were fully virtual this year for the first time, and it still produced strong competition with rigorous judging to recognize the top innovations.”

The judges evaluated more than 175 entries from companies around the globe. Entries ranged from personal care and health and hygiene, to food and beverage and industrial innovations. In addition to the top Diamond Award, the judges also selected three Diamond Finalists, six Gold Award Winners, five Silver Award Winners, two Honorable Mentions for Emerging Applications and one Honorable Mention for Advancements in Industrial Distribution systems. The three Diamond finalist were:

▪  Zacros in collaboration with The Procter & Gamble Company of Japan Limited, Ariel Platinum Sports Refill Pouch

 ▪  Alico, Metal-Free Recyclable Coffee Packaging

 ▪  Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. in collaboration with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, New Thin Film Deposition Technology for PET Bottles Using Hot-Wire CVD Device

Said lead judge David Luttenberger, global packaging director for Mintel Group, Ltd., “I’ve been a judge in the Packaging Innovation Awards for many years, and this one presented a unique challenge in the way it was structured. Despite the challenging circumstances, the participants delivered the same quality of innovations as in previous years.”