Printpack has earned four 2026 Flexible Packaging Achievement Awards from the Flexible Packaging Association, taking home more awards than any other converter this year. The recognition comes as the Atlanta-based packaging company marks its 70th anniversary, reinforcing its position as a major player in flexible, specialty rigid and healthcare packaging.

The awards include two Gold Awards for Shelf Impact, presented for Barcel Mi Tierra tortilla chips and a limited-edition Harry Potter Butterbeer Goldfish package for Pepperidge Farm. Printpack also received a Silver Award for Technical Innovation for KIND’s recyclable high-barrier paper bar wrap and a Silver Award for Shelf Impact for Pepperidge Farm’s Goldfish Glow in the Dark Halloween package.

Printpack’s results show how flexible packaging is being judged not only by performance, but also by visual storytelling, recyclability and consumer engagement.

The awards reflect several important trends shaping the flexible packaging sector. Shelf impact remains a powerful commercial requirement, especially in snack, confectionery and branded food categories where consumers make decisions quickly. Packaging must communicate flavour, personality and brand value within seconds, while still protecting the product through distribution and retail handling.

The Barcel Mi Tierra tortilla chips pack demonstrates how design can help a brand create stronger cultural and emotional relevance at shelf level. In categories with intense competition, strong graphics, colour systems and material finish can turn flexible packaging into a brand-building tool rather than a simple wrapper. This is particularly important for snack brands, where packaging often acts as the main communication surface.

The limited-edition Harry Potter Butterbeer Goldfish package highlights another major direction: entertainment-led packaging. Licensed designs and seasonal formats can create urgency, collectability and social media appeal. For converters, these campaigns demand excellent print quality, colour consistency and the ability to execute special editions without compromising line efficiency or pack performance.

Printpack’s Silver Award for KIND’s recyclable high-barrier paper bar wrap may be the most strategically significant from a sustainability perspective. Bar wrappers require strong barrier properties to protect freshness, texture and shelf life, but traditional structures can be difficult to recycle. A recyclable high-barrier paper solution shows how the industry is working to combine product protection with improved end-of-life options.

• Shelf impact remains essential for food and snack differentiation.
• Technical innovation is increasingly focused on recyclable high-performance structures.
• Seasonal packaging creates engagement and limited-edition value.
• Flexible formats must balance graphics, barrier protection and sustainability.
• Converters are becoming innovation partners for major consumer brands.

The Goldfish Glow in the Dark Halloween package also shows how tactile, visual and interactive features can bring added value to familiar flexible packaging formats. Seasonal packaging is no longer limited to new artwork. Brands are using effects, finishes and novelty elements to create memorable consumer experiences, especially for family-oriented products and impulse categories.

For the wider packaging industry, Printpack’s recognition underlines the importance of combining creativity with technical execution. A successful flexible package must run efficiently on converting and packing lines, preserve product integrity, meet customer specifications and still deliver a strong retail experience. Awards in both shelf impact and technical innovation suggest that the company is addressing both sides of that equation.

Flexible packaging continues to face pressure around recyclability, material reduction and circularity. At the same time, brands are asking for stronger design impact and faster campaign execution. This creates a demanding environment for converters, who must invest in materials science, printing capability, quality systems and collaborative development with brand owners.

Printpack’s four FPA awards show that flexible packaging innovation is moving in multiple directions at once. Some projects focus on brand theatre and shelf presence, while others focus on recyclable structures and technical performance. The strongest converters will be those able to deliver both: packaging that attracts consumers today while preparing brands for the sustainability requirements of tomorrow.