Starpack is open to the whole packaging community, whether a manufacturer, converter, supplier, processor, packer filler, brand owner, end user, packaging designer or marketeer and the entered pack must have at least one of these connections with the UK - i.e. researched, manufactured, sold, filled, designed. It is necessary to seek permission from the brand owner to enter.

All packs must be in commercial production and must not have previously won a Starpack Award. 

All packs must be new to the market from January 2011 onwards.

We are here to award outstanding achievements so enter now and get yourself recognised!

We have taken on board comments from the packaging community and we want to give everyone more opportunities to enter. We also want to ensure the categories are clearly described and are relevant to today’s market, so each award is understood, and therefore valued, not just by the business, but by our customers – the brand owners and retailers.

Name of Entry

Please give this some thought as all winning entries will be referred to by this name on certificates, publicity materials and during the awards ceremony.

Statement

My entry is a winner because...

Please make this crystal clear (maximum of 30 words)

The judges will be looking for

Innovation - Design - Environment - Sustainability - Fit-for-purpose - Display - Overall Impact on Sales

We recommend that you prepare your justification(s) in a word document prior to completing the online form. You can then simply cut and paste the text into the relevant boxes.

You will be asked to give explanations against the criteria*: 

• Innovation (max. 50 words) - use of new materials/new manufacturing techniques/new features/takes packaging forward
• Fit for Purpose (max. 50 words) - 3 P's/safety/legality/dispenses well/openability/filling line performance/distribution
• Environmental considerations (max. 50 words) - minimises use of materials/recyclability/re-usability/sustainability/minimises waste
• Display(max. 50 words) - functional and graphic design/visual impact/shelf presence/image
• Other  (max. 100 words) - any additional commentary to support a claim that this item would have a postive impact on sales.

*The criteria above does not apply to the Green Star Award.

The online submission process will take you through the following steps:

1. Registration of your unique email address; unless already known to our system.
2. Entry/confirmation of your contact details
3. Select category
4. Enter details of pack
5. Proceed to payment or select a further entry/entries before payment is made (via secure link) 

You may enter a pack into more than one category; there will be an additional payment of £85 per additional category.

Advisable: Prepare your statement and justification in a word document so it is ready to copy and paste into the online submission form.

Additional guidance

Technical developments, which either provide optimisation of material usage or new developments that demonstrate environmental and commercial advantages, will be rewarded.  This year we have a category dedicated to Technical Innovation.  Entries should take each link in the packaging supply chain into consideration. Packs or systems should protect products from the rigours of production facilities through distribution, in-store, consumer use and final disposal.

Designs may include material optimisation, use of recycled content, enhanced recyclability, new and innovative materials; closed loop, reuse, refill and dispensing systems; and packaging that delivers optimal product usage.

Entrants should demonstrate holistic design solutions that lead to net reductions in packaging food waste while ensuring that the product is sufficiently protected. Consideration should be given to primary, secondary and tertiary packaging.

Entrants for the Starpack Industry Awards will receive free e-membership of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3) for up to 10 nominated individuals within your company. To register please contact Julie Bowers, email julie.bowers@iom3.org Free e-membership is for the remainder of the current year and continued membership thereafter, will be subject to payment.    The Institute's journal,  the Packaging Professional will be available to view via the website.  

Some of the benefits of membership:

• Membership of a Chartered Professional Institute
• Designatory letters for Institute and Engineering/Science Council Membership - CEng, CSci, CEng, IEng, Eng Tech.
• Recognised professional qualifications.
• Continuing Professional Development scheme.
• Networking.
• The Packaging Professional - Members’ bi-monthly magazine.
• Copy of PackSource Directory and Review.
• Specialist support through the Materials Information Service.
• Direct association with the World Packaging Organisation.
• Discounts on Institute products.
• Use of member facilities.

Please note that the above benefits are available to full members of IOM3. E-membership provides access to all online member benefits but not professional qualifications.

Full details of IOM3 membership