Ardagh's artful bottles snare international accolades

Glass and metal packaging giant Ardagh is celebrating the success of both its Absolut Unique and Jean Paul Gaultier Coca-Cola bottles in the highly contested international 2013 Beverage Innovation Awards, presented during the recent Drinktec trade show in Munich, Germany.

The company's bottle for Absolut Unique won the Best Packaging Design or Label category in recognition of the feat of producing four million individually decorated bottles with different combinations of colour coating and patterns (packagingnews.com.au, 26 September).

Judges also awarded the Jean Paul Gaultier Coca-Cola aluminium contour bottle the top prize in the Best Can or Alubottle category, in recognition of the use of cutting edge print technology combined with shaping to create maximum visual impact.

The award at Drinktec for the Absolut bottle was the latest in a string of awards for the innovative vodka bottling project. Earlier this year Absolut Unique won a 2013 Starpack Award in the UK, and recently won the diamond award for Best in Show at the 2013 Pentawards.

“These international achievements for our company are a tribute to the skill and flair for innovation of the teams at Ardagh, our customers, and everyone who is involved in all these projects,“ Ardagh Group CEO, Niall Wall, said.

“Through exceptional teamwork and the application of advanced technology, we have not only produced outstanding and unique packaging, but support some of the world’s most recognised brands to enhance their reputations for innovation.”