Companies that have put themselves on waste diet get chance to strut their stuff this year at the Packaging Council of New Zealand’s biennial awards for excellence in environmentally acceptable packaging.
Given that the packaging industry’s environmental performance comes under regular scrutiny, the awards offer an opportunity to critically assess some of the advances in design, materials, systems or educational programmes that help reduce its impact on the waste stream, says PCNZ president John Webber.
A broad range of criteria will be used to provide “robust assessment of the entries”. Award categories have been extended and the council is promoting heavily to attract entries. Feedback after the first two awards events suggested there is more good environmental activity out there than was submitted for recognition, says Webber.
This year’s 10 award categories range from innovation in design and conceptual design to environmental impact, recovered materials and effective promotional/educational programmes.
The objective is to acknowledge and reward companies that have:
* reduced raw material or energy use
* optimised materials recovery
* made effective use of recycled materials
* designed systems that minimise adverse effects on
* run education programmes that enhance the environment appreciation of environmental issues.
Entries open this month and winners will be announced at presentation dinner in August. More information from www.packaging.org.nz
