For Graphic Packaging, 2023 has been a year to remember, as the fiber-based consumer packaging innovator scooped a record-breaking 47 awards for product innovation and corporate and leadership excellence.
Awarded by institutions including Newsweek, Fast Company, Fortune, and Institutional Investor, the accolades for corporate excellence recognized achievements for innovation, ESG, investment value, information technology, talent acquisition, and more.
President and CEO Michael Doss was recognized by Fastmarkets with the Forest Products North American CEO of the Year award, due to his vision, strategic leadership, and dedication to the company and the industry. In addition, Steve Scherger, EVP and CFO, was named CFO of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in the Large Public Company category.
Fiber-based consumer packaging innovation
Consumer packaging innovation across all sectors was recognized, with 40 individual awards received across 16 national and international award schemes. The stand-out success of 2023 was undoubtedly Boardio™, the recyclable, fiber-based canister that offers an alternative to rigid plastic containers. It won eight awards – seven of which were thanks to the company’s collaboration with confectionery giant Perfetti Van Melle for its Mentos brand of gum. This first-to-market paperboard bottle in the gum category offers a more than 80 percent reduction in plastic use versus a rigid plastic tub, with no loss of structural integrity or barrier performance.
It’s no surprise that many of Boardio’s awards were in the Sustainability category, something the team behind its development is immensely proud of. One award of note is the Leadership in Sustainability Award for the Circular Value Chain by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). This highly prized award recognizes exemplary sustainability initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry.
Many more of the awards received this year are for products that help customers with their goal of reducing the reliance on plastic in their packaging portfolio. Unilever’s innovative fiber-based, child-proof carton for laundry detergent capsules won both a PAC Global award and a Paperboard Packaging Competition award and is another innovation the company is rightly proud of. This development alone will prevent over 6,000 tonnes of plastic from entering the waste stream every year.
Ricardo de Genova, SVP of global innovation and new business at Graphic Packaging commented, “I am incredibly proud of, and thankful to, our talented teams around the world, who work tirelessly to deliver game-changing innovations that will make a world of difference to our customers and their consumers.
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