The Institute of Packaging Professionals announces two new awards for
its 2012 AmeriStar Package Awards competition.
The first addition is a new category-private label. This category is
targeted to retailers and companies and their private-label brands. It will
follow the same criteria that IoPP judges use to evaluate packaging in all
other categories of the AmeriStar competition, from design appearance to
sustainability factors to economical and creative use of materials.
Private label manufacturers may continue to enter as many of the
different categories as they wish and compete against the national brands.
National brands, however, will not be eligible to enter the private label
category.
“A lot of companies are doing great work today in private label
packaging, and this new award enables IoPP to recognize the best of the best,”
says Jane Chase, IoPP Immediate Past Chair, who spearheads the AmeriStar
program. “We also believe it will inspire more store brand companies to enter
packages in the AmeriStar competition, which is right around the corner.”
The second award that IoPP is introducing is a special “Best in Show”
award honoring a package that best integrates structural and graphic design in
support of brand objectives. AmeriStar judges will bring forward from each
category those packages that they feel best exemplify excellence in integrating
structural and graphic design, to compete for this award. Design criteria that
the judges will consider include benefits to consumers and retailers,
enhancements in distribution, and improved functionality that entices consumers
to think about a product in a new way.
“This award will be similar to our Sustainability and overall Best in
Show awards,” Chase notes.
Adds Jim George, IoPP’s Director of Education: “These new awards are
two great additional opportunities to compete for a prestigious honor that
salutes the superb package design work that is being done among both national
brands and in the private label industry.”
IoPPwill begin putting out the call for AmeriStar entries in the
fall. Judging will take place early in 2012.
