FIVE CATEGORIES & 28 Subcategories

Submission Deadline: October 30, 2025

Brand Marketing, Brand Marketing - Specialty, PAC IOU Design, Package Innovation Design, & Sustainable Package Design 

New categories highlighted in red.

BRAND MARKETING

11 subcategories

New Brand

1. Food: Bakery, cannabis edibles, confectionary, dairy, dry goods, frozen

2. Beverage: Craft brewers, beer, carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, seltzers, juice & juice drinks, sports drinks, tea and coffee, energy drinks & shots, alternative drinks, cannabis, plant-based

3. Non-Food: Automotive & hardware, cannabis non-edibles, household, lawn & garden, pet food, toys

Brand Extension

4. Food: Bakery, cannabis edibles, confectionary, dairy, dry goods, frozen

5. Beverage: Craft brewers, beer, carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, seltzers, juice & juice drinks, sports drinks, tea and coffee, energy drinks & shots, alternative drinks, cannabis, plant-based

 6. Non-Food: Automotive & hardware, cannabis non-edibles, household, lawn & garden, pet food, toys

Revitalized Brand

7. Food: Bakery, cannabis edibles, confectionary, dairy, dry goods, frozen

8. Beverage: Craft brewers, beer, carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, seltzers, juice & juice drinks, sports drinks, tea and coffee, energy drinks & shots, alternative drinks, cannabis, plant-based

9. Non-Food: Automotive & hardware, cannabis non-edibles, household, lawn & garden, pet food, toys

Own Brand (New, Extension, Revitalized)

10. Food: Bakery, cannabis edibles, confectionary, dairy, dry goods, frozen

and Beverage: Craft brewers, beer, carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, seltzers, juice & juice drinks, sports drinks, tea and coffee, energy drinks & shots, alternative drinks, cannabis, plant-based

11. Non-Food: Automotive & hardware, cannabis non-edibles, household, lawn & garden, pet food, toys

BRAND MARKETING - SPECIALTY

11 subcategories

Beauty

Cosmetics, personal care, hair care

Connected Pack

Consumer engagement/brand experience facilitated through the combination of design & digital connectivity (QR Codes, Navilens, Zappar or other mobile technology)

Customization & Personalization

Brand experience using packaging to connect with consumers on a personal level i.e. variable/unique pack designs, localized packaging, target/community marketing via packaging, digital printing & embellishments

Entertainment

Album, CD, DVD, gaming

Fresh

Produce (fruit & vegetables)

Health & Wellness

Over-the-counter pharmaceutical, nutrition, organics, naturals, meatless

Limited Edition

One-time items, promotional

Limited Edition - Holiday

Seasonal items related to holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, etc.)

Limited Edition - Sports

Sports related one-time, seasonal, promotional

Short Run - Media/Influencer Kits

Items related to limited short runs, pilots, media influencer kits

Wine & Spirits

Spirits, wine (including non-alcoholic)

PAC IOU DESIGN

2 subcategories

Inclusive Design

A brand lead approach where any of the following (individual or group) was involved: abilities, ages, disabilities, learning styles, life experiences, neurodiversity, races/ethnicities, religion, classes, genders, sexual orientations, and any other difference.

Universal Design

A package innovation lead approach designed for: equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort and size and space for approach and use.

PACKAGE INNOVATION DESIGN

2 subcategories

Label

Innovative label design considering: substrate choices, use of certified materials, sustainable inks and adhesives, print production operational and manufacturing efficiencies, enhanced branding and shelf appeal.

Technical (Includes E-Commerce)

Packaging that features the manufacturing complexity, printing and other applications, connected attributes, & structural design: corrugated containers, flexible packages, glass, labels, metal, paperboard packaging, rigid/semi-rigid containers, transportation protection, combination of any of the above containers.

AND/OR 

Packaging designed for the direct-to-consumer experience from e-commerce site.
All packaged components which could include the inner elements, outer shippers, mailers, envelopes, shipping materials, etc.

SUSTAINABLE PACKAGE DESIGN

2 subcategories

Carbon Reduction

Packaging that is designed to have a lower carbon footprint supported by LCA data or PIP360 scores and featuring material optimization, use of certified materials, operational and manufacturing efficiencies: corrugated containers, flexible packages, glass, labels, metal, paperboard packaging, rigid/semi-rigid containers, transportation protection, combination of any of the above containers.

Package Circularity

Packaging that is designed for circularity featuring reduction, reuse, recycled content , recyclability &, compostability: corrugated containers, flexible packages, glass, labels, metal, paperboard packaging, rigid/semi-rigid containers, transportation protection, combination of any of the above containers.