Star Awards 2025 showcases products promoting sustainability

From water-based inks to designing machines to increase efficiency, and reduction in packaging material waste to cartons made out of agriwaste, most entries highlight a shift toward eco-friendly materials, reduced waste, and enhanced recyclability. Prasad Balan Iyer, director, SIES School of Packaging pointed to studies showing that 79% of consumers have begun modifying their purchasing preferences based on social responsibility, inclusiveness, and environmental impact. There was also a twofold increase in the number of entries focusing on recyclability and biodegradability compared to previous years. 
 
UFlex’s waterborne Flexcoat WR Coating-1040 won the President’s Award for Sustainability. It offers superior water repellency for kraft paper applications. It is recyclable, repulpable, and FDA-compliant, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional water-repellent coatings for e-commerce packaging. The product claims to be an environmentally safe alternative as traditionally products use perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS substances) to achieve water-repellency. Here are a few winning products that promote sustainability: 
 
Britannia Nutrichoice Carton – Agriwaste tree-free carton 
Britannia’s Nutrichoice carton is crafted from 90% agriwaste in the form of wheat straw, reducing reliance on virgin wood pulp. The novel pulping process consumes less water and eliminates toxic effluents, cutting 30kg of CO2 emissions per carton. In addition to sustainable packaging, the Agriwaste Tree Free carton also addresses the challenges of stubble burning and air pollution. 
 
Accupack – Victory + Galaxy 130 blister and cartoning machine line
The Victory + Galaxy 130 line attempts to revolutionise packaging with its oil-free, grease-free operation, reducing maintenance and downtime. Its fully servo-driven system and blister dispensing mechanism achieve a 30% reduction in packaging material waste. This innovation minimises resource consumption.
 
Corob Nova+ dispensing solution 
Corob’s Nova+ modular dispensing system is designed for precision and sustainability, reducing material waste through customisable configurations. Its energy-efficient operation and compact design minimise storage and transportation needs, contributing to lower carbon emissions. The system’s adaptability ensures optimal performance across diverse applications, promoting resource efficiency.
 
Fibre Foils – easy peel-off primary packaging
Fibre Foils’  easy peel-off primary packaging is a 100% recyclable composite canister featuring a tamper-evident, easy-peel design. Made from sustainable materials, it ensures leak-proof durability and user convenience. The easy-peel off primary packaging ensures that customers can access the product safely. 
 
Indo Straits – PerfAC AC-110 waterborne anchor coating
PerfAC AC-110 is a low-VOC, water-based coating for snack food laminations, formulated for low application weights and 10% solids content. It reduces transportation volumes by up to five times, cutting emissions and storage space. This eco-friendly solution supports sustainable packaging without compromising performance.
 
ITC Limited – Boult neckband sustainable box
ITC’s Boult neckband box replaces plastic blister trays and hangers with paperboard inserts and paper-based hangers, eliminating non-compostable polymers. The outer sleeve, printed with offset inks and matt BOPP film, enhances shelf life and display appeal. This multi-component design ensures safe transportation while reducing plastic waste.

Nichem – BioX biodegradable additive masterbatch
BioX is a biodegradable additive for polyolefin-based flexible packaging, enabling aerobic and anaerobic degradation without microplastics or marine toxicity. It reduces land, water, and energy use compared to PLA, offering a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative for food and pharma applications. It is added to masterbatch during manufacturing of polyolefin-based packaging.
 
Parksons – Happi Planet eco-friendly cartons
Happi Planet cartons are 85% paper, 10% PE, and 5% aluminum, making them 100% recyclable. The free mail-back program transforms used cartons into school benches, promoting circularity. This initiative reduces waste while supporting community development.
 
Signode – Paper-based honeycomb windshield packaging
Signode’s paper-based honeycomb solution replaces EPE foam in windshield packaging, eliminating 46-MT of foam annually. The eco-friendly design reduces packaging costs by 21%, improves storage efficiency by 50%, and enhances productivity by 15%.
 
UPM – Forest Film label
UPM’s Forest Film is the world’s first ISCC-certified wood-based plastic label material, reducing fossil-based plastics. Made from bio-naphtha derived from crude tall oil, it lowers carbon emissions while maintaining performance and recyclability.

In addition to this, their New Wave is a RecyClass-certified paper label material for rigid HDPE and PP packaging, compatible with recycling streams. Sourced from FSC-certified forests, it supports circularity and renewable materials, offering a sustainable alternative for home and personal care packaging.
 
A packaging professional from a food brand praised ITC Limited’s neckband sustainable box, but suggested that they could have gone an extra mile by replacing the BOPP-film with a water-based matte varnish to eliminate the use of plastic. BOPP-film is considered difficult to delaminate and recycle. He appreciated the Britannia Nutrichoice Agriwaste tree-free carton for its good use of renewable materials.