FPA Announces the 2024 Flexible Packaging Awards winners

Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) has announced the winners of its 68th Annual Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards Competition, which this year received a historic number of 332. Twenty-two packages were honored with 37 Achievement Awards.

This year judges panel included: Danny Beard, president of Packaging Specialists; Chelsey Quick, vice president of client success at Industry Intelligence; and Dr Bruce Welt, professor of packaging engineering at University of Florida.

The transition of products previously packaged in rigid containers to flexible packaging was demonstrated in several of the competition entries.

‘I loved some of the conversions from rigid to flexible,’ said Quick. ‘We're seeing some interesting applications of bringing new products into the flexibles space, which is exciting for everyone.’

According to Beard, sustainability continues to be a focus of the competition: ‘We saw a lot of sustainable packages, but the definition of sustainability is open to interpretation, which is fair. The different types of sustainable packages and the different kinds of films that are considered sustainable are really what sets this group of products apart.’

Welt added: ‘One particularly interesting entry involved chemical advanced recycling and mass balance accounting. This is going to be increasingly important for the sustainability side of things.’

The judges also noted an increased number of recyclable structures for medical and hospital products.

The printing quality and shelf impact of the entries this year was also remarked on by the judges.

‘Some of the really interesting printing techniques that were used and some of the ways that they use both the printing and the lamination of the packaging together to make the package pop was unique,’ commented Beard.

The Highest Achievement Award is evaluated by the judges as possessing overall packaging excellence, significant attributes in all award categories, and contributing most to the advancement of the industry.

This year it was handed to Brook + Whittle for its WD-40 Specialist EZ-Pods Pouch Family, along with other four Gold Awards in other categories: Expanding the use of Flexible Packaging, Packaging Excellence, Sustainability and Technical Innovation. The winning packaging is made based on two recyclable flexible packaging formats: a stand-up pouch with a child-resistant closure and a sample-sized three-sided sealed pouch. Both options are recyclable through store drop-off collection services.

Follow our Instagram account to see all winning entries in more detail.