Press release submitted on behalf of PPC
The Paperboard Packaging Council (PPC) has announced the top winners of its esteemed 83rd Annual Paperboard Packaging Competition. These folding cartons and rigid boxes represent the best paperboard packaging manufactured by North American converters over the past year.
Package of the Year
Dressed In White Rigid Carton
Submitted by TPC Packaging
Dressed In White captures the romance of a bridal fragrance through intricate detail, thoughtful structure, and a memorable unboxing experience. Built with FSC-certified Eska® chipboard, the rigid paperboard carton uses Scodix polymer applications to recreate the delicate texture of lace across the exterior, mirroring the netted detail surrounding the fragrance bottle. Foil stamping and a magnetic closure add understated elegance, while an integrated gift card and precision-engineered paperboard cradle the bottle securely without the need for plastic thermoforms.
Behind the visual appeal is equally sophisticated engineering. Developing an all-paper bottle capture capable of passing rigorous drop testing required multiple rounds of structural refinement while preserving the carton’s graceful aesthetic. The finished system is fully recyclable, providing the protection required for the product without compromising the look and feel of a premium fragrance package. Each element, from the lace-inspired surface treatment to the interior structure, serves both a functional and visual purpose. Dressed In White brings those details together in a package that feels considered, cohesive, and distinctly suited to the occasion.
Folding Carton of the Year
The Difference Bourbon
Submitted by Spectrum Packaging Corporation
The Difference Bourbon brings the presence of a premium rigid box to a folding carton format through a striking combination of structure and finish. A velvety soft-touch black exterior gives way to a reflective metallicized interior, creating contrast and drama as the package opens. Precision die-cut windows frame a blind-embossed logo below the surface, while a magnetic closure and coordinated gold embellishments add polish without overwhelming the design. Together, these details create a distinctive setting for the bottle and elevate the overall opening experience.
Much of the ingenuity is concealed within the carton itself. Reinforcements made from production waste provide the strength and stability needed to protect the bottle while avoiding the added material and cost of a traditional rigid box. The result combines efficient converting, resourceful material use, and high-end aesthetics in a structure that feels substantial without being excessive. The Difference Bourbon demonstrates how smart structural design can deliver the impact of luxury packaging in a more efficient folding carton solution.
Rigid Box of the Year
Queen Cola Influencer Display Box
Submitted by Elegant Packaging
Queen Cola’s Influencer Display Box turns packaging into an immersive brand experience. Built from premium black Eska® chipboard wrapped in soft-touch woodgrain paper, the rigid box combines rich materials with a theatrical reveal. Opening the magnetic doors automatically activates integrated LED lighting, illuminating the product and showcasing the glass display globe within. A concealed ribbon-pull drawer keeps accessories organized, while foil stamping and restrained finishing details reinforce the package’s premium character.
Equally sophisticated engineering makes the experience possible. Magnets, concealed foam protection, integrated electronics, and extensive hand assembly had to be coordinated so every feature worked together without compromising manufacturability. The result feels seamless, even though technical complexity sits behind it. By bringing craftsmanship, technology, and luxury together in a cohesive structure, the Queen Cola Influencer Display Box shows how rigid packaging can become a memorable extension of the product.
Sustainability of the Year Award
Tampax Pearl 94 Count Variety Pack (Ready to Ship)
Submitted by PaperWorks
The Tampax Pearl Ready-to-Ship carton shows how a thoughtful redesign can reduce material and improve e-commerce efficiency at the same time. By replacing a traditional corrugated shipper with a high-caliper recycled paperboard solution, the package cuts weight and overall volume while still providing the durability needed for direct-to-consumer delivery. Its Ship-in-Own-Container format also eliminates the need for a secondary box, creating a simpler, more efficient path from fulfillment to the consumer’s doorstep.
That streamlined approach still had to meet demanding performance requirements. Extensive testing confirmed the carton could withstand transportation and compression while protecting the product inside. Once opened, vibrant interior graphics bring an unexpected branded element to an otherwise functional format. By reducing excess material, supporting efficient distribution, and maintaining strong protective performance, the Tampax Pearl carton demonstrates how sustainability can be built into the package from the start rather than added as an afterthought.
Innovation of the Year Award
Tacofino Burrito x Jarritos Carrier
Submitted by Great Little Box Company
Tacofino’s Burrito x Jarritos Carrier rethinks the traditional beverage carrier by bringing a meal and drinks together into a single intuitive paperboard solution. Designed to transport two burritos and two glass bottles securely, the structure balances strength, convenience, and bold brand expression in a playful format without sacrificing purpose. Interior and exterior graphics extend the brand experience, creating a takeout package customers are happy to carry and share.
Its innovation comes from simplicity. A single glue line, efficient folding sequence, and all-paperboard construction provide performance without added complexity or unnecessary materials. Comfortable to hold, quick to assemble, and practical for restaurant operations, the carrier allows structural engineering to work hand in hand with consumer appeal. The result is a fresh foodservice format that improves functionality while strengthening the customer experience from pickup to consumption.
Richard DePaul Award for Creative Design & Converting
Corona Cero 7-Pack
Submitted by Smurfit Westrock
Adding one bottle to an iconic six-pack sounds simple; until the package still must look, carry, run, and ship like the original. Corona Cero’s 7-Pack answers that challenge with a cleverly integrated seventh-bottle pocket that preserves the familiar basket silhouette without making the format feel awkward or overworked. The result is balanced, comfortable to carry, and immediately recognizable, even though the configuration behind it is anything but conventional.
Getting there required close collaboration, rapid prototyping, and extensive testing. The new format had to work on existing converting equipment, support the weight of seven glass bottles, and fit efficiently into secondary packaging and pallet configurations. Those complexities disappear in the finished pack, which feels intuitive from the moment it is picked up. That ability to make a difficult converting challenge look effortless is what makes the Corona Cero 7-Pack a fitting recipient of the Richard DePaul Award.
Judges’ Award
Keurig Coffee Collective
Submitted by Graphic Packaging International
Keurig Coffee Collective turns a familiar coffee format into something that feels more curated and gift-like. A two-piece lid-and-base design creates a clean reveal, with the pods arranged neatly inside for a more intentional presentation. Gold foil, spot gloss, and restrained graphics add visual interest without competing with the structure, giving the carton a polished look that stands apart from typical coffee packaging.
The real success is how naturally the package comes together. Traditional folding-carton construction is largely hidden from view, allowing the box to open and present more like a rigid set while still remaining fully recyclable. The design brings order, surprise, and a sense of occasion to an everyday product, showing how smart construction and well-judged finishing can reshape expectations for the category.
Judges’ Award
Goose Island Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond
Submitted by JohnsByrne
Goose Island Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond elevates the familiar cylindrical tube into a layered storytelling experience. Soft-touch coatings, gold foil, and precision die-cut windows reveal details as the consumer turns and opens the package, while the extended lid introduces graphics that celebrate the collaboration’s heritage. The result is a ceremonial unboxing experience.
Achieving it demanded meticulous execution. Distortion-corrected graphics, detailed prepress planning, and precise foil registration around curved die-cut edges had to align. The finished package balances technical difficulty with visual control, showing how exceptional converting can make a familiar format feel fresh, distinctive, and worthy of closer attention.
Judges’ Award
Berkley Medical Laundry Detergent Sheets
Submitted by Smurfit Westrock
Berkley Medical Laundry Detergent Sheets demonstrate how paperboard can move into a category often served by more complex plastic-based packaging. The one-piece recyclable carton combines moisture-barrier technology, premium finishes, and intuitive functionality while eliminating the need for a multi-component format. Its streamlined structure reduces material use, supports manufacturing efficiency, and gives a moisture-sensitive household product a consumer presentation.
A secure book-style opening, double-wall construction, and contrasting matte and gloss finishes protect product integrity while adding shelf presence. By uniting barrier performance, operational efficiency, and sustainable design into a single paperboard solution, this carton signals a compelling new direction for household packaging.
Visit PPC’s website to see all the winning entries and learn more about The Annual Paperboard Packaging Competition.