Supreme Award Goes To Glass Packer

Supreme Award Goes To Glass Packer

The 2013 Environmental Packaging Supreme Award for contribution to environmental excellence went to glass-packaging maker O-I New Zealand at a black-tie awards event hosted by the Packaging Council of New Zealand (PAC.NZ) on Friday 6 September.

O-I New Zealand first took out:

• The OfficeMax Award for ‘Excellence in Packaging Product Stewardship Programmes’ for its introduction of three new streams of recycled glass into its glass manufacturing operation, resulting in an additional 18,000 tonnes of glass being re-used in 2013 and the average recycled content of its glass products rising from 50% to just under 60%. The judges applauded this major contribution to reducing the carbon footprint of glass and meeting the growing expectations of overseas markets to see reductions in the carbon footprint of packaging.

Further accolades included:

• Penny Garland, Sustainability Manager for O-I NZ, won the award for the ‘Employee who has championed environmental issues and driven change’,
• A commended award in the Countdown ‘Packaging design that incorporates sustainability principles’ award for its lightweight burgundy wine bottle.
• A worthy entry in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful award for community education programme with their Glass Environmental Fund.

O-I New Zealand went on to receive the Supreme Award ahead of an impressive lineup of other category winners that included Coca-Cola Amatil, Nufarm New Zealand, Fonterra Milk for Schools, Carew Peel Forest School, Massey University students Richard Jenkinson and Charlotte Berghofer, and a joint entry from BP New Zealand, Coca-Cola Amatil and Love NZ.

PAC.NZ Acting Executive Director, Sharon Humphreys says that O-I New Zealand is an exceptionally worthy supreme award winner. “O-I continuously strives to improve the energy efficiency of its manufacturing plant and enhance its manufacturing processes to help reduce carbon emissions. O-I New Zealand received the Supreme Award because its overall presence in the 2013 Environmental Packaging Awards programme was simply an outstanding demonstration of leadership across the whole awards programme.”

PAC.NZ’s Environmental Packaging Awards recognise innovative packaging design, re-using and recycling initiatives, community education and measurable reductions in environmental impact. They recognise packaging that results in more efficient distribution and markets positive environmental messages for New Zealand, and they recognise excellence in packaging product stewardship and enterprise in individuals.

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