Smithers Pira Champions Innovation in Transit Packaging at Starpack 2011 Awards

18 October 2011

Leatherhead UK, 18 October. Six innovative packs were recognised with gold, silver or bronze awards in the Transit categories at the annual Starpack Industry Awards. Smithers Pira's Sam Sheppard Fidler was part of the four-person Transit Judging Panel examining packaging solutions in the Smithers Pira-supported business to consumer and business to business sections.

An intelligent temperature-controlled packaging solution called ZeoCool from SCA Cool Logistics secured Gold in the BtoB section, along with a Gold for SCA Packaging for a Bulk Olive Shipper. In the BtoC category Atlas Packaging won a bronze award for a highly effective transit pack for Interflora, the Luxury Hex Box, which combines style with protection for delivery of luxury bouquets. Also receiving a bronze in the BtoC category was inspirepac with its Lords Paint pack.

Sheppard Fidler explains: "Looking at the Gold awards, the two Golds were very different solutions. The SCA Cool Logistics ZeoCool pack combines high-tech cooling technology with cleverly designed insulation materials to deliver a high performance cooling system for valuable temperature sensitive products. In contrast the Bulk Olive Shipper uses widely available corrugated, but the design is simple and so well executed, offering significant cost savings over the previous pack design, that the result is worthy of recognition."

Sheppard Fidler is head of Smithers Pira's Distribution Testing and Consulting Business which provides solutions that identify and validate cost savings, reduce product damage during shipment, improve packaging appearance, support regulatory approval and reduce carbon footprint. He explains "The Starpack awards champion recognition of strong packaging developments across a range of business and consumer categories, which is so important in today's climate. Smithers Pira supported both BtoB and BtoC transit categories because of the contribution these areas make in reducing supply chain costs and delivering against the requirements of sustainability through reducing product damage. These categories have a strong focus on minimal usage of materials, but with effective design; the areas are also often backed-up with laboratory transit testing to ensure minimal environmental impact during the life cycle of the product."

The winners of the 2011 Starpack Industry Awards were announced on 22 September at the 2010 Starpack Dinner and Awards Presentations at the Landmark Hotel in London.

Also taking away awards were DS Smith Packaging and DS Smith Tri-Wall, with a UN pack solution for airbag parts and a pack for heavy auto brake components.

Smithers Pira's Sam Sheppard Fidler (right) with Gavin Peters (left) and Gary Lewis (centre) of DS Smith Tri-Wall, with bronze award

Starpack is the premier UK annual scheme recognising innovation in packaging design and technology with separate awards schemes for industry, students and schools.

For further information on Smithers Pira's Distribution Testing and Consulting Services:
http://www.smitherspira.com/Testing/Distribution.aspx

Smithers Pira
Smithers Pira - the worldwide authority on packaging, paper and print industry supply chains.

Established in 1930, Smithers Pira provides strategic and technical consulting, testing, intelligence and events to help clients gain market insights, identify opportunities, evaluate product performance and manage compliance.