ATLANTA (News release) -- Fiber-based consumer packaging leader Graphic Packaging International ('Graphic Packaging') has seen major success at this year's European Carton Excellence Awards after scooping three titles for its sustainable solutions.

The PaperSeal® MAP burger tray was named as the winner of the Save the Planet award, while the company's plant-based butter carton, which was designed for start-up brand Mergulo, took home the Food & Drink Packaging, Virgin Fiber award. In addition, the company's first-to-sector fiber-based tomato pack for The Tomato Stall, was presented with a Platinum award by the judges.

'To have three of our sustainable fiber-based innovations recognized by the European Carton Excellence Awards shows that we are pushing the boundaries of where plastic packaging solutions are dominating today,' said Tom Garsed, innovation and design director at Graphic Packaging. 'To win the Save the Planet Award for our PaperSeal MAP burger tray is an incredible honor and demonstrates that we, as a company, are working positively towards our Vision 2025 goals to support our customers, consumers and, most importantly, the planet.'

The PaperSeal MAP burger tray, developed with Hilton Food Group for ICA Gruppen, is produced from renewable fiber and sourced from 95% sustainably managed Scandinavian forests. It was praised by the judges for its ability to reduce plastic use by 80% compared to traditional MAP trays. The judges also commended its excellent design detail due to its rounded corner structure and ability to carry product branding and consumer communication on both the inner and outer carton sides.

'To have three of our innovations recognized at the awards program as viable, sustainable solutions reflects our absolute commitment to creating a world of difference with our packaging,' said Elliot Hithersay, structural design manager at Graphic Packaging. 'We are beyond delighted and extend our gratitude to the European Carton Excellence Awards for the recognition.'

The European Carton Excellence Awards is Europe's most prestigious awards program for paperboard packaging. The award winners were announced at a carton 'E-vent' held on September 6, 2021. For more information, please visit https://www.procarton.com/