AWA announces winners of sleeve label awards

'There seems to be no end to the creativity, technological advancement and on-shelf ability to capture the attention of consumers that sleeve labeling is bringing to the packaging industry – and the winning entries of 2022 AWA Sleeve Label Awards certainly prove that,' said Corey M Reardon, president and CEO of AWA Alexander Watson Associates. He announced the winners of last year’s entries during the AWAVirtual Sleeve Label Awards and 2023 Conference Preview event on May 30.

A panel of independent experts including Dr Séamus Lafferty, president of Accraply, Tom Hammer, head of technical marketing at Siegwerk Narrow Web – CUSA and Heath Luetkens, executive director of iC3D Software, judged the entries across three specific categories and recognized the best entries for their outstanding contributions to the sleeve labeling and product decoration field.

Among the accolades awarded, the Best TD shrink sleeve title went to Reynders Label Printing for their entry, Coppa Cocktails. The winning piece highlighted the effectiveness of shrink sleeves when shape, graphics and product align. The Coppa Cocktails presented a stellar example of this alignment with its unique cocktail shaker bottle design and artwork that connects to each specific cocktail in its exclusive 15-cocktail lineup. The product's exceptional color-matching with the two-part closure, flawless execution of seaming and shrinking and perfect alignment of complex graphics across the sleeve's seam made it emerge as the clear winner, surpassing all others.

In the environmental contribution category, designs that emphasize sustainability were acknowledged. CCL Label received recognition for its work on Henkel's Vernel Fabric Softener. The design was applauded for emphasizing recyclability and adhering to EPBP guidelines. The container, constructed from 100 percent recycled PET bottle materials and a low-density polyolefin sleeve, is designed for easy sorting and recycling. It features compelling sustainability messaging and a zipper that allows consumers to remove the sleeve before discarding the bottle. The impeccably executed 360-degree graphics and the shrink of the sleeve added to the container's aesthetics.

Sleever International also received acknowledgment for its sleeve label on Canne Bleue, earning an honorable mention. Judges described this bottle as a visual masterpiece, lauding its simple yet elegant design, clever use of tactile elements and impressive shrink application on the bottle's neck. Its extraordinary aesthetic qualities made it worthy of recognition and a visual delight.

Reardon expressed gratitude to the judges for their exceptional efforts and emphasized that the award winners demonstrate the outstanding quality seen across the sleeve labeling value chain at every level.

The 2023 competition is now open for entries, and the winners will receive their awards at the upcoming AWA Sleeve Label Conference and Exhibition on October 12-13, in Amsterdam, Netherlands.