Manufacturer: Amcor Flexibles; amcor.com

Description: Elevated appeal, higher perceived brand value, and exceptional consumer convenience come together in the Perflex^® S grab n’ go shrink package by Amcor—the industry’s first effective handled shrink bag format for bulky meat and poultry products like whole turkeys. The innovative design features a three-hole die-cut handle in the package header integrated into an abrasion-resistant, leak-free shrink bag that withstands the weight of products up to 22 lbs. Amcor’s Perflex S grab n’ go technology delivers unprecedented structural integrity to eliminate the need for an outer netting bag, thereby reducing packaging materials, lowering cost, and eliminating an entire production step.

Manufacturer: TC Transcontinental Packaging; tctranscontinental.com/en-us/packaging

Description: Nature’s Path recyclable stand-up pouches are produced by TC Transcontinental Packaging and are commercial in the United Kingdom market. This structure is also being rolled out as rollstock for the U.S. market. The structure is preapproved by How2Recycle^® for the store drop-off recycling label and is available in premade pouches or rollstock format. The barrier properties featured in this film are tailored to the application to prolong shelf life and provide a safe product to the consumer. In addition, the combination of exceptional gloss and high-impact printing serves to amplify this package’s graphics and branding to look great at retail and shine on the shelf.

Award: Gold Award—Sustainability 

Manufacturers: Berry Global, berryglobal.com; Peel Plastic Products Ltd., peelplastics.com; Hill’s Pet Nutrition, hillspet.com

Description: Peel Plastic and Berry Global launched a new pet food flexible packaging portfolio that contains ISCC (international sustainability and carbon certificate) PLUS certified-circular plastics for Hill’s Pet Nutrition, by leveraging ExxonMobil’s Exxtend^TM technology for advanced recycling. This new product offering demonstrates Hill’s Pet’s commitment to sustainability and showcases Peel Plastic’s and Berry Global’s manufacturing expertise to deliver flexible packaging solutions using certified-circular materials. 

Award: Gold Award—Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging 

Manufacturer: PPC Flex; ppcflex.com 

Description: The Gulf Coast Sawyer® Fitment Pouch stands as a remarkable innovation in the realm of pouches. It offers versatile filling options, allowing users to fill it from natural water sources like lakes, streams, or rivers, as well as under a faucet. This pouch can be directly attached to a Sawyer MINI, Micro, Dual, or Squeeze Water filter, enabling both direct drinking and filtering into containers. It proves invaluable in situations where potable water is scarce or unavailable, making it an ideal choice for various outdoor activities, including hiking, backpacking, camping, travel, and emergency preparedness. 

Award: Gold Award—Expanding the Use of Flexible Packaging 

Manufacturer: Polymerall Flexible Packaging; polymerall.com

Description: Polymerall introduced a groundbreaking two-sided seal pouch, setting new standards in packaging. This innovation features a striking 10-color print job produced on a cutting-edge BOBST 20SEVEN flexographic printing press, ensuring exceptional printing quality for a captivating presence on retail shelves. Designed to hold 50 pounds of asphalt mixture for pavement repair, it tackles the challenge of ultraviolet (UV) exposure with a UV-resistant substrate, preserving print vibrancy in sunlight. Moreover, the pouch incorporates gas exchange vents and facilitates secure palletization, making it a practical and visually appealing choice for packaging needs.