A record number of packaging solutions participated in the ScanStar competition this year, a total of 39 entries from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
The jury considered the level of competition to be even higher, and this positive problem made decision-making difficult. The jury awarded a total of 25 awards. Ten of the awards went to Finland, eight to Sweden, four to Norway and three to Denmark.
ScanStar is an annual Nordic competition for packaging industry operators organized by the Scandinavian Packaging Association (SPA), which has a long tradition and has been organized since 1969. The competition is open to all packaging designed, manufactured or used here in the Nordic countries, and it is organized alternately by the countries of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Danish packaging industry associations. This year the competition was organized by Svenska Förpackningsgillet.
Lars Windeman (left), Virpi Korhonen, Ole Anton Bakke, Peter Olofsson (Packmarknaden) and Mikael Gällstedt. Ksenija Garbazenka is missing from the picture.
Jury members were Virpi Korhonen, Sense’n’Insight (Finland), Ksenija Garbazenka, PlusPak (Denmark), Lars Windeman, PacsOn (Sweden) and Ole Anton Bakke, Jotun A/S (Norway). The jury was chaired by Mikael Gällstedt, Svenska Förpackningsgillet (Sweden).
The packages awarded with ScanStar get the right to participate in the WorldStar competition, which is organized by the World Packaging Organization WPO. Good luck to the winners and good luck to the world championship!
 | Aion AS Aion Nestable pallet The jury motivation is: “Packaging from the aquaculture industry is recycled into pallets, lowering the plastic footprint within value chains. Although similar systems have been in the market before, the jury liked the solution because it is light and traceable.” |
 | aPak AB and Mondi Ansbach Bumperpac The jury motivation is: “Bumperpac is a new solution for transporting bumpers that are earlier packed in steel racks. The packaging offers good protection, easy handling. It is a great package that folds and unfolds quickly. The packaging’s corrugated material can be opened and then materials inside can be recycled in separate streams. The concept is particularly efficient and clever and thus deserved a Scanstar.” |
 | Boxon Tech AB Frame Tray The jury motivation is: “The Frame Tray is a single-use system based on a closed material loop, ensuring 100% recycling of the trays after use. Frame Trays are tailored to customer and subcontractor needs and are used by subcontractors for packaging components, which are transported to OEM factories. After use, the trays are sent to a Boxon’s recycling center, where they are processed and returned as raw material for new trays. Frame tray is made from mono material and can be recycled unlimited times. It also reduces costs. A truly circular concept that well deserved the Scanstar.” |
 | Eltete TPM Ab Carton pallet The jury motivation is: “A simple, sustainable, lightweight, durable and volume saving high quality carton pallet solution where you manually can glue as many feet as you need. This practice supports the integrity of the circular economy. Easily recycled”. |
 | Glomma Papp AS Display og transportemballasje for Heksehyl The jury motivation is: “This functional display for candy bags works really well, easy and accurate. The bags remained in their place during transport. No assembling needed at all!”. |
 | Glomma Papp AS Bølgepapp emballasje for sild og makrell The jury motivation is: “Lower material consumption compared to the previous cardboard packaging solution, so the packaging material weighs less, which enables heavier loads. The material is easier to recycle. Works with existing packaging machines. Designers have done their job well!” |
 | Glomma Papp AS 4in1 transportation box The jury motivation is: “One box with insert adapts 4 different lamps, so instead of 4 boxes only one is needed and no bubble wrap at all. Clear instructions for operators too! Very clever and efficient solution that well deserves a Scanstar.” |
 | Micvac Micvac FlexProcess Package The jury motivation is: “The Micvac FlexProcess Packaging System elevates the consumer experience with ready-to-eat meals. When put in microwave the valve provides a unique whistling sound when the meal is ready. The solution extends self-life and enhance the consumer convenience and experience”. |
 | Oy Nefab Ab GE Canvas Healthcare Monitor/Corrugated package The jury motivation is: “Efficient, cost and CO2 saving plastic free packaging with printed instructions at the same time as it protects the product very well”. |
 | Nefab EdgePak Collar The jury motivation is: “Replacing heavy wood pallets and collars. This lightweight solution saves costs, is very convenient to handle and easy to recycle. Great potential!” |
 | Pa-Hu Oy Packaging set for locks The jury motivation is: “This set of monomaterial packaging is far more clever than the old ones they replaces; a smart design that saves material and with an appealing print. Optimizing without compromising.” |
 | Paulig Ltd Recyclable vacuum coffee packaging The jury motivation is: “The new vacuum coffee packaging is made from PP-based monomaterial laminate that is designed for recycling. Easy to open and re-close. Good improvement without affecting the products shelf-life.” |
 | Prima Pet Premium Oy and Valkamo Consulting PrimaDog packaging renewal / Packaging that reduces the environmental footprint and achieves cost savings at the same time The jury motivation is: “Dog food brands have numerous different products and packages. This package shows a good planning, in cooperation with the prepress and designers, that resulted in savings of over 100,000 euros for the brand. The result is an impressive series of different packages that are cost efficient and simple yet presentable.” |
 | Pyroll Packaging Group Ltd & MM Kotkamills Boards Oy Take Away Food Packaging Serie for Ilves Stadium The jury motivation is: “A modern packaging concept that includes a set of serving packages that are easy to carry to your place at the sports stadium. Great focus also on the recycling as only one bin is needed. Very attractive visual digital printing, which means that a fan can chose to save the packaging as a souvenir.” |
 | RAJA Heat insulating damping paper Recycold™ Climaliner RANPAK The jury motivation is: “New plastic-free material for packaging food and other products that require a cold chain. Recycled material used in manufacturing. Good initiative to avoid plastic, dust-free implementation.” |
 | RAJA Paper security tape RAJA The jury motivation is: “Since the security tape is made of paper it is easy to recycle together with a cardboard box. Protects the valuable contents as well as tapes made of other materials would do.” |
 | Sandvik Mining and Construction Tools AB, DS Smith and Persson Innovation! Shank adapter packaging The jury motivation is: “Primary packaging for Sandvik shank adapters. A 100 % paper-based packaging with such a good design that it makes it easy to carry heavy equipment. A remarkable high quality of corrugated board!” |
 | Smurfit Westrock InnovationRIB – Reel in Box for cables The jury motivation is: “This sustainable and practical packaging replaces the previous cable drum made of plastic. A good example of a ”Grab and Go” solution where the cable comes out of the opening of the packaging box when pulled. Different cable types are colour coded which makes it easy for operators: not a typical design and printing for this product group.” |
 | Smurfit Westrock Sustainable packaging for Danfoss Drive The jury motivation is: “A corrugated cardboard box with a custom-made honeycomb insert. A well developed package with a great potential!” |
 | Smurfit Westrock Bag-In-Box® for cleaning products The jury motivation is: “A new, good application area for a bag-in-box concept. The cleaning product producer previously used plastic jerry cans which incurred handling costs and storage issues at harbours, often leading to ocean pollution. The “Bag-In-Box® for cleaning products” tackle these issues with elegance.” |
 | Smurfit Westrock Corrugated tray for aquarium plants The jury motivation is: “A corrugated cardboard tray features side gluing and four locking mechanisms, ensuring easy assembly and stability. Stable stacking protects products and securely locks the trays together as a unit. The new pallets hold less trays, but the double stacking minimizes the empty space in trucks. Good initiative that reduces plastics and, at the same time, improving handling and volume efficiency.” |
 | Starcke Oy Kouvola Licorice Premium Package for Export The jury motivation is: “A hexagon shape, premium cardboard gift box with plywood top for sweet liquorice. This application is awarded for its appealing and luxurious design.” |
 | Stora Enso Packaging Oy Reusable transport packaging concept for welding devices The jury motivation is: “Reusable transport packaging concept for welding devices. Simple solution that is recyclable and reusable. This shows why Stora Enso is one of the leaders in packaging design and optimization!” |
 | Stora Enso Packaging Oy Transport packaging concept for asparagus The jury motivation is: “Waterproof packaging with appealing design that keeps products fresh longer. A great package that ease handeling as well as improving volume effiency without compromizing with the size of the products.” |
 | Stora Enso Oyj Marimekko gift packaging portfolio The jury motivation is: “Sustainable, optimized and adjustable gift packaging portfolio, created to fit as many different products and categories as possible depending on how you fold the box. Innovative packages that in a simple way support the brand. The carrier makes easy to carry the product. The carrier as well as the boxes are nicely designed and can also be reused for many purposes by the customers.” |
 | ScanStar Student The Gold Medal SchoolTool Patrik Olsson, Johanna Sjöberg Svedberg and Susanne Hollstedt of Nackademin, Sweden. The SchoolTool is a package concept for a portable educational toolkit aimed for kids on 5-8 years old and particularly suitable for kids in underprivileged environments including conflict areas. The package has a several functions and is an essential part of the educational tool kit. The jury motivation: The packaging is innovative and has functions that goes above and beyond what the package normally can be expected to deliver. The packaging concept is very contemporary, regarding that the number of conflict zones are the highest in many decades. |
 | ScanStar Student The Silver Medal Spläsh Sanna Andrée and Fanny Gustavsson of Nackademin, Sweden, and Lèvres – find your tone, by Elvira Alm Andersson and Barbara Lübek-Kacperczyk of Nackademin, Sweden. The Spläsh is a packaging concept, made as a palette with colour samples designed to explore a wide range of colour shades. It offers a smart solution with small colour samples, to be used to decide upon colours before making an expensive purchase of a larger bottle. The jury motivation: Both silver medal awarded entries are rewarded the Silver Medal for their innovative ways of packaging usages as an integrated part of the entire product. |
 | ScanStar Student The Silver Medal Lèvres – find your tone, by Elvira Alm Andersson and Barbara Lübek-Kacperczyk of Nackademin, Sweden The Lèvres – find your tone is a packaging concept with lip-shaped samples to find the shade to complement tie lip stick colour with the user’s skin tone or outfit. The packaging consists of only two parts. The sampler slides out from the main package using a protruding indicator, and after use, it can be easily stored back. This ensures that the product inside the packaging remains intact and allows customers to use the color sampler to check the shade. The jury motivation: Both Both silver medal awarded entries are rewarded the Silver Medal for their innovative ways of packaging usages as an integrated part of the entire product. |
 | ScanStar Student The Bronze Medal Tea House Floret’s Premium Tea Packaging White Blossom, by Samira Ida Konopka of LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland, and Be ready by Alina Hokkanen of LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland. Tea House Floret’s Premium Tea Packaging White Blossom is a user friendly premium tea packaging that protects the tea and enhances the user experience. Each tea box is crafted from custom-printed cartons that house the delicate tea blooms on a secure platform, ensuring the tea reaches consumers in pristine condition. The jury motivation: Both entries are rewarded the Bronze Medal for stating as very good examples of both appealing designs and user friendly functions. |
  | ScanStar Student The Bronze Medal Be ready by Alina Hokkanen of LAB University of Applied Sciences, Finland. Be ready is a sandwich packaging solution that features a reusable, resealable package that addresses the issue of leaving a sandwich unfinished and saving it for later. This solution reduces the excessive use of plastic for sandwich packaging. The jury motivation: Both entries are rewarded the Bronze Medal for stating as very good examples of both appealing designs and user friendly functions. |