London Packaging Week is thrilled to unveil the winners of its inaugural Innovation Awards, sponsored by Fedrigoni, celebrating groundbreaking advancements in packaging across various categories. This year's awards recognise exceptional design, creativity, and sustainability in packaging solutions.
In the Premium and Luxury Drinks categories, two exceptional winners have set new standards in packaging innovation. Bowmore ARC-52 Mokume triumphed in the Luxury category, while Highland Park's 54-year-old decanter stood out in the Premium Drinks category. Both designs exemplify luxury and craftsmanship, reflecting the rich heritage and natural elements of their origins. These innovations push the boundaries of creativity and sustainability in their respective sectors, making them outstanding examples of premium drinks packaging.
In a collaboration with Aston Martin, Bowmore has crafted a decanter that is as much a work of art as it is a vessel for this exceptional whisky. The design takes inspiration from the Japanese metalworking technique 'Mokume-Gane,' known for its unique layered patterns. This technique has been reimagined through layered carbon fibre sheets, creating the decanter's distinctive Mokume lid. The result is a lid that evokes a futuristic aesthetic and mirrors the natural black rocks of Loch Indaal, the home of the Bowmore Distillery.
The Bowmore ARC-52 Mokume decanter, housing a rare 52-year-old Bowmore whisky, fetched an impressive £225,000 at a Sotheby's auction, with proceeds directed to a fund bolstering Islay's distilling industry.
Bowmore was represented on the day by Malcolm Swindell, Strategic Innovation Lead at Suntory Global Spirits, who said: "As custodians of Bowmore, it's so special to be recognised by the judges of London Packaging Week. Firstly, we'd like to thank our partners at Aston Martin. The two teams shared a vision to bring together the very best in technical expertise and creative thinking – to push boundaries and develop something truly special."
Highland Park's 54-year-old single malt Scotch whisky exemplifies the pinnacle of artistry in premium and luxury drinks, blending rich history with cutting-edge design. The decanter, created by Senior Glass Designer Michael Rudak of Stoelzle Flaconnage, is a work of art. Crafted from heavy flint glass, the decanter features a conical punt at its base, a nod to the distillery's mash tuns where the whisky-making process begins. The bottle's surface is adorned with textural embossing that mimics the weathered strata of the Yesnaby cliffs, bringing the essence of Orkney's landscape to life. This tactile design is not just visual but also a tribute to molten lava gradually forming the Orkney Islands, capturing the raw, untamed beauty of the natural world in glass.
Complementing this exquisite decanter is the wooden coffret, designed and handmade by Glasgow-based craftsman John Galvin. Galvin sculpted the presentation box using Scottish oak to mirror the contours of Orkney's cliffs, particularly the Yesnaby formations. Each box is unique, and colour variations are achieved through meticulous hand-blasting and fuming.
Andrew Dietz, Packaging Technologist at Edrington, said: “Thank you to everyone. Thanks for honouring us with this award. I want to thank three suppliers that we collaborated with for this award. It's John Galvin and John Galvin Designs, Michael Rudak, who was the bottle designer, and Stoelzle Flaconnage, who was the bottle supplier. I can't forget JC Ribero, the closure manufacturer.”
Coca-Cola Services NV's Sprite Naked won the Food, Beverages, and Personal Care category for its innovative label-free bottle design. This groundbreaking approach leverages fibre laser technology to directly engrave product information onto 100% recycled PET (rPET) bottles, eliminating the need for traditional labels. By integrating rPET and removing labels, Sprite Naked simplifies the recycling process, making it more efficient and reducing packaging waste.
The environmental impact of Sprite Naked is impressive, with Coca-Cola achieving a 98% reduction in the carbon footprint associated with the labelling process. This substantial decrease is attributed to the elimination of label production and adhesive use, which typically contribute to higher emissions.
“It was quite a brave piece of work,” said Lisa Meade, Head of Structural Packaging at Kingfisher. “Here you have a very large company taking what I believe was a fairly bold step by removing all the color signals from the packaging. For the consumer, at the shelf and at the moment of purchase decision, they removed the labels and instead used embossing and debossing on the blow-molded bottle. I really like this pack for several reasons, but what stands out to me is that it was a really brave decision for them to do that and move away from the traditional design.”
Winning the Beauty, Cosmetics, and Perfume Category, Altra's The Altra Box continues to garner praise for its innovative and more sustainable approach to luxury packaging. This groundbreaking design is constructed from a single sheet of 100% recycled UK paper, replacing traditional packaging methods with a biodegradable, sturdy alternative.
The box's design features a pentagonal outer sleeve with specialised compartments for an empty glass flacon and a perfume refill, promoting sustainable home refills. This thoughtful design encourages consumers to opt for refills rather than discarding entire packages, significantly reducing waste and supporting a circular economy.
Premium Drinks – 1 certificate and 1 winner:
Certificate: Black Shuck Pineapple & Coconut Schnapps from Black Shuck LTD
Winner: Highland Park 54 Year Old from Erdington
Luxury – 1 winner
Winner: Bowmore ARC-52 Mokume from Bowmore
Food, Beverages and Personal Care Category - 3 certificates and 1 winner
Certificate: Indian Spice Tin with 9 Spices and Silk Sari Wrap from Spice Kitchen
Certificate: Victoria Chocolate Creations from McVities
Certificate: Club Zero Refillable Milk Bottles from Abel & Cole
Winner: Sprite Naked from Coca-Cola Company
Beauty, Cosmetics and Perfume Category - 3 certificates and 1 winner
Certificate: All Weather Styling Gel & Soft Leave-in Cream
Certificate: Skin Accumax from Advances Nutrition Programme
Certificate: Skin Ultimate from Advances Nutrition Programme
Winner: The Altra Box by Altra