In addition, he reports that some prominent organisations have already snapped up sponsorship opportunities, including BillerudKorsnäs and Propak (gold); Plastichem and PACSA (silver); and Polyoak and Consol (bronze). PPM – a regular sponsor of the awards – is again the Gold Pack media partner.

These organisations all have one thing in common: they recognise the Gold Pack Awards as a showcase for the packaging industry, and the awards banquet as the industry’s premier networking event.

Gold sponsor, BillerudKorsnäs, is a leading provider of renewable packaging material. Explains business development director Jimmy Nyström: ‘With our partners, we create smarter packaging solutions that increase profits, excite millions of consumers and contribute to a sustainable future for generations to come.’

BillerudKorsnäs considers itself ‘the natural partner in smarter packaging’, making the company an ideal Gold Pack sponsor. ‘It’s both our promise to the market and a declaration of our intentions to be the innovative choice in the packaging industry,’ Jimmy continues, ‘when it comes to the use of renewable materials and high-performance solutions, sharing knowledge and working together for our customers in a global network, and putting packaging into a greater context to save resources, grow brands and increase profitability.’

Helmut Oellermann, MD of Plastichem, is convinced that Gold Pack is an ideal initiative for marrying cutting-edge technical developments with the creative minds of local designers. Plastichem offers technical solutions that contribute to shelf-life extension with its active packaging products such as Shelfplus from Albis, and Eastman’s innovative ‘glass polymer’, plus other products to improve barrier properties for applications such as lidding.

‘Apart from the standard GPPS (general purpose polystyrene) and HIPS (high impact polystyrene), we offer SAN and PMMA for higher-end rigid packs such as cosmetics jars,’ Helmut adds, ‘and our technical service extends to developing packaging solutions with packaging designers, followed by assisting converters with processing matters.’

As we go to press, we learn that Hi-Tech Inks has signed up as a sponsor; and other sponsorships are under consideration (watch for an update in the next issue).

Judges named

When it comes to considering all the criteria, this year’s judges offer knowledge in a multitude of disciplines, as well as many years’ experience in the packaging or related industries. They are Dr Gunnar Sigge, Wendy Knowler, Neil Cumming, Kiril Dimitrov and Gill Loubser. Adding specific technical expertise to the panel are Annabé Pretorius (plastics) and Phillip Meyer (glass).

Making their deliberations under the beady eyes of facilitators, Bill Marshall and Vanessa von Holdt, they’ll be on the watch for packaging that demonstrates and showcases the state of the art in South Africa. This accolade applies to any packaging that involves design, marketing or technology (even if the technology is originally imported) that has been applied in an innovative or creative manner to meet specific African requirements.

As Bill Marshall remarks: ‘The awards are intended to be a celebration of the South African packaging industry and the winning packs to be examples of which the entire industry can be proud.’

Closing date

Although the closing date for entries is July 15, late entries will be accepted online up to July 31. An additional late entry fee of 50% will be levied on entries submitted online after July 15.

Pack samples must be received by July 31.

For further details visit www.goldpack.org.za.

1. Underlining the important relationship between food science and packaging technology is the inclusion on the judging panel of Dr Gunnar Sigge, head of the Department of Food Science at Stellenbosch University, and SAAFoST’s current president. This is the fourth time Gunnar has taken up his post as a Gold Pack judge.

2. Wendy Knowler has been working as a journalist for 28 years, specialising in consumer journalism for the past 15 years. Wendy speaks widely on consumer issues, mostly relating to the Consumer Protection Act, and has delivered presentations at several packaging industry functions.

3. Having gained valuable technical experience in paper manufacture during his time with Sappi, Kiril Dimitrov joined Woolworths where’s he’s currently packaging manager for Woolworths Foods, providing leadership and expertise in the packaging development process, with particular responsibility for ensuring innovative and safe packaging of consistent quality at the lowest overall cost.

4. With masters degree from the University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg), Neil Cumming has been involved in the packaging industry for the past 30 years, most recently at Nampak where he managed the company’s expansion into 13 African countries and eventually was responsible for all Nampak’s operations in South Africa and the rest of Africa. Now a consultant, he’s currently working with a large packaging and beverage machine agency based in Dubai.

5. Co-owner and editorial director of P&PM, a Fellow and a past national chairman of IPSA, Gill Loubser brings her encyclopaedic understanding of global and local packaging and printing trends and technology to the judging panel. Gill has been involved in the Gold Pack Awards programme since 1979.

What’s in it for winners?

For those who win awards, it’s a major publicity-gaining event, but there are other significant advantages too. Winning an award is undoubtedly a morale booster, it provides creditability in the marketplace and a competitive advantage. And, for a chance to shine internationally, Gold Pack winners are eligible to enter the WorldStar contest organised by the World Packaging Organisation.

The Gold Pack Awards are about promoting innovation, identifying the best solutions to South African packaging challenges, maximising exports and minimising imports. The awards are also about benchmarking the local industry and keeping pace with global technological developments, as well as applauding outstanding design – which includes construction, graphics, convenience, product protection and ecological impact.

Technical judges

Two technical judges this year are Annabé Pretorius and Phillip Meyer. Annabé Pretorius, a graduate in polymer science from the University of Stellenbosch, brings invaluable knowledge of polymers in particular and plastics packaging in general to the judging panel, on which she has served for many years. Phillip Meyer, a BSc graduate (chemistry) from the University of Pretoria, has untold experience in the glass industry, having spent 30 years with Consol Glass and currently acting as an independent consultant (Dynamic Glass Solutions).

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