Manufacturer: Emerald Packaging, Inc., empack.com

Description: Nona Lim’s objective was to create a single serve, multi-compartment solution to house dry noodles, as well as broth, in a ready-to-eat hybrid package. It is a noodle bowl coupling a compostable rigid container with a flexible lid film to package both the noodles and broth, which can be mixed together and heated. The product can be eaten directly out of the packaging, and the packaging functions to display, transport, and protect the final product. The bowl housing the flexible lid stock is double stacked inside the compostable bowl, thus reducing the product’s carbon footprint by being able to ship more packages per box, which decreases the use of diesel per package to ship.

Manufacturer: Novolex, novolex.com

Description: The Load & Fold™ Shopping Bag features a patent pending, innovative design to allow for easy loading and a fold over closure to secure items inside. The bag is available in various sizes and substrates, including wet-strength properties to protect against the elements. The Load & Fold™ Shopping Bag is perfect for a variety of uses, including home delivery, gift bag, gift registry, and much more. The bag has single and double fold over options; a wide opening for easy loading; a flat bottom that keeps items secure and allows the bag to stand on its own; has a tamper evident option using a branded label or other adhesive; and has sturdy paper twist handles for ease in carrying.

Award: Silver Award—Technical Innovation

Manufacturers: Paharpur 3P (paharpur3p.com) and Hershey India Private Ltd. (www.thehersheycompany.com/en_in/hershey-india.html)

Description: This innovative peelable strip in a pouch was developed where the consumer initially sees the existing brand (Brookside) and then peels the strip away to unveil the new branding (Hershey’s Exotic Dark). The strip is an integral part of the pouch and is not a pressure-sensitive paper label. Paharpur 3P developed this concept, modified existing equipment, and was able to manufacture the pouches with a zipper and bottom gusset plus the registered strip with minimum tolerance. The challenge was to develop the laminate structure for the pouch and strip that looks similar to the existing laminate and exhibits good heat seal and easy-peel properties. The specifications of the base gusset of the pouches were changed slightly, and the package passed all hurdles of machinability/ barrier properties and standability.

Award: Gold Award—Technical Innovation

Manufacturer: Amcor Flexibles, amcor.com

Description: The Amcor Dual Chamber Pouch is a specialty multi-layer pouch with a breathable membrane. The product consists of a peelable device chamber and a non-peelable desiccant chamber, and the desiccant is kept separate from the device with a symmetrical coextruded vented nylon film. This solution is ideal for moisture-sensitive products including drug-coated products, which may have an adverse reaction to various gasses found within the atmosphere of the package. It is also suitable for EtO sterilization.

Award: Gold Award—Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging

Manufacturer: PAXXUS, Inc., paxxus.com

Description: Chameleon™ for Tyvek® allows the user to readily evaluate the quality of a seal when used with uncoated Tyvek®. Before opening, the seal shows as a darker color when viewed through the film side. Once the package has been peeled open, a vivid colored seal indicator presents on the Tyvek®, with a contrasting white seal indicator on the film. This easily allows users to identify any seal flaws, addressing the new EU Medical Device Regulations that the “integrity of the packaging is clearly evident to the final user,” while providing a consistent, smooth, fiber-free peel.

Award: Gold Award—Shelf Impact

Manufacturers: Karlville (karlville.com) and The Packaging Lab (thepkglab.com)

Description: Not all masks are created equal. This copper-infused face mask is impregnated with shea butter moisturizer to help doctors, first responders, and millions of people who are experiencing redness and irritation caused by masks. The pouch is digitally printed, thermally laminated, and pouched all within 24 hours. For a moisture barrier, the brand owner chose a BOPP. The structure is matte BOPP (1.1 mil)/EVA/ink/EVOH/PE (3.5 mil).