Responsible sourcing, effective recovery and energy optimisation were key criteria in the selection of seven successfully commercialised products and processes as winners of the 20th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation.
The announcement took place at DuPont headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware earlier this week when DuPont Chairman and CEO, Charles O. Holliday, Jr, personally presented winners with their recognition and congratulated them for their innovative spirit and commitment to sustainability.
Innovation in seven factors contributing to improved sustainability was the challenge given to participants. The international expert jury focused on these factors as their key consideration in selecting the winning achievements, which include:
- Replacing traditional confectionery packaging inserts with a biodegradable component made from renewable resources;
- A new compostable, biodegradable flexible pack that supports natural branding of the product and helps assure effective post-use recovery;
- New fresh produce packaging that uses only renewable and biodegradable materials in support of responsible sourcing, clean production and effective recovery;
- Redesigning a familiar food container for nearly 20 per cent weight reduction, improved transport efficiency and energy conservation while retaining brand appeal;
- Reducing food waste with a new approach for single-serve ambient food packaging;
- Reducing energy usage in the manufacturing process by more than 50 per cent via new process technology that enables a one-step process to replace a four-part approach; and
- Providing social benefit through an energy-saving alternative approach to bottle systems that improves access to clean drinking water.
The jury panel also selected three products and processes as notable accomplishments contributing to the industry's understanding of sustainable packaging. The notables include:
The first polypropylene container made of 100 per cent post-consumer recycled material;
A new cosmetic applicator made entirely of a single material for easier recycling; and
A new thermal process for packaging graphics which eliminates the use of solvents, contributing to clean manufacturing.
"These achievements demonstrate real progress in the journey toward sustainable packaging," says William F. Weber, vice president, DuPont Packaging.
"DuPont added a special emphasis on sustainability in the 20th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation in order to raise the visibility of initiatives for enhanced performance, resource and energy efficiency, responsible sourcing, effective recovery and other innovation factors leading to sustainable packaging. This is in line with DuPont's corporate commitment to support reducing the environmental footprint in the value chains where we participate."
Anne Johnson, director of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, says, "As part of its commitment to sustainability, DuPont brought together a diverse group of Jurors with substantial industry expertise to identify and honour significant innovations that demonstrate progress toward more sustainable packaging.
"Turning the focus of DuPont's long-running Packaging Awards toward sustainability reflects DuPont's 20-year history of leadership in supporting packaging innovation and we are pleased to have DuPont's support in helping shape future direction in this vitally important area."
To further the educational component of this year's programme, information about this year's winners will be posted online at the GreenBlue/Sustainable Packaging Coalition Design Library, to be launched in second quarter 2008.
Capturing the innovations represented among these entries will support best practices throughout the packaging industry. GreenBlue is a nonprofit institute committed to sustainability by design and is home to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, an industry working group recognised as the definitive resource for credible information about packaging sustainability in the United States.
The DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation is the industry's longest running, independently judged global awards programme honoring packaging materials, processes, technology and service innovations.
The 20th DuPont Awards has a special focus on recognising innovations that demonstrate breakthrough achievements in sustainability. DuPont – one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 18 years ago – has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.
See Asia Pacific Packaging magazine (May-June issue) for our detailed report on the awards with stories about and images of the winning entries.
