A presentation pack for Champagne Taittinger Rosé decorated with ‘lens’ effects, by Netherlands-based Van Genechten (VG) Group, has won the Carton of the Year award at the annual Pro Carton/ECMA awards.
Presented at the European Carton Makers Association Congress in Copenhagen at the end of September, the Pro Carton/ECMA awards recognise packaging that has proved itself on the market.
This year for the first time in the awards’ 16-year history, the competition was open to all partners in the supply chain: cartonboard and carton manufacturers, designers, brand owners and the retail trade.
For the top award-winning Taittinger Rosé Lens pack, carton designer and producer VG Angoulême (France) says the brand owner decided to go for the 3D sparkling bubble effect because it was “brand new”.
The company claims to have completed the order in a record time of just four months, between the first talks and delivery.
“We conducted a number of trials, also with matt and glossy effects, to find the perfect combination for Taittinger,” says Van Genechten sales director premium packaging, Aurélie Lorenzo.
The resulting pack is said to convey “fruitiness, ‘delicatesse’ and the bubbling charm of the Rosé champagne in a most elegant manner”.
Based on a cartonboard substrate from Iggesund Paperboard, a matt lacquer was used at selected points to support the 3D effect of the ‘pearls’, to give the packaging “sophistication and a silky tactile feeling”, and to support the “aura” of the champagne.
The Pro Carton/ECMA awards judges’ panel commented: “The astonishing quality and huge impact at the point of sale were, the judges felt, the main reasons that they awarded this carton the accolade of Carton of the Year.
“In a market that is fiercely competitive the Judges felt this carton had instant appeal and standout and demonstrated perfectly what quality can be achieved when printing on cartonboard.”
Other Pro Carton/ECMA award winners included ‘Most Innovative Design’ for a special folded carton for catering on aircraft, Termo Astuccio ‘Frusta Sorrentina’ from Italian carton manufacturer Boxmarche – a product which could be heated in a conventional oven together with its deep-frozen content without burning.
The cartonboard, from Stora Enso, is treated with a special ‘Jazz’ heat treatment, which creates the barrier for heating in the oven. After heating the package is opened by tearing a centre strip, which divides the box into two halves, allowing a hot sandwich to be eaten without burning or soiling.
All Pro Carton/ECMA prizes were presented by Roland Rex, president Pro Carton, and Dr. Andreas Blaschke, president ECMA.
Carton of the Year at the 16th annual Pro Carton/ECMA awards, Sep 2012 Taittinger Rosé 'Lens' pack, by Van Genechten Group Most Innovative Design award at the 16th annual Pro Carton/ECMA awards, Sep 2012 Boxmarche - Termo Astuccio 'Frusta Sorrentinaâ' for hot food catering on aircraft
