FPA reports successful annual meeting

The Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) said its 2012 annual meeting was a ‘great success’, with 300 industry professionals representing nearly 100 flexible packaging companies in attendance.
 
The meeting, held February 22-24, included keynote speaker and New York Times best-selling author of Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics, Dr. Steven Levitt, and economics editor of The Economist magazine, Zanny Minton-Beddoes.
 
Presentations also included the final results of FPA’s market research on challenges, trends and growth opportunities for US flexible packaging, merger and acquisition activity in the flexible packaging industry, how flexible packaging manufacturers can develop valuable and unique flexible packaging products, an update on the European flexible packaging market, the 2012 FPA report on the state of the US flexible packaging industry, and an update on flexible packaging materials.
 
In addition, the FPA annual meeting included the presentation of the 2012 FPA Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards.
FPA said the 2012 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards showcase ‘outstanding advancements that are pushing the boundaries of flexible packaging’, with ‘innovation and achievements in design, materials, structure and graphics…impacting the way products are packaged, sold and used by consumers.’

FPA stated that: ‘Award-winning flexible packages incorporate stunning graphics and dark, rich backgrounds that make products stand out on store shelves. Significant technical improvements enable flexible packaging to be used in unprecedented food and beverage categories. New developments in flexible packaging films are protecting product quality and freshness. Novel flexible packaging designs are providing consumers with new and fun ways to use products, and continuous improvements in flexible packaging sustainability are benefiting consumers, end-users and the environment.'

The Highest Achievement Award went to Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn pop-up bowl, which was also awarded a gold award for Packaging Excellent and Technical Innovation.
Manufactured by Phoenix Packaging for ConAgra Foods, the patent-pending design allows consumers to microwave a popcorn package that transforms into a stable, wide mouth bowl which can be shared and used without spilling. It is claimed to be the most complex lamination ever produced for high-volume microwave popcorn packages.

Other gold award winners included Amcor’s interior tinted/printed formpack blister packaging (pictured, top), which was praised for Technical Innovation; Plastic Packaging Technologies’ Blue Bones small natural dental chew bones packaging, which was awarded gold for Packaging Excellence, Printing Achievement and Technical Innovation; Printpack Incorporated’s Ganador QuadSeal sack, which also won praise for Printing Achievement; and the Heinz Dip ‘n’ Squeeze Ketchup packaging, manufactured by Bevis Company business Curwood Incorporated, which won a gold award for Packaging Excellence and a silver for Technical Innovation

A full list of the 2012 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards winners can be found here