2022 Dow Packaging Innovation Awards Announced

The winning entries showcased diverse packaging innovations for various applications

February 10, 2023 – The Dow Company (NYSE: DOW) announced the 2022 Packaging Innovation Award winners through an online awards ceremony. An independent jury evaluated more than 170 entries from around the world, and selected breakthrough packaging designs based on three criteria: technological advancement, user experience and sustainability. After a full evaluation, the judges selected 28 outstanding works, which have excellent performance in at least one of the judging criteria.

ECOCLIC from Procter & Gamble (P&G)
®Laundry pod packaging box won the highest award of this year’s selection – “Diamond Award” for its outstanding performance in the three judging criteria. Made from FSC certified materials and over 70% recycled fibre, the cardboard packaging is recyclable through curbside paper recycling facilities and is currently patent pending. The product is sized and designed to carry 50% more product per pallet, reducing the need for trucks within P&G. Plus, this product is child-safe and designed with inclusivity in mind. From the perspective of consumers, the packaging design solves the problem that the lid of the laundry capsule is difficult to open. This product has been rigorously tested by more than 2,000 consumers, including parents, people with reduced mobility, and people with visual and cognitive impairments. Test participants rated positively the ease of opening the box, the quality of the box and the “click” sound of the box closing.

“Sustainable packaging innovations always deliver a pleasurable experience for consumers,” said Moustafa ElMihy, Director of SUD Packaging and Product Development, Procter & Gamble.

In addition to the Diamond Award winners, another 27 highly innovative works were awarded Platinum, Gold or Silver Awards. The difference between works for different awards lies in the number of judging criteria met and the performance of the judging criteria.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Diamond Award

· Procter & Gamble: Procter & Gamble ECOCLIC® laundry pods box

Platinum Award

· Procter & Gamble: air capsule e-commerce packaging

· Procter & Gamble: Lano clothing soft and fragrant beads cardboard packaging

· Integrated Plastics Packaging: flat (3D) rice bags with side buttons

· 3M The Company: 3M Scotch™ Cushion Lock
™ Protective Cover

· PLASTIANDINO S.A.: EcoTec recyclable pet food packaging

· Scholle IPN: high barrier polyethylene spout beverage pouch

· SoFresh: SoFresh bread active packaging

· ReckittReckitt: Veja Power
Nature split capsules

Gold Award

· PACKAGING INDUSTRIES LIMITED: Nutramilk soy milk lightweight pillow bag

· Unilever: Lids made from PCR polypropylene from flexible waste

· Unilever: Seda bottle made of 100% HDPE PCR

· SonocoSonoco: with SmartSeal®
EnviroServe™ Leafy Greens PET Trays with FRESH Lidding Film

· Stora Enso (Stora
Enso): reusable corrugated boxes

· Constantia Flexibles: direct-to-consumer (D2C) recyclable packaging for nuts

· Procter & Gamble: Pampers Easy Unboxing Boxes

· Folmex: matte clear recyclable pet food packaging made of 100% polyethylene laminate

· Fuseno; Occo recyclable condiment bottle

Silver Award

· ProAmpacProAmpac: ProActive Recyclable ®
Purition Nutritional Powder Individually Wrapped Paper Bags

· Amcor (Amcor): LifeSpan copper-based film

· Emami Agrotech: Ziplock Bag in Box (BIBZip)

· Amcor Flexible Packaging (Amcor
Flexibles) and Gualapack: Danoninho yogurt ice cream packs with convertible designs for liquid or frozen

· Kraft Heinz: Heinz Beanz Snappots plastic jars made from recycled plastic

· Imballaggio: Hexabag + 2-in-1 ziplock bag

· Graham Packaging: Returnable label-free Danacol bottles

· Apra (ALPLA): Simple
One lightweight recyclable plastic dispenser bottle

· Sonoco: Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Natural CPET Trays

· Constantia Flexibles: recyclable matte clear tea bags

“Consumers are demanding today’s packaging that reduces waste and uses innovative designs that are user- and planet-friendly, with minimal environmental impact,” said Karen S.
Carter said: “The Packaging Innovation Awards are more than just a competition, they are a source of inspiration and motivation, motivating participating companies to strive to exceed customer and consumer expectations. This year’s finalists accepted the challenge and further raised the bar .”

Awards Experience

“Even now, more than 30 years after the competition has been held, we are still seeing genuine innovation in packaging design, which drives us to develop more sustainable solutions,” said lead judge, Mintel Group.
Group) Global Packaging Director David
Luttenberger said: “This year’s Diamond Award winner is a perfect example. On the one hand, Procter & Gamble’s laundry pod cartons are made of recycled fibers and can be recycled through curbside waste recycling facilities. On the other hand, it has been designed with consideration It provides important insights for consumers and makes products easier to use.”