2005 AmeriStar Awards for Innovative Packaging

This 128-oz. PET bottle earned the 3M Integrity Award.

For 16 years, the Institute of Packaging Professionals (www.iopp.org), Naperville, Ill., has been honoring the best packages of all types of consumer products with AmeriStar Awards. Packages are judged on the basis of innovation, protection, economics, performance and environmental impact."The results are rewarding and educational for the innovators, the achievers, the judges and the packaging profession as a whole," IoPP wrote in announcing the 2005 award winners.This year there were more than 100 entries in 14 categories, including four in the food category and three in the beverage category.The 3M Integrity Award, one of two top honors, went to the "Hercules" 128-oz. polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle, used for Hawaiian Punch and Mott's Juice products of Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages. "The packaging collaborates cost savings, environmental considerations and ease of manufacture to form a PET bottle that maintains functionality as well as brand equity on shelf," the judges wrote.Some nominations come from the food marketer, others directly from the packaging suppliers, especially if the package is used by more than one processor. The other food and beverage winners (all winning packages also are shown in photos):

• Cryovac CN530TBG Bag

In the food category, the Cryovac Food Packaging Div. of Sealed Air Corp. (

www.cryovac.com

) won for the Cryovac CN530TBG Bag

(photo below).

It "combines the heat tolerance of a cook-in bag with the high abuse protection and outstanding retail appearance of Cryovac TBG bags, resulting in a bag for bone-in, cook-in and post-pasteurization applications," judges wrote.

Pillsbury's winning packages: The easy-open cookie dough chub (above) and the Perfect Portions MAP biscuit pack (below).

AGI/Klearfold's InSight Visual Packaging netted an award for Cocktails by Jenn.

• Cocktails by Jenn

In the beverage category, Jenn's Cocktail Co., Ukiah, Calif., chose AGI/Klearfold's (

www.agiklearfold.com

) InSight Visual Packaging

(photo right)

for this new product launch. InSight combines printed rigid plastic sleeves and locking injection molded end caps to produce a distinctive visual package.

• Iron City Aluminum
  Beer Bottles

These quick-chilling, unbreakable aluminum bottles

(photo below)

from CCL Container (

www.cclind.com

) are at the forefront of a trend in the brewing industry. The package also offers the qualities of superior barrier and UV protection. Pittsburgh Brewing Co. was the first to use them, but Anheuser-Busch soon followed.

• Houston Harvest Popcorn Tin

In the promotional category, Houston Harvest

(photo below)

chose Xtreme Graphics' (

www.xxtremegraphics.com

) plastic printing to add a new dimension to this ordinary package with lenticular imaging. A mix of existing technologies results in the creation of a unique promotional package that has proven to be a hit with every market it's touched.

By the way, the AmeriStar Best of Show award was won by Sherwin-Williams Co.'s "Ready-to-Roll" paint container. This 2.5-gal. pail features a comfort handle, integrated pour spout and a built-in roller tray, eliminating having to pour paint into a separate paint tray.

Exopack's Slider Zipper Multiwall Bag is both easy to open and resealable.

CCL Container's aluminum bottles chill quickly and are unbreakable.

The Cryovac CN530TBG Bag unites high heat tolerance and abuse protection with outstanding retail appearance.

Xtreme Graphics' lenticular imaging has added visual and merchandising "oomph" to Houston Harvest's popcorn tins, resulting in increased product sales.