Unleash your creativity and showcase the innovation and excellence of your packaging designs! Open to members and non-members, this competition annually honors outstanding packages in multiple categories.

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Competition details

December 1, 2023
Competition opens

April 30, 2024
Competition closes

June 2024
Judging begins

August 2024
Shortlist announced
Elite members
$499

Premium members
$549

Regular members
$599

Affiliates and non-members
$899

Submit more than one entry and save $50!


Categories

  • Beverages, alcoholic: Packaging used for spirits, pre-mixed alcoholic beverages.

  • Beverages, non-alcoholic: Packaging used for dry, powdered or liquid beverages not containing alcohol including mixers.

  • Cosmetics: Packaging used for cosmetic products.

  • Design excellence: Any package demonstrating innovation; the design structure is integrated to coordinate the product's value; reflects important new marketing strategies.

  • Drug and pharmaceutical: Packages used for prescriptions, over the counter, medicines, nutraceuticals or botanical supplements.

  • Electronics: Packaging for computers, telecommunications equipment, stereos, TV, radio, phone, mobile electronics, tablets, photographic and scientific instruments.

  • Food, frozen: Any food package available in a frozen format regardless of sales channel.

  • Food, refrigerated: Any food package available in a refrigerated format regardless of sales channel.

  • Food, Shelf-stable: Any food package available in a shelf stable format regardless of sales channel.

  • Health and beauty: Packaging used for toiletries, fragrances, soaps, hair and skin care, dental care, shaving, etc.

  • Household products: Packaging used for products used in the home such as detergents, hardware, paint, solvents, lubricants, insecticides, gardening supplies (plants, decorations and furniture) and pet care products (food and grooming) and automotive products.

  • Industrial/commercial: Packaging not intended for retail distribution including inter/intra plant and regulated packaging.

  • Medical device: Packages used for medical devices, including surgical supplies, diagnostic products and equipment.

  • Other: Packaging not covered in a category above.

  • Promotional/display: Any package intended for promotion of products (sample packs, seasonal packaging, point of purchase display).

  • Saves food:
    (Agriculture): Packaging systems/format used to contain and distribute fresh produce from farm to wholesale market and/or retail outlet.
    (Food Service): Packaging systems/format used to contain and distribute food into foodservice establishments
    (Retail): Packaging system/format used to contain, protect and distribute food from manufacturer to retail shelf and then through to consumer use (e.g., in household, on-the-go).

  • Sustainable: Any package that reduces environmental impact, evaluates efficient energy usage or recycling efforts; and an effective use of reusable, recyclable and eco-friendly packaging materials.

Judging Criteria

Submissions for these categories must meet the following criteria:

Economics
  • The package addresses a specific economic concern.
  • Its design results in cost savings. Cost savings may be demonstrated by any or all of the following:
    - Distribution improvements
    - Damage reduction
    - Packing/processing efficiencies
    - Machinability
    - Material standardization
    - Labor costs
    - Warehousing/storage costs
    - Material costs
  • This design addresses the package life cycle, as demonstrated by any/all of the following:
    - Reusability
    - Recyclability
    - Material reduction
    - Improved material strength
    - Density improvements
Environmental impact
  • The package successfully addresses current and appropriate environmental concerns.
  • The package design has eliminated, avoided or reduced unnecessary materials.
  • Design consideration includes reusable and/or recyclable materials/systems where available.
  • The package uses recycled materials where possible.
  • The design has considered end-of-life scenarios for the package.
  • The design minimizes the potential negative effects the package and its components will have on the environment.
  • The design has undergone a life cycle review.
Innovation
  • The package demonstrates an application of a new idea.
  • The design successfully transfers packaging principles from other industries.
  • It demonstrates a creative use of existing ideas.
  • It makes use of new design, material or technique.
  • It reflects important new marketing strategies.
  • It reflects new manufacturing advances.
Marketing
  • The package design contributes to product image or shelf impact.
  • It improves or contributes to acceptance of the product.
  • The package marketing appeal is significantly improved by the redesign.
Package performance
  • The package is easily filled, opened, dispensed, reclosed, stored.
  • It can be run on existing packaging machinery.
  • It is easily integrated into the existing distribution system.
  • It offers significantly new benefits in handling, storage and warehousing.
Product protection
  • The package successfully protects the biological, chemical and/or physical integrity of the product.
  • The original product protection requirements, as specified, are sufficiently addressed by this package design.
  • The testing specified sufficiently addresses the need for protection for this application.
  • The package successfully meets the test requirements expressed (must show evidence).
Design excellence category submissions must meet the following criteria:

Innovation
  • The package demonstrates an application of a new idea.
  • The design successfully transfers packaging principles from other industries.
  • It demonstrates a creative use of existing ideas.
  • It makes use of new design, material or technique.
  • It reflects important new marketing strategies.
  • It reflects new manufacturing advances.
Product protection
  • The package successfully protects the biological, chemical and/or physical integrity of the product.
  • The original product protection requirements, as specified, are sufficiently addressed by this package design.
  • The testing specified sufficiently addresses the need for protection for this application.
  • The package successfully meets the test requirements expressed (must show evidence).
Package design
  • The package structure and design are integrated to coordinate product value.
  • It improves the functionality of the product.
  • It persuades consumers to think about the product/category in a new way.
  • It showcases the product's design benefit.
  • It improves the findability of the product on shelf (is this enhanced merchandising?).
  • It motivates consumers to purchase.
  • It improves user experience (for either the supply chain or consumers).
  • It effectively uses materials to support the circular economy.
Packaging that saves food category submissions must meet the following criteria:

Innovation
  • The package demonstrates an application of a new idea.
  • The design successfully transfers packaging principles from other industries.
  • It demonstrates a creative use of existing ideas.
  • It makes use of new design, material or technique.
  • It reflects important new marketing strategies.
  • It reflects new manufacturing advances.
Product protection
  • The package successfully protects the biological, chemical and/or physical integrity of the product.
  • The original product protection requirements, as specified, are sufficiently addressed by this package design.
  • The testing specified sufficiently addresses the need for protection for this application.
  • The package successfully meets the test requirements expressed (evidence shown).
Saves food
  • Does the package minimizes food loss?
  • Does the package minimizes food waste?
  • Does the package extends the product shelf life?
  • Does the package improves the supply chain for food?
  • Does the package enhances distribution efficiency?
Sustainable category submissions must meet the following criteria:

Innovation
  • The package demonstrates an application of a new idea.
  • The design successfully transfers packaging principles from other industries.
  • It demonstrates a creative use of existing ideas.
  • It makes use of new design, material or technique.
  • It reflects important new marketing strategies.
  • It reflects new manufacturing advances.
Product protection
  • The package successfully protects the biological, chemical and/or physical integrity of the product.
  • The original product protection requirements, as specified, are sufficiently addressed by this package design.
  • The testing specified sufficiently addresses the need for protection for this application.
  • The package successfully meets the test requirements expressed (evidence shown).
Sustainability
  • The package successfully addresses current and appropriate environmental concerns.
  • The package design has eliminated, avoided or reduced unnecessary materials.
  • It includes reusable and/or recyclable materials/systems where available.
  • It uses recycled, compostable, or biodegradable materials where possible.
  • It considers end-of-life or circular economy scenarios for the package.
  • It minimizes the potential negative effects the package and its components will have on the environment.

FAQs

What type of packages can I enter?
You can enter packages into any of our 17 categories. We only accept entries for packages that have already entered the market. The package can be produced or sold anywhere in the world.
What are the entry requirements?
Brief Narrative
  • Your brief narrative should clearly explain how the package meets the judging criteria.
  • Avoid being generic! Make sure to include relevant technical information and details.
  • Limit your brief narrative to 500 words or less. We accept Word or .PDF documents.
Extended Narrative
  • Your extended narrative should provide more detail about the package and address six key judging criteria:
    - Innovation
    - Protection
    - Economics
    - Performance
    - Marketing
    - Environmental Impact
  • Limit your extended narrative to 1,500 words or less. We accept Word of .PDF documents.
Visuals
  • You can include up to four (4) high-resolution photos of the package in .jpeg, .png or .AI format. We also accept video, a CAD drawing .PDF or prototype image.
Physical sample(s)
  • Three physical samples of the package are required for judging. Including the product is not required. However, including the product can give the judges a better understanding of package functionality.
  • Physical samples must be received no later than May 15, 2024.
  • Send physical samples to:
    Institute of Packaging Professionals
    12930 Worldgate Drive
    Suite 200
    Herndon, VA 20170
    Attn: Paige Jarvi
Will my package be disqualified if it was entered into the wrong category?
No. If a package is submitted to the wrong category, our judges may move the entry to the most appropriate category.
When is entry payment due?
All entry payments must be complete prior to May 15, 2024.

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