Paris Packaging Week highlights best and most innovative packaging from the past year across the luxury, premium drinks, and aerosol sectors, as winners of PLD & ADF Innovation Awards announced.

Paris Packaging Week organisers Easyfairs capped a memorable two days by revealing the PLD & ADF Innovation Awards winners.

In a fitting end to a bumper two days at Paris Expo Port de Versailles, the respective juries presiding over both awards handed out 17 awards and nine certificates in total in celebration of the world's best innovations across perfume, cosmetics, personal care, premium drinks, aerosols and dispensing systems.

Specifically, the PLD and ADF Innovation Awards highlight the best and most innovative packaging from the past year across the luxury, premium drinks, and aerosol sectors, with visitors to Paris Packaging Week able to see and take inspiration from the finalists at a dedicated Innovation Awards gallery at the event.

The PLD Innovation Awards - launched in 2020 - celebrate the global premium and luxury drinks market's best packaging innovations and launches in the past year. The 12-person jury scrutinsing the class of 2024 came together on December 8, 2023, at Jujin NY Luxury Packaging Company, and included representatives from Moët Hennessy, Champagne Taittinger, Pernod Ricard, Bacardi, Rémy Cointreau, and The Coca Cola Company.

Jury president of the PLD Innovation Awards Christophe Mantoz from Eurostampa said: “This year specifically there were some very nice projects and as a jury, it was very difficult to find an agreement together about who should win the award. But you can just tell which were the projects that were very exciting for the development teams to work on. Some of the packaging just made you feel like you were part of something exceptional.”

Created with the utmost passion and dedication by a team of nine artisans in collaboration with Ceramica Servin, a family workshop based in Mexico, the shape of the ceramic bottle was designed by Karen Gonzalez. Handcrafted in small batches of only 500 per year, across 10 days, each bottle took seven hours to hand paint and is adorned with the personal signature of the artisan behind its creation.

PLD winner Daniel Barajas said: “It represents an agave plant; it starts simple and it’s a hexagon and it’s the leaves that come out of an agave. And it’s also a representation of what comes from nature.

“The response we’ve had from consumers, from the audience, and the judges has been incredible, and it feels magical when the things that are happening start to happen. It all comes back to the energy that the product has. It’s something special and when you have it on your table, it just makes you feel good and reminds you that there is humanity behind it. There is no machine behind the process, and we’re honoured to get this award.

“We wanted something classical, elegant and something you can recognise as a bottle, but at the same time we wanted to innovate, we wanted a transformation and something you can identify as beautiful wherever you are.”

In total, the jury decided to issue 11 awards and three certificates as follows:

NEW: Mass Marketing Innovation (<15€)
Awards: LatCub® Premium - Heineken
Certificate: Vodka – Stratus Packaging

NEW: Mass Marketing Innovation (15€ – 30€)
Award: On the Fringe – Denomination

Super & Ultra Premium Innovation (30€ – 100€)
Award: Rhum J.M Canopée – Westrock
Certificate: Gray Goose Night Vision 2023 – Bacardi

Luxury Innovation (100€ - 1000€)
Award: Tequila Barajas Bottle - Tequila Barajas Sarl
Award: Horizon Single Cru - Martell

Hyper Luxe and Bespoke (>1000€)
Awards: Hennessy Paradis - Hennessy / Pusterla 1880 / Danzer
Certificate: Grand Marnier Quintessence – Ritual "Ribbon Pourer – Grand Marnier / Chic
Awards Special Jury Prize: Jeanne Martell Ladies Collection – Martell et Cie –
Ultra Prestige Packaging Development

PLD Sustainable Innovation
Awards: Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Cocoon - Limited Edition by Fernando Laposse - Maison Perrier-Jouët (MMPJ, Pernod Ricard)
Awards: Hautes de Glaces - Remy Cointreau

Packaging Redesign
Award: Iconic Dom Pérignon Institutional Gift Box – Dom Perignon / Pusterla 1880

Value Added Packaging
Award: Dugas Advent Calendar - The Whiskey / Rum Library - Dugas,
distributor of outstanding spirits / MPO

The 19-strong ADF Innovation Awards jury, which included representatives from the likes of L'Oréal, Unilever International, Procter & Gamble, Henkel and Coty, decided to make six awards and issue six certificates in celebration of the best innovations and launches in the past year in the global market for aerosol and dispensing technology.

Alain D’Haesse, Jury President of the ADF Innovation Awards, said: “The process was smooth and efficient because we have a great panel of experts who know what they are talking about.

“The trend is sustainability across all categories of products and criteria. It’s clear to see this trend or movement is coming, even if it is not in the mainstream of the market. The direction is clear.

“I’d like to thank all of those who submitted an entry. It’s fantastic to see people challenging themselves and getting something reviewed by their peers. That made for a high standard of competition, and the competition was fierce. So, the winners can be particularly proud of what they achieved and it will hopefully energise development departments.”

Leopold Wernich, Managing Director of Tubex, a producer of aluminium aerosol cans, was delighted to land one award and three certificates for its holistic work in sustainability. “It is great to see the team recognised for its work in creating unique technology that opens up new design possibilities,” he said. “We’re trying to create products that have ecological and economic benefits, and this recognition is further evidence we are now valued as experts, and for that, we should be truly proud and honoured.”

The winners of each of the six categories were as follows:

ADF Sustainable Innovation
Award: Minimalist - TUBEX GmbH
Certificate: Nivea Deo Spray + New Leipzig Aerosol Production Center – Beiersdorf AG, head office
Certificate: CFPA and BPA-NI for steel mounting cups - ArcelorMittal Flat Europe

Personal Care
Award: PureOra36500 CREAMY TOOTHPASTE - Kao Corporation
Certificate: SAGE® Azalea Flow Control - DTS Europe
Certificate: Refill by Respray Solutions Kft - TUBEX GmbH
Certificate: Nivea pearl & beauty - TUBEX GmbH

Household
Award: Lysol Air Sanitizer - Reckitt

Industrial & Technical Application
Award: Monoblock steel can for Förch TF60 - xtracan GmbH

Concept of the year
Award: Kao Salon Color Wizard – Kao Germany GmbH
Certificate: Rainbow - TUBEX GmbH

NEW: FEA Aerosol Technology of the Year
Award: Rabanne Shimmer Bomb – ENVASES GROUP