Call for entries: Sustainability now a key evaluation criteria in DuPont awards for packaging innovation

DuPont has announced that the packaging industry’s longest running, independently judged global innovation awards program has added a special emphasis on sustainability. Innovation in the journey toward sustainable packaging will now be a key consideration in addition to innovation in delivering quality packaging solutions.

The call for entries for the 20th DuPont Awards competition was announced at the Sustainable Packaging Forum in Pittsburgh, Pa., by William F.Weber, vice president, DuPont Packaging. “Today there are strong drivers toward sustainable packaging including increasing consumer awareness, pull from brand owners and retailers, legislation and other factors. As a global leader in packaging materials and technologies, DuPont is working with customers on science-based packaging innovations that address consumer demands for performance and sustainability,” Weber said.

“DuPont is committed to creating shareholder and societal value while reducing the environmental footprint in our value chains,” he continued. “Consistent with this commitment, the DuPont Packaging Awards now will honour materials, processing, technology and service achievements that demonstrate progress toward sustainability, while also meeting important market requirements for enhanced performance such as improved freshness, convenience and shelf appeal,” Weber said.

Entries for the 20th DuPont Awards will be accepted until January 31, 2008. For additional information and entry materials go to.
A prestigious international jury panel contributed to the evaluation criteria for the 20th DuPont Packaging Awards. Factors such as innovation, enhanced performance, responsible sourcing, clean production and effective recovery will be considered in selecting the winners.

The jury includes John A. Bernardo, manager, Sustainable Innovations LLC; Julian Carroll, managing director, EUROPEN; Sara Hartwell, environmental specialist, U.S EPA Office of Solid Waste; Masanobu Ishikawa, Ph.D., Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University; Mark Kitzis, vice president of research, Alcan Packaging; Alessandro Mendes, R&D general manager, Natura Cosmeticos; Jason Pearson, president & CEO, GreenBlue; Keith A. Pearson, president, World Packaging Organization & chairman, Institute of Packaging South Africa; Dr. Helene Roberts, head of packaging, Marks and Spencer PLC; Susan E. M. Selke, Ph.D., professor & acting director, School of Packaging, Michigan State University; Brian F. Wagner, vice president/COO, Packaging & Technology Integrated Solutions, LLC; Roger Zellner, director of Sustainability, Kraft Foods.

In a collaboration to showcase packaging solutions that implement sustainability, information about entries in this year’s DuPont Awards will be posted online at the GreenBlue/Sustainable Packaging Coalition Design Library to be launched in early 2008. Capturing the innovations represented among these entries will support best practices throughout the packaging industry. GreenBlue is a non-profit institute committed to sustainability by design and is home to the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, an industry working group recognized as the definitive resource for credible information about packaging sustainability.

DuPont – one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 17 years ago – has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.