The luxurious three-dimensional spherical packaging solution of Alzamora Group, based in Spain, for the GERnétic beauty brand was crowned Carton of the Year at the European Carton Excellence Awards 2023, which were unveiled in Seville on September 21, recognizing the innovation of the sustainable cardboard packaging industry over the last year. Organized by Pro Carton (the European Paperboard and Paperboard Manufacturers Association) and the European Carton Manufacturers Association (ECMA), the coveted awards celebrate the crème de la crème of sustainable packaging.
Graphic Packaging International's innovative Boardio™ fiber-based packaging for Perfetti Van Melle Mentos chewing gum also won over consumers at the People's Choice Award, in addition to winning the Sustainability Award.
Finalists were selected based on several criteria, covering graphic and structural design, production techniques, profitability, ecology, sustainability, innovation, safety and convenience.
Carton of the Year
The Carton of the Year award winner combined high-end luxury with unique structural design. The Alzamora Group skillfully crafted the elegant GERnétic packaging solution from a single piece of Stora Enso virgin fiber board. It not only protects the product, but also presents it as a nice gift.
The jury said: “GERnétic is expertly designed packaging: it takes a lot of skill to create a three-dimensional spherical shape from a single piece of cardboard without the use of glue. “This is the perfect demonstration of how incredible results can be achieved with cardboard.”
The record
Carton of the Year: GERnétic by Alzamora Group
Public Award and Sustainability Award: Boardio™ for Perfetti Van Melle Mentos gum by Graphic Packaging International
Innovation Awards: Mary Cohr by Edelmann Group
General Packaging Virgin Fiber: Dainese Packaging Kit Replacement by Lucaprint
General Packaging Recycled Fiber award: ECOCLIC® by Van Genechten Packaging
Food & Drink Virgin Fiber: KEVAS – RHUM ARRANGÉ by Posson Packaging
Food & Drink Packaging Recycled Fiber: McDonald's Delivery Cuff by Huhtamaki
Pro Carton Young Designers Award 2023 / Pro Carton Student Video Award 2023
- Creative Cartonboard Packaging: Food & Drink: UrbanBITE, the packaging solution for confectionary products, by Ravensbourne University student Nang Htwe Htwe Lwin
- Creative Cartonboard Packaging (All Other): Sandkit, the cartonboard packaging for sanding blocks, by Maria Paula Monroy Vargas, Sarah Drauschke and Margo Rindle from the FH Münster – MSD Münster School of Design in Germany
- Sustainability Award: Tapout, the cardboardboard battery pack by Johannes Nyborg Heyning from Arkitektur – og designhøgskolen in Oslo
- Public Award: PopCap, the protective cap for drinks, by Emily Klein and Brandon Escalona, from FJ Joanneum in Austria
- Pro Carton Student Video Award 2023 Winner: 'The PROs of Carton', by Jasmin Hein and Sofia Rohnefeld from Höhere Graphische Bundes-Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt in Austria
- Public Award: 'Metamorphosis: A Carton Story' by Diana Morgacheva from Italy's Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi
- Highly Commended: 'The Circle of Life by students Ulrike Rösch, Lea Schneiderbanger, Nele Wolff, Felicia Spiegler and Alina Biesolt from SRH Berlin School of Design and Communication in Germany
