This category recognises companies providing Contract Manufacturing & Contract Packing services in the UK, who have delivered the best overall performance in the year under review.

The CSR Initiative award covers a wide range of projects within businesses, from small-scale to major schemes. For investment, entrants must also highlight what equipment was installed and by which manufacturer.

Open to both design agencies and in-house design teams based in the UK, this category rewards consistently outstanding creative output combined with a commitment to addressing the sustainability challenges facing the packaging sector.

This category is open exclusively to packaging development teams at brands and retailers and is designed to reward the team that has shown consistent innovation and quality in the packaging that they specify. Judges will be looking for innovative and original structural and graphic design plus intelligent choices around materials. Entrants will be required to submit five packs that launched in the year under review and that best illustrate their work.

Like the flagship Packaging Company category, this award recognises smaller packaging suppliers that have combined outstanding financial, business and production performance.

To win, you need to submit a summary highlighting the company’s performance and key developments during the year. The winning entry needs to demonstrate that it is showing flair and imagination in its market – and that it’s punching above its weight.

This award will honour the investment or installation project which has had the greatest impact on a company or the wider market. Entrants must highlight how the project changed their business / market in which it operates and evidence of ROI.

For investment, entrants must also include what equipment was installed, including names of manufacturers.

This award recognises individual achievement in the packaging industry and rewards people who have made an impact, not only within their own companies but in the wider industry over their career.

The winner is chosen by the judging panel and the Packaging News editorial team, who will take into consideration achievements across a career or outstanding achievements.

If you have any suggestions for nominations into this category, please email waqas.qureshi@emap.com

The ultimate accolade in the packaging industry recognises the packaging manufacturer that has best combined outstanding financial, business and production performance over the year under review.

Packaging is a hotbed of emerging talent, be it in manufacturing, technology, design or any of the other areas that form the packaging supply chain. This award recognises individuals in the first five years of their professional lives who, whatever they do, are making a real difference to the company they work for. Businesses are invited to nominate people within their own company or in companies they deal with.

The packaging sector has come along leaps and bounds recently, transitioning from a part of the gritty, male-orientated industrial sector to a more welcoming and open environment to work in. With this, female employees have increasingly been hired as part of the work force or promoted to senior roles. The fact that packaging caters for all areas of consumer lives has meant the industry has recruited more females to help recognise the requirements and preferences of customers – male and female.

This award recognises those female individuals who have excelled in their roles in the packaging sector – be it mid-level management, break-out designers, talented programmers, straight-talking and accomplished sales employees, through to high-level managers.