The judging is over and the results are in... finalists for the 2025 round of the annual Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PIDA) Awards have been revealed with a high number of innovative designs recognised across multiple categories – the most in Food and Sustainability.
Coordinated by the AIP, the PIDA awards are designed to recognise companies and individuals who are making a significant difference in their field across Australia and New Zealand. The majority of the categories spotlighted packaging from the food and beverage sector.
The 2025 food and beverage finalists come from the following PIDA categories:
- Food Packaging Design
- Beverage Packaging Design
- Labelling & Decoration
- Sustainable Packaging Design
- 2025 ABA Scholarship Program: Diploma in Packaging Technology & Certificate in Packaging
The following categories are also featured at the PIDA Awards, however, there are no food and beverage finalists of note.
- Health, Beauty & Wellness Packaging
- Domestic & Household Packaging
- Outside of the Box
The PIDA Awards are also the exclusive feeder program for Australia and New Zealand for the WorldStar Packaging Awards run by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). All 2025 PIDA winners will be automatically eligible for entry into the 2026 WorldStar Packaging Awards competition.
FOOD PACKAGING DESIGN
The Food Packaging Design award recognises organisations that have designed innovative packaging and/or materials within food packaging and processing including fresh, frozen or other. This is a WorldStar Packaging General award category.
The finalists are:
- Bermuda Coffee Bag Recycling Program: Bermuda Coffee and Close the Loop
- TetherSafe: Caps & Closures
- Carmans Gourmet Snack Mix: Carmans Fine Foods and Zipform Packaging
- Gippsland Dairy Crafted Range 150g: Chobani
- Feel Good Bananas Certified Compostable Bags: Feel Good Bananas and Close the Loop
- Australian Organic Food Co. Vanilla Custard Mono Material Retort Pouch: Flavour Makers and Cheer Pack Asia Pacific
- KFC Go Bucket Paper Lid: KFC Australia and Detpak
- Mountain Blue Blueberries Paper-based Produce Punnet: Mountain Blue and Opal
- Wax-free Celery Carton: Opal
- Leggo’s Lightweight Glass: Simplot Australia
- Birds Eye Plant Based Range Recyclable Freezer Pouch: Simplot Australia and Close the Loop
- Macro Health Food Box-Bottom Paper Bags: Woolworths Food Company
BEVERAGE PACKAGING DESIGN
The Beverage Packaging Design award recognises organisations that have designed innovative packaging and/or materials within packaging and processing for liquid or dry tea, coffee, water, soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits. This is a WorldStar Packaging General award category.
The finalists are:
- FSC Certified Home Compostable PHA Cups: BioPak
- TetherSafe: Caps & Closures
- Smooth Moulded Fibre Cup Lids: Huhtamaki
- Hidden Story Pinot Grigio Bagnum: Victorian Alps Wine Co. and Auspouch Australia
LABELLING & DECORATION DESIGN
The Labelling & Decoration Design award is designed to recognise the addition of content to a pack which creates a unique or innovative appearance, function or communication. This may include labels, sleeves, tags, coding/markings, etching, directly applied inks or by any other similar process. This is a WorldStar Packaging General award category.
The finalists are:
- Jiffy Padded Lite Mailer: Amazon Australia and Sealed Air Australia
- Certified Compostable FSC Paper Beer BioCups: BioPak
- Carmans Gourmet Snack Mix: Carmans Fine Foods and Zipform Packaging
SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING DESIGN
The Sustainable Packaging Design award is designed to recognise companies that have developed innovative packaging or processing solutions that incorporates sustainability considerations. Elements include social, material, source reduction, energy and recovery. This is a WorldStar Packaging Special Award category.
The finalists are:
- AmPrima Recycle-Ready Packaging For Shredded Cheese: Amcor Flexibles
- FSC Certified Home Compostable BioBoard Sushi Trays: BioPak
- FSC Certified Home Compostable PHA Cups: BioPak
- Advantage 9um Pallet Wrap: Bunzl Australia and New Zealand
- Katermaster Regen Reusable Food Container: Bunzl Australia and New Zealand
- TetherSafe: Caps & Closures
- Australian Organic Food Co. Vanilla Custard Mono Material Retort Pouch: Flavour Makers and Cheer Pack Asia Pacific
- Woolworths Poultry Trays: Inghams Enterprises and Woolworths Food Company
- M&Ms Display-Ready Packaging: Mars and Birdstone Collective
- ADAMA Plasma Coating Technology: Pact Group
- SULO Circular Mobile Rubbish Bins: Pact Group
- SCA Globes and Bulbs: Supercheap Auto
- 30% Recycled Plastic Bread Bags: Tip Top Bakeries and Amcor Australia
- Hidden Story Pinot Grigio Bagnum: Victorian Alps Wine Co. and Auspouch Australia
- Macro Health Food Box-Bottom Paper Bags: Woolworths Food Company
- Weed n Feed On Hose 4L: Yates
ABA SCHOLARSHIPS
The Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA), in partnership with the AIP, is pleased to offer an annual Scholarship program for Australia and New Zealand.
The Scholarship program will enable one eligible candidate the opportunity to undertake a Diploma in Packaging Technology and a second person the opportunity to undertake a Certificate in Packaging.
The finalists are:
- Bernadette Blackley, packaging and processing coordinator, Dr Oetker Queen Australia
- Pippa Corry, founder and director, philo & co
- Jonathan Oakes, packaging specialist, Woolworths
- Ransheema Rita, packaging technologist, Synlait Milk Limited
- Andrew Rennie, packaging technologist, Synlait Milk Limited
- Joel Wells, managing director, Circular
The 2025 PIDA awards will be held as a part of the biennial Australasian Packaging Conference, held on the 6-7 May, and which will bring together packaging professionals from across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Winners will be announced at the gala PIDA awards ceremony, which will be held on 6 May at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, NSW.
