Pentawards, the leading network dedicated to recognising global packaging design excellence, is closing the window for entries to its 2023 competition on the 24th March. Ahead of judging, the Pentawards team and jury has reflected on the integral responsibility packaging designers have to help shape a better future for our planet, and have looked ahead to the innovations and themes they will look out for from sustainable packaging design entries to this year’s Pentawards.
The Pentawards Sustainable Design category has recognised some of the most innovative recent examples of environmentally conscious packaging. Established in 2021 to help push the boundaries of sustainable packaging design today, it is the only Pentawards category with a dedicated jury panel.
Examples of previous winners in the Sustainable Design Category include Evian, winners of the 2021 Gold award for their ‘no label’ water bottles and 2022 Gold award winner Sony’s Original Blended Material Packaging, developed to package a diverse range of products and made from short growth plants for a minimised impact on the planet. Last year’s Platinum award winner was Ruska Martín Associates' design for RE:INCARNATED SPIRITS, made of 100% recycled glass, paper and wine corks - and even boxed with recycled padding made from shredded Euro banknotes.
Jennifer Clements, Project and Marketing Manager at Pentawards commented: The winners we’ve seen from this category showcase the innovation and passion that designers and brands are developing to produce more sustainable packaging – and that’s something really inspiring. The reason this category was created is because we know how important this direction is for the industry, and with its own bespoke jury of sustainability experts, you know that these packs are the real game-changers.
Jenny Greenwood, Innovation & Sustainability Manager at Butterfly Cannon and Pentawards Sustainable Design jury member commented: Although packaging is not the dominating factor in carbon emissions, it does play a huge part, and is something which design agencies can really influence. Each choice made has a knock-on effect; whether that is right-weighting a material, changing a tertiary pack to be reusable or simply moving from multiple materials to mono-materials. Information on product sustainability becoming an integral part of the packaging graphics, rather than an after-thought, is an approach I’m sure will become much more prevalent in the future as consumers demand more clarity on sustainability. It will also be interesting to see how the interaction of packaging with digital plays into this, for example accessing the same information through QR codes or augmented reality.
Uwe Melichar, Packaging Expert & Owner of Melichar Bros. / EPDA Vice-President and Pentawards Sustainable Design jury member commented: Over the decades our needs have changed. Back in time protection was the only job a package had to do. When markets changed and the first brands came up the communication part got more important. Nowadays we have to regard the whole process of production and logistics of a package and anticipate its disposal or after use at the very beginning of the process. What happens next? Well, I am sure that we’ll work closer together along the value chain and think in systems. It’s not only a matter of material, it could also mean reuse. So thinking of packaging as a ‘service’ is a good starting point.
Silke Bochat, Head of Design, Europe Africa-Eurasia at Colgate and Pentawards Sustainable Design jury member commented: Being part of the jury is an honour given the importance of the topic, and challenging at the same time as sustainability is difficult to evaluate. There are many factors and 'whataboutisms' playing into a final footprint. I personally value most those entries where brand owners, manufacturers and designers worked hand in hand developing a circular concept taking all aspects into consideration, not only one part such as material.
Following judging, the shortlist of entries to Pentawards 2023, including to the Sustainable Design category, will be announced in July.
Readers can find out more about how to enter the Pentawards’ competition here and can take inspiration from some of the top winner’s in Pentawards’ Sustainable Design category here.