The winners of the European Carton Excellence Award 2024 (ECEA) were launched in Berlin, Germany, on September 19. Organized by Pro Cardboard – the European Association of Cardboard and Cartonboard Manufacturers – and the European Association of Cardboard Manufacturers (ECMA), the awards celebrate the best sustainable packaging.
Hinojosa Packaging Galería Gráfica's solution for Laboratorios Flor Natural Parfums was crowned Carton of the Year, while Graphic Packaging International's packaging for Pladis won the Public Award, as well as taking home the Gold.
Prizes
Carton of the Year: Origen Flor Natural de Hinojosa Packaging Graphic Gallery
Sustainability Award: Calma Products from PAWI Packaging Deutschland
Innovation Award: OCB – Lid kit – paper and filter by Alzamora Group
General packaging made of virgin fibre: Samarité magic key from PAWI Packaging Poland
General packaging made from recycled fibre: Snel Easy-Life fish food
Food and beverage packaging made from virgin fibre: Mackmyra 001 from Nordic Carton
Recycled Fiber Food and Beverage Packaging: Kirkland Brand Marinara Sauce from WestRock
Public Award: Pladis Victoria Creations by Graphic Packaging International
Origin Natural Flower of Hinojosa Packaging Graphic Gallery, awarded with the Card of the Year 2024, is an innovative cardboard box with elegant die-cutting. Created from Stora Enso cardboard, the design features an interior print combined with precise side die-cutting and embossing, creating a harmonious 3D effect that enhances the perception of volume.
El Sustainability Award has been for PAWI Packaging Germany’s Calma products. PAWI Packaging Deutschland has developed a sustainable packaging solution for Medela, using cardboard from Sappi Deutschland, to replace the previous round plastic cans and inserts, specifically designed for infant food products. This new design incorporates an innovative opening and closing mechanism, a foldable hanger for retail shelves and a safety lock. It also includes a transparent window for easy product visibility and a tactile finish for a premium feel.
El Innovation Award was delivered to a cover kit concept developed and converted by Alzamora Group for OCB. The packaging is made from 170 and 235 g/m² MetsäBoard Prime FBB Bright and was created to provide a reusable combo kit that eliminates the use of plastic bags. It is designed to intelligently house both tobacco filters and paper in a single unit, eliminating the need for surplus packaging. Its mono-material construction ensures both durability and sustainability, while the secure design protects the delicate ceramic filters. The compact size of this packaging makes it easy to store and transport, and offers a convenient way to dispose of used filters and papers.
El Virgin Fiber General Packaging Award The winner of the design was Samarité Magic Key from PAWI Packaging Poland. Made from premium Billrud board, this luxurious and innovative packaging design for Zeme Pharm features a soft-touch varnish, gold hot foil stamping and double-sided printing in CMYK and Pantone colours, creating an eye-catching and elegant presentation. The packaging features a distinctive candy-style opening and a front window, offering a convenient and engaging unboxing experience.
The fish feed packaging solution, created by Snel BV using Smurfit Kappa's Hoya paperboard, has received the General recycled fiber packaging awardBy integrating cardboard and paper into a unique construction, Snel’s Easy-Life Fish Food completely eliminates the need for plastic, offering a fully circular and eco-friendly option. It also ensures a fresh, odourless experience for consumers. Fully resealable in design, it is made from recycled and FSC-certified materials.
El Virgin fibre food and beverage packaging award has been for Nordic Carton's Mackmyra 001. For its new small batch series, the distillery partnered with Nordic Carton to develop a unique packaging material using Holmen Board and Paper. The packaging slides smoothly up
El Recycled fibre food and beverage packaging wins award It was for WestRock's Kirkland brand marinara sauce. WestRock and Costco have partnered to develop a creative and sustainable packaging solution. The Cluster-Clip® design is a fiber-based alternative to plastic clips and shrink wrap. Pre-glued for easy application, Cluster-Clip® is fully printable.
El Audience Award has been awarded to Pladis Victoria Creations by Graphic Packaging International. Developed by Graphic Packaging International and made from 250gsm MetsäBoard Classic FBB, the packaging for McVitie's Victoria Chocolate Creations by Pladis stands out with its gift-wrapped look and easy-open tab closure, which enhance the unpacking experience. The curved edges, fold-open feature and refined printing and embossing add a layer of sophistication.
Pro Carton Student Video Award
The winners of the Pro Carton Student Video Award 2024 were also announced at the annual awards ceremony in Berlin. The award underlines the importance of fostering and nurturing young film talents, and advocates for environmentally friendly options. The students were asked to create a short film highlighting the benefits of cardboard and cardboard packaging in an inventive and visionary way.
After receiving over 100 applications from universities across Europe, this year’s winner of the Pro Carton Student Video Award 2024 is “Second Chance”, filmed and edited by Anastasiia Klinova, Artemii Ivanov, Mayya Kucherova, Arsenii Nikolskii and Max Julius Löwe from SRH University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, Germany.
“Second Chance” is a short film set in a hospital that explores the unexpected ways everyday objects can bring people together. The story revolves around a cleaner and a patient who form an unlikely bond through the versatility of cardboard.
Along with the jury awards, more than 1.800 votes were received to decide the winner of the Public Award from among the fifteen finalists. The winner is “A Carton's Perspective” by Emily Klein and Brandon Escalona. This film follows the journey of a cardboard container through the recycling process, guided by a character that emerges from the container itself. Set in a world made entirely of cardboard, this stop-motion film highlights the importance of recycling and the advantages of using cardboard packaging.
The video “Never Underestimate Carton” received a special mention.
Winners of the Young Designers 2024 competition
Horst Bittermann, CEO of Pro Carton, announced the winners of the award at the same gala. Pro Carton Young Designers Award 2024, sponsored by Billerud, Westrock, UMKA, Van Genechten Packaging, MMy Metsä.
Turkish student Murat Yasir Dilek, designer at Puente, takes first place in the category of Creative Cardboard Packaging: Food and Beverage.
In the category of creative carton packaging (all others), taking first prize for their SeedKit design was the trio Adrian Breindl, Luisa Rausch and Luka Vogt from the FH Münster Design School – MSD Münster in Germany.
Austrian student Inti-Filippa Crespín from Die Graphische Vienna took home the Sustainability Award for her design of Dashamp – the dry shampoo.
The winner of the public award was the trio of Middle East Technical University students Derya Gök, Gizem Eryılmaz and Ayça Çaylı, for MysMerLune, a sustainable chocolate box.
