Smurfit Westrock has once again demonstrated its leadership in paper-based packaging by picking up 15 WorldStar awards.
Stand-out solutions amongst this year's trail-blazing haul included an eye-catching point-of-sale protein pack, whisky packaging which created a delightful unboxing experience and a cleverly designed pack for interlocking 10-litre bottles.
Strong sustainability credentials were the common denominator amongst all the Smurfit Westrock winners, many of which are part of its Better Planet Packaging portfolio.
One winning packaging solution, an innovative pack for an industrial washing machine, replaced expanded polystyrene (EPS) buffers with corrugated alternatives, eliminating 3.3 tonnes of plastic annually. Another winner, which also replaced EPS in the packaging, enables solar panels to be transported upright leading to a 33% reduction in CO2 emissions.
Commenting on Smurfit Westrock's success, Saverio Mayer, CEO of Smurfit Westrock EMEA & APAC, said: "The WorldStar awards celebrate the best of what our industry has to offer, so to win so many is both an honour and a privilege. At Smurfit Westrock we have a relentless commitment to making industry-leading packaging that out-performs for our customers."
Laurent Sellier, President and CEO of Smurfit Westrock North America, said: "Our performance in this year's WorldStar awards once again shows that we are at the forefront of the industry when it comes to creating packaging solutions that go the extra mile both in terms of sustainability and supply chain efficiency."
Arco Berkenbosch, Chief Innovation Officer, added: "We are thrilled to have won 15 awards this year for solutions which resulted from equal measures of creativity and design. The people behind these winners are all part of a talented local team closely in tune with the business needs of their customers and connected by our strong, global culture of innovation."
Run by the World Packaging Organisation, the WorldStar awards recognise the most innovative packaging solutions from around the globe. The 2026 ceremony will take place on 8th May in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Smurfit Westrock's Winning Products & Categories
Czech Republic & Slovakia (5)
- Industrial washing machine packaging - Transit
- Anti-slip material for pallet loads - Transit
- 'Holey Tray' pack for cooking oil - Transit
- 'Mr Elegant' pack for automotive components - Packaging Materials & Components
- Flexible lamp packaging - Electronics
Germany (2)
- Disc Safe brake disc packaging - Transit
- Solar panel packaging - Transit
Mexico (3)
- 'La Moderna' pasta tray - Digital
- 'Fitmingo' premium protein tray - Digital
- 'Tequila Avión' integrated packaging - Transit
Scandinavia (3)- Denmark & Norway
- 'Stauning Whisky' whisky premium pack - Alcoholic Beverages
- 'Lille Blad' corrugated tray for microgreens - Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
- 'Kamstrup' packaging for electric, water & heat meter components - Electronics
Spain (2)
- 'Flexible Corner' pack for agricultural products - Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
- 'Panelbuffer' honeycomb replacement for EPS - Transit
