Innovative vacuum-packaging that reduces food waste by keeping meat looking and staying fresh longer took top honors in last night’s DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation in Wilmington, DE. Retail packaging that boosts shelf appeal, a robust packaging recycling project and modular industrial packaging that cuts waste and cost captured gold honors.

Several leading brands - Heinz, Kraft, Pepperidge Farms, Cadbury and Unilever – also took home diamond, gold or silver awards in the 24th DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation, the industry's longest-running, global, independently judged celebration of innovation and collaboration throughout the value chain. For a complete list of winners, images and insights from jurors, click here. “The 2012 Diamond winner exemplifies the role packaging plays in helping to feed a growing population around the world. “FreshCase® packaging technology for meat, selected by the Jurors as this year's Diamond winner, addresses the important effort to help ensure food maintains its nutritional value and freshness,” said William J. Harvey, president of DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers. “In the face of a growing population with limited resources, food waste from spoilage must be greatly reduced, and innovative packaging solutions will play a critical role in that story.”

An expert panel evaluated 200 entries from 21 countries and awarded one diamond winner, five gold winners and 10 silver winners based on "excellence" in one, two or all three categories: Innovation, Sustainability and Cost/Waste Reduction.

“The common thread was a focus on collaboration,” said lead DuPont Awards juror Brian Wagner, vice president, Packaging Technology Integrated Solutions, a HAVI Global Solutions Direct Company.  “It wasn't just one company doing it by themselves; they leveraged their suppliers strategically. There was a real focus on consumer insight on the impact of packaging at shelf and throughout the user experience.”

Highlights of this year’s winners: Diamond
New Meat-Packaging Technology Keeps Meat Fresher Longer to Reduce Food Waste – FreshCase® Packaging for Fresh Red Meats by Curwood, Inc. – A Bemis Division – USA

Gold New Goldfish™ Bread Packaging Makes a Splash on Store Shelves – Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats® thin rolls and Goldfish Sandwich Bread™ (Flats). Packaging by Pepperidge Farm; CP Flexible Packaging; Printpack, Inc.; Sealstrip Corporation – USA

Closed-Loop Recycling System Conserves Natural Resources and Engages Consumers – Ciclo Verde Taeq® – White Tea by Grupo Pão de Açúcar; Papirus – Brazil

Multi-Dimensional Packaging Solution Combines Ready-to-Ship, Ready- to-Display and Ready-to-Sell Capabilities … and it’s Re-Useable – “THE CUBE®” (Packaging System) by Smart Packaging Systems; My Compadre, LLC; Impact Mfg; Incrementia Inc.; One Way Display; Acme Packaging, an ITW Company - USA/Canada

Innovative Aerosol Dispenser Technology Cuts Use of Propellants – AirOPack® by IPS Innovative Packaging Solutions AG – Switzerland

Flexible is Key in New Cost-Saving Packaging Dividers – Soft Flexible Divider by ITB Packaging LLC – USA

Silver

Easy-Open Condiment Package Helps Protect the Environment – Kraft YES Pack by Kraft Foods; Exopack; Foth Production Solutions, LLC; PE International; The Food Group; Smart Bottle, Inc.;  – USA

Electro-Conductive Packaging Helps Keep Frozen Food Fresh – Ultra-Freshness Preservation Freezing System Using High “Electric Potential” and Electro Conductive Packaging by Mutsumi Chemical Industry Co, Ltd; SUN Electric Company, Ltd.; Enshu-Kasei Co. Ltd.;  – Japan

New Bottle Design Dramatically Reduces Material Use, Increases Customer Convenience and Visibility for Shoppers and Reduces Cost - Short Neck Jar for Confy by Kraft Foods – Cadbury India Limited – India

Simplified Closure System Reduces Waste, Cost and Supply Chain Complexity – Project Galvanise for Ponds Talcum Power by Hindustan Unilever, Ltd – India

Desiccant Laminate Decreases Contamination Risks in Pharmaceutical Packaging – Formpack Dessiflex™ Plus by Amcor Flexibles Singen GmbH – Germany

Jewel-like Brilliance Achieved in Premium Injection Molded Cosmetics Jar – Sulhwasoo Dahamsul cream jar by AmorePacific – Korea

Microwaveable Food Tray Cuts Cost, Waste through Responsible Sourcing – Weight Watchers® Smart Ones® “Eco-Friendly Tray” for Frozen Entrees by H.J. Heinz; Pactiv Foodservice – Food Packaging – USA

Consumer-Inspired Design Revolutionizes Laundry Experience with Tide PODS Liquid Unit Dose Laundry Detergent – Tide PODS Liquid Unit Dose Laundry Detergent by The Procter and Gamble Company and MonoSol; Plastipak Holdings Inc.– USA

Packaging Differentiates High-End Pet Food – Laminate with Hot Foil Stamping, Matte Surface and High-Definition Flexo Print by Mondi Coatings & Consumer Packaging GmbH – Austria

Microcellular Technology Keeps Food Containers Cool or Hot - InCycle® CPET Tray and Cold Party Cup by MicroGREEN Polymers, Inc – USA

The innovation represented by the DuPont Awards winners is one part of the solution need to improve global food security.  For more information on DuPont's initiatives to address food security issues, visit http://foodsecurity.dupont.com/ .

DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers manufactures an extensive mix of adhesive, barrier, peelable lidding and sealant resins and provides a globally networked development team to work with customers on packaging programs that help protect the product, environment, improve shelf appeal, convenience and reduce cost in the food, cosmetics, medical products and other consumer goods and industrial packaging industries.

DuPont – one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals more than 20 years ago – has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.  For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com .