ADMINISTERED AND HOSTED by PPC and judged by a jury of packaging professionals, industry experts and professors, the Paperboard Packaging Competition is a premier competition for those involved in the concept, design, print, performance and shelf appeal of paperboard packaging. Entries are evaluated on design, manufacturing, distribution efficacy and marketing potential.
Judge’s Awards
Braxton Hard Seltzers
By Zumbiel Packaging
To beat the competition from national beer brands, craft brewer Braxton Brewing Company went where competition is the name of the game: professional sports. Braxton’s Vive seltzer has already become the official hard seltzer of the Indiana Pacers (NBA), the Cincinnati Bengals (NFL) and FC Cincinnati (MLS).
However, adding more team affiliations proved challenging. The solution? Leveraging digital printing and converting capacities, Braxton was able to efficiently segment its markets while decreasing carton volume per individual SKU.
Package of the Year
Product Patagonia 6-Can KeelClip
By Graphic Packaging International
A plastic-free solution for beverage can multipacks that eliminates the need for rings or shrink wrap, KeelClip minimizes board usage while maximizing shelf appeal by prominently displaying the primary cans. It also has an innovative flip-and-pull can-removal mechanism, allowing consumers to easily flip the top of the pack, release the clip from the cans, and grab their favorite beverage.
Digital Application of the Year
M&M’s NFL
By WestRock
This remarkable use of digital printing features sleeves for sliding tray boxes that were updated weekly with current Green Bay Packers’ game scores and stats. With most games on Sunday, new stats had to be loaded and boxes printed and converted quickly to be on retail shelves by Wednesday.
If that’s not impressive enough, the package printer also implemented augmented reality technology that let fans collect stickers, take selfies with M&M’S characters, and unlock exclusive content each week.
Judge’s Awards
EPromos Samsung—Galaxy S20 Sales Team Launch Kit
By JohnsByrne
Engaging from the start, the interactive launch kit has a unique trapezoid shape that mimics the slopes and ridges of the Galaxy S20 phone. Inside, the kit opens up in multiple sections, revealing various panels of information. For example, there are 10 cityscape pop-up mountable displays that highlight the phone’s zoom capabilities when viewed from far away.