Notable advancements in printing and design, technical innovation and environmental protection are having a tremendous impact on the way retail, institutional and industrial products are packaged and supplied to consumers.

This trend was certainly demonstrated by the winners of the 2005 Achievement Awards, bestowed by the Flexible Packaging Assn. at its annual meeting Feb. 25 in Carlsbad, CA. An unprecedented 89 packages were entered in the 2005 competition, and for the fourth year in a row, two packages have been selected to receive the Highest Achievement Award.

The Microperf Dialyzer Package by Rollprint Packaging Products, Inc. (Addison, IL), is a newly designed ethylene-oxide (EtO) sterilizable pouch used by Baxter Healthcare Corp. for its single-use dialyzers. It consists of a 3-mil polyethylene copolymer film that is precision perforated to provide controlled porosity for effective EtO sterilization while maintaining product cleanliness. The perforated film, developed for its ability to offer excellent durability and reproducible perforation results, allows Baxter to automate its dialyzer packaging process via a SIG horizontal form/fill/seal machine. Formerly, pre-made pouches were filled and sealed individually by hand.

The Microperf Dialyzer Package also won gold awards for environmental achievement and technical innovation (Rollprint Packaging Products was featured in Converting, January 2005).

The Jennie-O Turkey Store® "Oven Ready" Turkey Bag converted by Curwood, Inc. (Oshkosh, WI) is the first package to include Curwood's Integra-Score® opening feature along the side of a gusseted pouch. This technology eliminates the risk of damaging the inner bag when opening the outer pouch. The Turkey Bag is unique due to its reinforced handle, which gives the consumer an easy way to transport the product. Printed with high-impact graphics, the bag gives the product increased differentiation on store shelves.

The Turkey Bag also won a silver award in this year's competition for printing achievement.

In addition to the two Highest Achievement winners, the 2005 FPA competition awarded eight packages nine gold awards. These include:

• High-Barrier Laminate for Battery Case by Pliant Corp. (Schaumburg, IL)—packaging excellence, technical innovation;
• Wild Gamekeeper's Spray pouch by Kapak Co. LLC (Minneapolis)—packaging excellence;
• Non-Foil Pouch for Asian Style Selections by Alcan Packaging (Chicago)—packaging excellence;
• Insta-Bowl™ Microwave Popcorn Bag by Exopack LLC (Spartanburg, SC)—technical innovation;
• Cryovac® OS Systems Technology for Flexplay-Enabled DVD by Cryovac Food Packaging Div., Sealed Air Corp. (Duncan, SC)—technical innovation;
• Autopak® Sterilization Pouch by Alcan Packaging—technical innovation;
• Chocolates Britt Christmas Tree Pouch by CLP Industries Ltd. (Fairfield, NJ)—printing achievement; and
• Nature's Variety Lamb & Rice Medley bag by Pliant Corp.—printing achievement.

Eighteen entrants took silver awards this year. Among these were four for packaging excellence, six for technical innovation, seven for printing achievement, and one for environmental achievement. Complete details on all the winners are available at www.flexpack.org