Unpackit 2012 Packaging Awards

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Best Shortlist

Auto Dishwash Tablets

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Auto Dishwash Tablets

Dishwasher tablets are individually wrapped in a PVA biodegradable wrapper that dissolves in the dishwasher. Tablets are pre-measured, preventing excess powder use. Small box is made from 85% recycled material.
Bin Inn

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Bin Inn

33 stores in NZ, system is set up to encourage shoppers to reuse their own containers for a large range of products. Reuse is above recycle on the waste hierarchy, better to reuse a container than to get a new one and recycle it. Bin Inn stores sell recyclable containers if customers forget to bring their own.
Caffe Prima

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Caffe Prima

Innovative packaging using new technology to solve an old problem– how to keep coffee fresh on the shelf without using packaging which goes to landfill. The NZ-made compostable bag meets EU compostability standards for industrial compost. NZ manufacturer Convex Plastics says it can also be put in home compost, but will take longer to break down. Bag is clearly labelled as compostable, so customers know what to do with it. Highest number of nominations in 2012.
Ideal Cup

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Ideal Cup

NZ designed reusable coffee cup, fits under standard coffee machine. Plastic cup and lid have plastic identification numbers for recycling. Potential to divert large amount of waste by replacing some of the 100 million disposable coffee cups thrown into landfill in NZ every year. Finalist in 2011 Unpackit Best Packaging Award.
Chux Biodegradable Superwipes

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Chux Biodegradable Superwipes

Packaging made entirely from cardboard (100% recyclable) with cut-away section to see product. Minimum 50% recycled cardboard, printed with soy-based inks. A new look for cleaning products.
Apple iPhone 4

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Apple iPhone 4

Extremely minimal packaging – only just fits phone and components, ongoing improvements (42% reduction in iPhone packaging between 2007 and 2010), almost entirely recyclable, cardboard contains 90% recycled content.
Nude Food Movers

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Nude Food Movers

Lunch box options to take nude food to school and work. All plastic containers are stamped with plastic identification number for recycling. Nude Food Movers are sturdy and long-lasting, with child appeal – practical way for parents to avoid prepackaged snacks.
PotatoPak

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PotatoPak

Take-away container made from waste potato starch, compostable at home or in an industrial compost. Clearly labelled, replace take-away containers going to landfill. Winner of the 2011 Unpackit Best Packaging Award.

Worst Shortlist

Barbie

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Barbie

A classic example of bad toy packaging. Completely over-the-top for the size of the toy, plastic not identified so can’t be recycled. Plus the frustration factor of being time-consuming and tricky to unwrap.
Disposable Coffee Cup

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Disposable Coffee Cup

100 million disposable cups go to landfill in NZ every year – causing a massive amount of unnecessary waste; 100 million crushed cups would build a tower as high as the Sky Tower or fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools. Paper is one of the worst materials to put in landfill, as breaks down causing methane.
Oral B Toothbrush Heads

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Oral B Toothbrush Heads

A finalist in 2011 Worst Packaging Award. Large amount of packaging for two tiny toothbrush heads, plastic cover has no plastic identification number, generic recycling symbol is misleading for consumers.
Sunsweet Ones

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Sunsweet Ones

Winner of 2011 Unpackit Worst Packaging Award. Individually wrapped prunes, contained in a non-recyclable tube, wrapped in plastic. Just ridiculous!
Plastic Wrapped Vegetables on a Meat Tray

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Plastic Wrapped Vegetables on a Meat Tray

A popular nomination this year. People are obviously frustrated by the selling of vegetables and fruit on meat-trays, wrapped in plastic. Nominators comments included “they do not need to be packed!!!” and “a waste of plastic”.
Fantastic Noodles in a cup

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Fantastic Noodles in a cup

3 different materials; a completely unnecessary plastic wrapper, a lid and a disposable polystyrene cup. The disposable cup goes straight to landfill since Invercargill is the only kerbside collection we know of that accepts polystyrene.
Arnott’s Shapes 12 Pack

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Arnott’s Shapes 12 Pack

These crackers are packaged in mini “pillow packs” to look like chip packets. Crackers are less fragile than chips, and don’t need super-protective packaging. The same crackers are sold in a larger cardboard box, and can be put into individual containers for lunches, avoiding litter and extra waste.
Meat Tray Madness

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Meat Tray Madness

Separate meat-trays packaged on a big meat tray and wrapped in plastic by New World. All non-recyclable as contaminated with blood, excessive amount of waste. More packaging than meat!