Parkside is celebrating after its innovative paper flow wrap solution developed for luxury chocolate brand Cox & Co’s ‘Farm to Bar Cacao’ earned Gold award recognition in the 'Paper Pack of the Year' category at The Grocer's New Product & Packaging Awards 2024.
The award recognises the collaboration between Parkside and Cox & Co to create a fully recyclable paper-based flow wrap for the brand's premium single-origin chocolate bars. The solution successfully combines high barrier performance with seamless integration into Cox & Co’s existing hot-seal flow wrapping equipment, while enabling simple kerbside recycling for consumers.
Made using FSC-approved virgin paper that can be recycled up to 40 times, the innovative wrapper incorporates specialised water-based barrier coatings that provide robust protection against moisture and oxygen without compromising recyclability.
Staci Bye, Sales Account Manager at Parkside, commented: "We're thrilled to see our collaborative work with Cox & Co recognised with this prestigious award. This project perfectly demonstrates why ‘paperisation’ is becoming such a key priority, and how innovative paper-based solutions can meet complex technical requirements while advancing sustainability goals. By combining our material expertise with Cox & Co's vision, we've created packaging that delivers on performance, functionality and environmental responsibility. What’s more, it carries the brand’s rustic premium aesthetic, so it’s also a head-turner on shelf."
The development process spanned 18 months as Parkside's technical team worked to create a solution that would maintain product freshness and run efficiently on existing packaging equipment. The resulting innovation has helped Cox & Co phase out its incumbent wood pulp-based home compostable packaging in favour of domestic recyclability, while maintaining the premium quality their customers expect.
"This award validates our ongoing investment in sustainable packaging development and is a powerful testament to our team," added Staci. "As brands increasingly prioritise material circularity, we're proud to demonstrate that paper-based solutions, like the kind we’re developing at Parkside, can meet even the most challenging packaging requirements without compromise."
The award win adds to Parkside's growing reputation for sustainable packaging innovation, particularly in paper-based flexible solutions that enable brands to meet evolving consumer and regulatory demands.
To learn more about Parkside’s market-leading range of flexible packaging, visit www.parksideflex.com.