L to R: Danielle Buyukli-Boerebach, Senior Vice President Cartonboards, Stora Enso . Dimitri de Somer, Director Van Genechten Packaging International
Last Thursday night, at the 30th edition of the European Carton Excellence Awards in Rome, Van Genechten Packaging (VGP) won five awards, including the Public Award for the Rituals Deluxe Advent Calendar. One year after its record-breaking night in Istanbul, the company again brings home five awards, spread across three categories.
“Creativity by VGP - Our award-winning designs were produced by four dedicated VGP teams. This diversity speaks volumes about the capabilities within our group”, says Frank Ohle, CEO at VGP.
Four jury awards, one public award
VGP went into the evening with five packaging designs nominated. Four of the five nominations turned into an award, with the Rituals calendar winning twice:
- Public Award 2026: Rituals, The Ritual of Advent Deluxe Advent Calendar 2025
- Carton Excellence Award Winner, Confectionery: Lindt & Sprüngli, Süße Adventszeit ‘Filzkalender’
- Platinum Award, Confectionery: Toms Group, Anthon Berg Single Malt Scotch Collection 2025
- Gold Award, Beauty & Cosmetics: Rituals, The Ritual of Advent Deluxe Advent Calendar 2025
- Gold Award, Beverage: Whiskies du Monde, Akashi Meïsei Gift Pack
Rituals, The Ritual of Advent Deluxe Advent Calendar 2025
Starting as a compact box, it unfolds into an illuminated 360° winter scene, revealing new details every day. Solid engineering lies behind the 3D diorama: 24 compartments hold, protect and present body care products and home fragrances, while guiding the user through the countdown.
The Rituals Advent Calendar won both the Gold Award in its category and the Public Award. The Public Award is the only award of the evening decided by an open vote rather than by the jury.
"Winning both awards on the same night is the kind of recognition you can't engineer", says CEO Frank Ohle.
"The votes for the Public Award came from our own teams, from their friends and family, from customers and from the partners we work with every day", says Heidi Vanspauwen, Group Marketing & Communications Director at VGP. "A jury judges the packaging. This award tells us the people around us are proud of it too, and that adds something special."
Lindt & Sprüngli, Süße Adventszeit “Filzkalender”
Lindt & Sprüngli replaced the plastic tray with a folding carton inlay that securely holds 24 wrapped chocolates. The inlay arrives flat and pre-glued, and the tool required to assemble it costs less than thermoforming tooling. Hot foil and embossing further enhance the premium appearance of the package.
What the judges said: “An innovative design that combines clever construction with real practicality. The insert is simple and efficient to fill, making it a solution that works as well in production as it does for the consumer.
“What particularly stands out is the decision to achieve this entirely through cartonboard, rather than turning to other materials. It’s a thoughtful and well-executed approach that shows how structural innovation can deliver functionality while keeping the overall design simple.”
Toms Group, Anthon Berg Single Malt Scotch Collection 2025
This package is five boxes in one. Once the outer sleeve is pulled away, five individually designed compartments appear, each presenting eight miniature chocolate bottles filled with single malt whisky. Matte and gloss varnish and hot foil on a rich brown palette give the pack a refined look and feel.
Whiskies du Monde, Akashi Meïsei Gift Pack
Made entirely of cartonboard, this gift set for a bottle of Japanese blended whisky and two tasting cups opens with a curved, ceremonial movement – reflecting the art of gesture in Japanese whisky culture. A precise inlay holds the bottle and cups securely in place, while the natural FSC kraft board provides the pack with an understated, premium tactile feel.
“Another crowning achievement for our packaging experts”
CEO Frank Ohle is delighted to repeat the success of last year’s award show.
“If the 2025 edition in Istanbul was a crowning achievement for everyone at VGP, then Rome shows that night was no one-off. To win again in three categories, and to take the Public Award on top of that, makes us immensely proud”, he says.
“I want to congratulate and thank every creative, technical, commercial and production team involved in creating these packaging realizations. Of course, we would be nowhere without the trust of our customers. Their beautiful products give us both the opportunity and the challenge to create something truly memorable. It's great to have the chance to make our customers win.”
A celebration for packaging excellence
The European Carton Excellence Awards are organized by Pro Carton and the European Carton Makers Association (ECMA). They provide cartonboard converters from across Europe with an opportunity to showcase their most innovative packaging designs.
The winners were announced on the evening of 17 September at Villa Miani in Rome, during the ECMA Congress.