Spanish design and manufacturing in packaging continue to shine internationally for their quality, innovation, sustainability, and creativity. With ten awards at the WorldStar Awards 2025, the world’s most prestigious packaging competition, Spain once again ranks among the top ten countries with the most accolades in this contest that recognised a total of 260 projects from 35 countries.
The 2025 edition has been a milestone in the history of this competition, organised by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO), achieving a record level of participation. A total of 550 entries were submitted from 40 countries, all of which had previously won awards in national or regional contests recognised by the WPO. In Spain’s case, these are the Liderpack Awards, organised by Graphispack Asociación and Hispack trade fair at Fira de Barcelona.
The country with the most WorldStar Awards was Japan (23), followed by Germany and Austria (22 each), India (19), Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) (18), Turkey (17), China (15), Brazil (14), and South Korea (11). Spanish packaging, with 10 trophies, secured ninth place in the rankings, tied with the United States (10). The “top ten” list is rounded off by the Czech Republic and Slovakia (9).
Ignasi Cusí, General Secretary of Graphispack Asociación, stated:“It is a source of pride to see how the Spanish packaging industry consistently delivers such innovative solutions, placing us among the top ten countries worldwide in this international competition. These proposals not only meet market demands but also contribute to sustainability and improve efficiency in logistics processes.”
Meanwhile, Xavier Pascual, Director of Hispack, congratulated the Spanish winners “for their effort and capacity for innovation, which have placed our country at the forefront of global packaging.” Pascual reminded companies that “Spanish firms can use the Liderpack Awards as a gateway to this prestigious international competition, showcasing their commitment to sustainability and their dedication to innovative solutions that set them apart in the packaging industry.”
Spanish Winners
The Spanish solutions recognised at this year’s WorldStar Awards spanned categories including food, fresh produce, alcoholic beverages, luxury packaging, logistics, and packaging materials and components. These projects were lauded for their design, innovation, and, most notably, their sustainable approach.
The Madrid-based company Ovelar emerged as the top Spanish winner with two awards for striking sleeves designed for beverages. The first, “Olé on Ice,” printed with thermochromic inks and featuring a textured, glossy finish, enhances a sparkling wine bottle that should be consumed very cold. The design includes colour-changing elements to indicate when the temperature drops below 8°C. The second, created for “Licor 43,” stands out for its high-definition printing and embossed ceramic-like details, combining a handcrafted aesthetic with luxurious golden accents on this premium liqueur bottle.
In the food category, the Alicante firm ITC Packaging won for its hermetic, recyclable, and more sustainable packaging for Carmencita paprika, featuring a dual-opening lid.
Additionally, Alzamora Group was awarded for its 5J Pura Genialidad premium packaging for ham and cured loin, consisting of an elegant and functional vertical case, a stable display unit, and personalised pouches made entirely of recyclable cardboard.
In the fresh produce category, Smurfit Westrock earned recognition for its Safe&Green trays, which are recyclable, ventilated, and extend the freshness of fruit. Murcia-based Flexomed also won a WorldStar for its ENBOX LongLiFe tray for tomatoes, equipped with an ethylene-absorbing film that extends shelf life by up to 12 days compared to conventional packaging, while improving product quality.
In the logistics category, DS Smith Tecnicarton received an award for its innovative corrugated cardboard trays for automotive headlights. These trays are 100% recyclable and biodegradable, providing product protection while serving as an emergency replacement for plastic packaging. Meanwhile, J2 Servid was honoured for its Niupack Side, a recycled cardboard separator that prevents palletised goods from shifting, optimising logistics, and reducing costs and loading times due to its foldable, compact design.
Finally, in the materials and components category, Miguel Anton Malo won for his Garrafa Giratoria, a recyclable monomaterial container that facilitates liquid storage and controlled pouring, designed to be especially accessible for people with motor difficulties. Cartonplast Ibérica also received recognition for its lightweight yet durable plastic pallet for the glass sector, made with up to 70% recycled material and fully recyclable, enhancing transport efficiency and sustainability in the glass industry.
The WorldStar 2025 awards ceremony will take place on 30 May 2025 in Milan, Italy, during the IPACK-IMA trade fair. At the same event, winners of the special categories for “Best Sustainable Packaging,” “Best Packaging to Prevent Food Waste,” “Best Marketing in Packaging,” and the President’s Award will also be announced.
For more information about the winning Spanish entries, click hereFor photographs, click here