SPC Innovator Awards

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition recognizes meaningful contributions and advancements towards more sustainable packaging through the annual SPC Innovator Awards. The awards celebrate and showcase the outstanding people and organizations behind extraordinary advancements in packaging sustainability. 

All winners will be given an award plaque suitable for prominent display. The SPC will coordinate publicizing the finalists and the award winners. Announcements of the award winners and their respective projects or programs will be promoted by the SPC through the SPC website and written communications such as newsletters and social media. Additionally, SPC Innovator Award Winners will have the option to develop a case study jointly with Trayak. 

The SPC Innovator Awards are open for SPC members to apply.

The submission period for the 2022 SPC Innovator Awards was open from Monday, April 25th until Friday, July 8th. Submissions are now closed.


Tips for a Winning Submission

A submission is more likely to advance to the finalist stage – and be selected as a winner – of the SPC Innovator Awards if it:

  • Showcases a breakthrough in its category – see past years’ winners for what was considered a novel solution in past years
  • Demonstrates the use of third-party certifications, standards, and testing protocols, including but not limited to FSC, SFI, APR, How2Recycle, BPI, TUV, etc. 
  • Refrains from generic sustainability claims that are not reinforced by certifications (e.g. “fully recyclable”, “responsibly sourced”, “compostable”) 
  • Provides as much technical information as possible about the achievements of the package (e.g. spec sheets, LCA output, certification status, test results, etc.) 
  • While the submission may focus on improvements to primarily one category (e.g. responsible sourcing), it should not “take a step backwards” in other categories (e.g by compromising material health when reasonable alternatives are available)

Members must be logged in to access the ‘Submissions’ tab.

 


 

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Award Categories

Innovation in Responsible Sourcing

Recognizing breakthroughs in the procurement and use of more sustainable materials, including new materials, improvements to conventional materials, improvements to sourcing practices, and novel uses of materials in challenging applications.

Innovation in Design Optimization

Recognizing breakthroughs in efficiency, including reductions in material usage, process improvements enabled by changes in packaging design, and improvements to volumetric/cube utilization and transportation efficiency, provided that functionality and performance are preserved or enhanced while life cycle impacts are lowered.

Innovation in Recovery

Recognizing breakthroughs in the quantity and/or quality of recovered packaging, including design improvements that enable greater compatibility with existing recovery infrastructure, enhancements to recovery programs and/or infrastructure, and partnerships to advance recovery practices and/or participation.

Innovation in Food Waste Prevention

Recognizing breakthroughs in preventing food waste through packaging design, such as improvements to product evacuation, functionality, resealability, closures, pack sizes, and ease of use; technology-based innovations such as coatings, sensors, inserts, packets, and active packaging, and/or raising consumer awareness about proper food storage.

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