The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) and Packaging New Zealand have designed Australasian Packaging Innovation and Design Awards (PIDA) to recognise companies and individuals who are making a significant difference in their field across the two countries.

The Food category recognises organisations that have designed innovative packaging and processing materials, packaging and machinery/equipment within food packaging and processing including fresh, frozen or other.

The winner of the 2019 Packaging awards went to Danone ELN NZ Supply Point for Aptamil and Karicare’s Infant Formula ranges sachet multipack. Danone met the customers expectations with their sachet’s to be easy to open, easy to pour with an opening that will fit inside a baby bottle and for the pack to be easy to carry in a baby bag.

Impressing the judges, Danone is the first in Australia and New Zealand to develop an east opening for customers without scissors. The company designed their own sealing jaw that was manufactured locally and incorporates a cutting form that allows for perforation to be formed in the modified sealing area.

Coming in second is Don KRC for their Just Add Don convenient stand-up pouch for a range of smallgoods cooking ingredients, perfectly cut and portioned to help prepare meals easily. Products as such have been packaged in modified atmosphere trays and were difficult to open and reclose. The new pouch is resealable, lightweight, designed to extend shelf life and meets recycle criteria.

Finally, taking the bronze position is OJI Fibre Solutions for RJ’s Licorice open top and open front Shelf Friendly packaging that was designed to withstand export from New Zealand to Australia as well as handle stacking from pallet displays straight into supermarkets.