KENYA – Packaging Industries Ltd (PIL) recently earned a silver award for its BarrierFlex NutVault packaging at the prestigious 35th Dow Packaging Innovation Awards.
The NutVault, designed to preserve the freshness of high-oil foods like nuts, was celebrated for its use of advanced barrier technology that minimizes oxidation, reducing the need for preservatives and thus supporting clean labeling.
The NutVault’s multi-layer, recyclable material is central to its design, which aligns with a growing industry focus on eco-friendly solutions and extended shelf life for food products.
Lightweight and durable, the packaging meets sustainability goals while enhancing convenience and functionality for consumers.
“This achievement has been a journey of growth, learning, and persistence,” said Vaishali Malde, PIL’s representative, highlighting the dedication of the team at PIL despite limited resources.
“Their passion for localized solutions and resilience has enabled us to continuously innovate,” she added, emphasizing the team’s drive to push boundaries in sustainable packaging.
Dow’s Packaging Innovation Awards, known for recognizing advancements in sustainability and user experience, lauded this year’s winners as drivers of positive change in the industry.
David Luttenberger, global packaging director at Mintel and chair of the awards jury, remarked, “The future of packaging is about design that marries recyclability with enhanced user functionality, and the NutVault exemplifies this perfectly.”
He noted that the NutVault reflects a wider industry shift towards circular economy principles, where recyclable packaging meets functional needs.
The packaging is designed to work seamlessly with existing pouching machines, eliminating the need for lamination and further reducing production costs.
Additionally, its metal-free structure enhances safety by allowing metal detection, a feature not possible with aluminum or metalized PET, thereby improving quality control measures.
The switch to this 110-micron PE pouch also decreases reliance on imported films and lamination materials, promoting sustainability and optimizing resource use.
This reduces waste and material imports and supports Kenya’s drive towards economic self-sufficiency and resilience.
The NutVault’s recognition showcases PIL’s commitment to addressing food preservation challenges while meeting eco-conscious standards, positioning the company as a leader in sustainable packaging innovation.
Alongside the BarrierFlex NutVault, Henkel Guatemala’s 100% recyclable stand-up pouch for detergent liquid also won silver awards at the ceremony.