The entry deadline for the Digital Labels & Packaging Awards 2024 is fast approaching, with entries for the 16 categories requested by 12 April.

This year’s awards competition builds on the previous two years, where a growing cross-section of the packaging industry has submitted work for assessment and validation by a curated judging panel of experts with deep print and brand experience.

For 2024, four new awards have been added and see the two main process categories – toner- and inkjet-based – separated out to reflect the growing amount of packaging work now being printed and converted digitally. The result is:

‘Excellent with toner – labels’ and ‘Excellent with toner – packaging’; and Excellence with inkjet – labels’ and ‘Excellence with inkjet – packaging’.

‘By splitting the main process categories out into two separate awards apiece, we have sought to open the awards up to even more of the packaging value chain,’ commented David Pittman, Digital Labels & Packaging editor. ‘This is a direct reflection of changes in the industry and the type of work we have seen entered ever since we launched the Digital Labels & Packaging Awards in 2022.’

‘Best new company’ and ‘Future star’ are further standout categories identified by Mr Pittman. ‘They celebrate the explosive growth we are seeing in digital as a mainstream packaging manufacturing tool, as well as honouring the pool of talented individuals making their way in the industry and who will make sure package printing remains a vibrant and buoyant industry for years to come.’

Mr Pittman was also keen to draw attention to the ‘Excellence in finishing and embellishment’ category, as this is an area ripe for rapid and explosive growth when it comes to digital. ‘Finishing, converting and embellishment have been historical bottlenecks when it comes to packaging production and the successful deployment of digital print. Digital die-cutting and decoration are proving to be an effective way to alleviate such pressures. In addition, digital tools used to convert flexo and offset-printed reels and sheets are a huge part of the industry and which we are keen to have celebrated at the Digital Labels & Packaging Awards going forward.’

The full list of categories in 2024 is as follows:

  • NEW FOR 2024 Excellence with toner – labels
  • NEW FOR 2024 Excellence with toner – packaging
  • NEW FOR 2024 Excellence with inkjet – labels 
  • NEW FOR 2024 Excellence with inkjet – packaging
  • Excellence with hybrid printing
  • Excellence in finishing and embellishment
  • Excellence in design
  • Application excellence – primary packaging
  • Application excellence – secondary packaging
  • Analogue-to-digital
  • Variable data
  • Innovation
  • Self-promotional print
  • Best new company
  • Environmental company of the year
  • Future star

The deadline for entries to the Digital Labels & Packaging Awards 2024 is 12 April. Full details can be found at dlandpawards.com, from where the entry form can also be downloaded.

The winners will be presented with their trophies at a lunchtime celebration on 27 June, 2024 at The Kia Oval in London, UK. Full details and pricing to follow.