The Food Packaging Design Award recognises organisations that have designed innovative packaging materials, packaging within food packaging including fresh, frozen or other.
With the food industry the biggest end-user of packaging, this was a highly contested category and, of course, entries demonstrated a strong focus on sustainability, with paperisation, material reduction, recycled content, recyclability and reusability coming to the fore.
And the winners are...
Two High Commendations were awarded to Bars To Paper Wrap by Mars Wrigley Australia; and Woolworths Pad-free rPET Trays with 'Leave Attached' Film for kerbside recycling by Pact Group, Woolworths and Hilton Foods.
Two Bronze Awards went to Masterfoods Squeezy PET Sauce bottles by Wellman Packaging and Mars Food; and Deli Cuts by Don Smallgoods; while the Silver Award went to Amorette Premium Mandarins Paper Bag by Costa Group and The Packaging Hippie.
And, topping the category with the Gold Award, was koor by Jean-Francois Roiron.
About the Gold winner:
For the innovator behind koor, Jean-Francois Roiron, the mission is clear: to replace single-use plastics used for foods with a "refillable, reusable and more sustainable alternative".
The market proposition, he says, is that koor is not just a food container, it is a lifestyle upgrade: "Whether you are meal or lunchbox prepping, or on the go, koor has your back — sustainability, simplicity, and style — koor ticks all the boxes".
Roiron says by buying food in bulk, sourcing locally, and embracing homemade meals, families can stretch their budgets and to this end, koor becomes an "ally in the quest for affordable, sustainable living". Using the comparison of yoghurt typically bought in pouches, he says koor is designed to save $480 per year per person by buying the same yoghurt in pots, and consuming it via the koor container.
The judges described koor’s design as "ingenious" — it ensures continuous reusability and the replaceable components extend the packaging’s lifespan. When koor eventually reaches the end of its journey, its recyclable materials can be responsibly processed.
