Smurfit Kappa wins at NL Packaging Awards 2017

Smurfit Kappa has once again been recognised for its expertise in packaging and design, after winning the prize for best ‘Transport and Shelf-ready Packaging Solution’ at the NL Packaging Awards 2017.

The winning ‘Christmas Bag-in-a-Box’ product challenges the conventional image that people have of a Christmas box. The products in this attractive Christmas box are packed in an integrated shopping bag with handles are pierced through the top of the box resulting in easier portability for the recipient. 

The addition of an integrated bag with handles has no limitations on the current packing process and throughout the supply chain the box remains perfectly manageable as it’s stackable on a pallet, easy to fill and close, and can be efficiently transported.

The jury said, “It is a simple but innovative solution for a logistics issue. The combination of bag and box is very originally executed. This packaging solves a relevant issue in a practical manner. It’s a vertical box instead of a horizontal box and has two handles.”

Three other Smurfit Kappa designs were acknowledged as runner-ups:

• Anti-gliss system –A packaging design that guarantees optimal pallet stabilisation when stacked in columns.
• 5-in-1 PC box –A packaging in which the EPS interior is replaced by a one piece corrugated insert suited for 5 product variations resulting in a significant reduction of transport costs and a lower carbon footprint.
• Grasdoos - The Grasdoos is a uniquely patented, biological and biodegradable grasslawn in a box, very handy for potty training your puppy in urban areas. Rabbits, cats and guinea pigs also love to eat the grass.

Frank Sinnige, Customer Experience & Innovation Director Smurfit Kappa Benelux, said: “7 nominations, 1 award, and 3 runner-ups in a very competitive environment proves that our methods are effective and appreciated by both our clients and the judging panel. This is a great motivation to continuously work in collaboration with our clients to develop packaging solutions which add to their success in business.”  

The NL Packaging Awards were introduced in 2016, and are the preeminent industry award for the packaging industry in the Netherlands. The second edition of the NL Packaging Awards took place on 16 March 2017 in Hilversum. These awards give innovative packaging solutions a stage and showcase the innovations that are introduced to the market by the chain partners.

These awards, combined with Smurfit Kappa’s global network of Experience Centres and the ShelfSmart service, are excellent examples of how the company is opening the future for its customers, by enabling growth through insight and innovation. They form part of Smurfit Kappa’s broader aim to maximise value for its clients, by developing tried and tested packaging solutions that guarantee success.