Cool boxes for a rebounding market

Good news has come in many beautiful packages for The National Paperboard Association (Alexandria, VA). While the 56th annual Packaging Competition, judged last February, recognizes the accomplishments of paperboard-packaging converters, it also strives to create a wider demand for paperboard packaging

It looks like “mission accomplished” as paperboard is making a solid comeback in the packaging industry. After growing only 0.6 percent a year during 1999-2004, US demand for corrugated and paperboard boxes is expected to climb 2.1 percent a year to nearly $35 billion in 2009, according to a new study by Cleveland-based The Freedonia Group, Inc. (See Market Trends, Jan. 06, p.4).

Thanks to changes in the retail environment that require corrugated cases and folding cartons to act as billboards for their products, paperboard converters are focusing on higher-quality printing and aesthetics, allowing them to compete with alternative packaging materials. The trend also made this year's NPA competition a showcase of the most innovative, creative and distinctive designs.

The winners were announced during NPA's Annual Meeting held June 24-27 at the Loews LeConcorde in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Three packages stood out among the hundreds of entries from 49 rigid-box and folding-carton converters by winning in the Best of Show categories: Rigid Box, Folding Carton—and new this year, Combination Package.

Two-in-one package

The Combination Package Best of Show award displays the capabilities of folding and rigid packaging media and highlights how one package can incorporate the two converting technologies into one unique package. The “Black Apron” package (A) made by the Utah Paper Box Co. (Salt Lake City) for Starbucks Coffee Co. won the inaugural Combination Package award.

“The rigid box has the stability to protect the product while the folding-carton wrap and laser-cut sleeve give it a high-end look and easy product accessibility,” NPA says.

The decoration process uses two colors and includes laser diecutting by Laser Excel (Green Lake, WI). Materials include a 22-pt Black Pegasus for the sleeve and a 38-pt Black Vat dyed chip with black paper.

Toasting to two wins

Sweeping up the rest of the Best of Show awards, Paul T. Freund Corp. (Palmyra, NY) won the Rigid Box category with its “Baccarat Champagne” box (B) and the Folding Carton category with the “Teaposy” carton (C) . The shoulder-hinged box, which holds a champagne bottle and two crystal champagne flutes, features pinch-pleated red satin over precision-cut foam inserts to protect and display the products. It has an 80-pt white vat board base. “This set-up box demands attention with sophisticated color and hot-stamped logo,” NPA says. “The box is strong and efficient, while presenting a soft and refreshing look.”

The Teaposy family of folding cartons was created using a four-color process print with satin aqueous coating on 16-pt solid bleached sulfate board. “Innovative graphics and eye-catching design help propel the tea product off the store shelves and help the family of packages to stand out in the crowded retail food-packaging environment,” NPA says.

Twenty-nine Gold Awards and 107 Excellence Awards were also bestowed from the 30 end-use classes and five judges' categories.

MORE INFO:

NATIONAL PAPERBOX ASSOCIATION, 703/684-2212, fax: 703/683-6920, www.paperbox.org