Australians were among those honoured at the gala WorldStar Packaging Awards 2019 event attended by 350 international guests in Prague, Czech Republic, and hosted by the World Packaging Organisation earlier this month.
Australian and New Zealand companies that are winners in our region's Packaging Innovation and Design Awards (PIDAs), run by the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) and Packaging New Zealand, are eligible to enter the annual WorldStar Packaging awards.
This year three Australian companies and one New Zealand company achieved international recognition for their innovative and unique packaging designs in the prestigious WorldStar Packaging Awards for 2019, following their 2018 PIDA wins.
The winning companies were Caps and Closures for Precise Pour, ILNAM Estate for 8 Kangaroos, Lactote for POLATOTE, and Radix Nutrition for its Foil Packaging Breakfast Pouch. The wins were across three categories – Beverage, Food and Domestic & Household. Radix Nutrition is the first New Zealand company to be awarded a WorldStar Packaging Award for the Food Category. Read more about the winning innovations here.
A delegation from both Australia and New Zealand that included Radix Nutrition and Caps and Closures attended the Prague ceremony, along with 97 other award winners representing 25 countries. A total of 219 WorldStars were awarded this year.
Caps and Closures managing director Brendon Holmes, and technical and design engineer Michael van Dord, were delighted to receive the WorldStar 2018 award for their PIDA 2018 winner, the Precise Pour cap. The award was presented by WPO president and fellow Australian Professor Pierre Pienaar.
Commenting on the win to PKN, Holmes said the company was honoured. "It shows the world that while we might not be the largest manufacturer in our market, we are definitely an innovative player who is looking for the next step into international markets."
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement awards. Three were awarded this year, one to Australia's Keith Chessell (Australia).
“I was greatly humbled and honoured to be acknowledged by the WPO in receiving this Award," Chessel said. "The recognition by this key global packaging team has been a great encouragement in the role I’ve played in recent years in developing the sustainable packaging design on the Australian scene. My fifty-plus years working with the packaging industry from within the food and beverage FMCG industry have provided the opportunity to work with nearly all forms of packaging materials. The innovation, development and change that has occurred within the packaging and food industries has meant there has never been a dull moment and always so much to learn.
"What has been a highlight has been the opportunity to work with, and for, many different people, both in food manufacture and packaging companies. I’m very thankful and appreciative for the many knowledgeable and skilled individuals in the industry who have so willingly shared their ideas, technical expertise and knowledge in designing packaging and resolving packaging/production issues – learning on the job.”
Pierre Pienaar, WPO President, added: “These prestigious awards will celebrate and preserve in perpetuity the collective achievements of these great innovators.”
Nerida Kelton, AIP executive director, who was also in attendance, told PKN: "To see a small Aussie company, a small NZ company, and Keith Chessell collect their trophies on a global stage was a very proud moment."
Kelton says that she has brought home the awards for Lactote and 8Kangaroos who couldn’t be there.
