PLD Awards: The 2021 winners

from Packaging In Focus - November 2021 - Drinks

Getting in the spirit

Awarding packaging innovation

By Carolina Garcia-Porras, PLD

We review the winners of the first annual PLD Innovation Awards, which highlight many of the key trends in drinks packaging innovation today.

he PLD Innovation Awards aim to identify and celebrate the world’s best packaging innovations in all types of premium and luxury drinks – from wines and spirits to beers, ciders and soft drinks – that have launched into the market in the past year.

From the entries submitted each year by brand owners, packaging manufacturers and design agencies, the judges will be looking for packs that demonstrate true innovation in at least one of the following aspects: technical innovation in production, processing or filling; sustainability; consumer experience relating to decoration, shape, ergonomics or ease of use; creation of new market opportunities; excellence in production; new launches; and beautiful design. PLD Award Winners 2021 The winners of the PLD Awards 2021 were announced during an official ceremony. The jury had identified the key design and innovation trends resulting in 11 outstanding winning designs.

Judging panel 2021 The jury is made up of leading packaging experts representing some of the market’s most recognised brand owners, as well as internationally acclaimed design and innovation experts. • Jean-Dominique Andreu – Managing Director, XO Consulting • Isabelle Baruel – Purchasing & Packaging Development Director, La Martiniquaise • Stephane Bernelas – Purchasing Director & Primary Packaging, Hennessy • Lucile Cussenot – Global Packaging Development Specialist, AB InBev • Thomas Gueller – Editor-inchief, V&S News • Audrey Guérin – Packaging Development Manager, Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët • Jérôme Labie Duflot – Innovation Manager, The CocaCola Company • Christophe Mantoz – Worldwide Sales Manager, Eurostampa S.p.a. • Jean-Pascal Martin-Festa – Group Chief Purchasing Officer, Rémy Cointreau • Julien Romdane – POS & Packaging Development Manager, Havana Club, Pernod Ricard

Champagne and sparkling wine Perrier-Jouët Ecobox by Maison Perrier-Jouët The Ecobox has been designed to revolutionise the art of gifting with a collection of boxes that embrace beauty and sustainability. Its elegant appearance encapsulates the house DNA, while the use of 100% recyclable materials respects nature. New innovative technology allows debossing more than 10 times the average depth, resulting in a high-quality lace effect.

Still wine Adega Mayor Open the Senses by Grupo Lappi Etiquetas The Adega Mayor Open the Senses wine range aims to appeal to all the senses. Each music themed label has been designed to engage with the consumer’s Vision through the fine die-cut and foiled details in the instruments; Hearing by referencing the instruments and Touch because the labels include braille. “A very beautiful execution,” said the judges. Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Bordeaux The concept of Chateau LafauriePeyraguey was to find a way to encourage the buyer to consume the first bottle in the wooden case. Each bottle of wine comes wrapped in silk paper and features a glass LALIQUE design, while a Bristol card within the case explains the concept of the “Friendship Bottle” made for sharing or giving.

Spirits and liqueurs – mass market SHAPEART by Amcor Capsules SHAPEART by Amcor Capsules allows wine and spirits brands to design bespoke shaped or textured aluminium closures to fit their packaging. The fivestep process includes design, 3D prototyping, test runs, manufacturing and delivery. The jury described this design as an “innovation in terms of sensory design that allows you to play with the senses.” Spirits and liqueurs – premium and luxury Gin Peace by ATIU Atiu’s Gin Peace bottle stands for “freedom of design”. The 100% recyclable glass bottle is subtly decorated all over, even in the most inaccessible areas, with a pattern of oysters to suggest the ideal food pairing. This direct printing method is a real technical feat, said the jury, describing the elegant bottle as “an innovative and sustainable product”.

Quinta da Pedra Alta, Pedra No. 3 Port by Denomination Portuguese vineyard Quinta da Pedra Alta wanted to reinvigorate its entire brand with a new identity and new packaging. With the frosted effect bottle, clean design, touch of transparency and botanicals from the estate heavily embossed on the label, this is a “very beautiful product that plays on sight and touch,” said the jury.

Beer, cider and soft drinks MT Rings by Calypso Space The MT Rings have been developed to replace plastic rings for six packs of cans. Calypso Space used pulp paper, an organic, biodegradable material, which is also reusable. The rings can be customized with embossing, debossing and laser engraving without damaging the environment. “Very unique, innovative and something that will surprise the buyer,” said the jury.

Presentation pack Coffret “The Botanist” by VIROJANGLOR The Botanist Islay Dry Gin Planter Gift Pack by Virojanglor offers sustainable advantages. The second life of the box is at the heart of the project as a bespoke herb planter which is decorated with the names of the Latin botanicals that can also be found on the bottle. The jury referred to the pack as a very original idea that takes the consumer to the end of the natural lifecycle. Martell Chanteloup XXO Cognac by Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouet Martell Chanteloup XXO is a bespoke and ultra-prestigious pack developed to create a highly personalised customer experience. The innovation requirements included the idea of the opening of a secret chest with many different compartments, which resulted in an exceptional work of art, according to the judges.

Trust Me Vodka Custom Display Box by Retail Pak (certificate winner) This interactive, sustainable and luxurious pack keeps the bottle as the main focus yet invites curiosity and helps underline the message that this is no ordinary vodka. Each box contains over 39 individual pieces of birchwood. The jury enjoyed the incredible opening experience of the sliding doors and loved seeing something completely new. Sustainable innovation winner Second skin (étui seconde peau) by Maison Ruinart The brief for this innovation was to solve four challenges: to find a technology that allows the case to fit the shape of the bottle, to make the case impermeable to light, to ensure the case protects the wine until it is tasted, and to have a totally eco-designed packaging. A new technique was developed to enrich the cellulose pulp with a natural metal oxide that reinforces the opacity of this second skin. The jury thought this entry was “unquestionably a great success”.