RPC : Awards Recognise Wide-Ranging Talent Within Berry CPI

Career support and development and design and technical innovation within the Berry Consumer Packaging International (CPI) Division have been recognised by the company's successes at the UK Packaging Awards.

Philip Fletcher from Berry Promens was named the packaging industry's Rising Star for 2019, while Berry CPI was also Highly Commended in three other categories: the Design and Innovation Centre in Design Team of the Year, the stackable 20 and 25 litre PET containers from Berry Promens in Rigid Plastic Pack of the Year and the Re:Nourish Soup Bottle from Berry M&H Corby in Best Packaging of a New Product.

The Rising Star award celebrates the new talent that is emerging in the industry and recognises individuals in the first five years of their professional lives who are making a real difference to the company they work for. Philip took the prize for the significant contribution he has made to the implementation of a Continuous Improvement Programme at the Berry site in Plenmeller, as well as taking on additional key responsibilities and role as New Product Development Project Manager.

The judges' citation commented: 'Phil is a rapidly rising star and is already leading complex projects. Clearly a business leader and a future board director in the making.'

As an indication of the depth of new talent within Berry CPI, Philip was nominated for the Rising Star award alongside Vikki White from the Berry Design and Innovation Centre, who was recognised for her excellent design skills and the immediate impact she has made within the Berry Design Team since she joined.

In their commendation for the team at the Berry Design and Innovation Centre, the judges noted that it was a 'strong team' with a 'great science-based approach.' They praised the team's 'great technical achievements and focus on recyclability throughout their work.'

The stackable PET containers and Re:Nourish soup bottle are just two of many innovative developments from the Design and Innovation Centre. The Re:Nourish Soups' 'grab and go bottle' format that allows the contents to be heated in a microwave and drunk straight from the bottle is part of the brand's positioning as a major disruptor in the prepared soups market. The bottle incorporates features that demand a high level of technical knowhow and ability to manufacture, while the pack is also engineered to be completely recyclable within existing widely used systems.

'This is a very well thought out - less is more - format,' commented the judges. 'A fine example of causing disruption within a category and the execution also has good sustainability credentials which is nice to see.'

The 20 and 25 litre PET containers have been designed to meet the exacting requirements for safety and accessibility and are certified to UN standards for the transportation of dangerous goods. The use of ISBM (Injection Stretch Blow Moulding) technology has produced containers that deliver the required combination of excellent strength and durability with light weight and easy handling. In addition, the stackable design features a deep 'champagne' style recess in the base (to accommodate the neck and handle) in order to ensure that the containers are safe and secure in transit but take up a minimum amount of space. The judges praised their 'clever and intuitive design that has mass appeal and could really be used to reduce complexity in stacking.'

These latest awards follow similar success for Berry products and personnel at the recent Plastic Industry Awards where Jake Hollins from Berry UCP/Zeller Plastik was named Apprentice of the Year, and X-EnviroShrink from Berry bpi took the Materials Innovation award.

Jean-Marc Galvez, President, Berry CPI Division, comments, 'These awards ideally encapsulate two of the most important facets of our business - our people and our ability to innovate. It is through the calibre of our employees and our commitment to drive innovation in all our new product and material developments that we can continue to deliver the best and most sustainable solutions for our customers.'