Environmental Packaging Awards submissions open

PAC.NZ, the Packaging Council of New Zealand, has announced that entries into the 2013 Environmental Packaging Awards - Fast Forward are now open. In total there are eight categories open for entry and a Supreme Winner, which is selected by the judges from one of the category winners.

The 2013 categories are:

• O-I New Zealand Award for Conceptual Design by a Tertiary Student: This category is directed at young designers at tertiary level only and the designs need not be in commercial production.
• Fonterra Award for Schools’ Educational Programmes Encouraging Reduce/Re-Use/Recycling: This category is for schools’ educational programmes that encourage the concepts of ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’.
• Keep New Zealand Beautiful Award for Community Education Programmes: This category is particularly targeted at brand-owners and retailers which have, either individually or collectively, undertaken effective public promotion programmes which, through key messages on product or through promotion or media coverage, encourage the consumer to consider, prior to purchase, their role in minimising the environmental impact of packaging.
• Countdown Award for Packaging Design Which Incorporates Sustainability Principles: The fundamental purpose of packaging is to prevent more waste than it creates. This category recognises the contribution of packaging as being an integral part of the life cycle of the product and is calling for packaging which demonstrates reduction of the overall environmental impact of the product and/or packaging.
• Scion Award for Supply Chain Influence on Packaging Systems (Providing Positive Environmental Outcomes): This category recognises initiatives where the supply chain influence on packaging systems has provided positive environmental outcomes.
• OfficeMax Award for Excellence in Packaging Product Stewardship Programmes: This category recognises excellence in packaging product stewardship where there has been a strategic intent to reposition the company, product category or brand by formally engaging in a programme or scheme which could include gaining external accreditation.
• The Award for an Employee who has Championed Environmental Issues and Driven Change: This category is for recognition of an individual employee who has championed environmental issues and driven change.
• Video Challenge Award: This category is to creatively demonstrate how packaging can contribute to improving sustainability in New Zealand.

PAC.NZ’s Environmental Packaging Awards have been running biennially since 1999. The awards programme was set up to recognise and reward organisations and individuals for their positive contribution in improving the overall environmental impact of packaging.

More information about the awards is available at the PAC.NZ website: www.packaging.org.nz.